there is a strong sense among majority people that they are being treated unfairly by national and local government in
relation to minority groups. Participants in the research
expressed this unfairness in economic and cultural
terms and used it to justify less positive views towards
different minority groups. Other issues also influenced
their prejudices. These included media, religion and
contact with minority groups.
Mid-day meal scheme in rural areas of Punjab has failed to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education as prescribed by the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000) and followed by The Indian government
The total enrollment of selected schools belonging to three districts, namely, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur Districts of Rural Punjab was 33085 during the base year (average of 2007 to 2009). This enrollment declined to 31667 during the current year (average of 2010-12). Almost similar decline with varying degree was noticed in all the three selected districts.
However, the decline in enrollment of girls' students was slightly more than their boys' counterpart. Moreover, the enrollment in primary standard of the selected districts of rural Punjab has declined by 2.35 per cent, which is attributed to the bogus admission made in the base period.
In upper primary section, base year enrollment was 10583 and current year enrollment was 11124. However, the enrollment in the upper primary standard has shown an improvement (the percentage change in the enrollment was 105.11). These facts are revealed from in-depth analysis under taken by Dr Gursharan Singh Kainth of Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies.
The study is restricted to Majha region of rural areas of Punjab consisting of three districts, namely, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran and a part of the bigger project sponsored by Indian Council of Social Sciences Research.