The story of Deepa didi: enabler of next generation of family firsts in Shaktipur

Reason #5, of #10ReasonsWhy: because for us, and many others on this mission, ours will always be the story of firsts, enabling the next generation of family firsts.

this one's called: Deepa didi.

After completing her studies, Deepa didi would stay at home as there weren’t employment opportunities available nearby and she would help her mother in doing household chores. She wasn’t allowed to go outside the house much. And then there came an opportunity to join as an Anganwadi Worker (AWW) and she immediately applied as she wanted to put to use her academic knowledge learned over the years. She shares how initially, she would feel very strange to go door-to-door to spread awareness, motivate other people in the village and counsel them on the importance of education and good health. With time, a bond developed with the families and now they invite her for celebrations at home, share their child’s progress with her etc. and rely on her for guidance. She is the first AWW in the Village Shaktipur in District Champawat since the Anganwadi Centre opened in 2006.

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She gets nostalgic while sharing that she was the first girl in her village to go to a college and complete post-graduation. All this was made possible because of her father, who was a security personnel in the armed forces. Back then, education was a means to find a good family to be married into. Now, she feels education is a means to self-reliance. Deepa didi wants her daughters to study as much as they wish and pursue a career of their choice.?

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When the lockdown was imposed, she did not know how she would teach the children enrolled at the Anganwadi Centre, play with them and take care of them. Almost an entire year was lost trying to figure out how she can ensure children continue to develop and then the Digital Parent Margdarshak Program (DPMP) was launched; an innovative approach that ensures that a child’s development does not get delayed.

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She started by mobilising the parents and forming WhatsApp groups with them. As part of the program, they would receive WhatsApp messages in Hindi and a link to the activity of the day. Those who did not have access to WhatsApp, a local solution was found to seek support from the neighbourhood and to a few, she would visit their home and do the activity herself. Parents would record videos of them doing the activity with their child and send them to her.?

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Low-income families struggle with the thought that they are not capable of supporting their child in their development. We are redefining this norm by capacity building the parents and enabling them to become equal partners in their child’s development. We have started with one-step at a time i.e. to start spending 10 minutes with the child daily. Child’s development is the responsibility of both the parents and now we are witnessing both the parents engaging with the child. Not only the parents but the elderly in the family too at times are seen doing the activity with the child.

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Mrs. Deepa Pandey, AWW, Dept. of Women Empowerment and Child Development, District Champawat, Uttarakhand

For Meraki: Research by Ishita Aggarwal, Assembled by Abhishek Latawa