Notes on the role, functions and status of DRU: (District Resource Unit) in India

The DIET would comprise seven academic branches about which we have discussed in context of organisational structure of a DIET. There we have stated that DRU is for Adult and Non-formal education. As stated in the Guidelines of the Government of India in district of non-educationally backward states, by the large, the NFE programme is either very small or non-existent. In such cases, the DRU will be for adult education only. Even then, for a DRU for AE to be set up, there should be at least 200 AE centers running in the district.

!n several districts, there arc agencies like Nehru Yuwak Kendras, University Dept. or other NGOs which have done good work over the years in the area of providing training and resource support to AE/NFE. For such districts, the State Government would have to take a considered decision whether it would be better to assign the responsibility of the DRU lo such an NGO, or to create a new one as a part of the DIET.

It is also possible that an NGO may have expertise in only one of the two areas i.e. AE or NFE. In such an event, there would be objection if it performs the functions of a DRU in the area of its expertise, and the DRU for the other is created as a part of the DIET. In short assuming the number of AE/NFE centers in a district warrant a DRU for AE as well as NFE, the following possibilities would exist:

(i) DRU for both AE and NFE being a part of the DIET.

(ii) DRU for the (AE or NFE) being a part of the DIET but functions of the DRU for the other (NFE/AE) being handled by an organisation other than the DIET.

(iii) DRU for AE as well as NFE being outside the DIET – either a single agency working as a composite unit, or two different agencies working as DRUs for AE and NFE respectively. To the extent that a DRU (a composite one or for AE or NFE alone) will be outside the DIET, it would not be funded under the Teacher Education Scheme. Its funding will be done under the scheme of AE/NFE/Mohila Sanakhya in accordance with guidelines formulated under respective schemes.

The table in paragraph 2.4 gives the staffing pattern inter alia, for a composite DRU to be created in the DIET. However, as mentioned above, a DIET may also have a part DRU i.e., either for AE or NFE alone. In such an event, the staffing pattern of a DRU will be as follows:

Sr. Lecturer -1

Lecturer – 2 Clerk -1

Even when a composite or part DRU is outside the DIET, such a DRU and the DIET will be expectec¹ to function in close collaboration, especially if the two are located at the same place. In the latter event, there can be considerable sharing of staff and other resources between them.

Functions of DRU

DRU is nothing but a part of DIET. It performs the following functions as has been suggested by the Guidelines of the Government of India.

• Provide technical assistance to DBE.
• Train AE and NFE functionaries at the district level.
• Orient the functionaries of development departments and other concerned agencies.
• Material preparation for basic and post-literacy programmes.
• Mobilize media support.
• Evaluation.

Special Status of the DRU in the DIET

According to the Guidelines, wherever a DRU – composite, or for only AE or NFE —is created as a part of a DIET, it will enjoy considerable functional autonomy within the Institute. This is also to some extent reflected in the organisational structure suggested in this chapter, in the following manner:

(i) If the DIET has a composite DRU, its head will be designated as Vice Principal rather than as Senior Lecturer.

(ii) The DRU will have its own nucleus of ministerial staff.

Although the Vice Principal/Sr. Lecturer in charge of DRU will be administratively accountable to the principal, and through him to the District Board of Education, the DRU will also establish direct linkages with various national, state and district level organisation concerned with At and NKE. Also, as far as AE and NFE are concerned the DRU will not merely conduct induction training programmes, but will also carry out most of the functions which are IKIC Branch would perform vis-a-vis elementation schools, in the areas of continuing education and field interaction (e.g., identification of training needs, perspective, planning, organisation and conduct of programmes, etc.).

However, the DRU’s programmes would have to fit into the overall annual calendar of programme which the IKIC Branch would prepare for the DIET as a whole, so that physical and manpower resources of the Institute are utilised in a well coordinated manner.

BRU: Block Resource Unit

BRTJ is also a part of DIET and performs some important function:; like the DRU. To overcome their problems of primary education the DIETs, DRUs and BRUs should cooperate each other.