1. Padhega India, Tabhi Toh Badhega India Making a Difference to Children and their Communities Bolangir, Orissa
Funding Partner: Project Shiksha, A Procter and Gamble, CRY Sony TV initiative

2. Bhoipali is a tiny village in Bolangir in Western Orissa

3. Issues in the area
Drought Inequitable land distribution Migration Displacement & lack of rehabilitation Lack of access to government services has left it severely poverty-stricken

4. The inhabitants live in difficult conditions,

5. are deprived of their basic needs

6. and have fewer means to get by.

7. All the 92 families – a total of 458 people - living in the village,

8. are among to the poorest people in the entire region

9. Most of the families are either working as daily wage labourers,
earning so little that it is difficult to survive

10. or growing crops on small plots of land that do not yield enough to get by

11. Gopal*’s Story
*names changed to protect identity

12. Gopal’s family is among the ten poorest families in the village
Gopal’s family is among the ten poorest families in the village. They do not own any land.

13. The father, Suraj, works on another’s land for a mere Rs
The father, Suraj, works on another’s land for a mere Rs a year – making as little as Rs. 10 a day for the family of five.

14. They owned half an acre of land earlier, which Suraj mortgaged
to meet the food needs of his family.

15. Constant hunger however took its toll and Suraj gradually became too unwell to work.

16. leaving his wife Shyamala to fend for the family by working as a daily wage labourer, earning about Rs. 20 to 25 a day.

17. Because of a faulty selection process of the district’s below-poverty-line families, this near-destitute family did not own a BPL Card

18. and hence could not access any of the government’s services for the poorest, not even to subsidized food.

19. Suraj and Shyamala have two daughters, Gomati and Sarita besides Gopal.

20. Gomati had never gone to school, while Gopal and Sarita were enrolled, but could not attend regularly, given the family’s debilitating poverty.

21. The villagers of Bhoipali had no way out…

22. This is where ADHAR stepped in
This is where ADHAR stepped in. With the help of Project Shiksha, CRY and ADHAR identified Bhoipali as one of the most neglected villages in the area.

23. The first step was to connect families like Gopal’s to the Antyodaya Scheme

24. that provides 35 kilos of rice per month, at a subsidized rate of Rs
that provides 35 kilos of rice per month, at a subsidized rate of Rs. 3 per kg.

25. The team from ADHAR sensitised villagers to apply for work at the Gram Panchayat Office

26. The Sarpanch then allocated them work under the NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme)

27. 30-40 people worked every day on a road construction
30-40 people worked every day on a road construction. They got Rs 100 each per day.

28. now takes into account the rights of the poorest.
Slowly, with better governance, the village Panchayat, earlier dominated by the richer families,
now takes into account the rights of the poorest.

29. (Chief District Medical Officer) about health facilities
The villagers, with help from the village council, got together to meet the CDMO
(Chief District Medical Officer) about health facilities

30. Public Health Centres (PHCs) that were not working earlier now open twice a day

31. Health sub-centres have upgraded their facilities, under newly appointed, trained, health workers

32. Every Wednesday, children are immunized free of cost, so that no child dies of preventable diseases

33. The government-run nurseries or anganwadis are the well-functioning daycare centers for children below five years

34. The village council made a case for local governance to the District Collector .
So now the villagers themselves oversee the ICDS centers or anganwadis (ICDS is the Integrated Child Development Scheme)

35. There is a children’s club in every village
There is a children’s club in every village. Gopal is an active member in his club. Each children’s club has children.

36. Children’s clubs discuss issues of child’s rights, child development, school development, health, sanitation, etc.

37. During holidays the club members meet for yoga, song, dance, debate, drawing, essay writing.

38. The children's club engages in micro-level planning on village development, including planning for all rights to be made available to all children.

39. The children’s conclusions are ratified by village elders and the plan is then presented to the village Panchayat and other elders

40. In one such decision, a children’s club recommendation made it possible for a school to get a drinking water tube well

41. In other places, children’s clubs have mobilised support to ask for improved school buildings and for the appointment of new teachers

42. As a result of all this, the number of children enrolled in school has jumped up

43. Gopal has finished his Std
Gopal has finished his Std. VII exams and looks forward to join High School.

44. A higher secondary school now caters to children all around so that
no one has to stop studying after Class 5

45. Health Centres are made functional Anganwadis run effectively
Today in Bolangir,
The basic rights of people are restored Adequate work keeps them from migrating
Good governance through the Village Panchayat accounts for the Rights of the poor
Health Centres are made functional
Anganwadis run effectively
Children’s Clubs ensure children’s welfare
But the journey onward continues with Project Shiksha…

46. CRY’s Involvement Looking for villages where change is needed most
Making sure the local NGO (in this case, ADHAR) is equipped to handle the challenges
Building more active citizens in the villages
Lending a voice to the demand that every child has every right

47. Project Shiksha
A story of Procter & Gamble’s commitment to bring about community change to change children’s lives for the better, forever.
Project Shiksha is P&G’s initiative in association with CRY – that involves consumers to enable
children’s right to education via simple brand choices.
Celebrating its 5th year Anniversary in 2009,
Project Shiksha has touched over children in 432 communities.

48. Project Shiksha has impacted the lives of 87,000 children

49. bringing about lasting change …

50. making is possible for the right to childhoods to become true…

51. Childhoods free from want, injustice and exploitation…

52. childhoods that realise the potential of each child

53. Do What’s Right. Stand up for children’s rights today.
Padhega India, Badhega India.
Join us and the day every child will have every right,
won’t be far.
Do What’s Right. Stand up for children’s rights today.
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