The scheme aims to impart basic education, nutrition, and awareness to tribal children aged 6–12. The scheme offers meals, learning material, and other support through community-run centres.
Maa-Badi / Maa-Badi Day-Care Centre Scheme - Introduction
Objectives:
- Enroll 30 tribal children aged 6 to 12 years at each Maa-Badi Centre, giving preference to girls.
- Provide free breakfast and mid-day meals to enrolled children.
- Distribute uniforms, shoes, socks, ties, belts, and sweaters to each child.
- Prevent migration of children of agricultural laborers by ensuring consistent education.
- Involve mothers of enrolled children in food preparation on a rotational basis with honorarium.
- Link tribal women to adult literacy programs through Maa-Badi centres.
- Create awareness about government schemes on health, nutrition, and sanitation.
- Operate centres through local Village Development Committees with oversight from technical staff.
The scheme "Maa-Badi / Maa-Badi Day-Care Centre Scheme" was introduced by the Tribal Area Development Department, Government of Rajasthan, during the year 2007–2008. It aims to provide basic primary education, nutritional support, and awareness on health and sanitation to out-of-school children from Scheduled Tribes (ST), Kathodi, and Sahariya communities in remote tribal areas. Under this scheme, free education (classes 1st to 4th), nutritious meals, uniforms, and learning materials are provided to tribal children aged 6 to 12 years residing in areas where the nearest school is 1.5–2 km away. The scheme is implemented by the Tribal Area Development Project Office with community participation and employs local educated tribal youth and women.
Benefits
- Free primary education (classes 1st to 4th).
- Breakfast and nutritious mid-day meals.
- Free uniforms, school bags, shoes, socks, sweaters, ties, and belts.
- Free sports equipment etc.
Day-Care Centre Specific Benefits:
- Full-day (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) operation.
- 2 education facilitators and 3 assistants at each centre.
- Meals are provided twice a day.
Maa-Badi Centre Specific Benefits:
- Operates as per the school calendar.
- 1 education facilitator and 2 assistants per centre.
- Breakfast and one mid-day meal.
Eligibility
- The applicant should be a child aged 6 to 12 years.
- The applicant should belong to the Scheduled Tribe, Kathodi, or Sahariya community.
- The applicant should reside in Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Sirohi, or Rajsamand districts.
- The applicant should not currently be enrolled in any formal school.
- The applicant should reside in areas where the nearest school is at least 1.5–2 km away.
Application Process
- Step 1: The interested applicant should visit (during office hours) the Maa-Badi Centre and request a hard copy of the prescribed format of the application form from the staff exclusively entrusted to issue and collect filled-in applications.
- Step 2: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
- Step 3: Submit the duly filled and signed application form along with the documents to the Maa-Badi Centre.