Assessment of Propagation of Higher Education through ODL in Tribal Districts of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Dissemination of higher education through open and distance education (ODL) in tribal areas in state Madhya Pradesh is a challenging task mainly due to their socio-economic condition and ethno cultural settings for the Government of India. In the present paper an attempt has been made to develop effective ODL practices based on delivery mechanism model for the dissemination of higher education in predominantly tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh. It has been seen especially in the state of Madhya Pradesh, one- fifth (21.08 percent) of its population constitute tribal population which is very high as compared to any other state of our country except North Eastern States of India where the tribal population is also considerably high . On the other hand, the enrolment share of ODL of tribal population in higher education is approximately 2 per cent which is significantly low considering the population share of tribal people. As far state of Madhya Pradesh is concerned, the concentration of tribal population is relatively more than 20% in various Districts of MP Alirajpur(89%), Jhabua ( 87%), Badwani (69.4%),Dindori (64.73%), Mandla (57.95%), Dhar (55.9%), Anuppur (47.84%), Umaria (46.72%), Shahdol(44.70%), Betul (42.3%), Khargon earlier known as west Nimar (39%), Seoni (37.7%), Chindwara (36.38%), Khandwa earlier knows as east Nimar (35%), Singrouli (32.59%), Bhuranpur(30.4%), Ratlam( 28.2%), Harda (28.0%) Sidhi (27.81%), Katni (24.60%) Shopur (23.47%), Balaghat (22.52%) and Agarmalwa (21.10%) Districts. IGNOU and Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University Bhopal (MPBOU) have made sincere attempt to disseminate higher education through ODL by establishing its Regular Study Centres and Special Study centres (SSCs) in Tribal areas and these centres are mainly activated for under graduate programmes, Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP), and Computer Literacy Programme (CLP). In this paper information collected from secondary sources will be analyzed besides taking the perception of key informants into consideration by visiting tribal districts. Paper also seeks to analyze the involvement Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions in addressing the issues of Higher education in the tribal area. Further In this paper an attempt will also be made to assess how information and communication technology (ICT) can enhance the accessibility with equity. Attempt will also be made to suggest suitable strategy to enhance access and equity of quality higher education in the tribal area through ODL mode. The paper will chalk out a detailed strategy to make wide spread use of MeLT Van in the tribal areas to higher education accessible through ODL intervention in order to bridge the existing gap so that knowledge and skill of the youth can be enhanced and this will have cascading effects on the living standard of this unreached section of populace.