KOCHI: Kerala scripted a new chapter in its academic sphere by initiating as many as 432 migrant workers into the world of letters on Independence Day, at Perumbavoor.
This is first time a state has organised such a grand function for the wards and working people of the migrant community in Kerala. Organised by the Kerala Literacy Mission, the event witnessed a huge turnout with women and children attending the function in hordes. The ‘Hamari Malayalam’ handbook prepared by the Literacy Mission was launched by Education Minister C Ravindranath at IMA auditorium in Perumbavoor.
Inaugurating the project, he said the ‘Hamari Malayalam’ learning tool prepared by the state is a model for the entire country. The project, which is being implemented in Perumbavoor now, will be expanded to one panchayat in every district in a phased manner. The project envisages to bring the marginalised migrant community to the mainstream of society. The attitude of the people in the state towards the migrant people should change, he said. It is also the responsibility of the state to provide better living conditions for them as well as ensuring the fast development of the state, he said.
Literacy Mission director P S Sreekala led the classes. The literacy programme devised by the Literacy Mission aims to teach the migrant labourers how to read and write Malayalam and Hindi within four months. The study material has been prepared keeping in mind the working conditions of migrant workers and their interaction with society. The lessons were prepared considering their lifestyle, including food, health, transportation, employment and the institutions they come in touch as part of their routine life, so that they would easily comprehend the lessons.
Five-hour classes have been arranged for them every week. The lessons will be imparted to them at selected public and private institutions, libraries, schools, residential areas of migrant communities and their workplaces. Among the faculty members, a majority of the teachers were selected from the students at the Marampalli MES College.