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Partnering the Government:

Strengthening existing programmes

reeti Ben (43), is the principal of Kasturba Shiksha) that Tata Water Mission’s team in
Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Gujarat covered under its MHM programme. The
PPavthi, Gujarat. Preeti is elated to see how MHM programme reached out to adolescent girls
the lived experience of the current generation of 25 KGBVs in Amreli, Bhavnagar and Dahod
is significantly different from that of her own districts of the state. Preeti said the efforts taken
around menstruation. “I cried and cried until my by sakhis have helped the girls living at the hostel
mother came back from the school where she used to be more vocal about any issues concerning their
to teach,” she recalls her first experience with reproductive health; they practice better hygiene
menstruation at the age of 14. Preeti points out and use reusable cotton pads or sanitary napkins.
that the girls from her hostel no longer have to In the second part of Tata Water Mission’s
undergo the same experience, thanks to the Tata collaboration with GRC for KGBV schools, the
Trusts’ efforts. team aims to impart MHM training to 12 identified
Preeti’s school is a residential school for staff members from each of the 25 KGBVs. The
girls and part of the 25 Kasturba Gandhi Balika trained staff would in turn impart information to
Vidyalayas (KGBV, established under Samagra the adolescent girls at these KGBVs.

In August 2004, the Government of India launched the KGBV scheme and later merged with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2007. It’s
objective was to set up residential schools at an upper primary level for girls belonging predominantly to scheduled caste, scheduled
tribe, other backward class, and minorities residing in difficult areas. With the RTE Act, 2009, coming into force (with effect
from 1st April 2010) and the Sarva Shiksha Framework of implementation being revised to correspond to the RTE Act, the KGBV
component of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is also being implemented in the overall context of child rights and child entitlements and in
harmony with the spirit and stipulations of the Act.

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