India, Feb. 11 -- Already marginalised, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on tribal groups, especially children in Koraput; but civil society is trying its best to undo the damage
In the past few years, research studies have revealed several factors responsible for the low literacy rate among India's tribal children. A disregard for these children's rich socio-cultural characteristics and diverse linguistic backgrounds has resulted in poor academic performance and low achievement levels in both, their mother-tongues and mainstream languages.
Koraput district in southern Odisha falls under the Fifth Schedule Areas of the state. According to the 2011 Census, the tribal literacy rate in the district is 50.56. Of this, male literacy is 49.7 per ...