Rashmir Birhor, inspired by honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, is also a part of Aakansha, enabled by Tata Steel the Foundation, and has provided the and is one of the best testaments to the programme’s decadal journey.
The recent success of Rashmi Birhor, the first girl from her tribe – Birhore – to complete class 12 examination and graduation has caught the nation’s attention. Her journey started from Ramgarh district in Jharkhand and has grown to set an exemplary example of the power of become exemplary in the field of education. Aakansha was first implemented in 2012 and since then, the Foundation has collaborated with 17 schools, encouraging nearly 524 children from PVTG communities to have access to basic and quality education. In another instance, Balika Birhor, from the Chota Banki village in East Singhbhum, passed her matriculation with 82 per cent marks and inspired many by becoming a promising first-generation learner. Despite facing difficulties in her class 12 examination due to the pandemic, Balika managed to score well and went on to pursue her career in nursing, from one of the known colleges in India, Narayana Hrudalaya in Bengaluru. She is currently finishing her course at the centre and was deeply encouraged by her brother who convinced her parents also to send her far from home and help her achieve her dreams. But she is not alone. Over the decade, there has been several transformative tales like hers and Rashmi’s, reinstating the significance of basic education.
Jharkhand has the highest number of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), with nearly 62 per cent of them residing in the Santhal Pargana. There are three significant communities – Sabar, Birhor and Pahariyas – who live in the Dalma region, which is in proximate location to the Foundation’s operations. Most of the PVTGs live in remotest corners, far from any fringes of development, sustaining life on forest produce. Given their vulnerability, the PVTGs often take to bad practices like alcohol or other challenges factors, unable to leverage any opportunity anywhere to make a living. Unable to combat abject poverty, many members of the PVTG communities living in Jharkhand have taken up took up jobs at mining sector with different organisations. While this transition was happening, Tata Steel Foundation, mobilised the children and the youth on the perks of through education, encouraging it to turning into a weapon of their choice. Gradually, several young students started turning up, eager to go to school regularly, play and learn with their peers. What started with just 10 students, now has over 500 students, determined to rewrite their destiny and emerge as first-generation learners in their families.
Sarla Birhor, from Ghat Dulmi village in Seraikela Kharsawan passed her matriculation with 70 per cent marks in 2023 from Holy Cross Chowka. Sarla is one of the first candidates of Aakansha, when she was just the age of a kindergarten kid. She is not only determined to finish her studies but has also inspired her siblings to make education their weapon of choice to change their life trajectory. Bijay Sabar, from Fuljhore village in Purulia district, who passed his matriculation with 60 per cent marks from Sidu Kano Shiksha Niketan, aspires to become a teacher. He is however not a first-generation learner; his sister has already completed her schooling and is now preparing for civil services examination.
Mahaveer Sabar from Dhusra village, in East Singbhum, is a first-generation learner, who is keeping up his education alongside his passion for football. His brother could not complete his education after class five due to the abject poverty faced by his family. Mahaveer is determined to overcome all hurdles and prioritise education.
Shakuntala Birhor, from Chota Banki village, whose educational journey began with Bharat Sewa Sang Ashram that gradually led her to come under the efforts of Aakansha, when she joined Carmel School in Chakradharpur. Her father is a carpenter, and she took up Bioscience as her major subject which finally helped her get an admission in Apollo School of Nursing, Chennai. Despite initial challenges in language, Shakuntala persisted and is in her second year of General Nursing and Medicine course.
Sushil Sabar from Lupungdih village in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, is braving all odds to leverage the power of education and make his life meaningful. He comes from a family of daily wage labourers and aspires to pursue a higher education in History, hoping to eventually join the army. His siblings are inspired by his endeavour and are following in his footsteps of focussing on education.
None of these achievements came about in a year or so, it has taken months to break the ice, build trust and exchange ideas on transforming lives. Initially, most of the students ran away or refused to engage in any conversation, because language was also a barrier. But eventually, the students got used to the hostel life, focussed on education, learnt with their peers which made it more enriching and exciting.
Tata Steel Foundation ensures a holistic approach in Aakansha, by ensuring food, shelter, commute is taken care of so that children can put all their energy on personal growth and excelling at academics to manifest their dreams. Rashmi Birhor was the first PVTG girl to complete her matriculation through Akanksha project and now she has completed her graduation in History. She plans to get a government job and wants to break the generational cycle of poverty and marginalisation.
