Just the way an ant can move an elephant, sometimes little hands can bring about great changes.

’NAGPATHIYA’ Battling for a Change

“Close to one million people in Indian die from cancer linked directly to tobacco addiction. The cost of treating patients suffering from tobacco-related ailments runs into thousands of crores”. This means mainly cigarettes, bidis, gutka and tobacco-laced paan.

This story belongs to a small primary school called Anupam Prathmik Shala(a primary school) in Gujarat a State in India. Bhavan ,Nishant, Komal ,Arpita, Vikram and the others all study here. This story is about them and their able and competent leader- a teacher called Sureshbhai S. Patel.

The habit of chewing tobacco in a substance called “gutkha”, or just rolled in thin paper as a “bidi”, is in rural India, one of the largest reasons for lung cancer. Cheap and easily available, it is an addiction which has fatal results. Men and women are equally prone to this addiction.

In this small village reached the long arms of the Intel Teach program. A group of teachers along with their students were trained by them.

This process of training became, not just an eye opener but also a journey for them. While providing them with information they had never been exposed to, it also initiated in them a desire to empower others by passing on that knowledge. They realized, they could use technology not just for themselves but also to change things around them.

In class, when Sureshbhai discussed with the children the project they could undertake as part of their training, the decision was unanimous. These little children were going to battle for a change.

Most had grandparents, some even parents who were addicted to tobacco. In the rural areas of Gujarat there is little awareness about health and hygiene. People understand that these habits damage their health but lack the scientific understanding and proper guidance required for change.

This band of young enthusiasts methodically planned their activities. They named their project ‘NAGPATHIYA’. First they divided themselves into groups. The first group conducted a survey in about 220 households in the village. Most people they found were in complete support of their efforts.

The next group went to visit patients suffering from diseases which are a direct result of tobacco addiction. They struck home when they showed the patients the cause of their illness. Given another chance all the patients agreed they would stay away from the use of tobacco. This was a heart rending journey for the children all of who belong to grade 5 to 7.

Now the children were able to analyze the data they had compiled from the net and from their interviews. They listed out the strategies and remedies for keeping away from such habits. They made brochures and leaflets using this information which were then distributed to all villagers.

They also held ‘open house’ discussion days to spread awareness and proactively interact with the villagers. The entire project was designed to help people understand the dangers of consuming tobacco.

The head of the village the Sarpanch was very happy with the project that the school had initiated. In acknowledgement of their work he banned all shops in the village from the selling of ‘Gutka’.

The result of the project was that 80 % of the youth from the village vowed to stay away from such addiction.
The ants had proved mightier than the elephant………….

Submit a Story.