‘How can we provide our girls with a modern education?’ It was in answer to this very question that the “Didis” (older sisters), members of Ismailkhedi’s Pragati Samuh (self-help group) took the initiative of starting computer classes for girls.

In January 2023, the Nari Pragati Samiti of Haatpipliya had introduced a computer course, which was open to everyone, For over a year now, Pragati Samiti (federation of self-help groups) members of Haatpipliya location have, with local community support, focused on providing a basic education in computers for the village’s women and girls. As of even date, 195 women and children have completed the three-month course and acquired knowledge of computers.

Ismailkhedi village has five active Pragati Samuh self-help groups. And all five were asking themselves how their girls, too, could attend the computer course. The distance between the village of Ismailkhedi and Haatpipliya town is 11 km. Most adults in the village are daily wage labourers. As there is no regular transport service between the two places, villagers who need to travel to Haatpipliya must hire their own vehicles, which means at least two persons lose a day’s wages. In these circumstances, how could Ismailkhedi’s girls make it to the class? A year passed as Ismailkhedi mulled over this problem – a year in which Ismailkhedi’s girls lost out on an aspect of modern education.

In January 2024, when a new batch of computer learners were about to begin classes, the Treasurer of Ismailkhedi Pragati Samiti, Sorem Didi, came up with a proposal for all the Samuh women members. She said that if we want to have our girls learn computers, keeping in mind their safety, well, every Samuh has a “social fund” for the development of society – and that is money which we can use for educating the daughters of our village. Because Sorem Didi has always worked for people’s welfare and is highly respected in the village, everyone trusts her, and her advice was well taken. It was decided to use the social funds in the cause of women’s education. At the Samiti meeting, when Sorem Didi spoke about how all Samuhs in Ismailkhedi had agreed to allot some of their funds towards education, members praised the village women’s awareness of the importance of education for women. The meeting resolved to arrange transport to ferry the girls to Haatpipliya and back, every day, so that they too might attend the computer course. A van was to be hired for the purpose, at a rental of Rs 11,000 per month. The van’s driver was to be an Ismailkhedi resident, so that the Didis could keep an eye out from time to time.

Thus, on 29 January, 10 girls from Ismailkhedi enrolled for the computer course run by the Haatpipliya Women’s Pragati Samiti. They travelled up and down each day in the van, their hours from 9 am to 1.30 pm reserved for this new learning experience. The girls are happy because the basic problem of transport has been addressed and they can now focus on their computer studies, which they hope will help them when it comes to choosing a career. Their self-confidence, too, has grown. In April this year, all 10 completed the primary course. The young women who have completed the course run by the Samiti are now quite familiar with computers. When they visit the “Kiosk Centre” for banking transactions, they pay attention to the amounts that the Centre’s Bhaiyya (brother) puts in, and of the balance figures shown in their accounts. An added benefit of their newfound digital skills is the ease they experience in using their mobile phones. As for the children who acquire computer literacy, they too may expect to have better job opportunities someday. Each of the five Samuhs in the village transfers Rs 2,200 to the van driver’s account every month. And the Samuh Didis feel pleased to know they have contributed to women’s education. The Samuh Didis of Ismailkhedi village are truly an example of a new attitude towards education. They believe that education for girls is essential, because it provides them with problem-solving tools to deal with both societal and financial issues.

Photography: Krishan Matriya

Writing: Krishan Matriya

Editing: Mohd Ruman