Reduced Inequality

APPROACH ADOPTED:

As part of the Be a Jagrik Initiative run by Commutiny – The Youth Collective, Saloni, who is a commerce student at Jamshedpur Public school – did a task to understand Freedom from the perspective of those unlike her.  Collaborating with local partners, including People for Change in Jamshedpur, through this task Saloni built an understanding about a need to empower lower income earners and promote economic inclusion of all.

“I remember, it was 11th December when we approached the staff. The approach was not difficult, but the conversation was far from easy. Freedom for them was the freedom to appreciate their work and live the way they wanted to. There lay a deeper meaning which I wanted to unearth and that is where, the weekly meetings called Jamghat facilitated by People For Change as part of my Jagrik journey, gave a perspective”, says Saloni.

TARGET GROUP IMPACTED:

Saloni did this task in her school (Jamshedpur Public school) understand freedom from the perspective of Safai Karmachari (cleaning staff).

Firstly, the Karamcharis expressed that they don’t have the freedom to voice out their concerns. Secondly, they do not have the freedom to the choice of education for their children, because of their financial impairment. Thirdly, they do not have the freedom to decide what to do with their lives and the lives of their children. The equation of freedom is completely different now. And social and economic impairments have backed them to a corner.

NEXT ON AGENDA:

Saloni plans to continue the practices of living sustainable life to reduce her carbon footprint. Her vision is to live a greener lifestyle and promote the same.

HOW DID IT CHANGE YOU?

A new and evolved definition of Freedom entered Saloni’s worldview. The single bandwidth of Freedom was now layered – affected by numerous, rampant conditions of our social order. “I believe that even a small action can make a big impact. After speaking to 3 sanitation workers I came to appreciate the hard work they do and now I respect them even more. I had never noticed them before, but this task pushed me to engage with people who provide services to the community and enable us to lead a better life” says Saloni.