Pratham began operations in Chattisgarh in May 2007, when it piloted “Learning to Read” project in Salva Judum Camps of Dantewada district. The project was funded by UNICEF. The camps are characterized by political disturbances on account of the ongoing battle between the Naxalites and the Government. However, due to the efforts of the 25 member team across 13 camps, the assessment conducted before and after the program indicated phenomenal improvement in the status of learning. 600 teachers were trained and manuals distributed. Against this backdrop, Pratham and the Govt. of Chattisgarh, through the RGSM, proceeded to implement the “Read Chattisgarh-Read India” program in all government primary schools across the state from August 2007.
Read India is operational in 14 districts, 20028 villages and reaching almost 2, 850,000 children. The program has been planned and executed through a close collaboration with the state government. Today, a Read Chattisgarh slogan painted on walls is visible in almost every village in the state. Chattisgarh has been a huge success story as far as improvements in learning levels of the children are concerened. ASER 2008 reveals that the percentage of children in STD III who can read a Std I level text has increased to 47%, from 20.6 % last year. Similarly, percentage of Std III students who could do basic subtraction was 47.6 % and those who do division was 15.9 %. This is up from 19.6% and 2.2 % last year.
Chattisgarh shows dramatic improvements in reading – ASER 2008