The Story of Pooja’s Path Back to Education!

Pooja (Changed Name), a young girl from Paikapra Panchayat of T-Tangar block, Simdega, had her education interrupted when she dropped out of school after completing class 8. The story of her journey back to school began on the day, I visited one of the local schools in her village and attended the Baithak of Mata Sameeti. During the conversation with the school's Headmistress, Ms. Rinki Kumari, and the Mata Sameeti Members, I inquired about the problems faced by the rural community living on the outskirts of town and near the jungle. During that conversation, one of the Mata Sameeti members shared an example of Pooja's family, explaining the problems related to the community. I was very intrigued by Pooja's story and wanted to delve deeper into the situation. Ms. Rinki mentioned that Pooja had discontinued her studies and seemed uninterested in continuing her education. After that meeting, out of curiosity, I requested the Mata Sameeti Member to arrange a meeting with Pooja's family. She happily agreed and told me it could be arranged that very day after 7 PM, so I waited until 7 PM at the house of the Mata Sameeti Member. I was both excited and nervous, eagerly anticipating the moment.

After 7 PM, Pooja's mother, Mamta Devi (Changed Name), finally arrived home after work. She introduced me to Mamta Devi, a single mother of eight children, whose husband had tragically passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the sole income earner, Mamta Devi had to work from 6 in the morning until 7 at night, leaving Pooja at home to take care of the household chores. Due to their financial struggles, Mamta Devi was unable to afford Pooja’s education. Moreover, the high school was located 8 to 9 kilometers away from their village, and without a bicycle, Pooja had no means of reaching the school. Mamta Devi also mentioned that a samsaan ghat was on the way to the school, which added another layer of complexity to Pooja’s situation.

After this conversation, I met Pooja herself and had a brief talk. As it was late, I decided to visit her again afterward. After many consoling conversations, Pooja gradually began to regain interest in her studies. However, a significant challenge remained: how to reenroll her in school, and more importantly, which school would be best suited for her needs? I also had to ensure that her education would not be interrupted again due to her family's financial constraints.

Determined to find a solution, I decided to pursue Pooja’s re-enrollment at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in her block, as it is a residential school for girls. However, after discussing the matter with the Headmistress of KGBV, T-Tangar, Simdega, I discovered that the school had already filled all available seats for class 9. This was a discouraging setback, but I refused to give up.

After further research, I found a loophole. While KGBVs typically only admit students from the same block, there was no such restriction for the Chief Minister's School of Excellence (CM SOE) KGBVs. I immediately contacted the Headmistress of CM SOE KGBV Simdega to inquire about available seats in class 9. I learned that all seats in CM SOE KGBV Simdega were filled, but one seat had become available due to a cancellation. I confirmed this information with the ADPO Ma'am and the APO Ma'am, who are responsible for KGBVs in the district. With their assistance, I was finally able to secure Pooja’s re-enrollment in CM SOE KGBV Simdega.

After three months of persistent follow-up and effort, Pooja was finally readmitted to school. The smile on her mother, Mamta Devi's face made this challenging journey worthwhile. Today, Pooja is once again on her educational path, and I am filled with hope for her future.

In this journey, I learned that humans are a dependable species, we must work together, live together, and support each other for the betterment of all.

And I reflected that where there is a will, there is a way, but you have to work hard to find that way, just like I found a way for admission. In a tribal community like Simdega, I agree that there are many problems like excessive alcohol consumption, child marriage, dropouts due to financial difficulties, Lack of Awareness about the importance of education, a high divorce rate, and more. However, as a CSR or NGO, we have a responsibility to work on these issues. It may take time, and it may be hard to see results, but it is completely worth it when you see smiling faces because of your efforts.

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