Jyoti and Hemraj's Journey Back to School: Mainstreaming School Dropouts
In the heart of Brahmantara village
in Odisha’s Nuapada district, Jyoti
is a bright eyed girl who was on the
verge of taking her 10th Board
exams and her brother, a student of
Class 5, once faced a daunting
challenge that threatened to strip
away their dreams. After the
untimely death of their father, their
mother, with no source of income,
made the difficult decision to
migrate to Bangalore with her
children to work as a construction
laborer. The siblings’ promising
future seemed to vanish overnight,
swallowed by the harsh cycle of
poverty and migration.
But in every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. For Hemraj and Jyoti, that hope came in the form of the “School Fera Abhiyan” (Back to School Campaign), a powerful initiative driven by Shramajeebee Mancha, a people’s collective in Nuapada. The campaign was launched to combat the growing number of school dropouts in the region, offering a lifeline to children whose education had been disrupted.
Through tireless efforts, the campaign brought Jyoti and Hemraj back to their village and reenrolled them in school. This initiative was more than just an opportunity for the siblings to continue their education—it was a beacon of hope for their future. The campaign, which started in Nuapada, quickly expanded to involve 10 other people’s collectives, covering 50 Gram Panchayats across 45 blocks. With a focus on 82 villages, where 302 children had dropped out of school, the campaign worked to bring them back to the classroom.
The impact of this initiative was profound and it addressed critical issues such as inadequate school infrastructure, lack of safe drinking water and creating a more supportive environment for education. However, the success of the campaign was a result of collective action. Over 2,689 individuals—including students, parents, School Management Committee (SMC) members, sangathan members, government officials, teachers, and media—rallied behind the cause. Their efforts brought nearly 200 children back to school, including Jyoti and Hemraj. The “School Fera Abhiyan” continues to carry the hopes and dreams of countless children, offering them a path to a brighter future. Jyoti and Hemraj’s story is a reminder that when a community comes together, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome, paving the way for a more equitable and just world.
But in every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. For Hemraj and Jyoti, that hope came in the form of the “School Fera Abhiyan” (Back to School Campaign), a powerful initiative driven by Shramajeebee Mancha, a people’s collective in Nuapada. The campaign was launched to combat the growing number of school dropouts in the region, offering a lifeline to children whose education had been disrupted.
Through tireless efforts, the campaign brought Jyoti and Hemraj back to their village and reenrolled them in school. This initiative was more than just an opportunity for the siblings to continue their education—it was a beacon of hope for their future. The campaign, which started in Nuapada, quickly expanded to involve 10 other people’s collectives, covering 50 Gram Panchayats across 45 blocks. With a focus on 82 villages, where 302 children had dropped out of school, the campaign worked to bring them back to the classroom.
The impact of this initiative was profound and it addressed critical issues such as inadequate school infrastructure, lack of safe drinking water and creating a more supportive environment for education. However, the success of the campaign was a result of collective action. Over 2,689 individuals—including students, parents, School Management Committee (SMC) members, sangathan members, government officials, teachers, and media—rallied behind the cause. Their efforts brought nearly 200 children back to school, including Jyoti and Hemraj. The “School Fera Abhiyan” continues to carry the hopes and dreams of countless children, offering them a path to a brighter future. Jyoti and Hemraj’s story is a reminder that when a community comes together, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome, paving the way for a more equitable and just world.