Education is not only about schools—it’s about agency, health, and empowerment. A research intern with ZealGrit reflects on women’s education in Bihar, sharing Neetu’s story of how health literacy transformed her family’s future.

Three months ago, I joined ZealGrit Foundation, a grassroots organisation based in Supaul, Bihar. We work on addressing malnutrition in communities whose issues rarely appear in headlines or online. Since then, I have spent more time unlearning than learning. I have discovered that some lessons only come when you sit with the communities, listen and absorb like a sponge, and notice what the books never mention. Here are three lessons I carry with me every day.

यह मेरी पहली नौकरी है। मैंने पहले कभी फील्ड पर काम नहीं किया था। मैं खुद सुपौल की रहने वाली हूं, लेकिन हमारे ही समाज में कितनी सारी परेशानियां हैं, ये पहले कभी न देखा था, न समझा था। तो जाहिर है, जब मैंने इस काम की शुरुआत की, तो मुझे नहीं पता था कि मैं क्या कर पाऊंगी, और क्या नहीं। मैं सिर्फ़ इतना जानती थी कि मुझे कुछ करना है माताओं के लिए, बच्चों के लिए, अपने सुपौल के लिए। शुरुआती दिनों में ही एहसास हुआ कि बदलाव सिर्फ़ सोचने से नहीं, करने से आता है।

A traditional fire, fueled by cow dung, burned steadily in the courtyard; a local ritual believed to protect newborns from infections and the evil eye (nazar). Communities across the country have long practised such customs to protect infants. But this brings us to a deeper, often unspoken question: Who protects the mother? Take Poonam’s household, for example. We met her when she was seven months pregnant with her second child. In the beginning, she remained quiet during our

I have visited more than 20 states in India. But I never had a chance to explore Bihar. I had heard a lot about migration from this state. So, I felt it was the right time to visit. I wanted to connect with a remote community to understand life here firsthand. I landed at Darbhanga airport from Delhi. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Soon, I was on my way to Triveniganj (ZealGrit Foundation’s base location). The moment I arrived, Saroj greeted me with a warm hug.

Eight months ago, ZealGrit decided to step into Supaul, where data speaks of a grim reality. 69.4% of children aged 6-59 months were anaemic, and 42.9% of children under five were stunted. But beyond the statistics, we saw stories of silent battles, of mothers trying to raise their children with little to no support. If we wanted to improve maternal and child health outcomes, we had to start from the very beginning—from conception to the first two years of life.

मैं बिहार के सुपौल जिले की रहने वाली हूँ। मेरे पिता किसान हैं और मेरी माँ गृहिणी। मेरे दो बड़े भाई हैं, और मैं अपने पिता की इकलौती बेटी हूँ। यह मेरे लिए बहुत गर्व की बात है में अपने परिवार में पहली लड़की हूँ जो जॉब करती है। मेरे परिवार में कई और लड़कियाँ हैं, लेकिन उनमें से कोई नौकरी नहीं करती। हालाँकि, मेरे भाई सब किसी न किसी काम में व्यस्त हैं। मैंने बीएड और बीए की पढ़ाई पूरी की और फिलहाल एमए कर रही हूँ। जब मैंने ZealGrit में वैकेंसी के बारे में सुना, तो मुझे लगा कि मुझे आव

What came first—the chicken or the egg? It feels like one of those never-ending debates. The same can be applied to malnutrition. Malnutrition is the cause or outcome of poor health. It's challenging to pin down because malnutrition forms a vicious cycle, constantly feeding into itself. Let us understand this with Radha's story (name changed). Radha is a 16-year-old mother of a three-month-old baby. She had lost her first child during delivery barely a year ago when she was n

"Itni Dhoop Hai, AC Chala Do." It is a phrase we have all heard or said, stepping back home after an hour of grocery shopping in the heat. We take off our shoes, reach for the AC remote, and sigh in relief. But think for a moment—what about the ones who do not have the luxury of resting even in front of a cooler or fan at their homes? Those who can not afford even a moment’s break because their family’s survival depends on the wages they earn that very day.

Weight loss wasn’t a random decision but a choice that I made after enduring all those years of hurtful judgements and bullying. The people’s unkind statements and indifferent looks pushed me to focus on my inner strength and become a new person. I reflect and realise that life is an intricate web of moments, hardships, and victories, where each thread carries an individual story. One such story is my weight-loss journey.

In India, a poignant reality unfolds for adolescent girls, revealing a significant lack of understanding and support for their reproductive and sexual health. My recent visit to a government high school brought this starkly to light, exposing the silent battles of teenage girls, struggles that linger unnoticed and unattended. Questions like: “How often should I change sanitary napkins?”How can I handle debilitating period pain that keeps me out of school for days?”

I was born in a small village in Rajasthan, India, where drought, food shortages, and hunger were all too familiar. For seven long years, our village faced drought, teaching me how vital food and nutrition are for everyone's growth and well-being. These experiences shaped my education and career choices.