Plywood companies within Perumbavoor municipal limits seem bent upon an image makeover as they throw open their doors to the participants of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority’s (KSLMA) novel migrant literacy project.
As of now, classroom sessions for migrants are being held on the premises of eight plywood companies on Sundays. One of them has even made available air-conditioned room for the purpose. More companies are volunteering to associate with the venture.
“Multiple sessions are being held on the premises of companies to suit the convenience of participants so that their plans for Sunday outings did not clash with the classes,” said V.V. Mathew, KSLMA district coordinator.
Over two months into the launch of the pilot project in all 28 wards of the Perumbavoor municipality, the KSLMA is encouraged by the overwhelming response it has evoked. While 432 migrants, predominantly from Assam, had initially registered for the project, the number has now exceeded that, and no one is being turned away.
The initial reluctance of participants has since given way to enthusiasm and that seems to have a rub-off effect on their peers, bringing them into the classes as well. Though it started off as a six-month package to make migrants literate in Malayalam to help with their everyday life here, the KSLMA is now open to extend it beyond that to meet the increased demand. An experience-sharing session was held on Thursday for students of MES College, Marampally, who serves as instructors and their feedback were positive.
“About 100 students from our college had undergone training for instructors before 43 were selected after due screening. According to them, migrants embraced the programme after their initial scepticism and lack of interest,” said A. Biju, College Principal. The sentiment was shared by Haseeb Hassan, a second-year B.Com. student who has been taking classes for migrants. He said the second class after the induction of participants was the most disheartening as the numbers dropped drastically.
“We had to go to their shelters and persuade them to participate in the programme. Based on the textbook we started training them in our own ingenious ways and that seemed to have done the trick,” said Mr. Hassan.
The instructors seem to have won their affection and confidence and have even shared their contact numbers with the participants. Some participants are in such friendly terms with them that photos taken with instructors are the profile pictures of their social network accounts.
Sessions are also being held at Continuous Education Centres, libraries, schools, public places, worksites, and shelters of migrant workers. Buoyed by the success, the KSLMA now plans to roll out the project at least in one panchayat in each district.
Published - November 10, 2017 08:16 am IST
