On the eve of Savitribai Phule Jayanthi Dalit Sthree Sakthi organized a Round Table Conference on the theme of “Quality Education for All” on 3rd January 2018 at Conference Hall, Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad. In this meeting Jhansi Geddam, National Convener of Dalit Sthree Sakthi, GDV Prakash, National Program Manager of DSS, Sri PSN Murthy, IDAS (VR), Chairman of Ambedkar Mission, Dr Sudarshan, Professor of Nizam College, Dr Sobha Rani, Professor of Government Degree College, Dr Siddoji Rao, Director, IAS/IPS Officers Forum, Suharlatha, Industrialist participated and elucidated on the importance of education.
Jhansi Geddam detailing about the objective of the RTC said Dalits in general and dalit women in particular are still steeped in illiteracy, superstition and poverty. Imparting formal education and also enlightening on ideological issues is an important component of Ambedkarism. Only when the dalit women get formally educated andideologically enlightened, they can demand equality and equity in all spheres in a natural way. Without education, it is difficult to motivate the dalit women to struggle for rights, equality and equity. With this broader objective in mind DSS takes every opportunity to highlight the importance of education. The birth anniversary of Savithri Bhai Phule is one such opportunity to focus on the importance of education, as Savitri Bhai Phule is an icon for education.
The gist of the speeches by the dignitaries is summed up as follows:
Dalits and dalit women were kept away from education for long, which continued till recently. Even now they are kept away from quality education. This inequity should be ended for the present dalit children. All dalit children should be educated without exception.
There should be no illiterate dalit citizens in future.
The dalit children even when they are educated in the formal institutions, they are unable to stand in competitive world as against the children who are educated in corporate educational institutions. Hence, it is necessary to strive for imparting quality education in the government schools.
As on today the situation of the government schools is pathetic without teachers, minimum facilities and this is affecting the children in having good foundation at the primary level.
Jyothi Bhai Phule dedicated her life for the education of downtrodden because she believed that with education of women only the society can progress.
Quality education means providing all facilities. Corporate schools give training to stand up in competition, but the government schools are lagging behind.
Imparting quality education is the responsibility of the Government and we should all struggle to see that the government discharges its duty.
