COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES FOR CHILD SURVIVAL

Kishori Panchayats Guide Teenage girls in the told my friends that I would rather watch TV
Right Direction than waste time in some dull meeting!” she
laughs, describing her initial reaction to the idea.

An initiative of the CLICS program, the Kishori

Panchayat is intended to provide a platform for
adolescent girls to discuss the problems of
growing up, learn life skills and improve their
self-esteem. Adarsha Kishori Panchayat, which
is what this particular group of girls has named
itself, has 15 members today. While this is the
‘nodal’ collective, most of the girls have taken
the initiative of starting their own groups in

Girls in Adarsha Kishori Panchayat cluster different areas of this village. These sub-group

together happily Kishori Panchayats, in which the girls act as

peer educators, have upto 50 members each!

Excited voices and smiles greet a visitor who Today the contribution of the group to improving

walks into the roomful of girls. They lean against the lives of young girls in the community is

each other affectionately, bonded both by their acknowledged by everyone. The Zilla Parishad

adolescence and their belonging to the group- and the district health system has been so

Kishori Panchayat - in the village of Padegaon impressed with its impact on teenage girls in the

in Wardha. This collective of girls between the district that it has mandated that one group like

ages of 12-16 was formed in 2004, when CLICS this should be formed in each village.

doot Alka Satone started spreading the word

about its benefits. Her daughter and that of 64 such groups exist in Wardha today and the

another community health worker Baby girls are regarded as role models for others in the

Dyaneshwar Mendule were the first three area. The members of each KP belong to one of

members. Slowly and steadily the group grew, four committees: Education, Health, Cultural and

despite resistance from the girls’ families and Sanitation. A monthly group meeting led by the

some people in the community. “Families were CLICS doot serves as a forum for discussion on

afraid we would ruin their daughters,” diverse topics that range from dealing with

remembers Alka. Several trips were made to the menstruation to the importance of ANC and

girls’ homes to convince their families of the PNC, management of diarrhea, healthy eating

advantages of the group. Some of the girls also practices, good hygiene, and safe water. They

needed convincing. Pragati, who is the present are also taught about the importance of delaying

leader of this Kishori Panchayat says she was marriage and motherhood. Vocational training

approached twice before she consented to join. “I and recreational activities are a part of the
agenda and the girls participate in plays with
these themes, staged regularly in their own
village and others. Breaking into songs about
diarrhea and clean water is part of the group
practice: In fact one of the rules of the group is to
begin each session with a song.
CLICS doots Alka and Baby are role models
for the group
The group meetings provide a safe space in
which the girls share their feelings and problems.
Confidentiality is assured, and the CLICS doot
plays a vital role in holding the group together.
Most perceive her as a mother figure, with the
added advantage of being able to ask questions
they are afraid to broach to their own mothers.
Many express huge enthusiasm about the
improvements in their lives since they joined
Adarsha Kishori Panchayat. Pooja says her
performance in school has improved since she
became a member. “I did not have a voice
earlier,” she explains. “Being a member of this
group taught me to speak up and now I can ask
questions in class without feeling embarrassed.”
For Suvarna, the body changes brought about by
adolescence were frightening to deal with alone.
Being a part of this gang of girls has helped ease
her fears and shown her “the light in the midst of
darkness.” Ashwini and Dipali, too, say that
being in this group has helped them deal with the
changes in their own bodies and menstruation.
“Our own mothers told us we should hide these
events,” they say. “It is a relief to learn that there
is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Increased confidence and better health has also
resulted in better friendships and relationships
for all the girls. Being able to speak out in front
of an audience, being heard the way they have
never been before, being seen and recognized for
their talents… these are just some of the factors
that have contributed to an increase in the self-
esteem of the girls. They are excited about the
future of the group and feel that they can achieve
lots more.
Contact us
Community Led Initiatives for Child Survival
(CLICS)
Dr. Sushila Nayar School of Public Health
Incorporating Department of Community Medicine
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences
Sewagram - 442 102 Wardha District
Maharashtra (India)
E-mail: bsgarg_ngp@bsnl.in
Our Website
http://clics.org.in
MGIMS
Aga Khan Foundation
Development Partner