‘I want to be an IAS Officer to broaden my social service,’ says Mondrita Chatterjee, 18 under 18 Chapter II Winner

While recognising the issues in our community only demands a small amount of effort, making significant progress toward solving them requires much more. For the 350 villagers of Kendradih village, this effort came from a Class IV student Mondrita Chatterjee. With the single-minded aim of making a difference in the lives of the people, Mondrita helped constructed the first toilet of its kind in the village, ably supported by her father.

‘In 2014, when the Swacch Bharat Mission was launched, I got to know from the news that students especially girls were dropping out of their schools due to a lack of proper sanitation and hygiene facilities. That struck me somewhere as I could not imagine people being deprived of basic amenities like toilets. It was a custom at my house to save whatever pocket money I used to get throughout the year and spend it on occasions like Durga Puja. I decided to save that money with the intention of employing it to help people. Now, in 2016 when I broke my piggy bank, I discovered I had saved up a sum of twenty-four thousand rupees. And under my parents' guidance and the direction of the government authorities, I started my mission by using the money to construct two toilets for the people of Kendradih village’, said Mondrita recalling her inspirational work.

Mondrita today studies in Class XII student and has so far constructed 10 toilets, some of which were made out of waste materials like plastic bottles and fly ash.

She has been felicitated by former CM Mr. Raghubar Das, former Governor of Jharkhand and Current President Madam Droupadi Murmu and Mr. Saryu Rai, among several others and received appreciation from Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Former Vice President Mr. Venkaiyah Naidu, and Former President Late Mr. Pranab Mukherjee as well as from several charitable organisations. Mondrita has in turn motivated many other children to do their part as well.

In addition to building toilets for the poor, Mondrita strives to instil the value of leading a hygienic and healthy life in those whose lives she can impact in any way. She is also interested in the mission of the overall development of rural communities that lack basic amenities like housing, schooling, etc.

Describing her goal, Mondrita says, ‘Cleanliness and hygiene are the most basic amenities that every human being needs and deserves to thrive, and I have made it my aim to ensure everyone has access to them’.

The people that Mondrita seeks to help are primarily dependent on the government authorities to bring about changes in society or rectify the wrongs in the community. Surprisingly, for one so young, she is quite astute and is able to put her finger on the problem with the situation and has worked out her own alternative solutions.

‘But, even the people who are a part of the government are humans. Even their capacities have a limit. I guess here's where we, the individuals who constitute the community, step up to work towards change. If we do a little extra work from our side and help the authorities in that manner, I'm sure the world will be a happier place. These thoughts are what drive my work.’

She aspires to be an IAS officer. When asked why she says that the authority of the position will greatly widen the spectrum of service she can provide to society. It will give her the power to assist many social workers who in turn will help large sections of society.

The Telegraph Online Edugraph 18 under 18 awardee then goes on to share her experience. ‘Being one of the privileged 18 under 18 winners is like a dream come true. I'm extremely grateful to Hill Top School, Jamshedpur, the Telegraph Online Edugraph Team, and my parents and well-wishers for this huge achievement. And the best part is, this award is a token of encouragement not only for me but also for a million Mondritas like me, who dare to dream at a very tender age, said Mondrita after winning the 18 Under 18 Chapter II Awards.