Literacy levels in rural India suffer from migration of families

• Literacy levels in rural households of India dip with seasonal migration, the UNESCO global education monitoring report 2019 has observed, bringing out the educational challenges thrown up by migration.
• About 80% of seasonal migrant children in seven cities lacked access to education near work sites, and 40% are likely to end up in work rather than education, experiencing abuse and exploitation.
• The report sees the growth of slums and informal settlements — where schools are often scarce — due to migration as a challenge.

Construction sector

• The report says that the construction sector absorbs the majority of short-term migrants.
• Inter-State migration rates have doubled between 2001 and 2011.
• It also warns of the negative impact on education for children who are left behind as their parents migrate.

Addressing the issue

• The Right to Education Act in 2009 made it mandatory for local authorities to admit migrant children. National-level guidelines were issued, allowing for flexible admission of children, providing transport and volunteers to support with mobile education, create seasonal hostels and aiming to improve coordination between sending and receiving districts and states.
• The report says some State governments have also taken steps for migrant children’s education.
• It, however, observes that most interventions are focused on keeping children in home communities instead of actively addressing the challenges faced by those who are already on the move.

The Hindu