Sobha Kumari, at just 18, has achieved numerous firsts, she is the first in her village and community to complete school and pass the Class 10th and 12th board exams on her first attempt, the first to pursue undergraduate studies, the first to reject child marriage, and the first to dream big. This young girl from a remote corner of Bihar cycles 13 kilometers to college every morning, fully aware of the literal and figurative bumps along the muddy road ahead.
To grasp the enormity of Sobha’s achievements, it’s crucial to look beyond her apparent accomplishments. She belongs to the Musahar community, historically labeled as traditional “rat catchers.” Today, most people from this community work as casual laborers, earning meager wages and struggling for daily sustenance. Few attend school, and those who do often drop out early. Access to healthcare is minimal, and living conditions are abysmal. Child marriage is common, especially among girls.
From childhood, Sobha learned to endure struggles and adversities. The youngest of six siblings, she had to convince her parents at every step that she wanted to pursue higher studies. “You want to study further? We don’t have the money,” her father replied, mocking her childhood wish. Proposals for marriage started coming in as soon as she turned 13, as marrying young girls is a convention in her community.
The pressure eventually overwhelmed Sobha, and after her Class 10 board exams, she dropped out of school. In a last-ditch attempt, she reached out to members of JJBVK, a partner organization of CRY, for help. What followed was planned and sustained counseling and support from Jawahar Jyoti Bal Vikas Kendra or JJBVK members. Sobha and her parents attended individual counseling sessions, and there were home visits and community mobilization sessions. After almost a year, her parents relented somewhat, and Sobha rejoined school in Class XI.
Three years later, Sobha is now a proud BA student at Kedar Sant Ramashray Intermediate College in Sarairanjan, 13 kilometers from her home. With her foot firmly on the cycle pedal and her spirits soaring high, Sobha has embarked on an exciting ride, high and beyond.
Trina Chakrabarti, Regional Director of CRY (East), emphasized the transformative impact of higher education on girls. “Ensuring that girls complete their education is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Our campaign, Poori Padhai, Desh ki Bhalai, aims to spread the message that girls’ education is not merely rhetoric; it’s an absolute necessity for our country to progress and flourish.”
Sobha’s journey inspires other girls in her community, like 16-year-old Roshni. Despite being a good student and keen learner, Roshni struggles to find time to study because she has to manage household chores and help her mother, a casual laborer, in the fields, especially during harvest season. Adding to her woes is the long 30-minute walk to school. During the monsoons, the road gets washed away, keeping the Class 10 student away from school for days.
Rampant absenteeism from school brought the JJBVK team to Roshni’s door. This started an association that has immensely benefited both her and her mother, Nirmala Devi. Roshni now attends remedial classes by JJBVK to make up for missed schoolwork. She and her mother also participate in knowledge-building sessions that have significantly changed their perspectives on education, marriage, and financial independence. “Girls should be encouraged to continue their education and seize the opportunities that come their way,” her mother said, watching her daughter leave for the local launch of the CRY campaign, Poori Padhai, Desh ki Bhalai in Samastipur. In Roshni’s words, “This campaign stresses the need for girls to complete their education. The more people realize this, the better it is for girls like us.”
Surendra Kumar, secretary of JJBVK, said, “We are committed to uplifting vulnerable girls through education and creating opportunities for them. This campaign is an opportunity to spread awareness about the power of education in grooming adolescent girls into empowered individuals of tomorrow.” JJBVK, a local non-profit, has been working on education and child protection for over a decade in many districts in the state of Bihar.
According to UDISE+ 21-22 data, the dropout rate for girls at the secondary level in Bihar is around 21 percent, above the national average of 12.3 percent. However, stories like Sobha’s and Roshni’s highlight a positive trend: more and more girls from closed communities are pursuing higher studies despite adversities and hurdles.