Sangita’s Story – Tragedies of her life become lessons for others (Birda village, Sundergarh, Odisha)
No one can explain the ill effects of a social evil than one who has faced its consequences. Sangita Toppo, a 19-year old girl coming from a poor economic family background, from Birda village of Lathikata Block, Sundergarh district, Odisha, is one such example. Her father Mathias Toppo works as a truck driver and spends most of his earnings on alcohol, with little to spare for family expenses. Her mother, Malti Toppo, is a cook for other households and sells logs to make ends meet for the family. With her small earnings from these vocations, she somehow manages to take care of her children, but that fell short in their proper upbringing.
Sangita dropped out of school in Std. III because of the negligent attitude of her parents towards her education. After a few years in 2009, she went Delhi to work and there she got married at the age of 15 to a teenager through a love affair. She mothered two baby girls. After two years her husband passed away and Sangita, mother of two baby girls, was plunged into a sea of tragedy. Suffering the loss of her husband’s death, she was left without any help. At that time she had absolutely no knowledge about child care, how to earn a livelihood or sustain a family.
She returned to her native place and found out about the CMPI initiative to check the social evil she has suffered from. To prevent others from repeating the mistakes she made, Sangita joined the project as a Yuva Mitra. Since then, she has pledged to put an end to early marriage and educate the community, particularly teenagers, how crucial education is for girls and how a rash decision can turn one’s life around towards the wrong direction.
"Education is the key to progress, and in India, quality education is accessible to only a privileged few. The poorest of the poor do not have access to basic education and are left behind on the road to development!"
What does Development Focus Do?
How will the funds be utilzied?
This is a pilot initiative that we are implementing in very poor districts of Northern Karnataka, namely; Gulbarga, Raichur and Yadgir, where the socio-economic conditions and access to quality education is very poor.
We aim to help the youth acquire livelihood skills, sensitize them on their sexual and reproductive rights, and train them to produce clean energy devices like solar lanterns and fuel efficient stoves to make a living and reduce carbon footprint in these 3 districts, and empower the local communities in the process.
How much funds does this program require?
Questions?
Please send us an email to clarify any doubts you might have to df@devfocus.in
You can also view our work at www.devfocus.in
Youtube page: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzgzDVlw_6U