I am Nitu Ahirwar, 20 year old. I am a second year student of B.Sc. I have a brother, mother and father at my house. Mom and dad used to got to Delhi for the labour work. We brothers and sisters live at home.
Earlier, I used to think about what would girl do by studying too much. They only need to have knowledge of domestic work. There was rampant caste based discrimination at my village but I keep quite.
But, since after joining Balika Panchayat, I got to know about the legal rights and used to raised my voice against the discrimination. Now, whenever someone desciminates I protest.
There is a handpump in my village, where Lodhi caste people also come to draw water. They do not let us touch the handpump untill we fill the water. Once I protested against their behaviour but they justified untouchability by saying this is happening since long. I said, earlier we were not so educated that enable us to follow whatever you said but now we are educated, This will not work now. I know, you can’t discriminate us only by caste. After various arguments, few people got convinced. Now, whoever used to go there, they can draw the water first. Since that time some people stopped going there.
We have been taught about child marriage, early marriage, safe migration, rights against molestation and menstruation in the Bal panchayat.
I believe that the behavioral change for the girl should start from the home itself; only then society will changed.
Nitu
Village- Bhelsi (Madhiya mohalla)
Block- Baldevgarh
District- Tikamgarh