Purva Bharati Trust Conducts FGDs

Purva Bharati Trust organised 3 focused group discussion and workshop for youth and adolescents in some part of the Jorhat District from 27th to 29th May. Purva Bharati Trust is working as one of the Field Non Governmental Organisation (FNGO) in some areas of Jorhat district under national rural health Mission . The workshop and focused discussion which targeted young people from the age group of 10 to 19 were held in the Gatonga Tea Estate, Kamarbandha Tea Estate and Na Pamua Gaon .Its is interesting to note that most of girls leave studies due to various problems at their homes. The burdens of the family do not encourage the children especially the girls to continue their studies. Maini Gon who left studies after class IX said that I wanted to study but the family is big and I have to earn soon to take care of other brothers and sisters so I am learning tailoring(cutting and knitting) in a near by place. It is to be mentioned that Gatonga and Kamarbandha T E comes under Titabor Constituency which is represented by Chief Minister of Asom. There is less knowledge on HIV/AIDS amongst adolescents in these areas. Some of the participants feel that the deadly diseases are like jaundice, high or low blood pressure, etc. The workshops were facilitated by Ranjan K Baruah, youth activist from Guwahati and Bandita Acharya, Functionary of Purva Bharati Trust. The workshops were held in participatory methods due to which the participants could speak their minds and express their ideas. It was found that the children especially girls do not have rights while taking decisions and most of the decisions are taken by the elders. The number of substance users is less amongst boys. It is important for the Sarva Sikhsa Mission to start programme and bring the drop out to the schools again so that they can be part actively in the progress of the society. The young people in and around tea gardens are less educated in comparison to their peers in some other villages like Na Pamua Village. It is interesting to know that Na Pamua village which is just 9 KM away from the Jorhat district is yet to be electrified. The people expressed grieve in the workshop saying that they are having challenging conditions as there was no electricity in the village for years. Purva Bharati Trust which is working on the issues related to health and education in the district of Jorhat is planning to train a team of peer educators from the areas so that positive thinking and right approach can be reached to young minds. Participants in the focused group discussions have agreed to volunteer and extend their support to educate and teach their peers. Purva Bharati Trust has plead for ideas and support from concerned people to make health reachable for all in the district of Jorhat.