KOCHI: The Girivikas project aimed to assist the Scheduled Tribe students who fail in the SSLC examination has lost its sheen. The project designed by the Nehru Yuva Kendra to assist the Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in the state has been accepted by the state government. The project is being funded by the Scheduled Tribe Development Department. According to the Nehru Yuva Kendra officials, many ST students have benefited from this scheme. “The course was started in 1993 and for many consecutive years, we have been able to sustain hundred percentage success . “Many students could enter into professional fields like engineering and teaching. But now it is showing a steep decline,” they said. According to the officials of the kendra, the low wages paid to the teachers is the major stumbling block to the success of the project.“They are being paid a minimal salary of ` 4000. Owing to this, the project fails to lure in more number of teachers,” they said. Moreover, often the authorities find it difficult to appoint teachers for subjects like science and commerce.According to the officials it is not only the non-availability of teachers that has cast a shadow on the success of the scheme but also the inclusion of plus one and plus two students, apart from SSLC students. “Initially we had to accommodate only 25 to 30 students. But it has increased to 50 students and there is no proportionate increase in the number of teachers. When this issue was brought to the notice of the Scheduled Tribe Minister P K Jayalakshmi, she said, “This issue has not come into my notice. I will do a detailed study on the subject and will take appropriate action for it.” The minister also added that the government will not allow the meager salary given to teachers to be an impediment to the project.
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