Vishakha had to rebel against her alcoholic father, who wanted to marry her off to a boy from the community, to get re-enrolled in the Shramik Vidyalaya in the suburb.
When Jogeshwari-based Vishakha Shirke was 14, her family made her drop out of school, stating that education would not get her anywhere. Three years later, the 17-year-old girl belonging to Vaidu community, a tribe known to deal in homespun medical remedies and odd jobs like hawking, will sit for her Class X Board exams today.
Vishakha had to rebel against her alcoholic father, who wanted to marry her off to a boy from the community, to get re-enrolled in the Shramik Vidyalaya in the suburb.
Seven other girls and five boys from the community with similar stories will sit for the exams from Mumbai, thanks in part to the efforts of activist Durga Gudilu, 27. Last year, Gudilu and her Maharashtra Vaidu Swayamsangharsha Samajik Sanstha found that 412 teenagers in the state were out of school. They ensured that the teens were back on the rolls of a school in their locality.
"Many students, especially girls, are pressured by their families to forego formal schooling. The community does not set much store by education, and most parents want their daughters to be married off so their husbands can look after them. After years of persuasion, we have been successful in changing their mindset to some extent," said Gudilu.
With her NGO's sustained efforts and counselling, for instance, the community got rid of its caste panchayat in 2013.
Ganesh Melkundi, a 15-year-old from the community, was taunted by his peers for resisting tonsure after a death in the family. Hesitant, he bunked school for months. "We convinced him to attend school again and provided the necessary help," said Durga.
With funding from donors like Switzerland-based Christof and Madeleine Siffert, the students are hopeful of their future. "It's a nice feeling to be able to pursue my education. There is a sense of accomplishment," says Vishakha, while thanking Durga.
In the metropolitan, the Vaidus inhabit areas such as Kalyan, Vitthalwadi, Kalwa, Thane, Kurla, Mankhurd, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and Dahisar.
Locally Speaking
- In the metropolitan, Vaidus inhabit areas such as Kalyan, Vitthalwadi, Kalwa, Thane, Kurla, Mankhurd, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and Dahisar.
- The tribe is known for selling homespun medical remedies
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Vishakha Shirke")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}