Thirst for Knowledge

I am Puja

I study in grade 7 in Lahan. My favourite subject is maths.

There is water at the school, but it contains iron and it stinks. I have fallen ill by drinking the water at school.

People use the toilet at school, but don’t bother to flush or clean when there is no water. Some of them go out as well, but I go to the toilet no matter how dirty it is.

No water, no lessons, no choice
When girls menstruate at school, it affects their studies as they return home. It’s not good to leave the class, but they are compelled to do so since there are no pads, toilets and not even drinking water in our school.

They are absent for one or two days and then they come to school again. They come to school wearing pads but they can’t change it. It is not good, but they have no option. I feel bad when my friends have to miss classes and they can’t perform well in exams.

We need water to do everything
There should be proper management of pads, toilet and drinking water. If these were well managed, menstruating girls wouldn’t have to miss their classes. Life is not possible without water, since we need water to do everything like drink, cook, clean, wash.

We go to school to study and gain knowledge which will help us become somebody we wish and spread knowledge to others.

I am Sandhya

I am a 10th grade student in Lahan. I like to create videos and dance.

On my first day of school, I wondered as to what sort of school it would be. There was no provision of drinking water and no toilet, and even the teaching was not good in those days.

I want my school to have a clean toilet.

The water at school is poor. There is no facility for purification. We have to wait for a while to let the mixed contamination sediment.

I wish I should not have to drink such water, but I haven’t complained to the teacher. Nobody is ready to complain about it. So how can I go alone and complain? I drink the well water which comes from the electric motor. I haven’t fallen ill yet – but I don’t know about others.

TikTok queen
During lockdown, I created TikTok videos. I made at least 30 TikTok videos daily.  I think it has been around three years since I started creating TikTok videos. My friends … have even told me that I am about to become TikTok Queen.

I would like to continue dancing, but my professional aim is to become a nurse, focusing on my studies. If time allows then I will continue both simultaneously. TikTok is a way to pass time when my patients are not available.

I am Arbind
I am Kailash

My name is Arbind, I study in class 9.

My name is Kailash. Arbind is my best friend.

I like Kailash’s quiet and peaceful nature.

Arbind is helpful and gets along with everyone.

Girls and boys should be treated equally
Girls should study as well as doing household chores. I haven’t done these kinds of chores. My sister, mother and sister-in-law do these works. These tasks are not just for them though.

Boys and girls are treated differently in our society. Girls have to work at home, but boys are always roaming and playing. It is not right. 

If I had been a girl, I don’t know what would have happened but I think I would have to do like what my sisters do... if we switched souls, I would not be able to stay like that. We need to change things. We can change it by creating awareness among people regarding gender equality, living in harmony and equality.