Problem

Girl Child education has increasingly gained the attention of policymakers and they are taking active measures to address the gender gap in school enrolment. However, traditional thinking and cultural practices still remain huge barriers. Administrative efforts can only go so far. Parents and communities need to be invested in sending their girls and boys to school and provide the required social support to pursue education. 

Interventions 

Tribal communities are steeped in local tradition which binds them and gives them their identity. Leveraging the local cultural practice of Bulauwa and bridging it with the educational ecosystem helped make a meaningful connection with local women. Bulauwa literally means ‘to call’. It is a cultural programme where women of the community come together to celebrate by singing and dancing. Organizing Bulauwa in schools helped mothers feel comfortable and the idea of using folk songs to deliver the message of the importance of education, especially for the girl child resonated with them.

Observations

The programme played an important role in changing the environment in the district. Till now 800 schools have executed the Bulauwa programme. Close to 45,000 women have participated in the programme and discussed their child;s education, and about 2100 girls have been re-enrolled in schools

Source: Piramal Foundation