Education Acts As An Equaliser

Farida Lambay, former Vice Principal, Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work in Mumbai, has spearheaded different initiatives such as Prerana (supporting sex workers' rights in Kamathipura, Mumbai) and YUVA (tackling social problems with the help of youth), as well as organising multiple disaster relief efforts. She received the Indira Gandhi Memorial Award in 2015 for her commitment to education and child welfare. BW Education interviews this remarkable advocate. Edited excerpts:

How does education serve as a means to disrupt the cycle of gender inequality and enable women to lead satisfying lives? 

Having been involved in the field of education for over four decades, I, as a female, can confidently state that education has helped our nation to make significant progress in addressing gender inequality. However, there is still a long way to go and we must strive for greater achievements. Throughout the years, one noticeable change has been the shift in people's aspirations, with a growing emphasis on the value of education. At Pratham, we deeply respect this societal transformation and are committed to providing education to every child and woman supporting them to shape their destiny. I firmly believe that education serves as the ultimate equaliser in our country and helps a woman to lead a satisfying progressive life that is ultimately not restricted to the kitchen. 

In 1995, you established Pratham, a non-governmental organisation. How has this NGO been instrumental in engaging with local communities to ensure that educational opportunities are accessible for children? 

We initiated our journey in Mumbai and have now expanded our reach across the entire country. We currently employ approximately 6,700 individuals and cater to around 5.5 million children, both directly and indirectly. Since the inception of our organisation, my co-founder and I have always believed that any work done must involve the community, particularly the beneficiaries. It is crucial to collaborate with them rather than simply working for them. When focussing on communities where children attend municipal or government schools, it is essential to gain their support. Initially, we found it very challenging to convince parents to send their children to school as they preferred sending them to work instead. However, over the past 30 years, there has been a significant shift. We used to encourage parents to prioritise education, as their involvement was limited to enrolling their children in school. Presently, parents are more empowered and educated. Three decades ago, parental education was scarce, but now we see a rise in young, educated parents, particularly mothers, who have completed at least 10th grade of schooling. 

Elaborate on Pratham's contribution to educating women. 

Pratham is deeply committed to early childhood education. Initially, our focus was on the age group of 6 to 14 years, in line with the right to education. However, we soon realised that many girls in rural areas were not attending school due to various reasons and were dropping out altogether. In response, we expanded our project and introduced the ‘second chance’ programme, offering a bridge course to help them grasp the basics and prepare for the tenth-grade exams, thus enabling them to seek employment opportunities. There were also women aged 45 or 40 who joined our programme with aspirations for government jobs. Furthermore, we launched a successful initiative known as NIOs (National Open School), which allows girls to take exams at their own pace. Instead of having to pass all seven subjects at once, they can opt to complete three subjects initially, reducing the stress and pressure associated with exams and extensive studying. The second chance programme for girls has been a remarkable success story, particularly in Rajasthan where several of them had never received formal education. 

Explain your programme aimed at empowering women by providing training in industries typically dominated by men. 

We are training young women to acquire fascinating skills in plumbing and electrical work, which were traditionally considered male-dominated professions. This initiative of ours can be particularly observed in Mumbai, where you can witness the increasing number of girls who are actively participating in these fields. Engaging in conversations with them our efforts have successfully contributed to the empowerment of females. 

How does Pratham leverage technology and innovation to expand access to education for women and girls, particularly in remote areas? 

Our ASA report indicates that 86 per cent of people in rural areas use smartphones. Despite this, only 66 per cent can effectively use them, mainly due to gender disparities. We are working towards empowering women in rural and poor households by providing them with smartphones and sending educational lessons to ensure they educate their children. Our digital education initiatives have been successful and we are now expanding to include English and Hindi lessons. We are constantly adapting to new technologies to cater to the needs of underprivileged communities and the digital boom has significantly improved our outreach to remote areas. 

Elucidate Pratham’s involvement in protecting and promoting laws against child labour. 

We have made significant strides in addressing the issue of child labour, especially through our collaboration with the government. Nearly 50,000 children under the age of 14 have been successfully rescued from various industries like Jarzu seed leather and Kanipuri stalls, mainly from BIMARU states. Our approach to rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation has proven to be highly effective and unique. We have set a precedent as no other organisation has achieved this level of success. Our work has highlighted the absence of established standard operating procedures or regulations for the rehabilitation process. By showcasing our methods, we have advocated for change and influenced the government to amend child labour laws. While we do not take full credit, Pratham has played a significant role in bringing about this important change. Consequently, all forms of child labour below the age of 14 have now been banned, regardless of their hazardous nature. 

Can you share success stories of women and girls whose lives have been transformed through Pratham's educational interventions? 

There are various stories to tell and among them is the tale of Summaia Naaz, a 36-year-old individual residing in Hyderabad, Telangana. Summaia, a devoted mother of two, is married to a taxi driver. Despite not finishing her education, she has always nurtured a strong aspiration to continue her studies. We extended our support to her in taking her grade 10 Board exams. With unwavering determination and diligent efforts, she achieved an impressive score of 89 per cent. Currently, Summaia is employed at a nutrition centre where she provides valuable advice and guidance to individuals striving for healthier lifestyles.

Image Courtesy: Pratham Education