B. Divya, 14, is a student of class 9 at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) here . She is an orphan and joined the school about three years ago. She has a dream of becoming Girl Child Development Officer (GCDO), to tender to girl children and ensure equal opportunities in education.
That is good, but she is facing some everyday problems, which seems to be small but dealing with them is difficult. Monthly stipend of Rs. 100 being paid by the government is not sufficient to meet her needs. Every month, her expenditure stands at Rs. 350. It includes – three wash soaps Rs. 45, three bathing soaps Rs. 60, tooth paste Rs. 20, brush Rs. 20, hair oil Rs. 35, napkins Rs. 40, powder Rs. 15 and shampoos Rs. 15, inner-wear – petty coat and slippers Rs. 100. She does not know how to meet the expenditure.
She is not alone, the condition of E. Yellamma and E. Swapna — studying class 8 is also the same. Both , who used to be rag pickers, joined the school after encouragement from a teacher. “We are approaching our special officer madam whenever we need something. But how long and how much she can bear? Will there be any solution to our problem,” ask the students. They are innocent about systems but hopeful that someone will address their problem. There are 43 KGBVs in the district each having about 200 students and it was stated that 60 per cent of them – about 5,160 – could not afford to meet their personal expenditures. The amount government has to spend additionally on them comes to Rs. 1.5 crore per annum. Mr. Narender, CI, Ramachandrapuram, has been extending some financial assistance to the students.
