Thousands of girls studying in 203 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) across the State are feeling empowered. They are not only attaining education in academics, but also in cultural and behavioral skills. Even the teachers associated with the students are noticing an overall positive change in the latter with each passing day.
Notably, the State Government has been making consistent efforts through programmes like ‘Pehle Padaai, Phir Vidaai’ followed by ‘Bal Samagam’ and ‘School Chale, Chalaye’ to improve the standard of the education prevailing in the State-run Government schools.
Interestingly, the performance as well as response of the girls was reported overwhelming by the officials from Human Resource Development (HRD) in all the mentioned schemes. It was same in the first-ever three-day State level Kasturba Sangam (summer camp), which concluded at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium on Friday.
“Most of the students representing their KGBVs are district champion in either Bal Samagam or Kasturba Sangam. It was a new experience learning their accent, way of dancing and acting,” said class seventh student Minu Hembrom from KGBV Masalia.
For girls of KGBV Potka, who bagged second and third positions in the 100 to 400 meter races, the summer camp was worth exploring. “None of us have visited this world class sports complex. It was for the first time in life we got the opportunity to run on the tracks used by international fame athletes,” said Punai Honhaga, a class ninth student of KGBV Potka.
Similarly, KGBV Dumri class XII student Pratima lakra, daughter of a farmer said, “Our school is near the border of Chhattisgarh. Getting the scope of representing our district Gumla at the State level was a dream turning true. But, the racial discrimination here is unjustified. We being tribals were ignored in the open forum for expressing ourselves organised on Thursday. It was not the same with general category girls.”
Meanwhile, teaching staffs of Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) involved in the summer camp informed that all the 2,688 participants were no where less than the girls of ICSE and CBSE residential schools. “Many of the girls proved to be a national level player in the sports events conducted here. We want the Government to start vocational training programme in KGBVs so that girls doing well in sports can be absorbed by the sports department and make a career in the same field,” said Seema Prasad, Assistant Programme Officer at Ranchi.
According to Girls Education In-charge Bindu Jha from East Singhbhum, the retention of students in KGBVs has improved and the drop-out rate has considerably reduced. “Earlier, we had to convince economically weak parents to send their girls in KGBVs as it provides free education with hostel facilities from class VI to XII. But, since 2014-15 session, the enrollment rate is always full. In fact, those studying are spreading awareness against child-marriage in their villages,” said Jha.