Case Study: A Little Girl Carrying a Big Responsibility

Neha Kumari, a 12-year-old girl from Siswa village of Chete Panchayat, Ramkanda Block, Garhwa, lives a life far beyond her years. After the death of her parents, Neha and her 14-year-old brother, Pramod Parahiya, are living together without their parents to support them. They are among five siblings—four sisters and one brother. Their elder sister is married, while two of the sisters are staying with their maternal aunt. Neha and her younger brother, therefore, manage their daily lives largely on their own.

The family has been facing several challenges. Their parents had a ration card when they were alive, but after their death, the family's access to ration was discontinued because the required Aadhaar documentation was not available. Neha has never had an Aadhaar card, and her brother's Aadhaar card has also been lost. Their birth certificate-related documentation has also remained incomplete, making it difficult for them to access essential identity documents and government entitlements.

At just 12 years of age, Neha is not attending school. She manages household responsibilities and also helps with the family's small piece of agricultural land. Her brother, who is 14, also does not attend school and earns some income by driving a tractor. With limited household resources and no parents to depend on, meeting their daily food and nutritional needs is a constant challenge.

Recognising the vulnerability of the siblings, the Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK) team identified Neha's household for support under the “Nutrition Support for Vulnerable PVTG Families” initiative. On 18 August 2026, Neha received a nutrition kit containing 5 kg Desi Chana, 5 kg Arhar Dal, 2 kg Moong Dal, 2 kg peanuts, 4 kg Desi Gud, 2 kg Soya Chunks, 3 litres mustard oil and 2 kg salt. The support provided essential food items to a household where access to regular and nutritious food is difficult due to the family's circumstances.

The programme was conducted in the presence of the Block Development Officer (BDO), Circle Officer (CO) and Panchayati Raj Officer, reflecting the importance given to supporting vulnerable families at the community level. For Neha, the intervention meant that for a period, some of the basic nutritional needs of her small household were supported at a time when she and her brother were managing life without their parents.

The SSK team's effort to identify Neha's household demonstrates the importance of reaching families who may otherwise remain unnoticed because of their age, social circumstances and difficulty in accessing government entitlements. For a 12-year-old girl carrying responsibilities usually borne by adults, the nutrition support was not merely a package of food items—it was a gesture of care, recognition and solidarity.

Neha's situation highlights the need for continued community-level support for vulnerable children and households, particularly where gaps in documentation and access to entitlements further increase their vulnerability. Through the Nutrition Support for Vulnerable PVTG