When Gargi Jain became district collector of Chhota Udepur in 2025, she chose to drop formalities and sit beside tribal schoolgirls in classrooms rather than in official chambers. This simple but powerful act sparked her ‘Collector in Classroom’ initiative, directly mentoring hundreds of girls and helping cut dropout rates by nearly 60% within a year.
- Weekly visits build trust between district officials and tribal girls
- Dropout rate among girls reduced by almost 60% in one year
- Focus on life skills and personal stories empowers students
What happened
Gargi Jain, appointed district collector of Chhota Udepur in Gujarat in February 2025, initiated a program called ‘Collector in Classroom’. Instead of maintaining traditional administrative distance, she sits with tribal schoolgirls in classrooms, promoting open dialogue about their dreams and challenges. This approach breaks typical barriers and fosters trust.
The district, mostly inhabited by the Rathva tribal community, has faced significant issues with girls dropping out of school due to financial difficulties, early marriage, and limited role models. Jain’s weekly visits focus on mentoring over 750 girls across five Kanya Vidyalayas, offering not just academic encouragement but also discussions on life skills, legal rights, and career pathways.
Why it feels good
The initiative is reshaping the educational experience for tribal girls who often feel overlooked or pressured to leave school early. By treating students as individuals with valid aspirations, Jain creates an environment where girls feel heard and supported, earning the affectionate title ‘Collector Didi’ instead of the formal ‘Madam Collector’.
Jain openly shares her own childhood experiences, including a sensitive episode of inappropriate behavior on public transport, to teach girls about personal safety and encourage them to speak out. This personal connection helps break cultural taboos around discussing such issues and provides students with much-needed encouragement and awareness.
What to enjoy or watch next
The results speak for themselves: between 2025 and 2026, overall student dropouts in the district fell by approximately 39%, with girl dropout rates plummeting nearly 60%. Jain’s efforts show how sustained, trust-based engagement combined with government support can make a significant impact on education in tribal regions.
Looking ahead, Jain aims to inspire the next generation of tribal girls to aspire to leadership roles, including becoming IAS officers themselves. Her work joins a wider movement across India where district officials innovate to keep children in school and enrich their learning beyond textbooks.