ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of educational institutions and as a result created a huge learning crisis among the children. Access to education through digital device remained a distance dream because of the vast digital divide in the India – in terms of access to digital device and internet connection. Among the different social groups, children of scheduled tribe (ST) communities have been among the worst affected by this learning crisis. This crisis in turn is adding to the marginalisation and vulnerabilities of tribal children in particular. Using the data from secondary sources, news reports and key person interviews, this article attempts to critically examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tribal children’s access to education in the Indian State of Odisha. It discusses the various measures taken by the government and other institutions in serving tribal children’s access to education during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The study found that children of ST communities have almost no or very little access to digital devices and internet. As a result, ST children in Odisha have faced grave challenges in accessing education during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
