Educational Priorities of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (Sedgs) Across the States in India

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the education of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) to addressing the diversity and promote the inclusive education among them. SEDGs encompass categories based on socio-cultural identities, geographical locations, gender, disabilities, and socio-economic conditions. The study aims to examine the educational issues and challenges for the education of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) in India. The open-ended questionnaire was mailed to the DIET and SAMAGRA SHIKSHA across the states namely Kerala, Odisha, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Goa for collecting the qualitative data. The educational challenges for SEDGs include high dropout rates, gender disparities, lack of access to resources, inadequate infrastructure, language barriers, and limited availability of trained educators. The study highlights state-specific interventions, such as Kerala’s focus on Special Education Zones, Odisha’s multilingual education programs, Manipur’s residential schooling initiatives, Uttarakhand’s resources for Children with Special Needs (CWSN), and Goa’s scholarship schemes and inclusive policies. This paper underscores the need for comprehensive, localized strategies, interdepartmental coordination, and community engagement to bridge educational gaps for SEDGs. By leveraging government initiatives such as Samagra Shiksha, infrastructure improvements, and skill-based education, the study explores pathways for achieving educational equity and inclusion in India.