Parents prefer making girls work at home or on daily wages rather than sending them to schools. There is no school for class 10 students. Rather than sending a girl to faraway schools, they prefer to drop out, says Pooja Pawar
After observing the issues prevalent in their area for years, a bunch of youths from Shivaji Nagar, Govandi have decided to narrate them through a play. Some of these issues include education of the girl child, gender discrimination, open defecation, health issues due to dumping ground fire, lack of a government hospital and higher secondary schools.
According to Apnalaya NGO's survey last year, the area is home to a population of over six lakh people and has only 1,000 toilets. "There is no proper supply of electricity and water inside the toilets. We have to pay Rs two to five to use them. Rather than standing in a long queue and spending money for using them, people go to the dumping ground," said Gaurishankar Yadav, 15, who has been writing letters to the M-East ward office on various civic issues in the area.
"Parents prefer making girls work at home or on daily wages rather than sending them to schools. There is no school for class 10 students. Rather than sending a girl to faraway schools, they prefer to drop out," said Pooja Pawar, 18.
With the NGO's help, the teenagers have scripted skits which showcase moments from their daily life in the slum. It will be performed on Monday with the tagline 'Yeh Bhi Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan'.
Dr Arun Kumar, CEO, Apnalaya, said, "We are in talks with the BMC to build a maternity hospital, higher secondary school and garden in the area for the youths. While we will be providing the funds, BMC will mobilise the resources for the hospital and school."
As per the findings of the local NGO, 39 per cent of the population is migrant labour force, 68 per cent of them have to buy water for daily use and 71 per cent of the girls are class nine dropouts.
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