MSM || Major Soni Mission Trust, Bajwara

THE INCEPTION

In 2013 Akshita Soni then a first year student of LSR College and Arnav Soni a std IX student of DPS RK Puram were on a holiday to their ancestral village Bajwara, Punjab. The plight of the girl child and the underprivileged women moved them.

The girls had to relinquish their secondary education and work in the fields or in household chores. The women despite good vocational skills languished at home owing to societal pressures to refrain from commuting to work.

Some research and innovative thinking got them into action.

THE RESEARCH

Despite exponential growth and prosperity in India there is still a stark irony in the position of the underprivileged, specifically women.

In muffosil India, girls strive to finish even their primary education. Likewise women despite being adept in a vocational expertise, confined themselves to household chores. Intensive research by Team MSM indicated that school girls have a phenomenally high drop-out rate in secondary classes. United Nations’ research reveals dropout rates as high as 60% amongst girls in senior-secondary classes in India owing to financial constraints. Hidden costs of schooling, such as books, uniforms etc. are appropriated as a major cause. Even though schooling is free in Govt. Schools, the government withdraws subsidies for uniforms post 8th standard. Impoverished families are unable to afford the costs of school uniforms, leading to dropouts.

THE DUAL BENEFIT STRATEGY

We came up with a novel dual benefit idea of Free uniforms for the girls of std IX to XII and these to be got stitched from village women. The girls got the much needed support to continue secondary education. The women in turn got to work and earn by stitching these uniforms. Thus was born Major Soni Mission Foundation, a not-for-profit entity in the memory of their Grandfather.

THE ACTIVITIES

All girls from class IX to XII of several Govt. Senior Secondary Schools were handed over complete sets of Uniform which included Salwar, Kameez, Chunni, Shoes and Socks.

Some Girl students of Govt. Senior Secondary School, Jian, Chabewal pose with their set of school dress Sets received gratis from the Foundation.

A group of Girl students of Govt. Senior Secondary School, Bajwara with Foundation Executives after receiving their set of school dress Sets from the Foundation .

Underprivileged rural women who were adept in stitching were chosen. Taking them through the family mindset of not working post their marriage, they were initiated into making uniforms for school girls.

Almost 50 women from the village Bajwara stitched the salwar & kameez part of girls school uniform.

Smiles from the empowered women who find financial freedom along with gainful vocation.