Empowering Girls, Shaping Futures

In June earlier this year, when we launched the Poori Padhai, Desh Ki Bhalai: Studying for Change campaign, little did we know the impact it would create. The national campaign aimed to promote higher secondary education and reduce the percentage of dropouts among girls has been well received.

Within four months of the campaign, we reached out to over 2000 villages in Maharashtra alone, where communities have promised to enrol their girls in higher education. Over 652 panchayats have pledged to support the initiative, and more than two lakh people have supported our efforts through our signature campaign.

Over four decades of work with children and communities have shown us that adolescent girls face various socio-economic and cultural barriers to education. Poverty often drives families to prioritise basic needs or the education of boys, seeing it as a better investment. In low-income households, girls may be expected to do household chores, care for siblings, or work outside the home to support family income. Additionally, schooling costs—such as uniforms, transportation, and materials—make education even less accessible for girls from resource-poor backgrounds.

Cultural norms and gender-based discrimination further restrict girls’ educational opportunities, especially during adolescence. In some communities, traditional beliefs place more value on early marriage than on continued education, which leads to high rates of child marriage, resulting in girls leaving school before they complete their education. Safety concerns, including long travel distances to school and the associated risks, also contribute to dropouts. Together, these barriers create a cycle of inequality, depriving girls of education and limiting their future opportunities.

The campaign aimed to engage all parts of society to build awareness and shift mindsets. Its central message was that every girl, especially those facing deep poverty, deserves the chance to attend school and stay until completing 12th grade. No girl should be forced to drop out.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to provide free, quality education up to age 18, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4) for equitable education by 2030. However, recent UDISE+ 2021-22 data reveals that only three out of five girls in India reach higher secondary education. Just 58.2% of girls are enrolled in grades 11 and 12, while one in three girls (35%) of secondary school age is out of school, and one in eight (12.25%) drops out before completing secondary education. Retention rates for girls in higher secondary have declined compared to enrolment.

Let me share with you an example of Pooja Mahadev Shinde, who resides in Kolgaon with her parents and two younger siblings. Pooja’s parents work as labourers earning a sum of Rs. 225 per day and face challenges in providing for their family of five. Added to that, her father's alcohol addiction further burdens their financial situation.

Pooja has been an active member of CRY’s intervention project in the area through the Kishori group. However, her education suffered like others in her village due to the lack of transportation to her school situated nearly eight kilometres away.

Pooja took the initiative and, along with her Kishori group, sent a formal request to the Sarpanch and his committee requesting bus services to the village to be provided by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Despite the initial lack of response, Pooja and her team continued to pursue the Sarpanch and the village committee. The Sarpanch escalated their request to the MSRTC, and after follow-ups over three months, the MSRTC finally started a bus service. Pooja's determination not only brought bus services to her village but also to the nearby three villages located about 15 kilometres from the school.

Pooja’s story is a testament to the power of determination and the problem-solving abilities strengthened through education. Her courage and leadership have paved the way for a brighter future for many. There are many such examples where the child protagonists have overcome hurdles and ensured they continued with their education. This proves how investing in educating girls through higher education will reap favourable benefits for society in the long run and work in favour of the nation's progress.

Educating girls is crucial for economic and social development, creating benefits that extend to entire communities. Girls who receive quality education are more likely to secure better jobs, earn higher incomes, and invest in their families' health, nutrition, and education—breaking cycles of poverty and fostering healthier future generations. Educated girls also become empowered participants in decision-making, advocating for their rights and contributing to a more inclusive society. Studies consistently show that higher educational attainment among girls promotes gender equality, reduces maternal and child mortality, and enhances social stability—key drivers of national progress. It’s time we commit to educating our girls for a brighter tomorrow.

(The author is Western Region Director, Child Rights and You, an NGO )