Patna, March 14: Education is one of the most neglected sectors in the Hindi heartland and requires an immediate overhaul, said Patna University acting vice-chancellor Sudipto Adhikari.

He was speaking at a workshop on “challenges for education in Hindi heartland”, organised by the Asian Development Research Institute today.

Adhikari said: “Despite over 60 years of Independence, there is a vast difference between the education facilities available in urban and rural areas.

“People in the Hindi heartland confine themselves to their limitations. Despite the introduction of several measures — that can improve the scenario of education — they do not want to break the barriers,” said Adhikari.

A source said the workshop had been organised to discuss the measures that can be implemented to overcome the problems.

“If we want to improve the education scenario, measures should be taken to improve the schemes and policies that have been framed. These should be oriented for the rural areas. Active participation is needed not only from government and non-governmental agencies but also from the residents,” added Adhikari.

Large-scale literacy drives — on the lines of political movements — should be started, said experts. Series of programmes should be organised in village as well as cities.

Members present at the workshop said when the literacy programmes start, often a large number of participants join it. But the numbers gradually diminishes with passing time. People lose interest and the schemes lose steam, the members said. People should consider literacy drives just like social functions and participate in them with full enthusiasm, the members added. A large number of people are keen to take part in social functions such as marriage and religious ceremonies, but they are reluctant to take part in health awareness camps or literacy schemes.

Saibal Gupta, the director of ADRI, said: “Literacy drives are long-term programmes and the impact of such drives cannot be assessed immediately.” In agriculture, the output can be increased by strengthening irrigation facilities and using quality seeds and other measures, but education can be improved or literacy can be increased only if the people participate, he added.