Maharashtra: Varsha Gaikwad announces measures to curb dropout rates, uphold child rights

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra school education minister Varsha Gaikwad today announced that the state government has established Sakhi Savitri committees in schools to help in curbing dropout rates, upholding child rights, mobilising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and creating an inclusive atmosphere.

Varsha Gaikwad took to Twitter to inform about the Sakhi Savitri Committee. She said, “We are keen to build a culture of excellence in our classrooms. Our model schools aim to develop well-rounded individuals through quality education, develop emotional intelligence and marketable skills in our children.”

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The Sakhi Savitri committees will have health workers, Anganwadi sevikas, teachers, school management committees, counsellors, children themselves and all stakeholders.

Saying that “a healthy student is one who can build our country's future”, Varsha Gaikwad said, “SCERT and UNICEF will partner for a campaign for better menstrual hygiene and awareness.”

To improve school infrastructure and libraries in model schools, the Maharashtra education department will be tying up with Shantilal Muttha foundation, Empathy foundation and Pehlay Akshar. Khan Academy will help develop e-learning resources and D-Mart will help in setting up computer labs in model schools, she added.

Schools are the second home of children, to ensure a smooth experience for them from the time they start there till they pass out,we are announcing the establishment of Sakhi Savitri committees in schools. Children are our future and their overall well being is our responsibility pic.twitter.com/0pmHN8EIWr

— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) March 8, 2022

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“To augment education experience of our students, Pratham shall hold preparatory camps before school, Aurobindo foundation shall help with micro scholarships for the economically weak, whereas Edelgive foundation shall prepare students for the future with skill development courses,” the minister informed in a Twitter thread.

Apart from these initiatives, Maharashtra school students will also attend self-defence and good and bad touch workshops.

The school education minister also thanked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and also deputy CM Ajit Pawa “for being generous with funds for developing our schools and also taking a personal interest in this”. She further extended her gratitude to State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Maharashtra Mayor Jyotsna Hasnale, MLA Geetha Bharat Jain, municipal commissioner Dilip Dhole.