Tribal India is struggling today to aquire their basic needs in which the the education of the promary school going tribal chidren suffer most. In fact Govt. of India under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (right to education / education for all) provides some minimum facilities and incentives for these primary school going children but of not much facilitating. But, on the other hazards are much more binding and powerful than the support provided to the chidren by the Governent, which does not help the children to avail these public facilities. Most of the parents of the tribal India are either agriculturists or involved in some other occupations. But when the whole family is collectively involved or engaged in common endeavour for earning their daily food, no matter how serious the other matters are. daily bread or right to livelihood is of highest concern of the day, or else they have no right for food even at home. Here is a beautiful description of a tribal boy who needs to go to school but is unable to find time due to the pressures of work at home:
Tan tan rings school bell, but my teacher
How should I come to study ?
My sick and old father forces me to graze cattle
And then how can I come to study, my teacher..?
My mother frail one forces me to fetch water from the village well
How then I can come to school...?
Tan tan rings the bell of the school my teacher
My elder brother forces me to take care of the small children.
Then how can I come to school to study, my teacher.
My elder brother's wife compulses me to prepare food.
How to come then to school my techer...?
Tan tan rings bell my techer,
My elder sister makes me lift cow dung
from cow shade my teacher
Then how can I come to study my master....?
This folk song is creation of the school going tribal boys and girls og Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh and is appropriately sung in the public places for music competion, marraiges, pleasure hearing and other occasons.
