Staff Reporter –
Deprived of a happy childhood and awareness to fight the odds, the girl children in the Sundarbans lead a vulnerable life every day. With trafficking, child marriage, abuse and elopement being the overpowering menace, extreme poverty and societal norms add to their plight, depriving them of access to good life. And here’s where all of us can make a difference by empowering them with education. Precisely, that is what Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare Society (KSWS) and SVP Kolkata are aiming at. This Raksha Bandhan, they urge you to Tie a Rakhi of Education to protect the sisters of Sundarbans, gifting them awareness and empowerment. The official announcement of the campaign today at Press Club Kolkata was graced by popular actors Anindya Sengupta, Rajannya Mitra and Shristi Pandey, along with other esteemed guests. The event saw little children from Sundarbans sharing their stories and creations.
The Raksha Bandhan campaign by Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare Society, running till 16th August 2024, targets sponsoring the education of 411 girl children of Sundarbans for a whole year. For this, they only need Rs 15,600 per child and urge well-wishers to donate to the cause. With this money, the children will be educated and empowered to fight against the odds of marginalized livelihood.
Initiated by the then-school teacher Satarupa Majumder in 2012 and later supported by Mr Biswajit Saha, Swapnopuron started its journey as a learning centre in Hingalganj, Sundarbans. Overwhelmed by her experience, Satarupa left her job in 2018 and devoted herself fully to the cause. Powered by the wholehearted support of SVP India, Swapnopuron established the only English medium school in Sundarbans. Currently, the organisation has one main school (nursery to XI) and 4 branches across panchayats under Hingalganj and plays a pivotal role in the Block Child Protection Committee. It has also extended support to the pandemic, Amphan and Yaas relief work in all the affected panchayats under the Hingalganj block.
Speaking at today’s event Satarupa Majumder, Founder, KSWS mentioned, “In rural areas like the Sundarbans, girls often face significant barriers to education, including poverty, cultural norms, and Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare SocietyRegistered under Societies Registration Act, 1961, Govt. of West Bengal Vide No S/IL/91212 Registered Address: Mahendra Bhavan, 19/1 Phoolbagan Road, (Baghajatin), Kolkata-700086, West Bengal IndiaContact: +91 8420589906 Email: ngoswapnopuron@gmail.com
safety concerns. Given the prevalent issues of girl child trafficking and child marriage, especially in the border areas of India and Bangladesh where most of our branches are situated, we emphasize the importance of girl child education. Through this campaign, we would like to emphasize the same as the life of girl children is vulnerable and tough. We have a target of supporting 411 girl children to continue with their education. Educated girls are more likely to secure better jobs and contribute to the economic stability of their families and communities. In regions like the Sundarbans, where traditional gender roles may dominate, educating girls can initiate significant social change and promote a more inclusive and equitable society.”
SVP’s Thought
Swapnapuron Shiksha Niketan is doing amazing work in the Sundarbans and is at the forefront of bringing education to the financially deprived in a region which does not get too much attention. We at SVP (Social Venture Partners) have been partnering with them in various ways to create awareness, raise funds and extend support. This Rakshabandhan initiative is a beautiful one, connecting people in affection and celebration, and also raising money along the way. We at SVP are extremely proud to have been part and parcel of this initiative and hope that KSWS keeps excelling in their work.
