THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thousands of migrant workers from the northern states will be initiated into the world of letters as part of an ambitious literacy programme to be rolled out by the state government on Independence Day. The literacy programme devised by the Kerala Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) aims to teach the migrant labourers read and write Malayalam and Hindi within four months.The programme will be launched at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, which has the largest concentration of migrant workers in the state.
A grand welcome ceremony - named ‘Praveshanolsavam’, on the lines of the welcome ceremony held at schools on the opening day - will be held on August 15 to encourage migrant workers join the literacy programme.
Five hour of class a week
The Literacy Mission Authority is planning to conduct five hours of class per week as part of the programme. Study centres comprising of five to 10 clusters have been constituted for the purpose. Each cluster will have around 15 to 20 participants. Each study centre will have an instructor, who will be proficient in both Hindi and Malayalam.
“The services of educationally qualified migrant workers and students of the Literacy Mission’s Higher Secondary equivalency course, will be utilised for the purpose,” KSLMA director P S Sreekala said.
The study centres will be set up at schools, libraries, workplaces and even at the shelters of migrant workers.
“The study material has been prepared keeping in mind the working conditions of migrant workers and their interaction with the society. The study material will be a fluid one which will take into account the feedback received from various quarters,” she said.
Positive response
Experimental classes conducted by the KSLMA at Perumbavoor early this month have evoked positive response from the migrant workers. Over 50 migrant workers from a single ward in Perumbavoor turned up for the classes.A survey conducted by the KSLMA in Perumbavoor municipality revealed 86.24 per cent of the 3,211 migrant workers were willing to join the literacy programme.
Opening the gates of knowledge
Literacy programme for migrant workers to be rolled out on I-Day
‘Praveshanolsavam’ planned for migrant workers in Perumbavoor
86.24% of 3,211 migrant workers willing to join
Beneficiaries to be taught Hindi and Malayalam in four months
Five hours class a week