Success of Illam Thedi Kalvi Scheme, Benefit For 35 Lakh Students In Just 2 Years

The Dravidian model government has brought drastic changes to the education sector, one such change is Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme (Education at doorsteps). The scheme was introduced 2 years ago by CM Stalin, on 27th October, 2021 in a place called Mudaliarkuppam near Marakkanam.

It was a critical time for the school education sector, owing to the corona pandemic, paralysing the education field by confining students to their homes. Pandemic and the lockdown widened the learning gap which according to global studies may grow as a huge concern in future. Realising the concern, CM Stalin introduced the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme to bridge the widening learning gap.

CM Stalin perceived the scheme as a step towards extending the classrooms beyond schools. The scheme which received stern criticism in the initial stages has now been appreciated for benefitting 34.05 lakh government school students in approximately 92000 residencies.

The objective of the scheme is to bridge the learning gap created during the Corona period, so the government has decided to withdraw the scheme after some time. Recently, Education Minister Anbil Mahesh announced the continuation of the scheme, owing to the request of poor families. The reason being, the unaffordable nature of evening tuition fees by poor parents.

The UN discussed the significance of the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme in its assembly. California University conducted a survey named 'Covid-19 Learning Loss and Recovery: Panel Data Evidence from India', whose report was published online.

As per the study, Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme has broken the barriers in bridging the learning gap and recommended India to implement it across the country, owing to visible changes seen in just 6 months after the implementation of the scheme in Tamil Nadu.

According to volunteers who help in the implementation process, the scheme has played a major role in reducing caste discrimination among hilly people after its introduction in hilly areas. Approximately 2 lakh volunteers are teaching for around 35 lakh students through the scheme. The teaching process was carried out by teachers and volunteers daily, for one to one and half hours after school time.

In Madurai alone, 5800 centres are going to implement the scheme for which 7000 volunteers have already applied. Additionally 10,000 volunteers are needed who can register themselves by giving a missed call to the contact number 99402-55455. On receiving the call, the government will allocate the volunteers to the children who are needed to be taught at home.

The volunteers not just teach education, they also create awareness about the government schools among the parents. As a result of the volunteers' advice, 11 lakh children were enrolled in government schools. In 2023-24 academic year alone, 60,000 applications were received for Class I. According to the Tamil Nadu government, volunteers of the scheme met approximately 4.33 lakh students directly.

CM Stalin realising the advantages of the scheme, ordered State Planning Commission Vice Chairman Jayaranjan to study the project, the report for which was submitted by him in February, 2023.

After coming to power, CM Stalin used to say that education and health sectors are the two eyes of the DMK government. Regarding the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme, he said, "All Tamil Nadu students need is a little support and little motivation, nothing else. Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme is one such motivational factor for students."

It is an indisputable fact that the scheme brought tremendous changes to hilly areas rather than the urban areas. Inaccessibility of education for children residing in hilly areas is the reason for the existence of ignorance, after education was brought to their doorsteps, positive changes started to bloom in hilly areas.

Uma Maheshwari from Madurai has a daughter named Keerthika who is studying in Kallanai government school. Uma said, "After coming from school, around 5:30 pm in the evening Keerthika goes to the classes conducted by the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme. There is a noticeable change in her studies after she started attending the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme classes. Now she enjoys studying and also engages herself in a lot of extra-curricular activities."

Nallammal, a volunteer who transformed her house into a play school said, "As per the authorities' advice, I am teaching the lessons to the students by singing and dancing. Having studied in a government school myself I learnt this technique from my teachers which helped me in transforming the classroom into an interesting one. Parents who were reluctant to send their children have started sending them after seeing my teaching methods. Children in the neighbourhood also wish to come to me for studying."

According to Jayaranjan's report, the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme has significantly improved Tamil and English language skills of students. The report also says that the modern equipment used in this educational system helped to transform the learning and teaching process in a creative way and make it more easy and interesting.

To be precise, Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme is the intellectual weapon of Tamil Nadu people.