http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/blog/2009/06/26/the-young-corridor/ Chintan in India Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:02:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/blog/2009/06/26/the-young-corridor/#comment-14 iain Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:23:09 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/?p=65#comment-14 Got it. I suppose the issue is whether advocates insist that governments fulfil their responsibilities or try to fill the gap that they leave. Chintan seems to doing both, and rather well. Recycling raises a similar challenge does it not, because if the govt did its job and managed the waste, there would be no waste pickers and no recycling? Look forward to reading your analysis of waste and recycling.. Got it. I suppose the issue is whether advocates insist that governments fulfil their responsibilities or try to fill the gap that they leave. Chintan seems to doing both, and rather well. Recycling raises a similar challenge does it not, because if the govt did its job and managed the waste, there would be no waste pickers and no recycling? Look forward to reading your analysis of waste and recycling..

]]> http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/blog/2009/06/26/the-young-corridor/#comment-12 Ted Mathys Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:30:42 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/?p=65#comment-12 Thanks much for this comment. Yes, you are right that the ultimate goal for Chintan's education program is to help prepare students to gain access to the formal education system. The problem is that here, as in many places, there is a seemingly insoluble contradiction that plays out between laws and reality, especially in the area of publicly funded social services. For example, in recent years there was a welfare fund for children established that was intended to provide roughly 100 rupees per month to the most disadvantaged kids. The Chintan education team navigated the process and registered scores of kids for the program, but after 18 months, Rajneesh said they haven't seen a cent. Amid such uncertainty, Chintan has charted a pragmatic course, seeking to funnel kids into formalized education (with all of the challenges that it entails for this community) as well as equipping them with life skills. Thanks much for this comment. Yes, you are right that the ultimate goal for Chintan’s education program is to help prepare students to gain access to the formal education system. The problem is that here, as in many places, there is a seemingly insoluble contradiction that plays out between laws and reality, especially in the area of publicly funded social services. For example, in recent years there was a welfare fund for children established that was intended to provide roughly 100 rupees per month to the most disadvantaged kids. The Chintan education team navigated the process and registered scores of kids for the program, but after 18 months, Rajneesh said they haven’t seen a cent. Amid such uncertainty, Chintan has charted a pragmatic course, seeking to funnel kids into formalized education (with all of the challenges that it entails for this community) as well as equipping them with life skills.

]]> http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/blog/2009/06/26/the-young-corridor/#comment-11 iain Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:02:07 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/tmathys/?p=65#comment-11 Well-written and very thought-provoking. I wonder about your comment that "the right to education is the right to learn and grow, whether or not that learning takes place in school." Should we not at least aspire to provide everyone with access to formal education, particularly if state funds are involved - and if anything give preferential treatment to the marginalized and poor? Is that not the goal of "No Child in Trash?" Illiteracy is a product of discrimination - ie the unfair allocation of resources. Interested in your thoughts. Well-written and very thought-provoking. I wonder about your comment that “the right to education is the right to learn and grow, whether or not that learning takes place in school.” Should we not at least aspire to provide everyone with access to formal education, particularly if state funds are involved – and if anything give preferential treatment to the marginalized and poor? Is that not the goal of “No Child in Trash?” Illiteracy is a product of discrimination – ie the unfair allocation of resources. Interested in your thoughts.

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