The Education Signature Program expanded in September 2020 in two anchals – Kalaikunda and Barkola – in Kharagpur 1 block of West Midnapore district in West Bengal, with funding from Tata Metaliks. The demography of this region is quite unique. Kalaikunda has 29 Gram Sansads and Barkola has 30 Gram Sansads. The two anchals have 84 habitations with a population of 75,614, similar to a block in Odisha.
Currently, the Program covers 473 habitations in 4 anchals – Arjuni, Kalaikunda, Borkola, and Hariatara.
Most people in the area, especially those belonging to lower-income backgrounds, are not aware about the opportunities that education brings. The ones who do send their children to government schools mostly do so because of free mid-day meals. Food insecurity is a big issue. Child labour is encouraged in brick kiln factories because children get three meals a day. There is also political polarization in the community and people are wary of civil society organizations.
Impact
975
out of school children brought back to school
826
children have participated in our various learning interventions and are being helped to develop 21st century skills
26
non-residential bridge course centers running with 869 children
126
schools have functional libraries through formation of school library committees