Collector Gargi Jain Sits with Schoolgirls in Chhota Udepur Classrooms to Spark Confidence and Goals

Something unusual is taking place in the classrooms of Chhota Udepur these days. The district collector is walking in, pulling up a chair and talking to the girls like a regular visitor. Gargi Jain, the Collector, recently visited Model Day School in Rumadiya village of Kawant taluka. She spent time with the students under the Sashakt Beti-Collector in Classroom programme. The girls asked questions and spoke about what they want from their studies and their lives. Jain listened and replied on topics ranging from education and health to leadership, sports and personal safety. This is not a formal inspection. The idea is simple. Give schoolgirls a chance to speak directly to the district administration and hear practical answers in return. Officials also share stories of women from the same area who have gone on to do well. The hope is that the girls see real examples close to home. Many students in these tribal pockets face quiet pressures at home and limited chances to talk about bigger plans. When an officer of the collector’s level sits among them and treats the conversation as normal, the girls tend to open up more. Teachers who were present said the students spoke freely once they realised they would not be judged. Parents who later heard about the meeting felt reassured that someone in the administration is paying attention to their daughters. Safety came up clearly during the discussion. Girls were told about boundaries and where to go if they ever feel uncomfortable. Health and sports were given equal time so the students understand that looking after themselves helps them do better in class. Local success stories were shared without heavy speeches, just as simple proof that steady work can lead somewhere. Students in several schools now call Jain “Collector Didi”. That small change in how they address her shows the gap between the office and the village classroom is narrowing. The programme continues in different schools across the district, with the same focus on regular, straightforward conversation rather than one-time events. For the girls in Rumadiya and similar villages, the message lands in a practical way. Someone in a position of authority is willing to sit with them, hear them out and point them toward possibilities. That kind of attention, repeated over time, is what the Sashakt Beti effort is trying to deliver.