ḥalqabandī system

The halqabandi system was an educational initiative implemented in the North-Western Provinces of India during the 19th century. This system aimed to make primary education accessible to the general population by establishing schools in central villages within each halqa (circuit). The goal was for all villagers within a two-mile radius to be able to attend. Landholders in the villages agreed to contribute 1 percent of their land income to maintain these schools. This experiment proved successful, leading to the establishment of 897 schools and providing elementary education to 23,688 children within a decade.1