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Author: Smile Editorial Team

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In The Spotlight

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Theme and Significance in COVID times

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Theme and Significance in COVID times

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on 3 December every year. It was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations. The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues. It also seeks to mobilize support for the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities.

 

Including persons with disability in all aspects of political, social, and economic life is an important part of sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also promises to leave no one behind. Investing in fighting for the rights of persons with disabilities is an investment.

 

Theme for this year

 

The theme for this year is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world”. This is in sync with the sustainability and inclusion goal.

 

Why is inclusivity needed?

 

As per estimates by the Government of India, only about 50% of persons with disabilities are literate. Even fewer get a chance to study in an inclusive school. An exploratory study shows some findings about inclusivity for children. Some of its key findings are as follows:

 

Most of the children do not continue in inclusive schools due to lack of professional knowledge, peer/teacher acceptance, and quality support.

Many parents felt that the admission criteria in inclusive schools often leave out children with disabilities.

Many inclusive schools demand a higher fee from children with disabilities without giving any special facilities.

The teacher-student ratio in special schools is much better.

Bullying by peers and neglect by teachers is common.

 

How COVID-19 impacted persons with disabilities

 

Education in India and across the world shifted online in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was accompanied by a shift to online teaching and learning methods. This shift brought into sharp focus the unequal access to education and the growing digital divide.

 

The impact of this shift on persons with disabilities was felt even further. While other children struggled but still managed to cope with online classes, it is not surprising if children with disabilities found it harder to do so. It is important to keep in mind that their schooling is not restricted to just books and extracurricular activities. Various therapies are also included in their education.

 

Smile Foundation’s contribution for persons with disabilities

 

Smile Foundation has been working with persons with disabilities since many years. Sushma, who works at a centre in Odisha shares her experience of working with such special children during the peak of the pandemic.

 

“For our residential students, we were providing all the services even during lockdown.  We were going door-to-door to children in the community. During these campaigning sessions, we made the children and their families aware of the protocols they need to follow during the pandemic.”

 

Not only this, all the local-level workers attended capacity-building sessions to help them adapt and deal with the challenges of managing their work during the pandemic. Thus, they were able to continue the physical and occupational therapy as well as social education of the children.

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Insights

Have the Disruptions to the Global Supply Chain due to COVID-19 Prepared Us for the Future?

Have the Disruptions to the Global Supply Chain due to COVID-19 Prepared Us for the Future?

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on the global supply chain. The healthcare industry has also felt the impact of this disruption. It has also affected COVID-related work. As the world gears up to face the new Omicron variant of the virus, it is time to analyse and relook at the supply chain. This can ensure that we are better prepared in the future to deal with the disruptions to the global supply chain due to COVID-19.

 

The problems in the supply chain

 

If there is a disruption in the supply chain, it impacts essential items like pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. We saw this abundantly when the pandemic first began and the whole world was unprepared to deal with it. Apart from the global supply chain, domestic logistics also suffer in this situation. There are problems at the grassroots level (such as migration of labourers), restrictions on movement of commercial vehicles, and so on. All these factors together contribute in delaying and hampering the supply chain. This impacts the supply of vaccines, hand sanitisers, testing kits, PPE kits, medicines, medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, etc.

 

How we depend on the global supply chain

 

Modern items frequently have vital components or sophisticated materials that necessitate specialist technological expertise to manufacture. It is quite impossible for a single company to have the range of competencies required to manufacture everything on its own. Consider the increasing amount of electronics in modern vehicles. The touchscreen displays in entertainment and navigation systems, as well as the many microprocessors that regulate the engine, steering, and functions such as power windows and lighting, are not designed by automakers. Another more esoteric example is a class of compounds known as nucleoside phosphoramidites and the related reagents used to create DNA and RNA sequences. These are critical for all businesses working on DNA- or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and DNA-based medicinal therapies. The source for many of the crucial precursor ingredients for this are sourced from South Korea and China.

 

In India, for instance, the oxygen challenge during the second wave of COVID-19 was caused mostly by local supply chain constraints and the unavailability of oxygen cylinders and tankers, rather than a lack of domestic production. While the majority of oxygen producers are located in the country’s eastern regions, the growing demand came from cities in the country’s western and northern areas. As one state after another went into lockdown, transportation and logistical disasters ensued. As our local supply chains failed us when we needed them the most, imports of oxygen cylinders and concentrators, as well as airlifting of oxygen plants from other nations, came to our aid.

 

Preparing for the future

 

The COVID-19 outbreak has provided valuable lessons for everyone. It has led to the realization of corporates that they need to adapt their supply chain strategies to the dynamic scenario during the pandemic. As humans, we have been adapting continuously to meet the needs of the pandemic. The supply chains also need to show resilience, responsiveness, and reconfigurability.

 

Companies should also look at diversifying their supply chains from a geographic perspective. This can ensure that they are not dependent on a single country for a particular product or raw material. There need to be protocols in place to activate these alternate sources of supply as and when required. Alternately, we can also look inward for the supply chain for long-term benefits. This will reduce dependency on other countries and also boost India’s economy.

 

After the problems faced in the initial few months of the pandemic, the Government of India decided to promote domestic manufacturing of key materials required by the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Diversified sourcing and digitization will be critical to constructing stronger, smarter supply chains and guaranteeing a long-term recovery.

 

Digitizing supply chains and process innovations

 

New technologies are already or soon will allow enterprises to cut their costs. They will also allow them to switch more flexibly among the items they create, rendering incumbent competitors’ or suppliers’ installed bases outdated. The following are some examples:

 

Automation: The cost of automation is falling. The requirement of social separation has made automation even more appealing. As a result of these advances, returning off-shored production to higher-cost countries is becoming more feasible.

Additive manufacturing: This manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing, can significantly reduce the number of steps of manufacturing. It can also reduce reliance on distant suppliers of machines and tools required for, say, plastic injection molding.

 

Conclusion

 

The economic upheaval produced by the disruptions to the global supply chain due to COVID-19 has exposed many flaws and cast doubt on globalization. Managers everywhere should utilize this situation to take a new look at their supply networks, identify their vulnerabilities, and then make efforts to strengthen robustness. Forsaking globalization completely might lead to some negative implications. For instance, companies that do not abandon globalization will gladly and rapidly fill any gap. Instead, leaders should look for methods to improve their businesses and gain a competitive advantage.

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Insights

Impact of Skill Training on an Ordinary Life

Impact of Skill Training on an Ordinary Life

Smile Foundation has always believed in the importance of a sustainable livelihood. For an ordinary person with no means, getting the skills needed for a sustainable livelihood is not an easy task. The impact of skill training in such lives is quite significant.

 

Here are some stories of the individuals whose lives have undergone a change after proper skill training.

 

Poornima

 

Poornima at her job as a GDA.
Poornima at her job as a GDA.

Poornima is a 27-year-old woman who comes from a lower middle-class family. Her father is a farmer who lives in small village near Dervan in Maharashtra. Her father could not support her education after she completed her SSC, and married her off at an early age.

After her marriage, she moved to Pune with her husband. During the pandemic, her husband lost her job and it became difficult for them to support the family of five. Her in-laws and little daughter had to move back to the village.

 

Poornima took it upon herself to become a financial support to the family. However, she lacked confidence and had poor communication skills. Thus, she found it difficult to get a job. Unfortunately, she did could not even afford the fees of a vocational training course. When she got to know about the GDA course at the STeP centre, she enrolled herself.

 

Despite many obstacles, Poornima was determined to complete the training with flying colours. She learned a lot about the healthcare sector and also the practical skills required for a GDA. The mock interviews at the centre helped her with her confidence.

 

Poornima is not gainfully employed at Tarachand Hospital as a GDA at a salary of Rs 10,750. The first thing she did was buy a basic smartphone so that she could video call her daughter at any time.

 

Ruturaj

 

Ruturaj always dreamt of studying as much as he could and getting a respectable job for himself. However, due to financial conditions, he had to take up a job at a local grocery store in Talegaon soon after his HSC. He did manage to complete his graduation externally.

 

Ruturaj working as a Digital Marketing Executive
Ruturaj working as a Digital Marketing Executive

His father works as a carpenter and his mother is a housewife. His younger brother is still in school. Before the pandemic, the family’s monthly income was about Rs 15,000 per month.

Once the pandemic-related lockdowns began, Ruturaj’s family faced grave consequences. His father was not able to get any carpentry work, and Ruturaj lost his job.

Ruturaj always had an interest in sales and marketing. But due to lack of skills required for such a job, his search was proving to be futile. A friend recommended him to enroll in Smile Foundation’s STeP course for digital marketing. Since then, he has not looked back.

He proved to be a sincere student who always participated actively in all the classes. Along with acquiring skills related to digital marketing, Ruturaj also evolved as an individual. The training he received gave him the confidence to communicate with strangers. Soon after completing the course, Ruturaj got a job at Ace Marketing Solutions as a Digital Marketing Executive. He now earns a salary of Rs 11,000 per month.

Ruturaj is using his newly acquired skills to find carpentry gigs for his father too! He has created his father’s profile on various digital platforms. Now, he gets inquiries not just from Talegaon, but from other locations too.

To know more, read about our Tayyari Kal Ki initiative here.

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In The Spotlight

Child For Child Celebrated Children’s Day with Fun Competitions

Child For Child Celebrated Children’s Day with Fun Competitions

Children’s Day in India is celebrated on the 14th of November. It commemorates the birthday of Chacha Nehru. This is a special day when children either get to stay home or have a day of fun at school, physically or virtually as the situation be. It is a day to celebrate childhood and to empower children with the knowledge and tools that will make them better individuals. We at Child for Child celebrated Children’s Day our way.

 

Children are the future. We need to nurture and nourish them. As the saying goes, “It takes an entire village to raise a child.” Every day as adults we should take a renewed pledge to help raise the future generation. We should collectively ensure that the world they inherit is worth living and ensure they reach such levels of development where the sky is the limit. Sometimes it is not just about teaching them but just being around them and proving to be good role models.

 

The event

 

This Children’s Day, Child for Child organized a competition for students across different schools around storytelling. Children were encouraged to share their written, video, and audio stories. They received three theme options from which they had to choose one.

 

  1. A fictitious journey with your favourite superhero to a place you love
  2. Your experience about going back to school after the Covid-19 school closure
  3. A role model who inspires you to be empathetic and giving

 

Heartening response

 

For the first theme, we got insights into many superheroes (and this is a gender-neutral term here). And of course, children had such lovely places they wanted to visit. Some wanted to go to Kryptonite with Superman, some to Gotham with Batman. Our winner wanted to visit America with Iron Man and make it the journey of his lifetime. The innocence in this desire was reflected in his narrative. All he wanted was to enjoy the journey with Iron Man, who is actually a regular human being using technology and bravery to fight evil. What’s most endearing is that our winner chose the superhero who does not have superhuman powers but uses his intelligence and wit to transform into one, and that is where he sees himself in the near future.

 

For the second theme, children have written heart-rending stories about their experiences of going back to school. They laid emphasis on how they had started to lose interest in online classes. They had also started spending a lot of time on gaming. Reopening of schools was like a bolt of lightning that shook them up from their slumber. It once again motivated them to open their books and start concentrating on their regular school work. They also talked about how schools make them feel quite safe due to the Covid protocols in place. The thrill of meeting classmates and their favourite teachers motivates them to get up early, wear the school uniform, and head towards the school.

 

For the third theme, we had insights into the adorable thoughts of children. It showed their take on role models, and the reasons why that person is their role model. While there were some apparent role models like Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, and Winston Churchill, what moved the jury was the winner’s choice of role model. Here too it wasn’t the narration of her choice of role model but the reasons why. She adores her father, which is obvious, but the fact that his philanthropic nature inspires her to do a good deed every day moved everyone and there was a unanimous decision around this.

 

Kudos to the winners

 

This Children’s Day, as adults we felt inspired by the submissions made by children. Their stories, their narrations, the maturity with which they have weaved stories left us all awestruck. The fact that these children believe in goodness in the world and the people around them has impressed us a great deal. It is wonderful that they are empathetic towards those suffering, especially the underprivileged. It leaves us feeling that the world is in secure hands. The mission of CFC is to motivate privileged children to do good deeds for their underprivileged counterparts. This Children’s Day, we felt humbled by their generosity and their noble thoughts.

 

Many congratulations to all participants and a special hurrah to the winners.

 

Our winners for audio stories are:

 

1st Place: Ojasvi Aggarwal of class VI, Bhawan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh

2nd Place: Ashwath Sharma of Class V, Bhawan Vidyalaya Junior, Chandigarh

 

Our winners for Written stories are:

 

1st Place: Keertesh Sharma of class IV, Bhawan Vidyalaya Junior, Chandigarh

2nd Place: Aradhya Singla of class IV, Bhawan Vidyalaya Junior, Chandigarh

Special mention to Kuvam Goyal of Class I, Bhawan Vidyalaya, Panchkula for being our youngest participant.

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In The Spotlight

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women being celebrated on November 25

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women being celebrated on November 25

November 25 is celebrated every year as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The day marks the launch of 16 days of activism, culminating on International Human Rights Day (10 December). Several events are held in various parts of the world to commemorate this day and remind everyone how important this issue is.

 

Thought behind it

 

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a prevalent problem in today’s world. This widespread and devastating issue remains one of the major human rights violations of our times. Unfortunately, most of the victims of such violence remain silent due to various socio-economic factors.

 

It is important to remember that VAWG is not just physical. It includes sexual and psychological violence as well. Thus, it manifests in various forms. For instance, psychological abuse, marital rape, forced marriage, stalking, harassment, sexual trafficking, child marriage, and so on.

 

The violence that women face has a lasting impact on their lives, which they face at various stages. It forms a major hurdle in the empowerment of women, leading to consequences such as restricting their access to education and jobs.

 

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women aims to spread awareness about all these issues and prevent such violence. It is a call to promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions.

 

Theme for this year

 

The colour orange symbolizes happiness, brightness, joy, and freedom. Thus, the theme for this year has been chosen as ‘Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now’.

 

UN Women has stated in a report that nearly 45% women reported that they or someone they know have faced violence against women. At least 65% reported experiencing this at one time or the other in their lifetime. In times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these instances of violence have increased and women have reported feeling more unsafe.

 

This sort of gender-based violence is preventable. However, this can be done only through awareness and constant advocacy and education. This year’s theme celebrates the brighter future that women can look forward to if they stop facing violence.

 

Our work for women

 

Smile Foundation’s Swabhiman programme has been working for the empowerment of women since several years. Apart from educating on various aspects of their lives, we also work actively to spread awareness in the community and within men. This ensures a holistic approach to bettering the lives of women. Behavioral change is at the core of ending violence against women. And this is something that we are actively working on through our various on-ground initiatives.

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Insights

Livelihood Training Beyond Income: Entrepreneurship and More

Livelihood Training Beyond Income: Entrepreneurship and More

For long, livelihood training has been closely linked with income generation. Youth are equipped with skills to help them earn an income. But it is time to think of livelihood training beyond income.

 

In India, socio-economic factors play a major role in determining livelihoods. To acknowledge this, the stakeholders (government, civil society, business) need to engage with a deeper understanding of these factors. Generating income for the family is the first and most obvious impact of this. Building entrepreneurship skills, self-esteem, and resilience must also play a part in livelihood training.

 

Self-esteem

 

If one feels that their role is more formalized, primarily through some sort of documentation, it creates a sense of self-esteem. Having the necessary skills is essential. But that cannot ensure dignity for them. A street vendor who just one day decides to start selling his products at his kiosk may feel under-confident. However, if they have documents as well as skills, their self-esteem goes up. A sense of self-esteem leads to a sense of realization that they have been able to take charge of their own lives.

 

Such opportunities need to be created by the stakeholders.

 

Entrepreneurship and resilience

 

Entrepreneurship is on the rise. However, youth may be becoming entrepreneurs out of necessity, more than choice. The job market is shrinking slowly, despite some industries hiring trained workers for very specific jobs. Moreover, upward mobility is limited in many such jobs, such as those in logistics and delivery.

 

Micro- or nano-entrepreneurs might have the will and passion. But they may not have the skills to sustain a business venture. Due to these reasons, it is important to work on sustainability of livelihood training. The first step for this is skill development and enhancement. Communication, marketing, inventory control, and financial management are all vital in sustaining a business venture. A lack of these skills stops the growth of entrepreneurs.

 

Developing resilience also plays a key role in building an enterprise. Livelihood is a means to build resilience, not just generate or increase income.

 

Community-building

 

Entrepreneurs from urban areas, who have access to technology and the digital space, are able to sell their products through various digital channels as well. Thus, they are able to push more volume of goods and improve on turnaround time. They are also able to acquire better understanding of the market.

 

Local entrepreneurs, on the other hand, have better know-how of the demands of the local market. They can tap this market through retailers. As retailers acquire products from various producers, they look for a certain level of standardization. Thus, they can groom these local entrepreneurs to mould their products, packaging, and marketing to cater to a wider market.

 

How livelihood training beyond income can help

 

Imagine there is a family that survives on the daily wages earned through menial labour. For them, having a young person in the family earning Rs 10,000-12,000 every month can make a huge difference. Contributing financially makes them responsible in other ways as well. For women or those with disabilities, a livelihood promises more than just income. It becomes a source of independence, a way of gaining power and overcoming socio-economic obstacles.   

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Insights

Why malnutrition in children needs to be addressed urgently

Why malnutrition in children needs to be addressed urgently

The word ‘malnutrition’ comprises of two words: ‘mal’ meaning improper and ‘nutrition’ meaning consumption of calories. With this view, any improper consumption of calories, whether ‘undernutrition’ (inadequate consumption of calories) or ‘overnutrition’ (excess consumption of calories) corroborates malnutrition in children.

 

Of these, undernutrition leads to low height-for-age or stunting. It is known as the most sinister form of child malnutrition. Unlike the loss of weight, height cannot be readily gained back. Hence, it is an indicator of chronic childhood malnutrition. This condition can lead to irreversible mental and physical damage that is even transmitted to the next generation.

 

Why should be address malnutrition in children?

 

On one hand, it is important and imperative to address the infant mortality rate and under-5 child mortality rate. On the other, it is equally important that those who survive are able to thrive. Malnutrition has direct impact on the growth and development of individuals and the country in the long run. India has achieved remarkable levels of economic growth. Yet, despite all the progress, it continues to host the highest number of malnourished children in the world. Economic studies reveal that India loses up to 4% of its gross domestic product and 8% of its productivity due to child malnutrition.

 

POSHAN Abhiyaan

 

India launched the POSHAN Abhiyaan, a flagship national nutrition mission to improve nutrition among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers in 2017. The aim was to meet the second United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition. To this end, POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce malnutrition among children by facilitating inter-departmental convergence, real-time monitoring, intensified health and nutrition services for the first 1,000 days, and Jan Andolan (community mobilisation).

 

Facets of malnutrition in children

 

With the evolving economy, India is facing a dual burden. The first is ‘hunger’-a situation where an individual does not have enough to eat. The other is ‘hidden hunger’-when intake and absorption of vitamins and minerals (such as zinc, iodine, and iron) are too low to sustain good health and development. Increase in consumption of fast food and junk has made the deficiency of micronutrients inevitable. These nutrients are essential for a child and their development.

 

Government interventions

 

There are three core areas of diet: diversity, frequency and adequacy–what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat respectively. Smile Foundation is working to reach out to children between 0-6 years under the health system strengthening initiative. This can ensure the potential growth in the thriving age children.

 

These projects are operating in different states of India. They focus on leveraging the conventional pattern of kitchen garden, exploring local food grains, traditional recipes, conventional cooking pattern, etc. The project ensures community engagement through various cooking competitions. This ensures that the beneficiaries get directly involved. There is also cross learning about local food and ingredients. Various nutrition experts, individuals, organisations, and academics are also involved in assessing, advocating, and advising on the nutritional value of the food being prepared. This helps build a trust factor in the community.

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Insights

How to Teach Social Skills in the Classroom?

How to Teach Social Skills in the Classroom?

According to research and experience, having social skills is critical for success in life. Classrooms have a diverse range of children. As a result, teachers have always taught, given, and supported the application of strong social skills in the classroom.

 

In essence, inclusive classrooms are simulations of the actual world in which people of different backgrounds and abilities coexist. In fact, several school systems have curriculum geared explicitly toward social and emotional development.

 

Here are some ideas for making classrooms more inclusive and promoting development of social skills in students. Once the pandemic subsides, these will prove to be helpful. Some can be implemented even while students study online from home.

 

Collaborate with peer mentors

 

As they witness the activities and behaviours of those around them, children develop similar social abilities to those around them. When children are paired with peer mentors of the same age, mastering social skills feels less like a lesson.

 

You can pair children of similar ages and discuss the social skill you want to focus on that day. This way, the peer mentor can effectively direct their pupils toward gaining the appropriate abilities.

 

Allocate classroom tasks

 

Assigning children jobs in the classroom allows them to display responsibility, teamwork, and leadership. Jobs such as distributing papers, taking attendance, and serving as a line leader can showcase a student’s talents and, as a result, boost confidence. It also helps to reduce your workload! Teachers frequently swap class assignments on a weekly or monthly basis to ensure that every student has an opportunity to participate. Consider this list of classroom occupations for some inspiration!

 

Leverage videos to demonstrate social skills

 

Videos are one of the most effective ways to teach social skills in the classroom. Video modeling teaches social skills and allows pupils to watch an activity before performing it on their own. Then, other students point out what the student did well and where they may improve.

 

Pen pals

 

Having a pen pal can critically teach pupils how to display social skills through written communication. Writing letters can provide students with time to collect their thoughts. This can prove especially beneficial for introverted personalities. It provides a level playing field for students with special needs or those who are nonverbal.

 

Form social situations

 

In regulated social situations, students are taught a social skill before putting it into practice. You may have youngsters study things on their own, one-on-one, before putting their new socialization abilities to use with others in a classroom setting.

 

Structured social circumstances begin with the definition of a behaviour and the expectations that go with it. For example, if a student struggles with standing too near to someone while conversing, you may go over personal space and have them practice it afterwards.

 

Enhance cooperation by implementing joint action routines

 

Joint action routines establish predictable patterns for skills which children can repeat. You demonstrate a skill and then have them practice it.

 

When teaching one skill at a time, joint action routines reduce distraction and confusion. They demonstrate to students exactly what to do in social situations in order to establish habits and become independent as they become accustomed to the conduct.

 

Form lunch clubs

 

Divide the children into small groups for lunch or activities. You can utilize topic boxes to prompt them to discuss specific topics or employ a specific skill.

 

Lunch groups can help children learn to chat about a variety of topics and relate to others by learning about their common interests. It also encourages children to engage in acceptable dialogues.

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Why Is There a Lack of Women in STEM?

Why Is There a Lack of Women in STEM?

When it comes to women in medical, business, and law, there has been a significant improvement over the last few decades. Despite the fact that all of these are male-dominated occupations, successful female doctors, nurses, lawyers, attorneys, and entrepreneurs are becoming more prevalent. However, when it comes women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), things aren’t looking so bright.

 

There is a rise in the number of women studying STEM programmes in college and working in STEM professions. However, statistics on women in STEM show that their percentage in these fields is actually decreasing.

 

Not only do fewer women pursue STEM education and careers, but they are also more likely to leave and earn less money. Given the emphasis on gender equality throughout the United States, a shortage of women in STEM makes little sense.

 

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, there is a significant need for more STEM workers. Despite the fact that STEM pay are among the highest, there is a scarcity of STEM experts. Right now, we need at least a million more STEM experts, and that number is only expected to grow in the coming decades.

 

Can women in STEM have a successful career

 

Girls have generally surpassed boys in academics, but the number of women who pursue research later in life is miniscule. The number of women on academic and research faculty is not proportional to the number of PhD holders. Only a small fraction of women who study science go on to pursue it professionally. According to the National Task Force for Women in Science study, women make up only 15% of the Indian research and development workforce, while the global average is 30%. The disparity is greatest in computer science and physics, and smallest in biological sciences and medicine.

 

Women in science are underrepresented, underpaid, and frequently unrecognized. According to a 2009 report, only 3.2% of the 744 Indian National Science Academy Fellowships were awarded to women. The paper emphasizes how male-dominated selection committees for awards and appointments to research and development jobs in government-funded institutions frequently discriminate against female scientists.

 

Why is this portrayal so poor?

 

One key element contributing to this is the belief that boys are better at science than girls. As a result, the bulk of the 11% of colleges in India that are entirely for women offer arts and commerce rather than science. Many times, role models play a role in job decisions. However, there are fewer female role models in science, math, and engineering for young female students to look up to. Furthermore, these role models are hardly discussed in our textbooks. As a result, most of us have never heard of Dr. Asima Chatterjee, the first woman to get a PhD in science from an Indian university, or A. Lalitha, the country’s first female engineer.

 

When it comes to pursuing a career in science, society’s established patriarchy pushes women down. Women are regarded to bear the combined responsibility of home and work by default, and if a professional gap is taken for family reasons, it becomes extremely difficult for women to return to professions in science. There are also patriarchal views in recruiting methods, as well as in the awarding of fellowships and grants, among other things. Women scientists face additional challenges as a result of a male-dominated work environment and gender insensitivity.

 

Some Empowering Measures are Required

 

The problem must be addressed on two levels: the social level, which will need long-term work, and the legislative and institutional levels, which may be implemented immediately.

 

Empowering women in science and technology, as well as ensuring their full and equal involvement, is one of the key objectives outlined in the Government of India’s Science and Technology Policy, published in 2003. As a result, the government has implemented a number of initiatives, the majority of which take the form of scholarships. However, evidence suggests that the government has been slow to address this issue. Many of the comments and recommendations made by scientists on various committees and task forces have yet to be implemented.

 

To address the persistent gender disparity in STEM majors, there is an urgent need to invest in supporting infrastructure, incentivizing institutions to promote gender equity, transparency in decision making, and so on. However, as a first step, schools must break down ‘gendered perceptions of intellect’ and encourage females not only to study science in secondary and higher secondary school, but also to pursue a career in STEM. This would enhance not only women’s ability to pursue their aspirations, but science as a whole would gain from diverse points of view.

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In The Spotlight Partners In Change

Smile Foundation ties up with Nestle Special T through the Child for Child Programme

Smile Foundation ties up with Nestle Special T through the Child for Child Programme

It is the mountains that often beckon us to higher order of living and thinking. Sometimes we get enraptured in the beauty and charm of the mountains. At other times we feel astounded by the peace and tranquility of the surroundings. People who reside there may be bereft from partaking the luxuries of big cities. But it’s the simple and organic living that keeps the residents living in the hills rooted to their values and their livelihood. Smile Foundation’s Child for Child can play a part in this.

 

Child for Child and Nestle Special T

 

A large number of people in the hills are engaged in SMEs and local agriculture. In Darjeeling and Kalimpong, where we stayed and interacted with local communities, most of the people are engaged in the tea garden. They are hardworking and the local topography makes them even hardier.

 

Parents are progressive enough to let their children pursue sports and music. They even let them travel to big cities for occupational reasons. Yet, the beauty of the place, the history and heritage prevail over all the developments in the name of modernization. During the pandemic, many children fell out of education; those who continued might give up studying to pursue other vocations. The focus in this region therefore has to be on holistic development of children. They need to not only study the curriculum but even become worldly wise.

 

At Child For Child we had the opportunity of starting a project in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the Tea Garden Estates. We are extremely thankful to Nestle Special T for their support in nurturing the project to get every child back in school. We are also connecting them to children from privileged schools. The location of intervention are Chamong Tea Estate in Darjeeling and the Upper Fagu Tea Estate in Kalimpong. As children get back to school, we need to keep them motivated to remain enrolled by associating them with children from CFC’s partner schools across India.

 

Here is a bit about the project.

 

Background

 

Nestle Special T procures tea leaves from the tea gardens of Chamong in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. They therefore aim to do their bit for the workers of the tea estates. Hence the idea of connecting with Smile Foundation to reach out to underprivileged children, get them back into school, and to ensure they remain in school. The target audience under this project are primarily the children of the tea garden workers who have dropped out of school. The aim of the project would be to ensure that such children get enrolled in nearby schools, and they remain motivated to continue. To ensure the latter, there will be remedial classes for them. Along with this, they will also be connected to privileged children for various intervention measures.

 

Beneficiaries

 

The children who will benefit from the partnership are the underprivileged children in the region. Keeping the CFC mission in mind, we have also included privileged children as part of the project. They will act as ‘buddy mentors’ and handhold the underprivileged children to keep them excited about learning and studying. They will also help them with extra curricular activities like waste management and sports.

 

Goal

 

Through this initiative, we seek to promote “Every Child in School” as a lifestyle. Empathy-building among the privileged children on sharing with the underprivileged is also one of our aims. We seek to do this with an objective to generate a network of schools to enhance revenue generation.

 

Expected Outcomes

 

We expect the following outcomes through varied interventions.

 

Ensuring that the children of tea garden workers who have fallen off the education grid to get back into schools

Sensitising privileged children on sharing and giving for underprivileged children

Sustaining  and consolidating existing network of schools

Expanding the reach to new schools and chain of schools to enhance gap-bridging initiatives

 

Expanding to new Child for Child schools

 

The Child for Child (CFC) programme has to be expanded in terms of geographical reach, adding new schools in Darjeeling district. There are a number of ways to do this.

 

Identifying new schools and chain of schools in the focused district

Mapping new schools and chain of schools in the focused area

Identifying new talented staffs for effective execution of activities at expanded new operational areas and schools

 

The project was launched in the last week of October under the tutelage of the Nestle team. While they joined digitally, the Chamong and Upper Fagu Tea Estate officials and the elderly people from the local community were present for the launch. Parents accompanied by their children were present in huge numbers as they were very curious about how their children’s welfare would be looked into by a national level NGO. At Kalimpong as well as Darjeeling, the events had speeches and videos. This was followed by distribution of gifts and luncheon packets. During all this, COVID protocols were followed strictly. A few children even put up performances to welcome Smile Foundation into the community.

 

We look forward to supporting over 100 children in the local community in the coming few years. Further, we hope that as they grow up into intelligent individuals they even find gainful employment that will help improve their quality of life. We want the schools around the community to step to support them and the people to nurture the project. This shall help facilitate a civic-driven change, one of the main goals of Smile Foundation.

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