Six RSTCs under Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan closed down

Plea to revoke decision to close down RSTCs

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (ASSA) has closed down six RSTCs (Residential Special Training Centre) in four districts of the State from April 1, 2022. These include two RSTCs in Biswanath district, two in Dhemaji district and one each in Kamrup (metro) and Sonitpur districts.

The RSTC intervention is for 'out-of-school' children in the 11-14 years age group. The RSTC is run in a residential mode. The prime objective of this intervention is to bring the 'out-of-school' children — including the child labourers, and get them enrolled in his/her age-appropriate class in a formal school. After that, they are provided special training support so that they can be mainstreamed in due course. The special training is provided for a maximum of two years.

In Assam, there were 92 RSTCs. The notice from the office of the Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha, Assam stated that all learners of RSTCs enrolled in the year 2019-20 were to be mainstreamed by March, 2022. In the six RSTCs, 100 per cent learners were mainstreamed. Hence, they were closed down from April 1, 2022. The remaining 86 RSTCs have been directed to mainstream their learners soon and then all the RSTCs will be closed down from June 30, 2022.

Till March 23, 2022, the total enrolment in RSTCs in the State was 5,749. Out of these, within March, 2,993 learners were mainstreamed. There are now 2,756 learners in the 86 RSTCs who will be mainstreamed soon before all the RSTCs are closed down.

On the other hand, the Sadou Assam RSTC Workers' Association has demanded that RSTCs must not be closed down. Talking to The Sentinel, president of the association, Abdur Rajib said, "There are 600 workers engaged in these RSTCs. If the RSTCs are closed down, they will become jobless. We will seek the Chief Minister's intervention in this issue and urge the government to revoke the decision to close down the RSTCs.

"Some states have taken permission from the Project Approval Board (PAB) of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to continue the RSTCs. Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission should also take raise the issue with the PAB and take permission to continue the RSTCs."

The RSTC scheme under the Sarba Siksha Abhiyan started in 2003. Each RSTC has staff like education volunteer, caretaker-cum store keepers. Abdur added, "Education Volunteers receive Rs 7,500 monthly. On the other hand, the fourth-grade employees get Rs 5,500. If the government goes ahead with its decision, what will happen to the workers who are rendering their services in these RSTCs? The government must secure their jobs."

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