By Sujata Jena –
Bhubaneswar: Thousands of talented rural youths’ dreams and aspirations mostly die due to financial constraints and lack of opportunity.
Many of them drop out of schools and colleges. Their dreams shattered and they roam about without motivation and ambition and were eventually forced to take odd jobs.
Sankili Haresh, a 26-year-old boy from Kashinagar parish of Berhampur diocese, has a big dream of becoming an Indian Administrative Service Officer. He stood first class all through his career. After completing a Bachelor of Science, he thought of preparing for Civil Service Examinations as he believes that would give him a secure future.
“This job would provide me an ample scope to serve the church and society. Also, I can earn and save lots of money to help my family and relatives,” he says. So, what is stopping him from following his ambition?
Financial constraints are one of the many challenges. Having lost his parents at a young age, Haresh has faced hardships. His two elder siblings like his parents are daily-wage earners who took care of him though with some difficulties. And now, as his siblings married off, Haresh lives with his aunt, taking a private job to contribute to the family.
“Unfortunately, civil service coaching is costly, which the poor-rural students can ill-afford. Besides, the avenues of coaching are not available for the aspirants living in the rural and remote areas of Odisha,” says Father Andrew Chettiyadan, the Parish Priest of Gunupur.
He said rural students lack sufficient resources. Many students give up on their dreams because of a lack of opportunity and financial support, even though they are academically brilliant.
With a massive 42 percent of the adolescents aged 10-19 years belonging to the poorest quintile in Odisha, the State figured as the fifth poorest state in the country.
The population of Odisha in 2020 is about 47 million, out of which 17 million are youth in the age group 14-34 years. According to Census 2011 of the total population of Odisha state, around 83.31 percent live in the villages of rural areas.
When it comes to internet access, for every 100 people in rural Odisha, just 16 have reach whereas it is 83.3 in urban pockets according to a reliable source.
“I live in remote villages with no access to the Internet and phone calls. During the day, I come down to a nearby town where I get limited Internet access to prepare for different exams,” says Kushomokant Malli of Badapada parish under Berhampur diocese.
Like Malli, several others try their luck with the limited opportunity. They cannot afford to come to the city for studies. Hence, their dream becomes a mirage!
A study reveals there is a growing challenge faced by Christians families, especially those who are rural poor with Dalit backgrounds.
“Forget about becoming an IAS officer. The Dalit Christian could not even think of a low-level government job,” says Nirmala Paiko, a school-teacher. They are deprived of all the opportunities, she mourned.
Paiko has taught for over 30 years in a minority school. According to her, most of the Dalit Christian households engaged in casual labour and self-employment compared to other students who are government employees.
Christians of Dalit origin are denied statutory or government social and economic benefits given for the social advancement of Dalit people because Christianity believes in no caste system.
Though in reality, it is far from the truth. The benefits include concessions on education fees and prioritization for government jobs.
Father Pious Ekka of Rayagada diocese explained two bright Dalit girls of Jaltar Parish outranked their classes. They were allowed to study in America, but the teachers disoriented them.
Christians account for 30 million; 2.3 percent of India’s 1.3 billion people, while Muslims number 172 million, the largest minority group.
Some 60 percent of Indian Christians come from socially and economically poor Dalit and tribal communities and mostly live in the villages, church sources confirm.
The initiative of Odisha Catholic Bishops’ Council (OCBC) to prepare young students from Dalits and Tribal communities to crack the Civil Service Examination is noble.
To address this problem, the OCBC has set up a coaching center, Excellent IAS Academy in Bhubaneswar, to make civil service examinations preparation affordable and accessible for each bright aspirant including those who are at the periphery.
Before Christmas, on behalf of Excellent IAS Academy, I undertook a campaign in rural Odisha and far and wide 12 rural parishes of Berhampur and Rayagada dioceses to mobilize students for civil service preparation and be part of nation-building.
The encounter with different people makes one’s life rich in faith, experience and value.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought more uncertainty to the marginalized community. During this trying time, millions of rural people struggling to figure out how they would make their living.
A group of young students from Kottoma Parish said, “We do not mind taking up labour work at this hard time to support our families.” They joined the other villagers in transplanting and harvesting paddy although it is seasonal. Tears misted my eyes as I listened to them.
Kottoma is one of the most educated villages in the Berhampur diocese. Unfortunately, not many are employed in public sectors.
The birth of Jesus heralds joy, peace, hope and justice especially to those who are deprived of these gifts and may become a reality in the New Year!
Sujata Jena is a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She is a human rights activist, a freelance journalist and an advocate with a special interest for the cause of the poor, dalits, tribal women, children, minorities and Migrants.
Since Covid-19 pandemic she had been actively involved in the safe return of the migrants and continues to work for their rights through advocacy and lobbying through networking with Government administrations and civil society groups.
Presently, she is working as the deputy director of the Excellent IAS Academy, Bhubaneswar, Eastern Indian State of Odisha.
She is the coordinator of the social projects of the Congregation.
The dream is to become a civil servant . Opportunity to studying in Excellent IAS Academy is never a dream. Obviously the initiative of Odisha Catholic Bishops’ Council is praise worthy. I wonder how even enrolling in the academy is attributed as a ‘ dreams realized’.