Attempt to revive 'Model Village Development Centre' in DK

ZP CEO directs all GPs to earmark ` 25,000 from its annual budget

The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has taken up an initiative to revive Madari Grama Vikasa Kendra (Model Village Development Centre) in all 203 gram panchayats in the district. 

The Continuing Education Centres which were started during literacy movement in Dakshina Kannada district were called as Madari Grama Vikasa Kendras. However, after Dakshina Kannada district was declared as total literate district, the State government stopped releasing funds to carry out the activities in the Kendras. 

Now, Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash has issued a circular to all the gram panchayats to earmark Rs 25,000 from its annual budget to carry out the activities by the neo literates in Madari Grama Vikasa Kendras. In fact, the government, in its notification dated February 8, 2005, had directed all the Gram Panchayats to earmark Rs 25,000 towards continuing the literacy activities in their gram panchayat limits.

 However, none of the gram panchayats had made an attempt to earmark the amount.Now, with the help of Jana Shikshana Trust (which was a forerunner in literacy movement in the district), the Zilla Panchayat has decided to revive the centres and make them into integrated centres to spread message on literacy, sanitation, environment protection and on various schemes of the government. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, the CEO said that “the gram panchayats have been directed to earmark funds for the activities of the neo literates. The motivator in each Kendra will be paid a honorarium of Rs 1,000 from the funds earmarked by the Gram Panchayats.”  He said the Kendra should create awareness on gram sabha and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Jana Shikshana Trust Directors Sheena Shetty and Krishna Moolya said “the Kendra motivator will have to identify and educate all those illiterates who are below 35 in their gram panchayat limits. The motivator has to ensure that all the children between the age group of six and 14 are enrolled into the school.” “An attempt will also be made to bring all the BPL families into the fold of self-help groups, which will function from the kendra.

 The neo literates Development Committee will be strengthened in all the gram panchayats and they will be asked to take up one constructive work in a month and submit the report to the Gram Panchayat on the fifth of every month. The motivator of the Kendra will also create awareness on the use of toilets among the villagers and also motivate the family to construct toilets if they do not have one.” 

Shetty said that about 50 Madari Grama Vikasa Kendra are active in the district. Directorate of Loka Shikshana, State Literacy Mission Authority, DK district Continual Education Association, Zilla Panchayat, Jana Shikshana Trust, Capart organised skill development training had organised   skill development training for the neo literates in the district. As many as 1,042 neo literates were trained through the programme in the last two years. Madari Grama Vikasa Kendra, Kaukradi, motivator Suvarnalatha said there are two kendras in the gram panchayat limits with 12 self-help groups.

The SHG members have borrowed loan of Rs 76 lakh and the loan has been repaid promptly. About 30 neo literates were given training in preparing phenol and all are engaged in preparing phenol and selling it and earning for livelihood. A few have also been trained in preparing soaps. All the SHG members have taken up dairy farming, she added.