Maharashtra – Ravina and Payal (ST4827)

Eight year old Ravina Mavare and her elder sister Payal have never been to school till July 2016. Today they are studying respectively in Class 3 and Class 4 in Zilla Parishad Primary School in Modumdagu, a remote village in Aheri block in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

Ravina and Payal come from a nomadic community. Their family does not have a fixed livelihood and survives on selling petty goods. Therefore they wander from place to place and take the children along with them. While the parents go to work, the two girls and their year old younger sister stayed back home and were looked after by their grandmother. In their halt in Modumdagu village the family was spotted by School Teacher and Resource Person, who visited the family and convinced them to send the girls to school. The grandmother was reluctant and even Ravina and Payal were unwilling to go to school. “We will not be able to play there…” they complained. But the teachers convinced them that they will get more friends to play there. After a lot of persuasion the two girls were enrolled in their age appropriate classes; Ravina in Class 3 and Payal in Class 4. The teachers paid special attention to them, so that they are able to pick up learning.

Now both like to come to school. So the parents have decided not to shift their base at least for one year. When they will move, they will take Education Guarantee Card from the school, which will enable the enrollment of the girls in their new place of stay.