Married Off As A Minor, This School Dropout Became Sarpanch At 19

Pravina, a resident of Sakdara in Rajasthan's Pali district, fought her way through several turmoils since childhood to become the sarpanch (head of the village) of seven villages by just the age of 19. From having an alcoholic father who died when she was young, to being married off as a minor, Pravina has seen many dark days in her past. Despite having a difficult childhood and dropping out of school, she fought to become a facilitator and inspiration to many people beyond the seven villages.

Lovingly known as 'Papita' to the villagers, she served as the sarpanch from 2014 to 2019 but continues to work for the betterment of people. During her tenure as the leader, she ensured that the maximum of the budget goes toward education, especially for girls. Although she was forced to drop out of school herself, she possessed a drive to encourage education in girls.

School Drop Out To Education Facilitator

Pravina constructed a girls' school during her time as sarpanch, ensuring no girl or woman is denied the right to quality education. She travelled from village to village, encouraging people to send their daughters to school. Some girls also reach out to me to convince their parents about not restricting their education. I visit their homes, I connect them with the NGOs working in the sector, we find options for them where finances are a constraint," she told the Press Trust of India.

When Pravina was in Class 3, she had to drop out of school when she lost her father to alcohol abuse and faced acute poverty. She was forced to make ends meet for her family, including four other siblings, by starting to work at that young age. She used to make money by grazing farms with cattle borrowed from other people. Moreover, the fear of child marriage constantly loomed over her head.

"I could have been a child bride who lived the rest of her life grazing cattle and doing household chores," Pravina told PTI. "But I found hope at the right time," she said, narrating how she was spotted by an NGO called Educate Girls, who convinced her family to send her to school for free education. 

Pravina was enrolled into Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), a residential girls' school for disadvantaged groups in Pali village, about 40km from Sakdara. At the age of 18 when she completed her schooling, she was married off to a construction worker. She said that although the financial condition was no better at her marital home, she did not let it come in the way of her journey.  

Beyond Sarpanch Duties

She was the most educated woman in the family, which made her want to contest for Panchayat elections. "I fought the elections and once I became the sarpanch, I ensured that the maximum budget allocation is for education... Now if I find any girl who is not going to school, I make it a point to ensure that she finds the same hope as I did," she told PTI.

Pravina worked as the sarpanch of seven villages in Rajasthan---Roopawas, Kerla, Muliyawas, Raunagar, Sevra ki dhani, Moola ji ki dhani and Naru ji ki dhani, from 2014 to 2019. Even now, her activism for women's education continues, as she travels across Rajasthan encouraging girls' education.

"When families saw me they became less apprehensive about sending their girls to schools... School teachers in the villages also invite me to interact with the girls about the importance of education, since they can relate with me as I am one among them," she said, adding that at least foundational education till high school must be compulsory for all girls even if they wish to pursue household duties.

Speaking about her influence among girls she said, "I once addressed the gathering at their foundation day, I did not even know that I could inspire so many. I met so many girls there who told me that the field workers narrated my story to their parents and then they were convinced about sending them to school," she told PTI.