“National development cannot happen without the progress of tribals in the country as they constitute 8.2 per cent of the total population in India.
Though the government has brought a new draft policy called National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), we demand a separate and independent section in the ECCE policy on adivasis,” said Mr K. Krishnan, executive director of Adivasi Solidarity Council (ASC) Tamil Nadu.
The ASC, in association with the National Advocacy Council for Development of Indigenous People (NACDIP) and People’s Rural Education Movement (PREM), Odisha, had organised a one-day state-level consultation on the ECCE policy.
Tribal associations and social activists across the state participated in the discussion. The ECCE policy reaffirms the commitment of the government to provide integrated services for holistic development of all children from 0-6 years of age.
Mr Krishnan added, “While the ECCE policy stresses on optimal development and active learning capacity of all children below six years, we urge a separate section in the ECCE policy on adivasis and also mother-tongue based multi-lingual early childhood education and care in all scheduled and non-scheduled adivasi villages of India.
” Mr K. Shanmuga Velayutham, convenor of Tamil Nadu forum for Crèche and Child Care Services (TN-Forces) said, “We demand certain modifications in the Draft National ECCE Policy.”