Samridhi Bal Vidya Mandir Madhyamik Vidyalaya
The school started in 2003 at Roopwas tehsil of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, as an effort to provide education to the children of Nat and Bedia communities, who were trafficked for prostitution by their family and community. With the belief in the power of education, this initiative, which started as a child care centre, is now a secondary school.
The school covers 27 villages surrounding Roopwas tehsil and has children from various communities attending the school. More than 90% of the students belong to Scheduled Caste and Dalit families. Regular outreach activities are undertaken in the peripheral villages to promote girls education and prevent child trafficking.
Presently the school has nearly 200 students studying in grades 1st to 10th. Plans are underway to upgrade the school to grade 12th. The school is recognised by Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education.
- Good infrastructure
- Well-equipped library
- Computer Classes .
- Pure drinking water facilities for children.
- Dedicated teaching and non-teaching staff.
- 100% result in board examination.
- Transportation facilities for children from remote areas.
STORIES
One step at a time
Ritu Kumari was the first girl to pass grade 10th in her family in 2011. Ritu hails from a scheduled caste group and was sent to Samridhi school since in other schools children from her community were often stigmatised and discriminated. Ritu was a good student and continued her education after passing out from Samridhi. Presently she is doing her BEd and has completed her MSc in Chemistry and aspires to be a teacher in Samridhi school so that she can motivate other girls to study and challenge the social practices that discriminate against women.
Dreams of Nyansi
Nyansi is presently studying in class X. She belongs to Bedia Community and some of the women of her family are engaged in prostitution. After her father’s death, seven years ago, the family decided to discontinue Nyansi's education. Dropping from school increased her risk of being trafficked for prostitution. GNK’s community worker took immediate notice of this situation and alerted the school team. Accordingly Nyansi’s family was persuaded to let her continue her education. The school has since then provided financial support to Nyansi to continue her education. It has been seven years since then and Nyansi is looking forward to appear in her grade Xth Board examination and aspires to be a police officer.
In words of Nyansi, “Sometimes I think that I do not know where I would stay –either in Bombay or in other metro cities like my aunts, who did not have a choice but I am lucky to be at Samriddhi School, where I can study and dare to dream”.
