Access to education transformed the life of Smita Tatewar in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, says Neeraj Shetye

If you need access to basic public transport, you have to walk at least five kilometres on foot and then reach a bus stand,” shares 23-year-old Smita Tatewar from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. This is still a reality for many across India beyond the metropolitan hubs. Tatewar shares this fate with millions of youngsters who struggle harder to get the same opportunities as their peers from urban India.

Yavatmal district is a part of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region. This part of the state suffers from underdevelopment as compared to other areas. The most pressing issues have been accessing basic amenities like education, healthcare and public transport. Even today, it is considered to be normal for people to walk several kilometres for accessing schools and hospitals.

Tatewar was born in Loni, a village with a population of just 500. Her mother is an anganwadi teacher while her father is a farmer. Eklavya India, a grassroots collective based in Vidarbha, which guides first-generation learners from underprivileged communities with opportunities in higher education, helped in shaping her career. She joined the collective as a student in 2017 since the organisation’s founding. Today, she is managing its events and mentoring younger students seeking higher education.

“Until Eklavya, I didn’t know someone like me could have a definite career. Most of my peers were discouraged to take up higher education. They had to drop out and marry,” says Tatewar. The collective’s support transformed her outlook towards higher education and boosted her confidence to take up more challenges.

After completing her primary education in the school near her village, Tatewar’s family moved her to a hostel for secondary education. Despite social pressure to get married, she relentlessly chased opportunities to study further. For her undergraduate studies, she enrolled in a Bachelor’s in Social Work programme in Yavatmal. This is where she met Raju Kendre, the founder of Eklavya India movement.

At 20, Tatewar started working at the community level. In 2019, she — along with her mother — surveyed the Prime Minister’s Rural Housing Scheme, previously known as Indira Awas Yojana, to help families below the poverty line in her village get funds for building houses. With their effort and dedication, they helped 30 households receive benefits under the scheme. This experience made her realise how her work can drive a change in the community.

Tatewar’s community recognised her commitment towards society and convinced her to contest for the gram panchayat elections of their village in 2021. At 22, she was elected as deputy head of Loni-Netajinagar. Meanwhile, she was also selected for SBI Youth for India fellowship in Devas, Madhya Pradesh, where she is currently working on rural education. Simultaneously, she is also running a virtual night school for students who are struggling to access education.

As a member of the village council, Tatewar has just begun on her journey. She wants the council to prioritise issues around education and water management. While discussing her plans as a member of the council she mentions, “Our village has enough water but there is poor management, so I want to ensure that we work on resolving that issue at the earliest.” Along with this, she wants to establish a library as a dedicated study space.

Tatewar’s story reflects how India is missing out on harnessing its young talent at the grassroots. She intends to complete her Masters in a discipline that can prepare her in public problem-solving. While doing that, she is determined to improve the situation around her and ensure future generations do not have to go through the same struggles.

(The author is a writer from Maharashtra.)

—Charkha Features