Nupur Basu is Programme Action Co-ordinator for SI Calcutta (India). In this week’s blog, she describes a dramatic incident that occurred during a recent maths class, part of the club’s Hold My Hand project to help children from poor families succeed at school.

Children from underprivileged backgrounds, living below the poverty line, are often first generation students who do not get any help at home, resulting in widespread drop-outs from school. SI Calcutta’s Hold My Hand project at Chetla in Kolkata was started 4 years ago to provide an extra academic boost by giving them tuition. Tutorial classes are held in English and Maths from 4pm to 6pm, taken by professional teachers appointed by the club. Our members oversee the working of the project.

The school reports for each of the students are improving every term. The school Principal has spoken to us about the difference this tuition has made to the students and  parents have also come in to express their satisfaction. The project has increased from one to three classes since it began.

The following incident took place in February 2013 during a maths tutorial class. Although it was nothing new in the lives of the unfortunate women who live in this area, maybe this was a bit more dramatic, which prompted me to pen it down.

I was sitting in one corner with the students who needed special attention. Suddenly,  all eyes  turned towards the door. A woman came running in, clothes disheveled, distraught. She was in trouble. She headed straight to two girls, yanked them out of their seats and started  walking  away.

The teacher stopped her. Who was she?  Where was she taking the girls?  A guttural growl came out as an answer. It was full of pain and despair. I put my arm around her. Eyes brimming with tears she said that her husband was getting married again and  her daughters had a specific task to perform. They had to howl and cry to gain sympathy of the neighbours.  Maybe they could stop him. No, she did not think of going to the police. That never worked.

A man leaving his family and re-marrying is common in slum areas. What happens depends on whether the first wife has the ability to fight back. By that I mean knowing influential people, which again opens up a scenario of politics and corruption. But these ladies have so much on their hands that they act on basis of priority. Feeding her children is at the top of her mind.

If  ladies are economically independent, they are sure to have a more dignified life. We have just finished a programme of  life skill based education, where ladies coming from underprivileged backgrounds are given training in home finance, small entrepreneurship, health and hygiene, handicraft etc. We intend to again start the classes again.

Now the sunny side .The girls were back at the tutorial after two days. The father had left—no, their tears were not enough. But so what! They still have their mother. Nothing else matters.