Zuberia, Malala of Patancheru

Hyderbad: Zuberia does not know who Malala is, but has a few similarities with her. Zuberia (14) studying ninth class in RC Puram Government High School (Urdu medium) and her younger sister Sabiya Begum (13), in eighth class, were forced by their parents to stop studies on the Children’s Day.

The Medak child line run by the Centre for Action Research and People’s Development (CARPED) conducts various activities for awareness on child rights and runs toll-free child help line. Zuberia attended one such programme in her village. She called the helpline for help, which responded and met her parents, who were against sending children to school.

The parents were counselled and agreed to send them to school, but did not. Zuberia continued to pursue with the help line, who approached all stakeholders, including Medak Child Welfare Committee. There was no response. M S Chandra approached the Medak District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). Secretary Kanaka Durga responded to the request and instructed MEO Praveena.

Ch Shankar Reddy, CI, along with child line & CARPED directors Chandra and Subhash Chandra joined hands to support the girl. Durga had discussion with Zuberia’s family members and counselled her parents. She, child help line team, Patancheru police and MEO organised a meeting with parents of the village and stressed on importance of education and right to education.

Zuberia’s parents agreed to send their child to school. She joined the school and attended exams. She is happy and wants to become an IPS officer. This motivated Ruksana, who was forced to drop out of the school two years back. She approached the team and has been admitted to Patancheru Girls High School. The girls have thanked the help team, the CI and Durga for their support.