“Room to Read” for nearly 16,000 girls in Chhattisgarh

Team News Riveting

Raipur, July 22

Room to Read, which is dedicatedly working for the cause of education, has targeted about 16,000 girls across the state of Chhattisgarh for its Vijayi Project.

The project will focus on providing “room” to girls ceasing the classes.  Under the campaign, 15,881 girls have been targeted who are residing in 179 government girls’ residential institutions viz. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Ashram Shala, and Porta Cabins in all the twenty-eight districts under the Project Vijayi. In addition, 2,504 girls from 13 non-residential government schools in two districts Raipur and Dhamtari will benefit from various online reading materials, circulars, take care cards and e-magazines.

The social media platform is also used for the campaign, WhatsApp, Telegram applications and the government portal cgschool.in to circulate the online material. The campaign intends to negate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that has severely impacted the education system across India, among these, the lives of young adolescent girls.

Chhattisgarh’s Education Minister Dr Premsai Singh Tekam launched the Girls Education campaign, #harkadambetikesang- Leadership ki Tarang 2021. He also unveiled an array of life skills materials that Room to Read India has been designing as part of the COVID-19 outreach and commitment towards girls’ education.

“Let us support Project Vijay’s Girls’ Education Campaign and encourage young girls to use life skills to inspire their siblings and peers to continue their studies. Parents and caregivers must provide the encouragement and inspiration that young girls need and give them an enabling environment to study and to make informed life decisions. I urge girls to take a vow to study with all their heart, to never let anything stop them, and to become leaders in their communities. Let us come together to help our girls. Har Kadam Beti Ke Sang Leadership Ki Tarang,” the minister said.

Adolescent girls are vulnerable to discontinuation of their studies, dropping off from school, and being married off.  Every girl is not lucky like Chitralekha. The very day that Chitrarekha turned 16, her life saw a downfall from the very moment the mother uttered the words, “marriage”. A myriad of obnoxious feelings took over, her dreams, her aspirations, all of them came crumbling down to nothing. Chitrarekha stood tall and with the support of her brother and the Room to Read India team ensured that the marriage was called off and she continued to pursue her education. This campaign intends to reach out to all vulnerable girls like Chitralekha.

Keeping Girls’ education program in focus, Room to Read India has launched a nation-wide campaign, #Harkadambetikesang: Leadership ki Tarang 2021. “In 2021, the campaign is entering a new phase -This year we celebrate the countless efforts and initiatives taken by young girls to become a leader in their own right. Our girls have not only continued their education but have become role models for their peers and communities. We salute their commitment and passion. We congratulate them on their efforts to continue their studies, to resist early marriage and to take care of their health in these difficult times.” Said Sourav Banerjee, Country Director, Room to Read India.

 The campaign wants to bring out powerful leadership stories of girls and their families and caregivers – stories that demonstrate resilience and leadership, despite all the challenges that have come and may come.