Certain incidents, at times, can spur long lasting changes. It happened with Komal, a shy seventeen-year-old girl living in Nuh, Haryana. She lives with her parents, five sisters and a younger brother. Being the eldest child in an economically strained household, she helped with household chores and stitching clothes for the family members, besides going to the local government school. Before the pandemic years when she was in her eighth standard, Komal was being teased by a boy living in her neighbourhood. One day, while she was alone, the boy who teased her barged into Komal’s home and misbehaved with her. She was also threatened by the boy to keep her mouth shut. But Komal refused to stay mum. “I was scared and I had stopped going to school. But I also felt that I should not accept this bad behaviour. I told my parents about it. They reported this incident to the police and the boy was arrested. He eventually apologised for his behaviour,” recounts Komal.

Even though the teasing stopped, Komal continued to be afraid to step out. She grew nervous and would seldom step out of her home alone. Subsequently, pandemic induced lockdowns accentuated Komal’s isolation. “A teacher from the GEP visited our house, inquiring about my school and education. The teacher coaxed my parents and me to join the Girls Education Program,” explains Komal. It took Komal some time to trust people outside her family. She gradually started attending the tuition classes being given at a centre nearby under the Girls Education Program. Soon, she started making friends and feeling comfortable in the environment. It was almost a home away from home.

According to Komal, “The teacher at the centre treated me as a friend. I could ask any number of questions. My understanding about my subjects started improving. Social Science is my favourite subject.” She started scoring better marks and engaging in extracurricular activities. Komal, along with her peers at the centre, was taken for visits to nearby places like Gurugram. It was for the first time Komal had travelled away from her home and it was exciting for her to experience a new world. “After studying here for three years I have found my confidence and my voice.”

Komal is preparing for her 10th standard exams, and she beams with confidence as she says, “I have understood now that what happens to me cannot define me. I am what I do. I want to become an IPS officer and help others seek justice.”