Ahmedabad: Chhota Udepur, one of Gujarat’s newer districts, has been using a simple but direct approach to bring young girls closer to the district administration. The initiative takes the Collector into schools, creating a space where students can raise questions, discuss concerns and speak about their aspirations.
Called ‘Sashakt Beti – Collector in Classroom’, the initiative brings Collector Gargi Jain into direct interaction with schoolgirls, with conversations spanning education, health, leadership, sports, confidence and personal safety.
Recently, at Model Day School in Rumadiya village of Kawant taluka, students discussed the role of sports in physical and mental well-being, along with good touch and bad touch, with a focus on safety, personal boundaries and awareness.
The initiative also brings in women from the district working as teachers, doctors and police personnel. By sharing their own journeys, they give students a closer look at different professional possibilities and encourage them to build confidence, set goals and work towards achieving them.
The value of such direct engagement can sometimes be seen in small changes. Jain recalls a student who was initially hesitant to speak before others but later came forward confidently at a public programme.
What makes the initiative distinct is this combination of direct administrative access, conversations around issues affecting girls and exposure to women professionals. For the administration, it creates a direct understanding of what students need beyond academics. For the girls, it provides an opportunity to interact with the district Collector and hear from women whose experiences can broaden their understanding of what they can pursue.
In that sense, ‘Sashakt Beti’ brings the administration closer to the everyday concerns and aspirations of young girls, while making guidance and engagement more accessible to them.
VIDEO | Gujarat’s ‘Sashakt Beti-Collector in Classroom’ initiative is creating a direct platform for schoolgirls to interact with the Collector, share their questions and speak about their aspirations. In Chhota Udepur’s Kawant taluka, Collector Gargi Jain interacted with students at Model Day School in Rumadiya village, discussing education, health, leadership, sports and personal safety. The initiative also highlights the journeys of successful women from the district, while encouraging girls to build confidence, set goals and work towards achieving them. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)
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