Khushaal Bachpan’s Bal Chaupal asked for light and sparked a bigger change

Electricity has been permanently restored to the Child Learning Centre in Bardih village, Raipur district, in Chhattisgarh, after children collectively approached local authorities and followed up until action was taken. Evening classes have resumed, attendance has doubled, and the Bal Chaupal under Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan programme is once again alive with learning, energy, and purpose. What makes this moment powerful is simple. Children led it.

Only later does the story unfold.

For months, the Bal Chaupal had struggled in darkness. In the summer of 2025, an unreliable power supply was completely disconnected. As daylight faded, so did learning. The room grew hot. Fans stopped. Study sessions shortened. Eventually, 45 children stopped coming altogether.

“We could not sit there,” said 12-year-old Rakhi. “It was dark and uncomfortable. Even if we wanted to study, we couldn’t.”

The centre had been more than a classroom. With parents returning late from daily wage work, it was a safe evening space for learning, play, and companionship. When electricity failed, routines collapsed.

Efforts were made from the outside. The Khushaal Bachpan team raised the issue with the sarpanch. A temporary arrangement followed. A fan was provided. But technical problems returned. The connection failed again. Meetings continued. Outcomes did not.

The shift came when the Bardih Bal Panchayat was formally trained and activated.

Children gathered. Problems were listed. Nearly every hand went up.

“Some of us couldn’t finish homework. Some stopped coming completely,” said 13-year-old Arushi Gendre. “We realised this was something we had to take forward ourselves.”

Nine children discussed options, identified decision makers, and prepared their case. Together, they walked to the panchayat office with a handwritten application asking for a permanent electricity connection for their learning centre.

“We practised what to say,” shared Deepti, the Bal Panchayat secretary. “We were scared, but we were confident.”

They did not stop with one visit. Over three weeks, they followed up consistently, met electricity staff, tracked progress, and ensured the issue stayed visible. Each visit had a different child speaking.

“We wanted them to see we were serious and united,” said Vikram.

The result was clear. Approval came. The connection was restored.

When the lights flickered on that evening, the room erupted in cheers. Books opened. Fans spun. Children stayed back longer.

“It felt like we had achieved something important,” Arushi said. “Now we know that when we speak together, people listen.”

Today, the Bal Chaupal is fully functional. Parents acknowledge the leadership their children displayed. The local panchayat now involves the Bal panchayat in community planning.

The restored electricity is the visible outcome. The deeper achievement runs stronger. Children moved from awareness to action. From silence to collective voice. And Bardih now stands as proof that empowered children can shape real change.