Girls as engines of change in Kewdaha indigenous village

[Rituu B. Nanda]

This is a story of adolescent girls in village Kewdaha an indigenous/adivasi village in Bolpur, West Bengal, India, who have begun to shape the future of their village. After a series of intense SALT conversations, Suchana facilitators invited adolescent girls to compile their dream for the village in June 2025. The girls imagined a village free from excessive alcohol consumption and one where education was taken seriously. This dream became a source of motivation for them.

Soon after, they began free tuition classes for children in the village in Sep'25. Ten adolescent girls and one adolescent boy volunteered their time to run these classes. At their peak, they were teaching 72 children. Over time, this number reduced to 42, as some parents did not encourage their children to attend the tuition classes. However, the number has remained steady, and the girls have begun to notice academic progress among the children. Encouraged by the girls’ initiative, mothers from the village also visited the local school to raise concerns, as they felt that the teacher was not teaching properly.

Earlier, the community hall was largely occupied by boys, and it was a space where girls hesitated to sit. Since the girls began meeting regularly as a group and conducting tuition classes for children, they have started using this space with confidence. Boys no longer disturb them. This has been a critical gain for the girls. Public spaces in the village are gendered, and by claiming the community hall , the girls have shifted who belongs where.

The girls revisited their village dream on 3 January 2025. This time, there was a maturity in their thinking. They began to inter-connect different issues, reflecting deeply on the roots of change. They expressed that unity in the village is the foundation of development.  Frequent quarrels often linked to excessive alcohol consumption continue to undermine this unity.

The girls reflected on early marriage, which has been a concern in the village. Every year, there are several underage marriages, most of them through elopement when girls and boys enter into relationships. In 2025, however, there was not a single underage marriage. “We did this,” the girls said. All girls who were of an age where they were likely to be married off or to elope go together and decided that they will marry only when they are ready and educated. They expressed pride in this collective decision. One girl mentioned that her parents were pressurising but she did not give in.

At the same time, the girls spoke about the restrictions they continue to face in their lives. They want greater freedom to go out, but their parents often limit their movement. Many men consume alcohol and roam the streets, which increases parents’ fears about the safety of their daughters.  The girls questioned such restrictions. They want to make their own choices. They spoke about their desire to play football, yet their parents do not allow them to do so, while their brothers can play freely. “Football is not a sport for girls,” they are often told. Inspite of this, the girls expressed determination to challenge these norms.

Meanwhile Manjiharam the village elder male council is acknowledging the activation of girls group and see them as a support to the council.

(Title inspired by Bappa and pictures courtesy Sukanta)

[Ashish]

very Beautifull Title and meaningful also ..efforts of girls in this situation is definition of dedication and confidence..they set an example for new generation. Best wishesh

[Kaushalya Sumedh Agre]

Very inspirational actions took by girls. Idea of tuition is very great...!👍 other younger members from other communities... Should learn from this.

[Shahrukh Atpade]

These girls have done something that makes them very proud. Society still considers girls as objects. As if we can use them at any time. But the girls themselves are working to change this situation. Surely, with time, girls will become so capable that they will work towards changing the society themselves. The tutoring classes they have started now will increase the quality of children.