Skip to content Skip to navigation

Ekal Vidyalayas empowering tribals economically and socially

By Daya Nath Singh |

Mission of Friends of Tribal Society (FTS) is to eradicate illiteracy from rural areas, particularly tribals, so that a literate population simultaneously gets access to primary health, child care and gainful self-employment to empower them economically and socially. The Society established in 1989 along with likeminded organizations, has now spread to nearly 38,120 villages as on June,30,2012, in 23 states of India, where 10,76,691 students and lakhs of adults in villages are getting benefit of the Ekal’s education programmes. In the North East Ekal has its presence in 3,060 villages with about one lakh children being given support education. The society has evolved a cost effective support education system where the one teacher school functions in a village under a tree or in open space provided by the inhabitants of the village.


A local tribal youth from the same village or a neighboring village is associated to function as the Acharya of the school following induction training and recurring training support for effectively transacting the curriculum. He is also provided with necessary teaching aids to run the school for three hours a day at a time convenient to the students. Syllabus of three years--- comprising seven subjects would enable a child to get admission in class 3 or 4 of a formal primary school. Teachers are also motivated during their training to guide the students to develop consciousness about personal hygiene, healthcare, village sanitation and to free themselves from the age-old habit of alcohol consumption which is a bane of the tribal society. To make the tribals healthy, strong and gainfully employed, Ekal Vidyalaya runs a four pronged programme of education as primary education, healthcare education, development education and the empowerment education.


Besides motivating them to go to school daily, Ekal Vidyalaya imparts support education for three hours daily to children of the village who do not go to any school or even those who go to other schools.
Through health care education programme the vidyalaya disseminates information about health hazards and preventive measures through community participation. The emphasis is on hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, first aid, maternal and child care and information on common diseases prevailing in the local area.
Under development education providing information on various income generating programmes, the objective of the Ekal Vidyalaya is to make the village self-reliant by utilizing local resources. For sustaining development, small projects like vermin-culture, tree plantation, vegetable plantation, water management, animal husbandry etc, are pursued.


Ekal Vidyalayas educate villagers about various government schemes meant for their benefit. Modalities of using ‘Right to Information Act’ are also in the curriculum under empowerment education. Through four -pronged functional education program, the Ekal Vidyalaya wants to realise integrated village development to help marginalized population become literate, healthy and economically well-off to lead a dignified life.
Ekal Vidyalayas work is being recognized globally. Besides having support in Indian cities it has a strong support base in eleven countries like Australia, Canada, Dubai, Hongkong, Newzeeland, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA), where it has 40 chapters. Besides many other recognisations and service awards, Ekal Vidyalaya had the privilege of being selected by the organizers of Petrotech Society and ONGC as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner for Petrotech 2010.


Recently Ekal has been selected to receive the National Award for 2011 for its contribution in spreading literacy among tribals inhabiting interior areas of India by Lala Dewan Chand Trust, Delhi. Over the years programmes run by Ekal Vidyalayas have shown positive impact on the villagers. These are registering of Indian Sansakar on young minds, eradication of drinking habits, mutual co-operation, greater interest in education, greater awareness about hygiene and cleanliness and striving for self sufficiency.


The Guwahati chapter of the Friends of Tribals Society was formed in the year 2005 and since then it has been responsible for expanding and the smooth running of the Ekal Vidyalayas in the entire north east region. The whole northeast has been divided into 16 districts for the convenience of effective administration and each district has a full-fledged district committee with its own office to look after the functioning of the Ekal Vidyalaya in its respective area. The committees are supported by a team of about 600 full time workers, who have voluntarily come forward to spare their lives for the National cause.

  • 7759 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Assam: a victim of fruitless publicity

Reacting to some recent announcements by Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, one of his critics said, ‘If assurances, promises, advertisements and laying of foundation stones are the signs of development, then of course Assam is more developed state in comparison to Bihar.’ The critic passed this remark over an elusive speech by the chief minister in a function held in Guwahati recently. It is reported that the chief minister claimed strongly that Assam was more developed state than Bihar. The critic further said that this was a nightmare of the chief minister, who seemed to be ‘jealous’ of the functioning of Bihar government led by Janata Dal (U) leader, Nitish...

Assam’s first 24x7 news channel launched

News Time Assam, the first 24x7 news channel of Assam was launched in presence of Rose Valley Group Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Gautam Kundu, channel’s Chief Editor, Pratap Bordoloi ,Rosé Valley Group Director, Shivomoy Dutta and Soumendo Das, Business head of Brand Value Communication Ltd, who briefed the media persons on this occasion. With its signal tested two weeks back, the project has been completed in six months with all the permissions from the Central and State governments. The channel has begun with a motto to uplift the aspirations of the rural people, With its launch the News Time Assam has become a major player as a media organization in the North East...

Anarchy prevails at BSNL, Guwahati

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Guwahati is functioning in complete anarchy. The telephone users and subscribers keep on running from pallor to post for redress of their grievances every day, but there is not a single person, who can assure the removal of anomalies in the functioning of the department. For instance, a subscriber having telephone connection from BSNL No 0361-2491959 lodged a complaint for repairs of the fault at ‘198’ in the month of May 2010. Since the subscriber is a senior citizen and a freelance journalist, he has got Broadband connection also for his professional activities. Due to faulty telephone neither he was in position to use it nor...

Jana Jagriti calls to Save River Brahmaputra

China has constructed two reservoirs of 42 million cubic meter and 31 million cubic meter at Great Band area, which is 60-70 kms away from village Gogring in India, said Jana Jagriti chief, Ashok Anand Singhal. Addressing the media persons at Guwahati recently, Singhal refuted China’s claim that these water reservoirs are the result of landslides. He said, this is not a landslide, but it’s man made. He added that it is well known fact that water storage facilities are needed for power project. Now China is constructing four tunnels. Tunnel one will generate 16,000 MW, while other two tunnels are of 26,600MW (13300 MW) each and fourth tunnel will generate 2,400 MW of electricity...

Hojai farmers victim of land grabbers

Farmers in Hojai subdivision of Nagaon district of Assam are spending sleepless nights due to the fear of land mafias, who are conspiring to grab their agricultural land with the help of a few corrupt district officials, said Shiladitya Dev, National Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha. Addressing the media persons at Guwahati Press club on December 8 last, he alleged that for the last few months it is noticed that land mafias have been trying to grab the land by fraudulent means and have been utilizing the services of a few government officials in the nefarious deals. In this connection he has already submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary, Assam He further said...

It’s all Gogoi vs. Gogoi

‘Proud must have a fall’, is the old proverb universally accepted. Being in power one can boast much and challenge anybody to prove his strength. Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi is no exception to it. He has recently challenged Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader, Akhil Gogoi, to prove his strength by contesting elections, which is now-a- days is generally won by money and muscle power. The Chief Minister is well aware that Akhil Gogoi has neither money nor muscle power to win the race. Whether he has support of grass root people or not, was witnessed recently, when he called the people for rallies protesting against administrative corruption and construction of...

A question mark on Assam health services?

Assam Governor, Janaki Ballabh Pattanaik, who recently fell into the bathroom of Dibrugarh circuit house, had to go to All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi for treatment of the fracture .There successful surgery has been done on his ailment. Similarly, when the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi had to go for by-pass surgery, he was advised to go to Mumbai. It all makes the fun of the Assam’s health and family welfare departments, which claims of providing ‘world class’ services in the healthcare sector. It is a question mark on state’s health services? If the publicity through the advertisements of the Assam government in media is to be...

Child domestic workers need social justice

Despite child labor legislation enforced in the country, the children in domestic works are not treated as children at all. The domestic workers below the age of 18 years, who are employed within households to perform chores, can be as young as four or five years old. Children in domestic work are one of the most disturbing factor in our society. It is disturbing because these children are isolated and separated from their family. The high incidence of deceptive recruitment and trafficking characterizes it and exploitative nature of working condition makes the children vulnerable to sexual abuse. The North Eastern Regional Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (NERDWWT), an NGO based in...

Mistrust high on Government-militants peace talks

Unabated militant activities and delay in creating conducive atmosphere for the peace talks between the Government and militants, comprising the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)’s pro=talk group, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Dima Halong Daogah (DHD) and others, is the main reason leading to gradual disappointment among the minds of the people of Assam, who are eagerly awaiting for return of peace in the state at any cost. The Union and State governments are watching for an appropriate time to suit their ‘political aims’ fulfilled and make the anti-talk militant groups weaker by the every passing day. Even the militants do not spare a single day,...

Female health attendants deprived of legal benefits

With a view to provide medical facilities to children and pregnant women, the Government of India in the Sixth Five-year Plan in 1981, decided to establish sub health centers in rural areas of the country. Accordingly Assam government had to open sub health centers in every village having population of 5,000 in the plain and 3,000 in the hilly areas. For every sub health centre one nurse was appointed and for their help one female attendant was also appointed. In addition to this one lady health visitor (supervisor) was also appointed for six sub health centers. As per the system of Assam Government, the nurses and supervisors get the salary according to third grade employees as...