Dear Supporters,

I have a piece of good news to share with all of you. Asha and Sanju, the first two students which we supported with the raised funds, have excelled in their Intermediate Examination (Grade 11 (GCSE) / Class 11 (CBSE)). Asha aced her Intermediate Examination (Science Stream)/ISc with first division, and Sanju achieved the same feat in Intermediate Examination (Arts Stream)/IA. It is an extraordinary achievement by them despite the adversity which both of them face every moment. Last year, there was full-fledged attempt to marry Asha by her family members, and it was cancelled after the intervention of Sudha Ma'am. She reminded the family members about the legal penalties of child marriage and saved Asha's life. Let us all hope, both, Asha and Sanju complete their education and change the fate of their family as well as the whole Musahar community.

Once again, I request you to read about privileges which we all enjoy because of our status, caste, class and acknowledge that the word "merit" is nothing but a result of privilege, resources and available opportunities. These girls have debunked the myth of meritocracy and again proved that once a level playing field is given, anyone is capable of achieving the results.

 Lastly, I would like to thank all of you again on behalf of Sudha Ma'am and appeal to you all rethink your notions of merit, acknowledge your caste privilege and destroy the stereotype, prejudices, unconscious biases relating caste and merit by reading more about these issues.

 I wish to open the portal again to accumulate funds for their future higher educational studies.

Mayank Shreshtha

Dear Supporters,
I am delighted to inform you all regarding the Matriculation (Grade 10 / GCSE Equivalent) results of girls from Nari Gunjan Prerna Hostel. Seven (7) girls from Prerna hostel have successfully passed the exam out of which four have secured the first division ( 60 % +) and rest three, second division ( 50-59 %). Nari Gunjan’s Prerna hostels prevented these girls from the discriminated social environment, malnutrition and poor schooling. Proper guidance, resources, environment and teaching, has helped them to achieve this feat.
A pivotal role in their success has been played by team Aavishkaar ( a non-profit organisation which works in the education sector with a motto: shifting the focus from teaching to learning).
Moreover, Nari Gunjan also runs coaching centres for class 9th and 10th in the districts of PunPun and Bihta in Bihar. Fifteen (15) students got the first division, and eleven (11) secured third division. This number is remarkable as it shows that boys and girls which can’t avail the facilities provided in Prerna hostel can also perform better with a little help.



Prize distribution ceremony for the successful students in the Matriculation exam 2018.


The money raised by our fundraiser will support the seven girls of the 2017-18 batch to pursue further studies.  Sudha Ma’am conveys her thanks to every donor who helped to promote the cause of upliftment of Mushahar community.
Another great news is that now after the success of fundraising, big online news platforms like The Better India and MGChangemaker are coming together to support the cause of Sudha Ma’am. If you would like to donate to her cause again, you can visit the following links:
https://www.thebetterindia.com/151294/sudha-verghese-bihar-musahars-kerala-caste-system/



Sincerely,

Mayank Shreshtha
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”   -  James Baldwin

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”                                                                                                                       - Dr B.R.Ambedkar

Dear Supporters,

Thank you very much for the incredible support that you have shown towards helping the teenage girls of Musahar community. The campaign has ended, and we raised a total of 3,67,238 INR. This enables a total of 10 girls to complete high school (A-Levels) with full resources.

As I mentioned in my previous message, the case of two brilliant girls, Asha and Sanju who have managed to score very high marks in tenth board exams (GCSE) despite lack of proper resources. The first batch of the scholarship will be for them, and it will help them to at least complete high school education and hopefully, they continue for further education. Sudha Ma’am had already arranged the educational resources (school, extra coaching, books) for both as soon as the fundraising began and I am delighted to say that recently the same facility has been extended to few more students.
Asha and Sanju both have been enrolled in Intermediate of Science (I.Sc) courses with Physics, Chemistry and Maths (PCM) combination.

                                         
                                                                    Asha Kumari

                                             
                                                                         Sanju Kumari
These girls are the first generation to receive education and will face discrimination at every step due to their caste and gender. There is a long way ahead of them before they will be able to stand on their feet but because of the generous support of you all, they have taken the first step. We will try to establish a proper system of sponsorship through collaboration with organisations like Nanhi Kali and Magic Bus to help other children of marginalised communities.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP: 
You can contribute to the upliftment of Musahar girls by providing them resources directly. You can send (direct online order through Amazon or Flipkart is the best way) books (academic or non-academic), educational toys/puzzles, drawing kits, Quality stationaries etc. to the following address:
Sudha Varghese,
Nari Gunjan, Prerana Hostel, Lal Kothi, Danapur, Patna – 801503, Bihar, India
Phone number/ Mobile Number : 06115-224448/ +91-9431025201
Note: Please make sure to inform the Nari Gunjan team about your package before delivery through a mail to narigunjan@gmail.com.

One of the most significant problems plaguing India is a large number of school dropouts from marginalised communities. The denial of education to the children of marginalised communities (Dalits (SCs), Tribals (STs) and minority Muslims) is the bitter truth. In particular, as per NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) survey, the enrollment statistics show a very concerning picture.  The share of school enrollment among Dalit students drops from 81% in 6-14 years age group to 60% in 15-19 group. In the 20-24 group in higher education, this further plummets to 11%.  The leading causes are poverty and social discrimination (which even continues to haunt Dalit students in universities and even in IITs). The school exclusion (This identifies children who are not allowed to attend school because of social reasons.) rate is highest among Dalit girls and situation gets worse as we move from urban to rural areas. These statistics shed light on the main reasons why affirmative-action policies (reservation policy) have not been able to uplift the historically oppressed community even after 70 years of implementation.
Lastly, I would like to say our duties are not finished by contributing to any campaign; if one wants to demolish this oppressive social structure of caste, they must start with acknowledging their privileges, stop using casteist slurs and destroy the caste-pride which is inculcated in many of us since childhood.

Sincerely,
Mayank Shreshtha
“Indifferentism is the worst kind of disease that can affect people.” - Dr B.R.Ambedkar