The Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) has embarked on a groundbreaking digital initiative to map all habitations across the state using its newly developed DAHAR 2.0 portal and mobile application. This marks the first time such comprehensive mapping is being conducted through digital means in Jharkhand's education sector.
Digital Transformation in Education Planning
According to officials, an intensive house-to-house survey is currently underway as preparation for the state's upcoming Shishu Panji (child register) Survey scheduled to begin in December. JEPC Director Shashi Ranjan emphasized the critical importance of this exercise during an announcement on Wednesday.
"Habitation mapping is crucial for improving school access, planning new infrastructure, identifying out-of-school children, and rationalizing teacher deployment," Ranjan stated, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of this digital initiative.
Strict Deadlines and Accountability Measures
The door-to-door survey will document the number of children in each household and specifically record if any child has dropped out of school. Ranjan has directed all district education officials to ensure completion of habitation mapping for every school by month-end, setting a tight one-week deadline for the task.
"Negligence or indifference in this work will not be tolerated," Ranjan warned, adding that continuous monitoring would be conducted and unsatisfactory or delayed work would invite action against Block Education Officers and Headmasters.
Weekly monitoring of both the mapping exercise and subsequent Shishu Panji Survey would be carried out by the state headquarters to ensure smooth implementation.
Comprehensive Implementation Strategy
As part of this ambitious initiative, all school principals have been mandated to participate in the door-to-door survey. Teachers from government-aided schools will provide additional support, particularly in single-teacher schools where resources are limited.
Survey teams have received specific instructions to record both ward names and ward numbers for every household covered, ensuring precise geographical data collection. JEPC has made it mandatory for all teachers to download the DAHAR 1.4 version of the application specifically designed for habitation mapping.
Access to the DAHAR portal and application is restricted to teachers registered on the e-Vidyavahini platform, maintaining data security and accountability.
Progress Report and Quality Assurance
The initiative has already shown significant progress with 3,614 schools completing their habitation mapping. Ranchi district has emerged as the state leader in this endeavor, with an impressive 52% of its schools having achieved their mapping targets.
Another JEPC official, Binita Tirkey, emphasized the importance of data accuracy, stating that no household should be surveyed twice and no two schools should be tagged to the same catchment area.
"The Shishu Panji Survey is the responsibility of every teacher. Those who do not participate will be asked to submit a written explanation. Headmasters must conduct household surveys alongside teachers to ensure full coverage," Tirkey asserted, underscoring the collective responsibility approach.
The comprehensive digital mapping exercise represents a significant step forward in Jharkhand's education planning, leveraging technology to create accurate data for better resource allocation and educational outcomes across the state.
