Reshma Shaikh

Farhana Malik

AHMEDABAD: Poonam Vanzara, 15, a nomadic girl from Dahod, and a resident of Vatva in Ahmedabad, has not even been to school. She along with 14.93 lakh children in the age group of 6-18 years from Gujarat have never attended school .The census figures about attending education institute reveal that around 9.63% children and youth between 6-18 years have never attended the schools. Gujarat has 1.55 crore children and youths in this age group.In India, of 33.33 crore children and youths in this age group, 4.40 crore have never been to school which comes to 13.20% of the population in this age group.Sources said that the number is large as the state education department has been claiming 100% enrolment as a part of Shala Pravesh Utsav which is being organized in the state continuously for over a decade.Poonam has been moving from one place to another with her parents who sell brooms. Poonam has never got a chance to enrol herself into a school. "I want to study but I can't," she said.Interestingly, the data reveals that of the 14.93 lakh children and youths in this age group in the state who have not attended schools, there were over 53% females. Nationally, female percentage in the age group is 52%.Officials said that of the 14.93 lakh who have never attended school there were 8.82 lakh students who were in the age group of 6-10 years. Gujarat's much tom tommed girl child enrolment drive, nick-named as Kanya Kelavni, which began in 2004 as mahotsav or festival, leaves little for the state government to boast about. The government for the past 11 years has been claiming that all children of six years of age are enrolled into schools. However, the figures reveal that school enrolment drive is not 100% successful.Gaurang Jani, professor, school of sociology, Gujarat University, has termed the claims of 100% enrolment false. There are several migrant and tribal children and adivasi students who migrate to other parts of the state for livelihood with their families Even the Right to Education 2009 lays emphasis on this migrant population "While the panchayat or the principal certifies that 100% students are enrolled, the officer who visits the village doesn't verify this.Several Thakore and Dalit children are not enrolled and the principal certifies them as enrolled," said Jani.18-year-old Reshma never attended school because her financial conditions prevented her. Reshma wanted to study, but the death of her father prevented her from pursuing her studies. She was forced to take care of her younger brother and sister. After the death of iliyat, she said that her mother remarried and left them. "Our aunt took care of us. I have never been to a school," said Reshma who stays in Juhapura.18-year-old resident of Juhapura did not go to school as she missed the opportunity in the childhood.Now she has lost interest in studies. "My brother went to school, but I never went to a school. My parents even sent me to a mehendi classes and even stitching classes, but at this age I don't find it interesting to pursue studies. I used to go to Gyan Kendra to study but when children called me elder sister, I stopped going there," she said.