Empowerment of 400,000 Adolescent Girls in India

Gangaram Tanda is a small tribal village in the project area of Institute of health Management Pachod (IHMP). The village has a Girl’s Collective (Kishori Mandal), which is named Kalpana Chawla Kishori Mandal by the adolescent girls that are members of this collective. All the members of this Girls Collective have completed Life Skills Education conducted by IHMP in their village.

Varsha who lives in Gangaram Tanda, had a dream of becoming a police officer. But the financial condition of Varsha’s family is not good. Her father is an alcoholic. She has two brothers who work as casual labourers but they are not able to support the family.

Varsha passed 10^th grade in school with very good marks but her mother asked her not to continue further studies because of the family’s financial constraints. Varsha decided to help her mother in agriculture work while continuing with her education.

Varsha discussed her dream of becoming a police officer with members of the Girls Collective. Her peers in the Girls Collective decided to discuss Varsha’s dream with her mother and all of them marched to her home. Members of the Girls Collective told Varsha’s mother about various government schemes for scheduled tribes. They requested IHMP to help Varsha get a scholarship.

Varsha succeeded in getting a scholarship and was able to continue her education. While studying for her 12th grade, Varsha started running and did vigorous physical exercises in preparation for selection into the police force. Members of the Girls Collective would cheer and encourage Varsha when she would be exercising.

After Varsha completed 12th grade there was an advertisement in the newspaper for several posts in the State Reserve Police. Varsha applied and got selected. Presently, she is posted as a police officer in Mumbai where she draws a handsome salary. She is very happy because her dream of becoming a police officer has been fulfilled and she is able to support her family.

Varsha is deeply indebted to the Girls Collective of her village who convinced her mother, arranged for a scholarship to continue her studies and supported her for selection into the police force.

Varsha said something which has altered IHMP’s strategy for empowering adolescent girls. She said “Nobody will gift us our rights, we will have to struggle for them and if girls organise themselves into collectives it becomes easier for girls to claim their rights”.

IHMP is empowering Girls Collectives by organising leadership training for their members. A pair of peer leaders are taking the responsibility of 10 neighbouring household where they prevent early marriage, motivate the parents to continue educating their daughters, ensure nutritious diet for girls and time for leisure and games.

Girls empowerment has become a movement for girls, by girls, through Girls Collectives. IHMP is privileged to be a part of this movement.