Reinforcing Mother Tongue Based Early Childhood Education in Tribal Language in Rayagada

Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta

Associate editor

Rayagada, March 7: There are sixty two types of tribes in Odisha; but only 32 numbers of tribal languages are still spoken. 30 languages have been almost extinct. UNESCO has identified several Indian indigenous languages as endangered. In Odisha, there are tribal scripts namely, Soura, Mundari, Santhali & Ho. It may be remembered that due to a sustained campaign of Odisha Adibasi Manch, the then Chief Secretary of Odisha Bijaya Patnaik issued an order during 2012 to initiate mother tongue based multilingual early childhood education(MTMLE) in Anganwadi Centres. In 2013, National ECCE Policy emphasized on MTMLE. During 2015, primers in 10 tribal languages named “Nua Arunima” were published after Odisha Govt signing an MOU with a Netherlands based agency named Bernd Van Leer Foundation. ICDS workers were trained on MTMLE. With passage of time, this effort took a back seat with certain discrepancies in the system.

Now again efforts are on so that tribal pre-schoolers enrolled in anganwadi centres will start learning in their own language and not in Odia. Deputy CM Pravati Parida launched ‘Aame Padhibaa Aama Bhasare’, under which the medium of instruction for foundational learning for tribal children in the age group of 3 to 6 at anganwadi centres will be their mother tongue.

 This is aligned with the recommendations of the National Education Policy-2020, which emphasises the importance of instruction in mother tongue or local language at the foundational stage.

This state sector scheme aims to strengthen early learning outcomes among tribal children through mother tongue-based education in 21 tribal languages of Odisha. The project will be piloted this year in six tribal districts-Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. In subsequent years, it will be extended to other districts with a significant ST population that speaks 21 tribal languages. In the first year, the initiative will focus on 6 tribal languages, namely Munda, Kui, Gondi, Saura, Kuvi and Koya.

Since Odisha is home to one of the most diverse groups of tribal communities – having 62 ethnic groups – the Government has been trying to create an identity for tribal dialects so that they hold their own among the dominant languages. This will strongly contain the linguistic genocide.

Recently Collector Asutosh Kulkarni inaugurated Nua Arunima book in Kuvi language spoken by Kondh tribals of undivided Koraput. He launched ‘Ame Padhiba Ama Bhasare’ progamme in DRDA conference hall. Under this flagship programme of Odisha Govt where Nua Arunima has been introduced in 21 tribal languages, a district-level orientation and capacity building programme has been successfully organized.

The programme was attended by District Social Welfare Officer Minti Deo, District Information and Public Relations Officer Basant Kumar Pradhan, Assistant District Information and Public Relations Officer Debraj Takri, Additional District Education Officer, Adarsha Anganwadi workers, guardian parents, PRI members, ICDS supervisors, CDPOs, various district-level officers and 60 stakeholders from across the district.

Kulkarni, while addressing the programme, appreciated this initiative. According to him, early childhood is the most important stage of development. Learning in mother tongue helps children build self-confidence and ensures strong foundational learning. He stressed on the importance of coordination among departments, total participation and active involvement of frontline workers and encouraged parents and Panchayati Raj members to support Anganwadi centres in creating a child-friendly learning environment.

The programme aims to strengthen mother tongue-based early learning for tribal children in Anganwadi centres. This scheme of the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Odisha aims to strengthen early learning in local tribal languages for children aged 3-6 years. It will help children develop their communication skills, participation, self-confidence and school readiness.

 The programme will provide mother tongue-based early learning in selected Anganwadi centres. The aim is to strengthen classroom use, focus on game-based learning, early literacy and numeracy and total participation. The program was conducted with the active participation of the Piramal Foundation team.

“Though this is a very good initiative, we must learn from the past mistakes and move forward. I alongwith my colleagues in OAM have gone through the earlier primers in Kuvi and Sorasompeng.

The mistakes avalanche were  clearly visible. We are yet to see the new avatar of Nua Arunima in Kuvi and Saura language. This is like same old wine in newly packaged bottle. We will shortly go through the recently published books and suggest rectifications, if any, to the Govt at appropriate levels. Our language is our prime identity- adibasi asmita.

We will never allow a linguistic genocide”, said Dibakar Sabar, District President of of Adivasi Cell of KBK Surakhya O Unnayan Parishad(KBK-SUP).