The Hindu                   22.04.2013

Study finds high levels of literacy in urban slums of Coimbatore

The survey covered 456 respondents in 26 urban slums.

A study undertaken in slums within the city has revealed that urban poor placed huge importance on educating their children, which they see as a key to securing a better future.

The percentage of children (boys and girls) in the age group of 6 to 12 years and from 12 to 18 years, who have enrolled in primary and secondary schools, were both found to be close to cent per cent. This implied that a majority of the children pursuing primary education went on to continue their studies, at least till Standard X, after which they could pursue a diploma or vocational course.

Undertaken on March 9 and 10 by the Social Work Department students of the Bishop Appasamy College and World Vision India, a development organisation, the LQAS (Lot Quality Assurance Sampling) survey in 26 urban slums covered a total of 456 respondents in oral interviews.

The survey also found that 87.72 per cent of the youth in the age group of 15 to 18 years were either in a school or attending a skill/vocational training course, or engaged in a livelihood training programme (excluding menial work or employment below their qualifications).

K. Vetriselvan John, Programme Manager (Coimbatore), World Vision India, told The Hindu here on Thursday that more than half the children covered in the survey could read and comprehend by the age 11, which was a good sign, that primary education system of the Government was taking education to the economically weaker sections of the society.

Quality of education

“This is significant to note in terms of the quality of education reaching the poorer sections. World Vision has planned quality education training for teachers in Government schools,” he added.

The survey was carried out in areas such as Kamarajapuram, Siddhapudhur, Haripuram, Kembatty Colony, Balasubramanian Nagar and Elgi Colony.

A team of 11 Social Work students along with Assistant Professor C. Arun Kumar, and under the guidance of Head of the Department Esther Rani, conducted the survey with Kangayam Area Development Programme (ADP) staff.

The Kangayam ADP is an initiative of World Vision India implemented among the rural communities in Avinashi and Annur blocks of Coimbatore district for more than a decade.

The Hindu                  18.04.2013

Good response to rice scheme

On the first day of launching the State Government’s scheme of selling rice at Rs. 20 per kg, the three designated special shops with two in city and one in Valparai accounted for a sale of little over 800 kg by evening in just one single day.

Launching the scheme, Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Collector M. Karunagaran pointed out that the objective of the Government was to make rice affordable to the low and middle income groups as the prices in the open market had already crossed the Rs. 40 mark and better quality rice going beyond Rs. 50 per kg.

The officials have already brought in over 2,900 tonnes of raw rice and consignments of boiled rice were on their way to Coimbatore.

Requirement

Initial assessment had put the anticipated requirement at 10,000 tonnes.

The administration has opened three exclusive shops at Coimbatore with one at North Coimbatore Chinthamani headquarters, another one in Town Hall and the third in Valparai. Now efforts are on to identify locations where more such shops could be opened to make the rice at Rs. 20 per kg available to people within their area, the officials said.

There is no restriction on for whom it would be supplied or the quantity.

Officials also clarified that it was not polished PDS rice and it was certainly good quality rice.

Adequate stocks are being maintained with the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation to reach it to the shops for ensuring uninterrupted supply. A homemaker S. Latha wife of Subramanian, a pharmacist, pointed out, “With the rice prices having crossed the Rs. 45 mark, we have stopped buying 25 kg bags for reasons of affordability. We buy in smaller quantities once in three months and every time there is an upward revision in price by Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 per kg.” Under such market conditions, this is a welcome move on the part of the Government, she added.