As a member of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, Shikha Pahadin feels that her work as a Community Correspondent is important because it gives primacy to issues that her isolated community faces. “There is a certain perception in the mainstream media that Tribal Groups are receiving many governmental benefits. People feel that things are simpler for us as we can…

Shikha Kumari Pahadin

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Chitta Hembrom, 16, is a tribal handicap from Jharkhand who has not received her disability pension since four years. Under Jharkhand state's  Swami Vivekananda Nishakt Swalamban Protsahan Yojna she is entitled to receive Rs. 400 per month and nor is she receiving the state's educational scholarship of Rs. 250 per month. She has undertaken two painful journeys of 40 km away across the hills, from her village Baskola to the Borio Block Office to apply for her disability pension but the apathy of the government officials has left her helpless.  

As a child, Chitta had dreamt of attending school and becoming a teacher in Jharkhand. But sudden sickness left both her legs dysfunctional, making it hard for Chitta to go anywhere, including school.  She would like to continue her education in a boarding school so that she doesn't have to travel but poverty stops her from doing so.

Shikha Paharin, a friend of Chitta's and also a community correspondent tells us,"Her father passed away and her widowed mother isn't keeping well. Chitta is uncertain if her brothers will let her stay if her mother isn't alive. Education is her only ticket to independence and freedom.

Help Chitta get her Right to Education and entitled pension. 

This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent.

Community Correspondents come from marginalized communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ They give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges.

See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.