Considering the importance of basic education for children, BGVS has undertaken a project under the title of "Non-Formal Education of a different kind" (or Jeevanshala). This programme is meant to develop effective linkage between literacy and primary education. Wyra block in Khammam district (Andhra Pradesh), Samalkha block in Haryana and Nawada block in Bihar have been identified to take up the initial experiment under this project, while the other states are in the process of completing their survey data and project proposals. The programme addresses the wrong ethodology of education, the non-enjoyable teaching process leading to school dropouts as it exists today. The aim is to increase enrolment, stop dropouts, improve achievements, and to make education meaningful by linking it to the lives of the children. Jeevanshala...linking life to school
Jeevanshala has the twin objective of providing life-based education to non-school going children of block, while ensuring that they also move back into regular schools. There was unanimity that the approach of this project should be in the spirit of a mass campaign for Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) and the attempt should be to create a block level model in contrast to the district level model of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC). As for the identification of areas, it was felt that the project should be implemented in successful TLC districts where a sustained spirit of voluntarism and public action has taken roots that can ensure participation, cooperation and support of the general public.