DIKSHA : THE GENESIS

The genesis of DIKSHA lies in an experiment that Paramita Banerjee had started with a MacArthur Fellowship for Leadership Development. Located in the Kalighat and Wattganj Red Light Areas of Kolkata, West Bengal, the initiative aimed at creating a non-intrusive and nonjudgmental space for 10-19 year old girls and boys to voice, debate, discuss, and resolve issues around gender and sexuality. This pilot programme of involving girls and boys together as equal partners in change proved to be a learning process for both the participants and the interveners. The wall between them broke down as the youth took leadership roles. DIKSHA was born as a concretisation of that learning.

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What Young People Have to Say:

“I stretched my sister’s marriage till she was 23 years old. My family opposed me and I had to convince them how her studies were important. When they arranged a 17-year-old girl for me, I made both families understand the consequences of early marriage.”

On challenging child marriage:

Name:

“All of them helped me find the right set of information regarding institutes offering a sailor’s course. DIKSHA helped me build my confidence and I could become a sailor only because of this guidance.”

On becoming a sailor through DIKSHA’s support:

Name:

“We no longer hid behind silent tears, but cried out loud and told our mothers. The mother, along with us, handed the man over to the police.”

On safe spaces and learning:

Name: