Transforming Villages into Child-Friendly Communities
A Vision by Sankalp Ek Prayas (SEP)
What is Adarsh Bal Gram
Adarsh Bal Gram (ABG) is SEP’s model for creating safe, inclusive, childfriendly communities where every child receives quality education, protection, healthcare, gender equity, and opportunities for future readiness.
ABG transforms rural villages into ecosystems that nurture children holistically – emotionally, academically, socially, and physically through community-led systems and strengthened public institutions.
Why Adarsh Bal Gram (The Need)
Despite progress, rural communities continue to face deep structural challenges:
- High dropout rates (Grades 8–12)
- Low learning levels across primary and upper-primary grades
- Gender discrimination & early marriages
- High levels of anaemia & poor adolescent health
- Limited parental involvement in child development
- Weak child protection systems
- Poor digital access & lack of future readiness pathways
ABG is essential to bridge these gaps by building systems that consistently protect, educate, and empower children.
Vision
To ensure every child grows in a safe, supportive, and empowering environment, with access to quality education, health, protection, and future opportunities.
Mission
To transform 250 communities across 5 districts into fully certified Adarsh Bal Grams by 2027 through structured interventions, capacity building, and strong community ownership.
Core Values of ABG
Child-Centric Development
Every decision prioritizes children's rights and wellbeing.
Community Ownership
Parents, youth, schools, and local leaders drive the change.
Equity & Inclusiveness
All children girls, boys, adolescents, marginalized groups receive equal opportunities.
Sustainability
Systems, not events; capacity, not dependency.
Joyful Childhood
Ensuring safe spaces for learning, play, creativity, and expression
What Makes a Village an “Adarsh Bal Gram”
A village must demonstrate measurable progress across four pillars:
1. Foundational & Quality Education
High enrolment & attendance, strong learning outcomes, digital access, parental involvement, and functional Learning Resource Centres.
- 95%+ enrolment and 75%+ school attendance
- 65% children (Grades 3–5) achieving ASER-level proficiency
- Functional Learning Resource Centres (LRCs)
- Parents actively participating in learning
- Digital access for 100% primary & secondary students
2. Future Readiness & Life Skills
STEM, digital & financial literacy, sports, and leadership pathways through Bal Sabha & Kishor Sabha, empowering children with confidence, teamwork, creativity, and real-life problem-solving skills.
- STEM, digital literacy, financial literacy for adolescents
- Science Mela, computer labs, career awareness
- Active Kishor Sabha & Bal Sabha platforms
3. Child Rights, Safety & Protection
Garima Manch platforms, zero child marriages, safe-school certification, gender & cyber safety awareness.
- Functional Garima Manch (140+ new setups planned)
- Training on child rights, gender, MHM, cyber safety
- Safe School Certification
- Zero child marriages
- Effective reporting & safety systems
4. Community Strength & Empowerment
Active SMCs, CPCs & PRIs, 1000+ local volunteers, youth role models, and community-led solutions.
- Strong SMCs, CPCs, PRIs
- 1000+ trained community volunteers
- Resource mobilization for village-led solutions
- 125 skilled young women serving as role models
How ABG Will Transform Communities
ABG’s approach creates lasting change by empowering families to understand their rights, improving children’s safety, and strengthening access to meaningful learning. It builds confidence among women and adolescents, reduces harmful practices, and equips young people with digital, financial, and career skills.
By nurturing informed parents, resilient children, and capable youth leaders, ABG helps communities become safer, healthier, more educated, and self-driven—ensuring progress continues long after external support ends.
Community Spaces for Change - Garima Manch
Women & adolescent groups advancing rights, health & education with dignity and confidence.
- Education
- Child rights
- Menstrual health
- Protection
- Life skills
- Government schemes
Target: 12,500 parents engaged annually, influencing 25,000 children.
Safe Spaces for Children
School-based safety, wellbeing & child-protection systems
- School-based protection sessions
- Awareness on safe/unsafe touch
- Cyber safety & mental wellbeing
- Kishor Sabha & Bal Sabha activation
- Safe School & Safe Space certifications
Target: 100 communities certified safe & child-friendly.
Universal Access to Quality Education (Seekh & Srijan)
- 500 Learning Resource Centres
- Digital classrooms (E-Merge & E-Udaan)
- Peer learning model
- Science Mela, STEM workshops
- Scholarship exam preparation (Navodaya, NMMSE)
Reach: 25,000 children annually
Future Readiness
Computer education, sports, career pathways & financial literacy.
- Basic computer education in 40+ schools
- Digital & financial literacy
- Sports for development
- Career awareness pathways
These leaders ensure that ABG becomes self-sustaining.
Youth Leadership Development
Local youth trained as change-makers & fellows.
- School-based protection sessions
- Awareness on safe/unsafe touch
- Cyber safety & mental wellbeing
- Kishor Sabha & Bal Sabha activation
- Safe School & Safe Space certifications
These leaders ensure that ABG becomes self-sustaining.
ABG Certification Indicators
A village qualifies as an Adarsh Bal Gram when it achieves:
- 95%+ enrolment & zero dropouts
- ASER-level learning outcomes
- Digital access for all children
- Functional LRCs & trained facilitators
- Community-owned Garima Manch & Kishor Sabha
- Strong child protection & reporting systems
- No child marriages
- Declining anaemia levels
- Active youth role models
- High parental engagement