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Author: Smile Editorial Team

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Education

Why Donation for Child Education Matters?

Education is the cornerstone of any society’s growth and development. It shapes individuals, equips them with skills and empowers them to contribute meaningfully to their communities. However, for millions of underserved children around the world, education remains an unattainable dream. 

The absence of quality education keeps children entangled in a relentless cycle of poverty, inequality and social exclusion, limiting their future opportunities. By investing in child education, we can transform lives, communities and ultimately, entire societies. Donations for child education are not just acts of charity but vital contributions to social progress and equity.

Our Motto: Education is Empowerment

Education is a powerful tool for individual and societal transformation. It opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise remain closed and provides the foundation for personal and professional growth. For underserved children, education is more than acquiring knowledge as a pathway to a brighter future. It equips them with critical thinking skills, literacy and numeracy, which are essential for navigating the complexities of life and the job market.

Education also fosters social cohesion and reduces inequality. When children from all backgrounds have access to quality education, it promotes inclusivity and understanding. It breaks down barriers and builds bridges between different segments of society, encouraging a sense of community and shared responsibility. This aligns with the United Nations SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Barriers to Education for Underserved Children

Despite the recognised importance of education, numerous barriers prevent underserved children from accessing it. These barriers are multifaceted and often interlinked, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break without external intervention.

1. Economic Constraints: Poverty is one of the most significant barriers to education. Families struggling to meet their basic needs often cannot afford school fees, uniforms, books or transportation. Children from such families are more likely to drop out of school to work and support their households.

2. Gender Inequality: In many communities, gender discrimination limits girls’ access to education. Cultural norms and practices may prioritise boys’ education over girls’, leading to a significant gender gap in school enrollment and completion rates. This challenge is addressed by SDG 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

3. Geographical Barriers: Children living in remote or rural areas often face challenges in accessing schools due to distance and lack of infrastructure. Poor road conditions and inadequate public transportation further exacerbate these difficulties.

4. Social Exclusion: Children from marginalised communities, including ethnic minorities, refugees, and those with disabilities, often face discrimination and exclusion from the education system. This exclusion can be due to prejudice, lack of inclusive policies or inadequate facilities to cater to their needs.

Addressing Educational Inequities

Addressing educational inequities requires a multifaceted approach involving financial support, advocacy and community engagement. Financial support through scholarships for school fees, uniforms and books is essential. Establishing community-based schools in areas lacking formal education infrastructure can guarantee that all children have access to quality education tailored to local needs. 

Advocacy and raising awareness are important for promoting inclusive policies and dismantling barriers to education, involving collaboration with governments, communities and stakeholders. Additionally, support services like after-school programmes, mentoring and counselling help children overcome challenges, ensuring they not only attend school but also thrive in their educational journey. Together, this helps ensure these efforts create a supportive environment for every child to receive a quality education. Financial donations play a crucial role in sustaining these initiatives.

How Donations Can Make a Difference?

Donation for child education profoundly impacts individuals, communities and society. They ensure sustainable funding for educational programmes, especially those run by non-governmental organisations and individuals, allowing for long-term planning and stability. Donations facilitate resource allocation to essential areas, such as building classrooms, purchasing textbooks and funding teachers. 

With adequate funding, educational programmes can be scaled to reach more children, amplifying their impact and fostering positive change. In addition, donations drive innovation in education, supporting new teaching methods, technologies and teacher training, which continually enhance educational quality. Together, these contributions make a tangible difference, empowering children with the skills and opportunities needed for a brighter future.

Towards a Brighter Future: Initiatives by Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation has undertaken several impactful initiatives in education, aiming to bridge the gap for underserved children. Mission Education programme, a Smile initiative, focuses on providing quality education, benefiting thousands of children across India. It follows a four-pronged approach:

  • Improving learning outcomes
  • Creating an enabling learning environment
  • Capacity building of teachers
  • Community engagement

By setting up well-equipped learning centers, the Foundation ensures a conducive learning environment. 

Through its Shiksha Na Ruke initiative, Smile Foundation has been supporting children in challenging situations to continue their education, aiming for a brighter future and improved quality of life. Currently, we are directly educating over 120,000 children across 27 states in India. Our efforts rely entirely on the generous contributions of socially committed individuals. Donations play a crucial role in sustaining and expanding these initiatives, enabling us to reach more children and transform their lives through education.

The Bottom Line and Donation for Child Education

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 

– APJ Abdul Kalam

Education is a transformative force that can change the trajectory of a child’s life. For underserved children, it offers a chance to break free from the shackles of poverty and inequality. It empowers them to dream big and build a better future for themselves and their communities. 

Donation for child education matters because they provide the resources needed to make this transformation possible. By supporting educational initiatives, donors can contribute to creating a more just, equitable and prosperous society.

Every donation, no matter how small, can have a profound impact on a child’s life. Through collective effort and generosity, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a quality education and realise their full potential.

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Smile Partners In Change Partnerships

Need-based approach of Smile Foundation

Need-based approach of Smile Foundation
Need-based approach of Smile Foundation

When the United Nations released the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2015 to 2030, it made it apparent that the goals could only be realised with the participation of multiple stakeholders, such as governments, civil society members, educators and citizens globally.  It was said that those working in relevant fields could help bridge knowledge and action gaps to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. 

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also have a crucial role in this framework. They can monitor progress, highlight problem areas, and lobby for integrating and streamlining SDG-specific policies, thereby holding governments and businesses accountable. Embracing this pivotal role in realisingSDG goals, Smile Foundation has been extending its work across various fields to create impact.

Our work is significantly rooted in the idea that civil society must proactively participate in the development to kickstart a process of sustainable change. Since our inception, we have embarked on over 400 projects with a need-based approach, spanning 27 states and 2000 villages, continuously striving to push the envelope further. 

From the 17 SDGs, our prime focus is on good health (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), good jobs and economic growth (SDG 8) and partnership for the goals (SDG 17). The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on all these aspects. 

Stop learning losses

A study conducted by the UN revealed that learning losses affected four out of every five of the 104 countries examined. Additionally, projections indicate that by 2030, approximately 84 million children and young people will still be out of school. This underscores NGOs’ critical role in collaborating with governments to ensure children return to school, stay there and mitigate learning losses.

Specifically in India, despite enacting the Right to Education (RTE) Act in 2010, which ensures free and compulsory education for all children aged 6-14, there has been uneven progress in learning outcomes across different demographics. Challenges such as socio-economic disparities among parents and inadequate school infrastructure continue to hinder access to quality education. Recognising our responsibility in this ecosystem, Smile Foundation actively addresses educational inequality by implementing initiatives that support children from disadvantaged backgrounds in achieving equitable learning outcomes.

Skilling and Vocational Education

In today’s technology-driven world, many of the fastest-growing industries and occupations demand strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills. At Smile Foundation, we have significantly emphasised promoting STEM learning, which is crucial in driving innovation. We have established STEM labs at 12 locations and have distributed DIY activity kits for hands-on, activity-based learning to build critical thinking skills, particularly among underrepresented students. 

Additionally, we are working towards enhancing the centre infrastructure by implementing smart class setups, integrating educational software and providing educational tablets to students. Concurrently, we are actively involved in vocational training initiatives, aligning with the National Education Policy’s goal of introducing vocational learning from Grade 6 onwards. Project Manzil—conducted in collaboration with IPE Global—is dedicated to preparing secondary school students to make informed career choices and become job-ready. This initiative trains girls in various fields, such as IT, healthcare, beauty & wellness, retail, apparel, home furnishing, etc. The aim is to empower young individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

Healthy people do better in lives: A need-based approach on healthcare

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also underscore a commitment to ensuring healthy lives for all and promoting well-being across all age groups. In the realm of healthcare, Smile Foundation is dedicated to advancing these goals by promoting universal health coverage and alleviating the burden on the government healthcare system. Our healthcare interventions aim to provide essential primary healthcare services directly to underserved communities in both rural areas and urban slums. The objective is to reach vulnerable populations who lack access to basic healthcare facilities due to financial constraints. 

As of 2022-23, our initiatives have benefitted over 1 million individuals, 75 percent of whom are women. This focus is particularly crucial in a country where healthcare disparities are pronounced among underrepresented communities. We focus on urban slum dwellers, particularly those facing significant health challenges due to low health awareness and the economic burden of losing wages to seek medical care. 

Our efforts further extend beyond healthcare provision to include improving basic sanitation facilities, recognising the fundamental role of hygiene in preventing illnesses, and promoting community health. This encompasses conducting training sessions to educate young children and individuals in underrepresented areas on essential practices such as hand washing, proper sanitation, and hygiene. 

This goal can only be realised by implementing strategies that address these issues at their roots and continually seeking improvement. 

Women entrepreneurs and caring for their nutritional health

Our 2005 programme, Swabhiman, focuses on marginalised and socially excluded women by intervening through a need-based approach in areas such as nutrition, healthcare, and livelihoods to empower women through innovative community practices. Swabhiman enables women to access healthcare services, instigate sustainable changes in their communities, and supports them in gaining awareness, skills, and financial independence. The project has impacted over 1.5 lakh women, along with nutrition enhancement support to over 35 thousand women and children. This holistic approach aims to create lasting impacts and advance gender equality, aligning with the objectives of the SDGs. 

The country can only prosper and embark upon its path of economic prosperity by uplifting grassroots communities and helping small business owners become entrepreneurs who can craft long-term, sustainable solutions. We believe in assisting them with the necessary resources to become field leaders. Our work includes providing training and capacity building, as well as supporting social innovators with the required funds and encouraging them to raise additional funds from locally accessible resources. Between 2022 and 2023, we supported over 100 social initiatives and community-based organisations to complement the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. This is apart from our direct intervention projects where we go in and set-up the infrastructure and human resource support with the support of various related government departments. 

All hands on the deck

Our lifecycle approach caters to the overall needs of an individual for a life of better quality through dignity and financial independence. All our seven programmes- Mission Education, Health Cannot Wait, Swabhiman, STeP, Empowering Grassroots, Child for Child and Disaster Response are created through a need-based approach and customised keeping in mind the evolving needs of the country’s low-income communities. We are looking forward to partnering with more brands who prioritise social-causes into the DNA of their work and hope to create real change.

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Smile

Why is the Educated Unemployed a Peculiar Problem of India?

Why is the Educated Unemployed a Peculiar Problem of India?
Why is the Educated Unemployed a Peculiar Problem of India?

Every now and then, we come across a news story highlighting that thousands of applicants appear for a handful of jobs advertised by either a government agency or private organisation. In fact, when it comes to a government job, even for a position like peon, people who hold BA and MA degrees stand in long queues for hours.

This indicates a worrying trend in India where the problem of educated unemployed has been a major concern. Being the youngest country in the world, India has the largest number of working populations, many of whom are highly-educated. However, the global economy’s lacklustre performance since Covid-19 and local factors within the country have created a situation where these educated youngsters do not have the job opportunities they need.

Why is the educated unemployed a peculiar problem of India? Let’s look at the reasons behind this problem.

Mismatch between education and employment

India faces a paradox: an abundance of educated individuals coexists with a scarcity of suitable employment opportunities. There are various reasons for this. One of the biggest reasons is the rising educational aspirations of Indians. More and more people are investing in getting quality education, sometimes sending their children to the best institutions in the country and the world. However, this growing trend of getting quality education is not supported by an equally robust job market. While there is an influx of graduates, it is not aligning with the demands of the job market.

At the same time, while the quantity of educational institutions has grown, the quality and relevance of education remain uneven. Many graduates lack practical skills or industry-specific knowledge required by employers. This is because the institutions are not yet equipped to prepare the students for industry-specific work. Additionally, societal preferences often favour white-collar jobs, leading to oversupply in certain fields (such as engineering and management) while neglecting vocational and technical skills.

Structural issues in job market

In India, the informal sector employs a significant portion of the workforce. However, it offers limited job security, low wages and minimal benefits. Graduates find it hard to fit into this predominantly unorganised sector. This creates a huge demand for government jobs which provide the necessary security and respect. It may be the reason why even those with bachelor’s and master’s degrees prefer to apply for low-grade government sector jobs. 

Also, urban centres attract educated youth, leading to overcrowding and fierce competition for jobs. Rural areas, on the other hand, struggle with underemployment and lack of opportunities. Then, there are gender disparities that need highlighting too. Educated women face additional hurdles due to societal norms, safety concerns, and limited mobility. Their participation in the workforce remains disproportionately low.

Economic factors and job creation

One of the biggest reasons, as also discussed previously in the article, is slow job growth. While the educated workforce is increasing every year, the number of jobs being added to the market is comparatively lower. India’s economic growth hasn’t translated into commensurate job creation. 

The lack of viable non-farm employment options exacerbates the problem. While formal sectors like IT and finance thrive, they absorb only a fraction of the educated workforce. Informal sectors struggle to absorb the surplus. Women constitute a staggering 76.7% of the educated unemployed youth, compared to 62.2% for men. This gender disparity compounds the issue.

Policy intervention to solve the problem of educated employed

There are a number of policies that the government of India has been running to provide the necessary skills to people. Initiatives like National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) aim to reach a large section of the Indian population and enable them to find the right jobs. However, there are many gaps highlighted in such initiatives. At the same time, focusing on skills might not be helpful. A more difficult task is to bring jobs to the country by giving a push to the industry. More manufacturing facilities mean job creation for a larger population.

However, if India wants to create job opportunities for its educated youth, the country needs to focus on jobs that are in accordance with the skills of these people. To do that, the country needs to create a favourable environment for international companies to set up their offices in India and provide jobs to the country’s youth. 

Not just that, there needs to be a push in the direction of creating local employment opportunities by encouraging entrepreneurship. Over the last decade, India has already seen a rapid increase in the number of start-ups in diverse sectors. This has added lakhs of jobs both for the skilled and unskilled workers. However, there needs to be a continued growth in this direction to ensure that it can match the growth in the number of educated people entering the workforce.

At the same time, balancing formal and informal sectors, promoting flexible work arrangements and addressing gender biases are essential. And to create a favourable work environment in the country, the government also needs to work on comprehensive social policies. Investing in healthcare, childcare and eldercare infrastructure can ease the burden on educated women, enabling their participation in the workforce.

Educated and employed India

Educated unemployed remains a peculiar challenge for India. As the nation strives for inclusive growth, addressing this paradox requires concerted efforts from policymakers, educators and employers. Only then can we bridge the gap between education and meaningful employment, ensuring that every educated individual contributes effectively to India’s progress.

Smile Foundation is addressing the critical issue of youth unemployment in India through its skilling and livelihood programme, STeP (Smile Twin e-Learning Programme). Recognising the mismatch between education and job market demands, Smile Foundation focuses on equipping young people from underserved communities with practical skills and industry-specific knowledge.

By partnering with various stakeholders, the foundation offers vocational training, career counselling and placement support to bridge the gap between education and employment. These initiatives empower youth to secure meaningful jobs, contributing to their personal growth and the broader economic development of the country.

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Health

Slum Children and their Declining Health

Foundational Literacy And Numeracy
Foundational literacy and numeracy


Based on the data of the 2019-20 National Family Health Survey-5,

  • 35.5% of Indian children under the age of five suffer from stunted height,
  • 19.3% are wasted
  • and 32.1% are underweight.

While the data gives an overall picture of the prevailing malnourishment in the nation, which is among the highest in the world – nearly double that of the Sub-Saharan, the health crisis is unequal between the urban and rural divide.

According to a report, the declining health of children is a concentrated phenomenon where a relatively small number of states, districts and villages account for a large share of the health burden.

As per a report by DTE, children living in urban slums with low incomes encounter many health and hygiene issues. While the average infant mortality rate in urban India is 41.7, it is 54.6 among the urban poor. Deeper research and statistics about the deteriorating health of India’s slum children, however, are lacking.

Reports from states

One of UNICEF’s earlier State of the World’s Children reports stated that children living in nearly 50,000 slums in India are invisible. A study by PwC suggests that half of these slum populations are distributed across the states of Maharashtra, New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

The majority of recently identified cases of malnourished children in Nagpur are from slum areas, according to a recent survey conducted by Maharashtra’s Integrated Child Development Department. Almost ten years ago, CRY conducted a study on 500 children in New Delhi’s slums, finding that nearly half of the children under six years old were underweight, that 45 per cent had stunted growth and that less than one-third (about 31 per cent) had received at least one dose of the recommended vaccination. Around the same time, another study from Tamil Nadu revealed that an urban child experiences roughly 12.5 illness episodes in a year.

Factors affecting the declining health of slum children

India’s urban population has increased five times since the country’s first census in 1951 in independent India. This shows how India is transitioning from a country with a large rural population to one with a growing urban population.

With more people residing in urban cities, the proportion of urban poor people is also on the rise, which is concerning. As per Census 2011, there are 13.7 million slum households in India that live amidst poor health outcomes, inadequate basic amenities, unstable income, and a sense of growing insecurity.

Millions of children live in slums where access to basic facilities like clean drinking water, decent housing, drainage and a place to defecate increases the risk of infection and worsens malnutrition.

According to medical research published in the journal Indian Pediatrics, a significant number of Indians still struggle with nutritional deficiencies, which are particularly severe for children living in urban slums.

Faulty feeding practices, impaired utilisation of nutrients due to diseases and infections, poor environmental conditions, lack of proper childcare practices and inadequate food and health security are a few of the key factors contributing to the overall decline of the health of slum children.

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), vitamin A deficiency (VAD), protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and iodine deficiency diseases (IDD) are the major nutritional problems impacting these children. Furthermore, there is a continuous lack of awareness and understanding regarding nutrient-dense food and the absence of competent caretakers.

Numerous diseases and health issues are also caused by the lack of water and sanitation facilities in urban slums, shared toilets, poor cleanliness, and frequently open defecation. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 12 billion INR is spent every year on illnesses resulting from poor sanitation.

What should be the approach to support slum children?

It was estimated that more than half of the Indian population would be living in the urban areas by 2020 and nearly one-third of them would be slum dwellers. The consolidated effect of such ongoing rapid urbanisation and large-scale migration has a damaging effect on the health of children, which negatively affects their cognitive development.

Taking socioeconomic variables into account, addressing the nutritional issues of urban poor and slum children is a step towards the nation’s overall growth. If particular measures are not taken to address the health and nutrition issues of the urban poor, the problem of malnutrition in urban slums will only get worse as urban migration increases in the coming years. Enhancing the nutritional condition of impoverished children requires a more direct, integrated and focused approach.

Primarily, there is a need to develop and implement models of child care while planning for green cities and urban settlement models. Since the private healthcare sector is heavily represented in urban areas, there should also be mechanisms for the convergence of public and private sectors.

Furthermore, the government should prioritise the health of urban poor and urban children while developing cities, going beyond just taking the urban middle class into account.

Smile Foundation’s ‘Health Cannot Wait’

To ensure healthcare facilities are equal for all, Smile Foundation‘s ‘Health Cannot Wait’ initiative, precisely aimed at those from underserved communities, has been phenomenal in strengthening the country’s existing healthcare system and reducing out-of-pocket expenses on health. Through this, Smile strives to deliver quality healthcare services to the doorstep of vulnerable communities, with a special focus on children. Awareness activities like school health camps and street plays are also conducted to encourage children and the community to adopt health-seeking behaviour.

We aim to positively affect the lives of thousands of slum children, hoping for a near future with no slums and no child having to live a life of hardships in them.

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Smile

Tax Savings Under Section 80G: Do Good, Feel Good

Tax Savings Under Section 80G: Do Good, Receive Better
Tax Savings Under Section 80G: Do Good, Receive Better

Dealing with tax deductions can be quite overwhelming, especially when it comes to your hard-earned money. There are effective strategies to lower your taxable income by making charitable contributions. Consider an individual who donates INR 50,000 to a recognised charity. With a 50% deduction rate, they can reduce their taxable income by INR 25,000, leading to significant tax savings. All the while making a positive impact on important causes. Let’s  understand Section 80G and explore how it can be a valuable tool for saving on taxes.

Tax Savings under Section 80G

Section 80G is an important provision in the tax laws that allows individuals and organisations to claim deductions for donations made to certain charitable institutions. Donating money to eligible charitable institutions can provide taxpayers with a tax savings opportunity under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, of 1961.

When individuals contribute to eligible institutions and organisations, they can claim deductions ranging from 50% to 100% of the donated amount. This allows taxpayers to support causes they care about and provides them with potential financial benefits. Nevertheless, some specific requirements and criteria must be met to qualify for these deductions.

Taxpayers, regardless of their residency status, are eligible to claim a deduction from their gross total income before the imposition of taxes if they have contributed to specific institutions, funds or associations. This deduction falls under Section 80G. It is important to remember that this deduction is only available to taxpayers who have chosen the old tax regime. Individuals who fall under the new tax regime are not eligible to take advantage of this deduction benefit.

Understanding the Scope of Donations and Tax Savings under Section 80G

When making donations, it is important to ensure that they are made towards approved recipients or donees. There are also other points to be taken care of.

  1. Donations should be made with taxable or exempt income only. 
  2. Donations should go to approved recipients/donees. Examples include government-established relief funds, charitable institutions committed to education, medical relief, environmental conservation, or rural development, and specific trusts and societies. 
  3. To claim the deduction, the donee organisation must provide a certificate together with the receipt. 
  4. Income tax deductions are limited to the amount contributed. 
  5. Tax deductions only apply to gifts given in cash, cheques, or demand drafts. 
  6. Donations of more than INR 2,000 must be made in any mode other than cash. 
  7. Donations in kind, such as medicines, clothing, or food, are not tax-deductible.
  8. Deductions can be claimed while completing an income tax return.

Documents for Claiming the Deduction

First and foremost check that the organisation you donated to is currently registered under Section 80G. The official Income Tax Department website allows you to verify your information. Taxpayers can claim deductions under Section 80G while filing their income tax returns. The information from the documents, the exact donated amount and the particulars of the charitable organisation have to be filled in accurately during the process. Then, during the ITR submission, please ensure that the following documents are kept handy: 

1. Form 10BE: You have to get this form from the institution or NGO that received your donation. It functions as evidence to substantiate your claim. The donation amount must correspond with the information in Form 10BE prior to submitting your tax return. In the event of any discrepancies, request a revised Form 10BE from the institution.

 2. Receipt: Obtain a receipt from the charity or trust to which the donation is made, which should be duly stamped. It should include your name, address, donated amount, PAN number of the organisation and other pertinent information.

3. Trust Registration Number: The Income Tax Department assigns a registration number to eligible trusts under Section 80G. Donors are required to verify and confirm that the receipt they receive includes the trust’s registration number, which is a critical validation for the donation.

The Deduction Limits Under Section 80G

The various donations specified in Section 80G are eligible for a deduction of up to 100% or 50%, with or without restriction, as provided in Section 80G.

The deduction under this section is permitted as follows:
(a) 100% deduction with no maximum limit.
(b) 50% deduction with no upper limit.
(c) 100% deduction with a maximum limit.
(d) 50% deduction up to a maximum limit.

The Income Tax Department has enlisted certain Trusts donating to which one can claim 100 percent deductions. Make sure you familiarise yourself with any recent changes in legislation or any other important amendments in Section 80G. Also note that the income tax department updates the list of institutions approved by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Income Tax to receive donations under Section 80G regularly.

Do Tax Savings under 80G

Education, health, women empowerment and youth development are all great causes to support while saving money on taxes. The pleasant truth about donating to nonprofits is that it has significant effects on society and your mental wellness and financial planning. Smile Foundation works on all these focused welfare projects with proven impact and credibility and accountability. You can make a small donation here and save tax under section80G.

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Insights

The Plight of Women in India

The Plight of Women in India

India is a land where women are equated with goddesses. However, the real scenario can often be contrasting. In many situations, women are barely even treated as humans! Be it urban areas or rural, women in India face a daily struggle against misogyny.

Despite the adverse circumstances, women continue to survive. And there are many reasons why they bear these: pressure from family, financial pressures, no support from family. And the biggest driving force of course: What will society say?

Illiteracy among women has led to their lack of awareness about their rights enshrined in the Constitution. According to the 2011 Census, female literacy stands at 65.5% while male literacy at 82.1%. The gap is more pronounced in rural areas. Apart from the poor educational opportunities, women face a number of other problems and challenges that require urgent attention.

Female infanticide and foeticide 

A female starts experiencing discrimination before she is even born. A girl child is considered a burden to the family whereas a boy is considered an asset. After marriage, women in India are expected to live with their in-laws. Thus, investing money in their education is considered to be a waste of resources.

Moreover, socio-cultural practices like dowry make girls undesirable. To skip the financial burden, some parents kill the unborn foetus or the newborn daughter. We may think that it is a thing of the past, but the lived reality of girls and women in many parts of the country has remained the same for decades.

Due to such evil practices, sex determination of the baby is now illegal. However, thousands continue to break the law to get rid of daughters. Several government programmes are also trying to reduce the stigma around the girl child through initiatives like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’.

Educate every single girl and woman

“If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family.”

These words are absolutely true. The most important weapon for a girl to fight discrimination is education. When a girl is educated, she has the power to make her own decisions, improve the standard of life for her family and children, expand her career opportunities and reform society as a whole. When a girl is educated, she is empowered and leads by example.

In rural areas, due to the lack of educational opportunities, girls are expected to take care of household work only or are employed in minimum wage jobs to support the family. Even if a girl manages to go to school, there are chances that she might experience gender-based discrimination, face sanitation problems after reaching adolescence because of poor school infrastructure and face the risk of being sexually abused on the way to school. Caste dynamics – prevalent specially in the rural landscape adds the extra burden on young women to practise agency associated with education.

What about their healthcare and sanitation?

Rural areas and urban slums are bereft of proper healthcare, sanitation and infrastructure. People die due to what are considered to be trivial diseases in developed areas.

Living nearby dumps and in congested spaces, sanitation becomes one of their biggest problems. Due to a major lack of toilets, around 17% (around 154.5 Million) of rural Indians are forced to defecate in the open, spreading diseases like cholera and contaminating unprotected water sources. Women are also exposed to the risk of being harassed or raped during such times.

Pregnant women in villages have to travel very far on a daily basis to get water or use a toilet. Instead of going far to give birth, they stick to midwives, which later on affects the health of both the mother and the child, increasing maternal deaths and neonatal deaths. Adolescent girls often contract infections due to lack of sanitation and sanitary pads during menstruation and have no proper medical assistance to get through it.

Work gap and politics

Women face gender discrimination and abuse in the working community as well. This ranges across the pay, the promotions or the work politics. As per the The World Economic Forum’s June release of the Global Gender Gap Index data, Indian women earn only ₹40 for every ₹100 earned by men, reflecting a significant gender pay gap. A 2019 MSI survey had revealed that the median gross hourly salary for men in India in 2018 was ₹242.49, while it was ₹196.3 for women. Women are also exposed to sexual abuse at their workplace. There is a great stigma even in reporting the wrongful conduct of a co-worker. Recently, a woman died from suicide due to workplace bullying and body shaming.

And in the urban workforce, promotions work only till a certain level when it comes to women. Everything seems and feels transparent but women are often deprived of higher posts in an organisation due to gender bias. Out of 2000 CEOs of companies listed on the National Stock Exchange, only about 200 are women. The number of women who break through the glass ceiling happens to be very low. Even in the 21st century, women are looked down upon as the ‘lesser’ sex, someone who should be staying at home and taking care of the kids.

Child marriage, dowry system and domestic violence

Women in India are often considered as a burden, and thus married off at a very early age when they do not even know what marriage is. Child marriage is a strongly ingrained societal norm that shows the widespread gender inequality and discrimination rooted in Indian minds. Child marriage is a violation of a child’s rights, putting them at risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. When a young girl is married, she is pressurised into quitting school to work for the home and bearing children. These expose her to venereal diseases at a young age and she might even lose her life while giving birth.

The dowry system is very much still prevalent in urban as well as rural areas. Often the bride’s family is harassed for more and more money and if their needs aren’t met the girl is tortured or even killed. In 2022, reported dowry death cases in India amounted to nearly 6400 – reported being the operating word here as most of these cases go unreported in our country.

Abusing women is an accepted practice in the Indian patriarchal setup. Domestic violence against women occurs in many forms. Even though many laws have been created to prevent and punish domestic violence, it is still rampant.

The sex ratio in the northern states of India is so skewed that a single woman is married to multiple men in the same family, a recipe for abuse, violence and harassment. Polyandry and fraternal polyandry is practiced in most of the north Indian states due to low female ratios and in villages, where the societies are male-dominated and which still follow ancient rituals and customs. Women don’t have a say in this and don’t get to decide who they want to get married to.

Swabhiman programme for women in India

Smile Foundation’s Swabhiman programme seeks to help and empower marginalised women from rural and semi-urban backgrounds. Some of the initiatives under the programme include providing ration and health kits to girls, providing educational support and inform and educate parents. Reproductive health and child health services are also among the major intervention areas of Swabhiman.

The programme reimagined itself into an initiative of providing women resources to become small entrepreneurs by providing them with financial literacy through regular workshops by industry experts and investing in businesses of their choice after brainstorming with the team about the viable business opportunities in their community. 

The initiative is based on the premise that the best hope of empowering women is through attitudinal and behavioural changes in the community, including men.

For the year 2022-23, Swabhiman has made a difference to the lives of women and girls through these interventions:

  1. 75,000+ women sensitised on Reproductive & Child Health

    Door-to-door visits, community mobilisation sessions, awareness talks, street plays, couple counselling session and more were conducted.

  2. 5,000+ women sensitised on Reproductive & Child Health

    Door-to-door visits, community mobilisation sessions, awareness talks, street plays, couple counselling session and more were conducted.

  3. 54 women-led businesses & micro-enterprises initiated

    With a strong network of over 400 employment partners across industries, 64% of the trained youth secured jobs and entered the workforce.

  4. Community Awareness Tools in alliance with Govt. bodies

    Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material kits for pregnant women and recipe booklets for low cost high nutrition food were developed and handed over to district administration.

We invite CSR partnerships from corporates for whom gender equality is one of their  biggest thematic areas and who want India to fare better in the numbers of small women-led enterprises. 

Categories
Education Smile

Prevalence of Child Labour in India

How Happy are Our Young?
Prevalence of Child Labour in India

In a country known for its multi-culture and economic strides, India has a long standing scuffle with an insidious problem: child labour. The sight of young children toiling away in agricultural fields, factories, street work and as home helps make us question how long will it take for the dream of a developed India to become true? Especially when the socioeconomic disparities have persisted over decades. Despite laws and initiatives aimed at curbing this practice, child labour remains a reality for millions.

Understanding Child Labour in India

Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood. It interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful. Child labour in India spans various sectors each with its own challenges and hazards. Children in these sectors face long hours, exposure to harmful substances, exploitation and abuse, often with little to no legal protection or compensation.

According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), India is home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. It is estimated that10.1 million children aged between 5 to 14 years are engaged in various forms of labour.

The Root Causes of Child Labour in India

The prevalence of child labour in India is rooted in a complex interplay of factors:

  • Poverty: Poverty is the most significant driver of child labour. Families struggling to make ends meet often view their children’s earnings as essential for survival.
  • Lack of Education: Limited access to quality education, coupled with high dropout rates, forces many children into the workforce. UNESCO reports that nearly 6 million children in India are out of school.
  • Socio-cultural Factors: In some communities, cultural norms and traditions perpetuate child labour. Children, especially girls, are often expected to contribute to household income or take care of domestic chores.
  • Weak Enforcement of Laws: While India has stringent laws against child labour, enforcement remains a challenge. Corruption and lack of resources hinder the effective implementation of these laws.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem of child labour. School closures and economic hardships forced many children into the workforce. A report by Save the Children revealed that the pandemic could push an additional 8 million children into child labour globally, with India being significantly affected.

Stories of Hope

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to combat child labour. Initiated in 1988, the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) aims to rehabilitate child labourers between age of 9-12 through education and vocational training. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, further strengthens the legal framework by prohibiting the employment of children below 14 years and regulating the work conditions for adolescents.

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement) by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, rescued thousands of children from bonded labor and exploitation. Their efforts not only provided these children with a chance at education but also brought global attention to the issue.

Operation Smile

In a notable effort, Operation Smile, a nationwide campaign, rescued over 76,000 children from child labour and other forms of exploitation in 2020. The initiative, spearheaded by the police and child welfare departments, focuses on identifying and rehabilitating child labourers.

Give them a simple and beautiful life

Efforts to combat child labour require multifaceted approaches. There is a need for stricter enforcement of laws and the introduction of more robust measures to protect our children. Access to quality education must be ensured by addressing root causes of dropout rates.

Raising awareness about the detrimental effects of child labour and the importance of education is essential. Community-based initiatives and media campaigns can play a significant role in changing mindsets. Providing economic support to families through social welfare programs can reduce the dependence on child labour. Initiatives like skill development programs for adults, and livelihood support can make a difference..

The prevalence of child labour in India is a complex issue that demands urgent attention. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go. It is a collective responsibility – of the government, civil society, businesses, and individuals – to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy their childhood, receive an education and look forward to a brighter future.

In the words of Kailash Satyarthi,

“Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child’s eye – it is very beautiful.”

It is our duty to protect this beauty and give every child the chance to learn and grow in a world free from the shackles of labour.

Doing our Part towards Child Labour in India: Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation’s education campaign Shiksha Na Ruke is transforming the lives of children from slums and remote areas across India. We provide them access to quality education and a chance at lifelong love for learning. Recognising the barriers these children face, including lack of resources and socio-cultural challenges, we work to bring them into the educational fold. 

By establishing schools and learning centres, we help children who might otherwise be forced into child labour or denied their right to education. We work so that instead of surviving, these children thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment. The approach not only focuses on academic growth but also addresses the socio-emotional needs of these young learners. One child at a time and in the quest to build a more educated and equitable society – in the area of education that’s our belief.

Categories
Education Insights

Is Social Media Changing the Meaning of Education?

In contemporary times, accessing knowledge about a specific topic does not necessitate a visit to a university. With a few clicks, a series of resources can become available to anyone with some understanding of the internet. Be it theory heavy disciplines like museology, curation, or something as complex as physics or coding, the internet has expanded the ambit of our learning by providing limitless possibilities in the realm of education. Take the case of Khan Academy, an American non-profit that offers a set of online tools to help educate students. With over 10,000 video lessons across a series of subjects, the platform has emerged as a great learning tool for free and equitable education globally.

Social media platforms, designed to expand interactive spaces where users can engage through various mediums, push the envelope even further. They can help foster a culture of learning and knowledge sharing. Christine Greenhow,  Julia Sonnevend,  Colin Agur in their 2016 book Education and Social Media: Toward a Digital Future write that when any form of internet technology evolves, educators are usually the first one to reject it. However, the rapid advancements in technology and the changing landscape of education globally, underscore how social media platforms have been playing an active role in revolutionising education—making it more accessible and interconnected than ever before. This emphasises the significance of social media’s role in education as a topic deserving of our attention.

It’s everywhere

The ubiquitous presence of social networking has piqued students’ interest. According to a 2016 survey conducted by Tata Consultancy Services, 70.8 percent of students in Mumbai spent between 15 to 180 minutes daily on social networking sites, with 48.2 percent using them for school-related tasks. Interestingly, social media usage among youth in smaller towns surpassed that in major cities. Mumbai ranked fourth in this regard, while tier-2 cities such as Pune (54.2%) and Vizag (53%) had a higher proportion of students utilising online platforms for their school assignments. 

Quite evidently, social media platforms have changed how students engage with education and professional development. Each platform offers unique benefits that cater to different aspects of learning and career preparation. YouTube has also played a pivotal role in this revolution. Over the years, it has evolved into a ubiquitous educational hub, offering a vast range of videos from academic lectures to tutorials. Teachers from around the world have embraced YouTube as a platform to facilitate learning. Students are increasingly seeking the platform’s help to clear concepts. 

Personal wins

A notable example is Roshni Mukherjee, who has amassed over 3 million subscribers on Instagram and created more than 8000 lessons tailored for Class 11 and 12 students. In an interview with the Indian Express, Roshni expressed that receiving feedback from students who understand topics quicker than in traditional classes motivates her greatly. 

Spaces like Quora, a question-and-answer website, and Facebook, a microblogging site have further pushed the envelope. The former serves as a knowledge-sharing platform where students can pose questions and receive answers from experts and peers across the globe. Facebook, by view of its features, allows students to share resources, discuss academic topics, and collaborate on projects. 

These communities serve as dynamic spaces where learners can exchange ideas, seek advice, and access relevant study materials curated by fellow students or educators. In fact, Telegram—a messaging app—serves as a repository for resources allowing educators to share study materials, video recordings, readings, supplementary resources, and assignment guidelines with students.

In the same vein, LinkedIn has emerged as a powerful tool for students aiming to expand their professional network and explore career opportunities while still pursuing their studies. The application allows students to gain insights into various industries, reach out for mentorship and even secure internships or part-time jobs that align with their career aspirations. 

Increased accessibility to education: Thanks to social media

Education, thanks to social media, has become a commodity accessible to all, thus democratising access by lowering barriers for underserved communities. It encourages collaborative learning by enhancing access to information, yet it also brings its own unique challenges. Despite a plethora of resources, social media use can impact students’ learning process, social interactions, etc. 

A 2021 cross sectional study conducted by Manjur Kolhar, Raisa Nazir Ahmed Kazi and Abdalla Alameen revealed that more than half students reported that social media use had affected their learning activities. Most students felt more drawn toward social media than toward academic activities. The use of these apps also delayed bedtime to social media use, further affecting their health. This trend concerns educators, who are grappling with how to redirect students to harness the educational benefits of social media while managing the inherent distractions that come with it. 

The integration of social media into education becomes a huge responsibility for schools and institutions. Beyond incorporating these platforms, they must guide students in discerning reliable information, managing time amidst distractions and navigating privacy and ethics. This ensures students harness social media thoughtfully and responsibly, cultivating digital literacy crucial for functioning in a dynamic global landscape. 

Don’t paint the picture too rosy for education through social media

Early this year, UNESCO issued a significant report emphasising both the potential and pitfalls of social media in education. While acknowledging the benefits of digital technologies in enriching teaching and learning experiences, the report also underscored significant concerns. These include privacy breaches, distractions that hinder learning, and the prevalence of cyberbullying. Moreover, the report also highlighted that social media can exacerbate gender stereotypes, adversely affecting the well-being, educational outcomes and career decisions of girls, further outlining the need for stakeholders to intervene with the right practices. 

Undoubtedly, as our world hurtles into the digital age, social media has firmly embedded itself into our daily lives. For educators, students and parents this means a collective need to embrace the potential of social media while they adapt to the evolving educational landscape.

Our Work

Smile Foundation’s Mission Education Program is dedicated to not only providing quality education but also addressing the socio-emotional needs of children. Understanding that emotional well-being is integral to a child’s overall development, the program incorporates holistic approaches that nurture both the mind and the heart. Through various initiatives, including counselling, extracurricular activities and community engagement, Mission Education creates a supportive environment where children can thrive emotionally and academically. 

The program’s counselling sessions also talks about cyber crime and prepares students to address issues pertaining to social media. Overload of information without guidance is harmful on impressionable minds and we are making efforts to protect the children from instances that can possibly scar them by training and sensitising the teachers towards the changing needs of children. 

Categories
Women Empowerment

Why are women employed in low-paying jobs?

Why are women employed in low-paying jobs?
Why are women employed in low-paying jobs?

Seema is a daily wager, one of the very few women from her village who works on the farms alongside men. The 24-year-old supports her family of four, including her husband and two young kids, ever since her husband developed an ailment that has not been diagnosed yet. Every day, she wakes up, cleans the house, cooks food, takes care of all the chores, and then goes to work on the farm, only to return at night and again do household work.

Even before she started working on the as a daily wager, Seema took care of all the tasks at home. On the farm, she gets paid INR 300 per day, a hundred rupees lesser than the men. She does the same work, puts in the same number of hours, and yet she is paid less than the others just because she is a woman.

Her story is also the story of millions of women across the globe as the persistent gender pay gap remains a concern. Despite progress, women continue to earn less than men across various occupations and industries. For every dollar a man earns, on average, a woman is paid only 54 cents. This problem has been highlighted on several occasions and remains unresolved. Especially in a country like India, where a large chunk of the workforce is employed in unorganised sector, this unfair pay gap is a major problem. So why do women often find themselves in low-paying jobs?

Occupational Choices

What comes to your mind when you hear the word nurse? Is it a woman that you picture or a man? It is highly likely that you think of a woman when you hear that word.

Similarly, when you hear the word pilot, what do you imagine? A man or a woman dressed in a pilot’s uniform? We carry many biases and stereotypes when it comes to gender and these stereotypes are strongly embedded in our way of thinking about the occupational choices for both men and women.

Often, women are seen to be more fit for occupational choices like teaching, caregiving, administrative work, etc. On the other hand, men are viewed as leaders working in more technical jobs. Even AI tools like ChatGPT have been observed to perpetuate these gender biases when it comes to professional choices. These gender differences in occupational choice contribute to the overall pay gap.

Industry and Sector Bias leading to women in low-paying jobs

Another factor is the industry or sector of economic activity. Men are more likely to work in manufacturing, which tends to offer higher earnings. In contrast, women are often employed in educational services, where pay is considerably lower. This occupational segregation perpetuates the wage disparity. Even when we look at large corporations, we will find that there are more men in leadership positions and fewer women. The gap is so big that it may take years to achieve any form of equality in this area. Women in low-paying jobs also means that India not doing well in its Sustainable Development Goals.

Social Norms

There are innumerable societal norms and stereotypes that restrict women from achieving greater success in the professional field. In India, the problem is even bigger because of the social evils like dowry, early marriage, etc. Often, boys in a family are given preference over girls to study and build their careers because they are seen as the breadwinners while girls are trained for housework.

Historically, women have been associated with caregiving and domestic work. These roles, often unpaid or underpaid, have spilled over into the labor market. Additionally, biases persist regarding women’s abilities, leading to lower expectations and, consequently, lower pay.

Negotiation and Self-advocacy

Studies show that women tend to ask for less pay than men during negotiations. It may be because of various reasons, like the discrimination faced in the workplace, the lack of confidence because of the overall disparity, or the domination of men in leadership roles. This willingness to accept lower salaries contributes to the overall decline in wages when women enter certain fields. Encouraging self-advocacy and negotiation skills can help address this issue.

Maternity, Period Leave and Career Breaks

The debate around period leaves for women created a furore in India in the last few years. Many argued that this will be harmful for women as employers will choose to not hire women because of this likelihood of giving them extra leaves.

Apart from this, a stigma is attached with maternity leaves even after they are legally mandated. It is also women who pay a higher price for any career breaks. The stereotypes are so deep-rooted that some reports suggested employers preferring to hire less women employees in the aftermath of Me Too Movement. All this shows that women have faced a tough situation and have to work harder to prove their worth in workplaces, sometimes having to neglect their physical and mental wellbeing. This also adversely affects their pay scale as compared to men.

Case Study: Indian Garment Industry and women in low-paying jobs

The Indian garment industry employs a large number of women. Despite their significant contribution, women’s wages remain low. Factors such as piece-rate payment systems, lack of bargaining power and limited access to formal education contribute to this disparity. In this industry, women are in low-paying jobs.

Most of the home-based garment workers operate from the confines of their houses, transforming living spaces into makeshift workshops. They are often subcontracted to perform specific tasks like sewing, embroidery or finishing. However, these workers receive meager piece-rate payments, which depend on the number of items produced rather than the hours worked. Also, majority of these workers are women who do this part-time work while managing their households.

Pay for skills, not Body Mass Index (BMI) – Against women in low-paying jobs

So what can be done to address these issues? India needs comprehensive policy reforms to safeguard the interests of women. There needs to be a stronger focus on eliminating this pay gap and bringing greater parity in workplaces.

While the formal sector can be easily regulated, what’s needed is a mechanism that can create the right conditions for women in the informal sector as well. This needs to be achieved while also ensuring that employers do not begin to hire lesser women for work because of these changes.

The policies should focus on promoting gender equality, investing in skill development and creating safe and inclusive work environments. Organisations, government bodies and civil society must collaborate to bridge the gender pay gap and uplift women in the workforce.

Categories
Smile Insights

What do we mean by ‘Child for Child’?

What do we mean by ‘Child for Child’?
What do we mean by ‘Child for Child’?

Are you aware that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark treaty in 1989 to ensure that children enjoy basic human rights and fundamental freedom? One of the articles of the treaty—the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)—says that children have the right to freely express their views in all matters affecting them and those views should be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity. But how will the children be able to be empathetic and form an opinion if they are not even aware of the ground reality? 

After all, as the saying goes,

‘You can’t teach an old dog a new trick.’

For society to have responsible individuals and changemakers, the sense should be sown at a young age. That’s why it has become increasingly important to sensitise the children about the prevailing differences in society.

Why did we think privileged ones should engage with underprivileged children?

With the intention to inculcate the feelings of empathy and conscience among the children, Smile Foundation launched the ‘Child For Child’ (CFC) programme in 2006, i.e., just a few years after their establishment. We believe children to be the best change agents, not just in their families but also in the communities.

It’s sad that children, who are capable of changing society upside down, are tied to mobile phones and other electronic gadgets. While a section of them enjoys technological advancement as they are forced to breathe the air of ignorance, the other section, mostly from marginalised communities, is struggling even to meet their basic needs. To bridge the gap between these sections, the first and foremost thing that one needs to do is make them aware of the other section through sensitisation. 

That’s exactly what Smile Foundation has been doing as a part of the programme. For we believe society sees no sustainable change unless members of privileged society are actively involved in the upliftment process. Not just that, there is also a huge need to channelise the children’s energy and enthusiasm in a positive direction to build a healthy society.

Under the programme, we have been visiting schools and conducting interactive sessions to talk in detail about the inequalities and social discrimination in the society they live in. The children will also be told about the deprivation and pain endured by those from the marginalised communities to have the same access as they have.

Not just that, volunteers also put in their full efforts to make the children realise how blessed they have been to actually have escaped from the plight that underprivileged children go through on a daily basis. It is important to count on our blessings to develop the right attitude and become empathetic towards the underprivileged. For empathy is the spark that ignites the desire to bring about change in the world.

Designing of the unique programme

The ‘Child For Child’ programme has been designed to work at three levels to sensitise children, teachers and parents. Engaging sessions and informative workshops where stories of inspiring change-makers, pioneers and Indian leaders are shared are conducted for children. While seminars and workshops are conducted for teachers, webinars are conducted for parents. We have conducted more than 2,500 value education sessions and sensitised over 3 lakh students studying at more than 1500 schools across the country in the year 2022–23.

To kick-start discussions about vital personal, societal, moral and global issues, we have also been organising a film screening festival for the last then years called Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY). Films are an intriguing alternative to start such difficult discussions. This year, more than 50,000 children and youths aged between six and 25 years get to watch over 150 critically acclaimed award-winning movies from 40 countries at the festival that was organised from April 9 at 50 locations besides New Delhi. It is one of the biggest children’s film festivals organised in the country.

Attempting to even out the bumps, the programme has also been organising interactive sessions between privileged and underprivileged children. During the meetup, they celebrate festivals, share experiences, exchange knowledge and learn new skills. These sessions are indeed helping the children to develop friendships beyond the border.

What does feel better if not the words of testimony? One of the supporters, Savita Arora, principal of Bharati Public School, said,

“Smile Foundation sensitised the students and teachers to make the world a better one. Because children who are underprivileged and those who hardly get anything to survive are fed by the foundation.

Educating a person is easy. But concepts with values and the ways values are taught to them are more important. The foundation is doing its best in it.”

Savita is definitely not the lone one to speak well about our work in this field and we hope to engage many more privileged and underprivileged children in the coming years.

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