Educate & Empower 50 girls from Rural India

Sheopur is one of the most backward districts of Madhya Pradesh with only 15% of the villages connected by roads. Agriculture is the main occupation and majority of the people are landless laborers and marginal farmers who migrate seasonally in search of work. The average literacy rate in the Sheopur district is 58.02%. The male literacy rate is 70.30% while the female literacy rate is only 44.45%. 80% of the girls here do not attend school regularly or drop-out of school, because they have to either look after younger siblings or contribute to the household income, or are married off by 13 years of age. 

Karahal Block of Sheopur District is one of the most backward blocks in terms of socioeconomic indicators. The tribal community of Karahal is adversely affected by extreme poverty, complete lack of health facilities, malnutrition, lack of livelihood resources, shortage of water and high rate of under-five mortality. The schools have poor infrastructure and education facilities. The region has the lowest literacy rate in the entire state.

In spite of these unfavorable conditions, many young girls who are part of the project, ”Nanhi Kali – for the girl child”, are driven to bring about a change. 

This is the story of Preeti Adivasi, a young girl who lives in Chainpura village of Karahal Block in Sheopur district. She is a Nanhi Kali studying in Standard I. Belonging to a poor tribal community, Preeti’s parents earn their livelihood as agricultural labourers. Their annual income ranges from Rs 40,000 – Rs 50,000 which is barely enough to fulfill even their basic needs. Preeti has a brother and a sister as well.

Preeti attends school and the Academic Support Centre (ASC) very regularly. Her attendance is 91% in school and 80% in ASC. She is fit and healthy and loves to play games and dance in her free time.

In the remote Chainpura village, it is almost a custom for people to not send their daughters to school, as it is generally considered that it will create difficulties at the time of marriage. They prefer girls who are engaged in household activities like fetching water from outside, taking care of domestic animals, cooking, cleaning, etc. Preeti’s parents were also quite reluctant to send her to school and Preeti expressed that concern to her ASC tutor. The Community Activist and Nanhi Kali Coordinator visited her family and tried to convince her parents on the importance of education for girls. After conducting 3 home visits, the parents finally gave in and understood the real importance of education in their daughter’s life.  Since then, they send their daughter to school and ASC regularly.

It is with your tremedous support and enthusiasm for our project that Nanhi Kalis like Preeti Adivasi have the opportunity to build a future based on their dreams and aspirations. We are very happy to inform you that our project of $4500 has been funded and we will be educating 50 underprivileged girl children just like Preeti.

Thank you very much for your generous support!