The Turning Point

When Shashi Methil was in 8^th Grade in the year 1997, she suddenly had to drop out of school. “There was a lot of work at home, and I was asked to stay at home and help my parents. Moreover, our financial condition was not good”, she says. The next year, in 1998, she was married and later became a mother of two children, a son and a daughter. To support her family, she began working as a cook at a ‘Tiffin centre.’ It was necessary as her husband did not work anywhere and the family always fell short of money. But her husband did not approve of her working and one day announced that she will not work anymore.  

One day, in a bizarre turn of events, her husband went absconding, and despite an intense search operation, they could not find him. Living with her in-laws was difficult, and hence Shashi, along with her children came back to live with her parents. Here, she began working as a labourer to feed and nurture her children and educate them so that they can have a bright future. However, deep within her mind, she wished that she should have completed her education. This feeling would become more intense when she saw girls in her neighborhood going to school or talking about their studies.

Shashi came to know about Pratham’s Second Chance program from her parents. Two people from Pratham’s team had visited her village to know if anyone wishes to get back to school and complete their 10^th Grade. New hope arose in her mind, and after consulting her parents, she agreed to be a student again. However, this was not the only reason! She came to know that Mamta Mewada, a woman from her village completed her 10^th Grade from the same program despite her gap of 18 years! So if Mamta Didi can, why can't she?

In her new role as a student, Shashi worked hard to strike a balance between her student life and her household chores. She woke up early to complete all the work at home and then went to the centre and attended classes. In those days, all the girls had to go to a ‘hub centre’ for five days in a month, stay there, attend lectures and study together. During those days, she had to live without her children, and that is when her brother-in-law and his wife offered to drop her children at school and attend to them in her absence. “It was a relief; I will always thank them for it”, she said.

Her children were also happy and supported their mother in her attempt towards education. Her efforts paid off, and she passed 10^th Grade in the year 2014. It motivated her even further, and she cleared her 12^th Grade in the year 2016. Shashi now works at the Aanganwadi in her village and makes the villagers aware of the importance of education and health. She encourages girls to continue their education and not drop out from their school. “Education has given me an identity. Initially, some of my family members and relatives taunted me for my husband’s absence. However, now they look up to me with respect!” The ‘Second Chance’ Program was indeed a turning point in her life.