A Comprehensive Study on the Lifestyle of Slum Girls (Up to 12 Years) Studying in Primary Classes

This in-depth research delves into the intricate, layered, and intersecting lifestyle challenges faced by slum-dwelling girls under the age of 12 who are enrolled in government primary schools in Gurugram, Haryana. Based on extensive fieldwork—including 150 in-depth interviews and a structured survey of 200 slum girls—the study presents a holistic narrative of the socio-economic, emotional, educational, and health-related barriers these girls confront daily. Most of the participants in this study reside in overcrowded single-room rented accommodations without basic facilities such as separate kitchens, clean sanitation, or backup electricity. They share community toilets and struggle with daily nutrition, often arriving at school without having breakfast. Many of them suffer from chronic health issues like anemia and infections, especially due to poor menstrual hygiene practices—91% of the girls use cloth during their periods. Despite being enrolled in school, 81% of the girls experience frequent absenteeism driven by household responsibilities, illness, or caregiving for younger siblings. Approximately 16% even bring their toddler siblings to class as no other family member can provide care during the day. One of the significant findings is the marked gender disparity within families. While girls attend under-resourced government schools, their brothers are often enrolled in better-equipped private institutions. The girls' fathers are typically laborers, drivers, or delivery boys, and in many cases (35%), have abandoned their families, further intensifying the emotional and financial burden on these children. Their mothers work as domestic helps, maids, or security staff and are often the sole caretakers. The annual household income in all surveyed cases is below ₹1,80,000, and 100% of respondents lack access to home tutoring, quality learning materials, or consistent electricity supply—making after-school study nearly impossible. The study adopts a socio-ecological theoretical model that analyzes the interplay between individual, familial, institutional, community, and policy-level factors. This model reveals how structural inequality, social norms, policy inaction, and gender bias compound the challenges of slum-based girlhood. The children face exclusion not just from material resources, but from emotional nurturing, educational equality, and health awareness. Less than 15% of families are aware of basic rights like the Right to Education (RTE) or schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. The research also includes poignant case studies—such as that of Aarti, who wakes at dawn to manage housework before school, and Meena, who juggles toddler care and education in the same classroom space.