"Nayantara" a Girl Child Sponsorship Programme

With our dedicated robust team members through relentless efforts we remained able to carry on our activities of ‘Nayantara’ - the adolescent girls’ empowerment programme in remote Sundarbans villages even amidst the still continuing Covid -19 Pandemic.

We are now planning to penetrate with our initiatives for the cause in deeper hard to reach villages of Sundarbans, where malice of Social Evils like Dropping out from Studies, Early Marriage, Early Motherhood, Trafficking are in rampant more specifically among the adolescent girls and young women.

We, though could re-initiate studies, art & craft classes, regular health check up interventions, distribution of Hygiene & Sanitation Kits (e.g. Soaps, Shampoos, Sanitary Napkins etc.), Study Materials (Books, Exercise Books, Pens, Pencils etc.) etc. are yet to start many other activities like Dance Classes, Sports etc.

As per State Government Circular after a long gap of nearly two years time formal schools are now partially opened here in West Bengal. Formal Classes started from 9^th - 12^th standards. To avoid any fast spread of Covid-19 further, all standards and sections are divided in groups and classes of different groups are being taken in alterations. Thus majority of ‘Nayantara’ Girls have started visiting their formal schools.

Also the Covid -19 Pandemic and consecutive Cyclones ‘Amphan’ and ‘Yaas’ left an enduring impact with severe consequences among the daily earning families. Most of the Nayantara Girls belong to such families.

Today we’ll see again how Bhabani* - a girl from such a family of daily earners is doing?

Remember Bhabani*- The determined but shy girl from remote Kailashpur village in deep Sunderbans of South 24 Parganas? We introduced her with you all last year in 2020 when she was studying in 11^th Standard in the closely located Govt. Higher Secondary School. She continued dare to challenge all her odds that came on way to her pursuit for education and standing on her own.

Bhabani* is now studying at 12^th standard and continues to go along her pursuit for studies. Even being the daughter of a marginalised villager who sustain on the little fish trade with a meager earning of around INR 3500-4000 per month. Bhabani* continued her journey for completing the Formal Education at least till graduation.     

She is a member of Sabuj Sangha’s empowerment & grooming initiative programme ‘Nayantara’ since around last 5 years. With the training under caring mentoring she has developed the skill of Dancing and now an ardent & passionate dancer.

Earlier she was thinking to be a Professional Dancer.

But now with growing age and having built an understanding for the earning avenues and the practicability she now aspires to be a Nurse to afford sustained earning for herself and her family.

Appeal

Weneed to reach many other such vulnerable adolescent girls falling prey of gender discrimination and subsequent consequences. Support is also required highly for their families too. They need the support to restore their livelihood options and get back to normalcy.

Help the vulnerable adolescent girls from poor marginalised families, of coastal and riverine Sunderbans impacted deeply by continuing Covid-19 pandemic situation and Cyclone Amphan, Yaas etc., build their own future…. 

Your small help may help the vulnerable adolescent girls from deep remote Sunderbans live a life of dignity and self-reliance. Please come forward... for these girls…who longing to see a see a better tomorrow….

* Name of all individuals altered for maintaining privacy & safety                      

Even amidst the long and still continuing Covid-19 Pandemic and devastations by 'Yaas' Cyclone that made cataclysmic landfall left a long lasting impact in our operational areas of coastal and riverine Sunderbans we remained steady in consolidating our efforts to build the future generations here prepared and befitting for all future struggles. 

Our endeavour to empower and capacitate adolescent girls- ‘Nayantara’ also thus continued. With time and pace Nayantara Girls are now becoming more confident with their studies and involvement with various activities that helping grow leadership qualities among themselves.

Thus, for the enduring Pandemic and Yaas the Nayantara Girls have now come forward to stand by the severely impacted people here. They are moving out in the communities to make them sensitize on Preventive Measures for arresting the spread of the deadly Corona virus with face to face communications, miking etc.

The present situation has contributed to the rise of Human Trafficking, Dropping Out from Education, Early Marriage and many other social perils even in these remote Sunderbans villages in search of assured and secured life, food etc.

The confident and prudent the ‘Nayantara’ Girls became vigilant and had shown their active involvement to stop such trends. In recent times they were proactive in resisting a Child Marriage and remained successful. These have created new energy among them and make them more confined about their own capacity.

This bulk of Girls gradually forming their own identity and has giving us the confidence in our mission to empower more such adolescent Girls who gradually will come out of all social stigma and form a new order in the society- without any disbar and despair.

In our operational area of remote coastal and riverine villages at Sundarbans there are so many young buds waiting to be blossomed with your care, support and blessings.

Beaten by ill fate of social malices consequent to poverty and being from remote hard to reach areas they still dreams of a brighter tomorrow and with their identity established.

Please extend your helping hand to fulfill their aspirations and dreams.