A Name Is the First Right to Dignity: Children, Education and Identity in Varanasi

 

A school uniform may appear to be a simple piece of clothing. But for a child growing up in a marginalised community, receiving a uniform can represent something much larger: belonging, confidence, recognition and the possibility of a different future.

On 7 August 2026, Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) organised an education-support activity for young children and their families in a community in Varanasi. The children came together with their parents, community members and social workers for learning activities and distribution of educational and school-support materials.

The initiative was supported by the Jiv Daya Foundation, which provided summer uniforms for 110 children. The beneficiary details included 15 boys below three years, 12 girls below three years, 52 boys aged three to five years and 31 girls aged three to five years.

The support included yellow T-shirts, navy-blue track pants, shorts and sandals, with 110 sets/pairs of the relevant items dispatched for the children. The consignment was dispatched on 30 July 2026, and Jiv Daya Foundation covered the uniform and freight costs in advance.

But the most important message of the day was not about the uniforms.

It was about names.

“Please call your children by their names.”

During the interaction with parents, Mangala Rajbhar, Senior Social Worker, Jan Mitra Nyas, shared a simple but deeply meaningful message:

“Please use the name of your child. A name gives a child identity, recognition and dignity.”

For children from historically marginalised communities, this message carries particular importance.

Children can too easily become identified through labels—poverty, caste, occupation, migration, family circumstances or other social categories. Such labels may describe a social condition, but they should never replace the child's individual identity.

A child is not a “poor child”.

A child is not a “Musahar child” before being a person.

A child is not defined by the occupation of their parents.

A child has a name. A child has a personality. A child has dreams. A child has rights.

Calling a child by their own name is therefore a small but significant act of recognition.

Education is also about dignity

At JMN, education is understood not simply as learning letters and numbers. It is also about creating an environment in which children develop confidence, self-respect and a sense of belonging.

The photographs from the 7 August activity show children participating in learning activities, sitting together with educational materials, and proudly holding their new uniforms.

These moments may appear ordinary, but they are important building blocks of social change.

A uniform can help a child feel ready for school.

A school bag can make learning more accessible.

A learning session can encourage curiosity.

A supportive parent can strengthen a child's confidence.

And calling a child by their own name can affirm: “You are seen. You are recognised. You matter.”

From beneficiaries to rights-holders

The partnership represented by this support is therefore not merely about distributing material assistance.

The larger objective is to strengthen children's access to education, dignity and opportunity while working alongside families and communities.

The support from Jiv Daya Foundation enabled JMN to provide uniforms and sandals to 110 young children. The accompanying communication also requested that photographs of the children wearing the uniforms be shared after distribution for records and reporting.

For JMN, however, documentation should go hand in hand with respect for the identity and dignity of every child.

A culture of recognition

The intervention reminds us that meaningful development is often built through seemingly small actions.

A child receives a uniform.

A parent participates.

A teacher opens a book.

A social worker listens.

A community comes together.

And a parent learns to call their child by their own name.

Together, these acts contribute to a culture in which children are not seen merely as recipients of assistance, but as individual human beings with rights, identities and aspirations.

The message from Mangala Rajbhar is therefore much larger than a request about language.

It is a message about how we see children.

When we use a child's name, we recognise the person.

When we listen to a child, we recognise their voice.

When we educate a child, we recognise their potential.

And when we respect a child's dignity, we help create the foundation for a more equal society.

Dignity begins with a name

The gathering in Varanasi on 7 August 2026 was a reminder that social transformation does not always begin with something grand.

Sometimes it begins with a simple sentence:

“What is your name?”

And then, even more importantly:

“Please call your child by their name.”

Because every child deserves to grow up knowing that they are someone—not merely someone’s child, someone from a particular community, or someone from a particular social background, but an individual with a name, identity, dignity and future.

Dignity begins with recognition.

And sometimes, recognition begins with saying a child's name.

— Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN), Varanasi

 

From Assessment to Action: Transforming the Lives of 110 Musahar Children through Nutrition and Education

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | May–July 2026

On 28 May 2026, Ms. Aparna Singh conducted an extensive field visit to the villages of Anei, Dallipur, Barhikala, and Hamirapur in Varanasi district to assess the nutritional and educational needs of children from the Musahar community, one of India's most marginalized communities. During her visit, she met with mothers, Anganwadi workers, village volunteers, and community leaders, while observing the living conditions and interacting directly with young children.

The assessment highlighted serious concerns regarding malnutrition, poor preschool attendance, limited access to nutritious food, and the absence of quality early childhood education. Many children under the age of five were found to be vulnerable to undernutrition and lacked opportunities for structured learning that would prepare them for primary school. The visit reinforced the urgent need for a community-based intervention combining nutrition with early education.

Based on the findings of this field assessment, Jan Mitra Nyas, in partnership with the Jiv Daya Foundation (JDF), USA, officially launched the Pre-School Nutrition and Education Initiative on 21 July 2026 across all four villages. The one-year programme aims to improve the health, nutrition, and school readiness of 110 children aged six months to five years through a comprehensive package of nutrition and early learning support. The initiative is supported under a grant to provide daily milk, biscuits, and educational activities for children in the four selected villages.

At the heart of the programme is the daily provision of 150 ml of nutritious milk prepared from Amul Spray milk powder, complemented by biscuits and interactive learning sessions. Developed through Jiv Daya Foundation's research, the nutrition model provides essential protein, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients required for healthy growth while simultaneously promoting cognitive and social development through preschool education.

Every morning, children gather at community learning centres where trained village volunteers prepare and distribute fresh milk in a hygienic environment. Following the nutrition session, children participate in age-appropriate learning activities, including alphabets, numbers, colours, shapes, songs, storytelling, and creative play. The programme also encourages good hygiene practices, regular attendance, parental involvement, and continuous monitoring of children's growth and development.

A major milestone of the initiative was achieved with the distribution of school bags and educational kits to all 110 children from Musahar families. The kits included slates, books, stationery, writing practice books, colouring books, chalk, and board books, ensuring that every child has the essential learning materials needed to begin their educational journey. The educational support, valued at ₹75,350, was donated by the Jiv Daya Foundation and formally acknowledged by Jan Mitra Nyas.

The programme has brought together mothers, Anganwadi workers, village volunteers, and community leaders, creating a strong local support system that places children's health and education at the centre of community development. Through daily reporting, regular health assessments, and active parental participation, the initiative ensures transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The field visit by Ms. Aparna Singh on 28 May 2026 served as the turning point that transformed a needs assessment into meaningful action. Today, the Pre-School Nutrition and Education Initiative stands as a powerful example of how collaborative efforts between Jan Mitra Nyas, Jiv Daya Foundation, and local communities can create lasting change for some of the most disadvantaged children in rural Uttar Pradesh. By combining daily nutrition, early childhood education, community participation, and educational support, the programme is giving 110 Musahar children a healthier start, greater confidence, and a stronger foundation for lifelong learning.