Vadia girls not allowed in school

Vadia (Banaskantha): The state government’s ‘Kanya Kelvani’ drive kicked off across the state recently to enrol girl students in schools. But, Krishna, Rajni and Shagar of Vadia village in Tharad taluka, Banaskantha district, are worried that they may not get admission in boarding schools in the state this year too, because of their village’s infamous image. Needless to say, the girls were forced to discontinue their studies and hope for better luck next year. Vadia has a poor reputation because girls from its Sarania community are engaged in prostitution. Residents of neighbouring villages and even bureaucrats share this image. Families in the village push their daughters into prostitution - wives are spared. At present, 130 girls of the village are sex workers. Different agencies have tried to stop this practice and help the girls join mainstream society, but without success. The reason - people’s perceptions of these girls remains negative. “Last year, we sent five girls from this village to enrol in boarding schools, so that they would stay away from the traditional family profession. However, the educational fraternity rejected them. Schools said the girls would not change their ways and adversely affect the culture on their campuses,” says social worker Sharda Bhati, who has been trying to help Vadia women for the past four years. Confirms a villager, “When we approached boarding schools in the district they refused to give our girls admission saying they would spoil the school’s atmosphere.” Ramesh Sarania’s son Chandra is the first boy from the village to reach class VIII. He is studying in a school in Sidhpur and stood second in class this year. Says the proud father, “If only our girls were also given a chance to study, at least the next generation could stay away from prostitution.”