Abdul Gani
Sarojini Bhagabati, a widow from a remote village of Nalbari district of Assam has proved the power of will as the lady completed her Masters degree at the age of 72 years from the distance learning centre of Gauhati University. Now she is planning to do research to move ahead further in realizing her long nurtured dream.  

“Today I'm very happy that I have completed my Masters degree which I wanted to do over the years. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to IDOL (Institute of Distant and Open Learning of Gauhati University) for providing me the opportunity to realize it,” said Bhagabati who came out successfully at the results declared on Saturday in MA in Political Science.  

“Now, I would like to continue my studies and do research work especially on the lives and problems of suppressed Brahmin widows in our villages of the state. May be it would be my small contribution toward bringing them to a developed condition,” she said who herself had to struggle a lot against such social system.  

Bhagabati who draws inspiration from noted literary figure of the region Mamoni Raisom Goswami, said her success symbolizes the aspirations of many women who always wanted to do something different in their life.   

“I tried to prove that a woman from an underprivileged corner of the state can achieve the impossible even at the age of 72. There are many women like me even younger and talented and given the opportunity they can do wonders and I would like to send a message that nothing is impossible if you have the will,” she said.   

Remembering her earlier days the lady who was married off at a tender age of 13, said, “Due to my strong desire for knowledge, I could complete my Pre-University from B N College, Dhubri and BA from Handique Girls College in 1968, breaking all barriers of the then conservative Brahmin family and an orthodox society.”  

“I even collected the syllabus from Gauhati University in 1969, with a desire for pursuing MA, but it could not be materialized at that time” Bhagabati said who hails from Barnarddi in the Nalbari  

Meanwhile, the IDOL director Kandarpa Das said such feats are really motivating for the society and they deserve respect. “It's a huge performance. Hats off to her for her stupendous achievement,” he said.    February 2011

By Akummeren
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a Government of India's flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by the 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.  

SSA is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country and address the needs of 192 million children in 1.1 million habitations.            

The programme seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants.  

Existing schools with inadequate teaching strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level.            

SSA seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on girl's education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide.            

Here in Nagaland, SSA with its aim of achieving all-round, quality elementary education has now introduced taekwondo and archery as a sports discipline with the aim to provide opportunity to all ST students specially girl students, emphasizing on the importance of games and sports. Under this flagship programme, the two disciplines have been introduced in Government schools, for the first time, since July 2010 in every district of the state.  

All together, 44 schools with a capacity of 50 students each are benefiting from these two disciplines. It is expected that in future, a greater number of schools will be introducing these two disciplines, providing opportunities to more students. SSA has indeed taken a step further towards useful and quality education.    

WHAT IS SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN  

o A programme with a clear time frame for universal elementary education.
o A response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country.
o An opportunity for promoting social justice through basic education.
o An effort at effectively involving the Panchayati Raj Institutions, School Management Committees, Village and Urban Slum level Education Committees, Parents' Teachers' Associations, Mother Teacher Associations, Tribal Autonomous Councils and other grass root level structures in the management of elementary schools.
o An expression of political will for universal elementary education across the country.  
o A partnership between the Central, State and the local government.

October 2010

Akummeren works in the information office of government of Nagaland.  

WHAT IS SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN  

o A programme with a clear time frame for universal elementary education.
o A response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country.
o An opportunity for promoting social justice through basic education.
o An effort at effectively involving the Panchayati Raj Institutions, School Management Committees, Village and Urban Slum level Education Committees, Parents' Teachers' Associations, Mother Teacher Associations, Tribal Autonomous Councils and other grass root level structures in the management of elementary schools.
o An expression of political will for universal elementary education across the country.  
o A partnership between the Central, State and the local government.