From Child Marriage to Classroom Dreams: How a Tiny Dhenkanal Village is Rewriting its Future

Narendrapur, Sep 06, 2025: Kunjabiharipur, a small village tucked away in Odisha’s Odapada block under Dhenkanal district, rarely found a place in the headlines. With just 600 residents, mostly from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, it carried the weight of long-standing challenges, child marriage, school dropouts, substance abuse, and gender-based violence. For girls, the road was especially narrow, confined by early marriage, interrupted education, and traditional gender roles.

That began to change in December 2022, when the Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) brought the Regional Initiative for Safe Sexual Health by Today’s Adolescents (RISHTA) initiative to the village. Rather than starting with lectures or pamphlets, the team began with conversations, sitting down with the Sarpanch, village elders, parents, health workers, and, most importantly, the adolescents themselves.

The gaps were clear: most young people knew little about reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, nutrition, or the risks of tobacco and alcohol. Deep-rooted stigma and silence kept these topics hidden. RISHTA’s answer was to place adolescents at the heart of change. Through interactive workshops using games, storytelling, and roleplays, teenagers gained knowledge on menstrual health, contraception, Sexually Transmitted Infection prevention, and the dangers of substance abuse. Parents, teachers, and ASHA workers joined parallel sessions, building a circle of community support.

A turning point came with the emergence of peer leaders, more than 35 trained young changemakers who began facilitating discussions, listening to concerns, and organising rallies, street plays, and awareness campaigns for occasions such as World AIDS Day and anti-drug drives. Speaking in familiar voices and local dialects, they helped dismantle taboos and spark open dialogue.

Mr. Jatti Nayak, Sarpanch, told that, “We sincerely thank the RISHTA Project Team for their transformative work in our village. Their efforts in reducing child marriage and empowering youth through initiatives like Saathiya training, Mathan Yatra, and Dhwani have brought real, positive change. The team’s dedication to re-enrolling school dropouts and motivating them toward higher education has been truly commendable.”

The transformation has been swift and visible. In less than two years, 120 adolescents have gained critical life skills. Three girls and one boy have re-enrolled in Intermediate College, reversing a culture of early dropouts. The once-inactive Child Protection Committee now actively intervenes, preventing at least one child marriage and reporting more cases of concern. Conversations once confined to whispers now take place in open community forums.

Mrs. Banita Naik, one of the Ward Members of the village said:“I express heartfelt gratitude to the RISHTA Team for their impactful awareness sessions and rallies addressing early marriage and addiction. These programs have sparked confidence and determination among our adolescents. Their commitment to engaging the community and empowering young people is deeply appreciated.”

Today, Kunjabiharipur is shedding its silence. Guided by its youth, the village is stepping into a future marked by awareness, education, and collective responsibility, proof that change, once sparked, can transform even the quietest corners.