NTPC Rihand's Girl Empowerment Mission Ignites Change

New Delhi: 15-year-old Prachi knows little of life's luxuries, but the joy of reading is something that she holds dear. Today as she sits in the 10th standard of DAV Public School of NTPC Rihand Township where she has created her own space, few would believe that she was unable to even read just a few years ago.

Prachi’s father 45-year-old Anil Jaiswal hails from the little village of Bijpur in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. His life had revolved around working in the plant as contract worker. But despite the meagre resources, the family was adamant that all 3 of their daughters would be educated. But the family’s financial resources already stretched thin, were further stranded when he had to send her elder daughter Sonam for higher studies in the nearby college. 

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The third daughter to Sushma Devi and Anil Jaiswal, Prachi loathed going to school. Each morning Anil would have to drag an unwilling and sullen Prachi to the nearby government school. But everything changed when one day Prachi was selected for Girl Empowerment Mission 2019. Girl Empowerment Mission a flagship CSR programme of NTPC which embarked upon the idea of Girl Child Empowerment between the age group of 10-12 years, studying in class V.

The main objective of this GEM program is creating opportunities for upliftment of girls from the vicinity villages of all power stations of NTPC. GEM program is not only designed to provide holistic development to 120 girls every year so that they become confident and ready for the future but a way to promote social equality and empower girls by introducing them to a pedagogy that not only includes the classroom teaching but also expose them to various skill sets, including soft skills, life skills, communication skills, singing, dancing, art and craft, computer training to equip them for future endeavours.  

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The workshop not only focuses on teaching but also creates a balance by offering sessions on meditation, yoga, self-defence, and sports to enhance physical and mental well-being. 

Many girls like Prachi look forward for the summer vacation so that they too can witness the fun and frolic GEM workshop organised every year by NTPC Rihand, it not only educates the underprivileged girls residing near NTPC Plants but also brings a ray of hope in every parent’s eye that their girl child will also get a chance to learn new things and become future ready. If their daughter is selected in top 10 at the end of GEM program, she will also study like Prachi in the DAV School of the township till 12th grade free of cost. 

This became a fresher start for Prachi and other 40 girls who were selected in the GEM program organised by NTPC Rihand in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 respectively, whose quest for knowledge is just increasing with every passing day.  Soon Prachi was devouring the books that was provided by NTPC Rihand. Better still was Prachi’s performance in school. Once a slow learner her grades climbed steadily as she progressed to successive levels through this Girl Empowerment Mission program. Today not only Prachi is doing well in her studies but also, she is a wonderful singer and a confident orator.

NTPC Rihand is proud of Prachi and other girls like her who is going to bring name and fame to their family by studying. 

NTPC Rihand aims to bring a positive change not only in the lives of the participating girls but also in their families and the entire society at large. GEM program has changed the way the girls and their parents perceive schooling and education. By empowering these girls and nurturing their confidence the program strives to create a transformation within the community.

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