Kausalya Pujari, a young girl of 14, heals from Mendukuli village of Dalapati Guda Panchayat in Malkangiri district. She owns a beautiful smile and her eyes simply reflects the passion for completing her good education to have a secured life in future. During a discussion with the CYSD Community Mobiliser placed under Dalapatiguda Panchayat, Kausalya shared some of her issues which refrained her from continuing further schooling.

Kausalya’s family comprises of her parents, an elder brother and two younger siblings. Her parents have been indulged in alcoholic activities since long which often leads the family towards economic distress. They own a small farmland, but are unable maintain consistency in managing the agricultural activities and crops. Therefore, her mother sometimes tries to earn additional livelihood by reaching out to other people’s farmlands and assisting them in the form of labour contribution.

After completion of her 8th Std. Kausalya had no other choice but to quit her study owing to the financial breakdown of her family. At the same time, two of her younger siblings were also attending the village school in Mendukuli.

Nevertheless, Kausalya was a passionate learner and earnestly wanted to continue her education. Earlier, her elder brother was the only support system, she could rely on, to complete her schooling. However, he had to leave the village due to his job engagement as a construction worker outside. When Kausalya was asked about her education, she said, “Pursuing higher education appears quite uncertain for me because of my parents’ persistent alcoholic indulgence and poor living condition of the family. I always wanted to join a high school having hostel and study there. But, the unsettled environment at home distracted me from concentrating on studies.

With the facilitation of concerned community mobiliser, Kausalya got admitted in Government High School of Mathili last year, around 15 Km away from her home. Somehow, the community mobiliser could convince her parents and make them understand the importance of education. In spite of various hurdles, all her documents were finally submitted in the school and she joined the school. She is continuing her study in 10th Std. and attends classes regularly residing in hostel.

   Currently, Kausalya is back at home due to the Covid-19 lockdown situation, but she will resume her schooling as soon as the government advisories comes out. Along with her siblings, Kausalya has been provided with educational kits containing storybooks, workbooks, geometry box and other stationery items by CYSD’s Child Development Project. The educational kit helps them to keep in touch with studies, as a result their studies don’t get interrupted despite the pandemic. Her family has been supplied with survival kit which includes cooking oil, pulses and other dry ration. “I was provided with free sanitation kit including napkin to maintain personal hygiene. Most importantly, I am happily pursuing my 10th Std. education with the support of CYSD. I convey my deep gratitude to the programme team of CYSD for their continuous support and help towards taking care of my career”, says cheerful Kausalya.