Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Education in Rural Odisha and Response Through Community-Led Education Initiative: Mo Chatashali

Abstract

The 'Mo Chatashali' education initiative addressed the digital divide among rural underprivileged children and bridged their learning gaps by adopting a local-to-local strategy. It worked effectively during the pandemic despite limited government support to provide education for needy children in the remotest areas of Odisha.

Through Mo Chatashali, Atmashakti successfully delivered an innovative remedial learning platform for children from underprivileged rural communities in Odisha during the pandemic. It helped children return to the fore of education during the covid-19 induced lockdowns and reduced potential child marriages and child labor. It also shielded them from helping with household chores, sibling care, and more. Atmashakti's 'Mo Chatashali' education initiative is more than a replicable model in emergencies like COVID-19. It is an inclusive education model in resourceless areas. It enables communities to take charge, playing a vital role in helping their children learn and thrive. Mo Chatashali is a testimony of a community-driven success story. Moreover, 'Mo Chatashali' was the sole hope to bridge the academic gap the pandemic fueled for over 0.10 million children from the tribal and Dalit communities (Kallie, 2020).