Jugal Kishore Ranjit –
Bhubaneswar: As part of the New Education Policy of 1986, Navodaya Vidyalayas were established across the country in the same year. The aim of establishing this innovative school was to provide quality education to the rural poor. A total of 668 Navodaya Schools have been established in the country. There is at least one school in every district of Odisha.
Over 75 per cent of the seats of the school are reserved for rural students while only 25 per cent of the seats have been reserved for urban students. To become eligible to apply, a rural student must have studied from first to fifth standard in a rural school only. People coming from urban areas cannot apply in rural areas. Specific marks are fixed for various categories to pass the entrance exam. For instance, ST: 60-66%, SC: 66-70%, OBC- 70-75%, and General: 75-80%.
A cursory look at the status of students of the Dalit Christian category in enrollment in the Navodaya Vidyalaya shows a dismal record.
Since 1986, in the last 36 years, not a single Dalit Christian student from Katingia and Hatimunda panchayats of Kandhamal district has been successful in the entrance examination of Navodaya Vidyalaya. According to Mr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Special Correspondent of Brahmanigaon area, only one student was successful in Brahmanigaon Panchayat while another student was successful, but she was rejected because the Saraswati Sishu Mandir where she studied was not recognized by the Government. Social Workers Mr. Narendra Nayak and Miss. Sabita Biro informed that no one from Virikot and Sunderdang panchayats of Gajapati district has been successful in Navodaya Vidyalaya entrance exam as of now.
According to Bishop Pallava Lima, a total of three students from the entire district of Gajapati have succeeded in the Navodaya entrance exam, while only two students from Rayagada district have succeeded.
Studying in Nebodaya Vidyalaya carries a lot of importance, because by studying in this school, students can easily build their career. Many Navodaya students have obtained the jobs as OAS, doctors, engineers and so on.
Unfortunately, the performance of Dalit Christians in the Navadaya entrance exam is very dismal. The government and other charitable institutions are not aware of the plight of oppressed Christians.
It can be inferred from this that the gravity of education and economic status of Dalit Christians.
The government, voluntary organizations and the church should take special measures to improve this situation.
Jugal Kishore Ranjit is a UN Fellow on Minority Rights