"The Agent of Social Change"

Nuapada one among the backward dist. of Odisha coming under KBK region the district is also known for distress migration. Boys and girls also use to migrate to another state to earn money at very early age so they become drop-out from school at secondary level schooling. it also leads to early marriage in the community.

Yashoda Pandey, 20, lives in Haldi Village of Nuapada. She has 4 sisters and one brother. Her father is a farmer. She is an example for others as “An Agent of Change”.  Yashoda Now Yashoda continuing her study in a nearby collage pursuing her Bachelor degree, she is the President of Block Level Girls Federation, Prevented 15 Child marriage in her area with the help of the Federation members and community members. In 2017 she associated with a local organization ASHA-ODISHA ANANYA: Marriage no Child’s PlayProject supported by Save the Children as a Discussion leader later she was trained on life skill education and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights under this project. After the training, she started working for the rights of the adolescents. Sheuses to take the session among the adolescent girl groups on the topic of Life Skill Education through discussion, exercise and game, these sessions have boosted up to build the capacity and discussion making power of adolescent girls. Later on she was also trained on the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and shared the knowledge with the adolescences though group interaction which increased their knowledge about the Menstrual & personal health and hygiene. She took the privilege of providing the services of adolescent health supported to adolescent girls.

“From my childhood onwards I was dreaming to do something for the society”. Is only the first step of and I have to clime more: Yashoda Says. I am regularly attending my class in college in my bi-cycle which is 9 km distance from my village. after my college I use to take life skills and SRHR sessions and also supporting other discussion leaders in taking session. I am supporting my family through Tailoring at home.  As in the present time we are seeing many violence cases against girls and women’s sometimes I use to teach “Self Defense” technique to protect ourselves.  Before starting herjourney, I was very shy and less confident to face the crowd even though I had big dream of becoming a front leader. My parents initially refused for such activity and scolded me very often being involved for mass mobilization and rallies they thought it is against the Society norms but now they are supporting and encouraging me a lot.

Yoshoda came to the limelight when she led a Mass Awareness programme Called “Mashal Yatra” in September 2018 for the cause of girl’s education, Gender Equity & for preventing Child Marriage where more than 1000 Adolescent, Children, Mothers, PRI Members participated bearing a Mashal (Fire Torch) with police protection. Since then there is no any Child Marriage Cases reported in her GP. She led many more awareness programme at the village , GP and Block level. For her contribution in empowering adolescent and preventing child marriage she awarded with trophy from the District Administration on the eve of International Women’s Day- 2029, the she was felicitated by chairperson OSCPCR and Minister W & C Dat the State level. She also facilitated by the Journalist Association Nuapada for her contribution in preventing Child Marriage in January 2020. Her story Shown in leading ODIA News Channel OTV in a Special episode Bhala Khabar (Inspiring News) titled ‘A Different Yashoda’.

Now Yashoda and her GP level federation affiliated with NYKS and leading Many Programme in her Panchayat. Receiving fund from NYK and Providing Skill Development training in Paper craft training to the adolescent and young women. Earlier those peoples who oppose her now saying we are filling proud of Yashoda.