COASTAL PEOPLE - A Second Literacy Drive Underway...

"FILOMI is past 55, she could be seen selling fish in the hereby market early in the day. Her two daughters are no more and she has six grandchildren to look after. But nothing stops her from taking her lessons these days. As the clock strikes two, she would be present at the 'Athulyam' class organized by LEAP Kerala Mission, which aims to achieve cent percent primary education literacy in the state. Until four, when the church bells ring, she would struggle with Malayalam and Mathemetics.

Filomi is just one of the many fisherwomen who are giving 'Athulyam' a unique dimension in Pulluvila, a coastal neighbourhood in Karinkulam panchayat. One of the many places across the State where the programme is evolving into a second literacy drive.

Thresia's daughter is just four months old, but she carries her child with her to the class. Mary goes for daily labour but makes it to the class regularly. Like Filomi, like Usha and Maria and many others here, it is something they never thought would happen to their lives. "My children who are in school remind me to join them when they study at night. I can't be a bad student," Usha laughs out loudly.

Latha, the Panchayat Co-ordinator of the programme and Athiyannoor nodal 'prerak', says this is the same story with many women in the coastal area. "Though we aim at fourth equivalency, this is one place where we are starting from the very beginning. It's brush-up for some, those who were part of the 'Saksharatha' movement. Some others had gone to shcools, but never completed and some have not had the fortune to study. The response in coastal areas towards Athulyam has been tremendous," she says. Soshamma, the class coordinator, seconds her opinion.

In Pulluvila itself, there are more than nine centres working in close distance. Everywhere, we met the same excited and enthused faces. More women than men; in fact, in most classes, we met only women. Where there is no electricity, we saw them on the beachside, late in the evening, under a chimney lamp. But some of them do not hide their disappoinment.

"This is my son's book, we need books and pens. We have no money to spend on our education, when our children are in school," says one of them.

Karimkulam panchayat 'prerak' Vimala says since it is the end of the Plan year for the panchayat, the local body is finding it hard to find money and has promised to hep during the start of the next fiscal year. Until then, the LEAP Mission would have to find its own sources. "We have planned it as a three-month campaign. But going by the response, we have focused all our attention on it. All efforts are being taken to see to it that the adult learners are supported in their motivation to learn," says Prabhakar Pahassi, LEAP Mission Director.

By the end of March, the classes are to finish and the 'students' have to sit for examination on April 18. It sounds a Herculean task as many are yet to go beyond the 'sarakshararm'. But the class coordinators are hopeful.

"They are able to work wonders, for they are real people who know how to handle everything," Pushpam, a class coordinator, says. They have three textbooks and a special curriculam which is designed for adultl learners.

Though many were not aware why their exams have been set for April 18, one LEAP Mission official disclosed the secret. "It was the day when Kerala was declared cent percent literate 20 years back." The women know it's their turn now."

[Asha P. Nair, expresso, The New Indian Express, Thiruvananthapuram, Tuesday, 22 February, 2011.]