Breaking Barriers: The Harsh Reality of Challenges Faced by Girls in India

20/03/25

blog

298

Until a remarkable wave of change that reshaped gender discussion in India commenced in 2014, the education of girls in India was seen as an option, not an imperative. Among the many girls problems that shaped gender challenges, the primary issue was a regressive mindset, which took away agency and independence from girls and women at every turn.

Today, there is a greater sense of collective purpose behind getting more girls into schools; there is also a greater understanding that an educated girl fundamentally alters the course of her family, her community, and over time, the economy. These insights are, to a large extent, playing a key role to solve the issues and problems faced by women in India. Most notably, the real measure of success can be seen in millions of Indian households, where educated daughters are expectations, family dynamics, and generational aspirations.

Beyond school enrollment

When a girl is educated, she avoids early marriage and makes better lifetime decisions for herself and her family, also fundamentally altering how her family thinks about money, stability, and ambition. This is being guided by the Government’s schemes and programmes. For instance, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) has made saving for a daughter’s education a mainstream financial practice. As a result, families that once saw daughters as financial liabilities are now planning for their long-term growth, helping to mitigate issues and problems faced by women. The mindset is shifting from ‘marriage savings’ to ‘education savings. ‘ Educated daughters also influence how entire families budget, prioritise, and invest.

From safety to beyond

India is also investing in infrastructure that removes the barriers that prevent girls from even reaching the classroom. The Bihar girl child bicycle scheme, for instance, often celebrated as a successful incentive for girl child education, is a psychological shift in how she sees her own independence. Similarly, Swachh Bharat – Swachh Vidyalaya made separate girls’ toilets a national priority and also triggered the elimination of silent dropouts. Sanitation is, therefore, no longer one of many teenage girl problems; instead, because of it, more girls attend school, stay in school, graduate, and enter higher education.

Read Also: The Significance of Girl Child Rights in Modern Society

The gender transformation of STEM

One of the most unexpected shifts in India’s girl child education story is in STEM fields. 42.6% of STEM graduates in India are women, the highest in the world. Government initiatives like CBSE Udaan, coding scholarships, and STEM mentorship programs are helping bring more girls to STEM. More interestingly, many Indian families now view engineering, medicine, and technology not just as male-dominated fields but as stable career paths for their daughters. STEM careers are increasingly seen as respectable professions for women. India’s girls are excelling in STEM, a paradigm shift.

Linking education to prosperity

One key realization – educated daughters bring prosperity to the entire community – is bringing down the rate of child marriage at the community level across the country. Every additional year a girl spends in school results in higher earnings for her family, better maternal health, and a stronger local economy. More girls are staying in school, delaying marriage, entering the workforce, and influencing financial decisions.

The role of NGOs

NGO Bal Raksha Bharat works to improve the lives of girl children in India through education, healthcare, protection, and empowerment. As a leading child NGO in India, their education programs focus on ensuring girls from marginalised communities have access to schooling, reducing dropout rates, and promoting gender equality in classrooms. They also run awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of girls’ education.

The organisation actively works to prevent child marriage, trafficking, and abuse. They rescue and rehabilitate at-risk girls, provide legal and psychological support, and engage with communities to raise awareness about child protection. Their health and nutrition programs aim to improve healthcare access for girls, focusing on immunization, nutrition, and menstrual hygiene.

The child NGO in India also provides vocational training and life skills programs to help girls gain financial independence. They conduct leadership training and encourage girls to advocate for their rights. In times of disaster or crisis, the organization offers emergency relief, setting up safe spaces and providing psychosocial support.

Through these efforts, which are supported by donation for NGO payments, Bal Raksha Bharat works to create a safer and more equitable environment and help solve girls problems. Those looking to make a difference can contribute through donation for NGO initiatives that fund education, healthcare, and protection for underprivileged girls. Their long-term efforts focus on sustainable change, aiming to improve the overall well-being of girl children in India.

Anikait Suri