THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as uncertainty hangs over the future of Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) with its conversion to LEAP Mission going over the rocks, it continues to touch the lives of hundreds of tribals in the forest settlements of Attappady promising them a bright future.More than 500 people in the 85 tribal settlements there are being initiated into the world of letters and they are preparing to sit for an examination in September, most of them for the first time in their lives.It is in collaboration with the Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS) that the Literacy Mission started the novel venture, 'paristhithi saksharatha' in 2004. So far, more than 2,200 tribals have been initiated into the world of letters by the Mission.However, only half of them have shown the vigour to sit for exams or to continue studies through the equivalency programme of the Mission. This time, however, out of the 520 adult learners in these settlements, 300 are sitting for the examination which will be held on September 3 and 4. Being one of the most ambitious projects run by it, the Mission shares half the credit with AHADS which gives remuneration for the instructors engaged in teaching the tribals."The instructors have been chosen from among the tribal settlements. They are either PlusII or SSLC passed. Most of the adult learners in the settlements are women, who after their day's work gather at sunset and find time to learn and write. This is our third batch, but the efforts of our seven years are actually bearing fruits now. Because more people want to join for fourth, seventh and tenth equivalency courses and they really study instead of learning just to read and write their names," said K Ayyappan Nair, assistant director of KSLMA.Many of the women who were similarly initiated into learning by the Mission have shed their inhibitions, sought jobs outside and is leading better lives. The Mission points out the example of Eswari Reshan, once an illiterate tribal woman and now the District Panchayat member from Attappady.Those belonging to the 'Muthuka', 'Irula' and 'Kurumbar' communities are being offered the possibilities of education at present. Among them, the 'Kurumbars' have shown less inclination to write the exams, the Mission officials said.
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