Associated with an NGO since 2019, Nilofar Dayar is working as a Program Coordinator under the Nand Ghar project, focusing on child protection, Anganwadi development, preventing child labour and marriage, and empowering children through education and community-based support.

Nilofar Dayar has been a part of the NGO, Jatan Sansthan since 2019.

At present, she is working on the Nand Ghar project as a Program Coordinator, with a special focus on child protection. She shares that she started her journey in Jatan focusing solely on child protection, and even now, while working on another project, she continues her work in this area.

The Nand Ghar project is an Anganwadi-based initiative, aimed at improving Anganwadi infrastructure and services. The project works to enhance the environment so that children are attracted to stay in Anganwadis rather than move to private schools. The goal is to provide children with activities, such as paintings, and facilities like LEDs and PSC kits, while also training the Anganwadi workers to conduct diverse activities that aid holistic child development.

She highlights the diverse work of Jatan Sansthan, which covers areas such as women’s health, menstrual management, and child welfare. Her personal contribution has been primarily in child protection and early education. Her dream is that no child should face child labor or child marriage, and every child should develop self-confidence and take steps to secure their own future. She strongly believes that “small steps can lead to big destinations”, and each child has the potential to take initiative for their growth.

Nilofar Dayar shares that her interest in social service started during her college days when she came in contact with Dr. Vinita Paliwal, who ran the Wavish Foundation. Through this foundation, Nilofar gained early exposure to social work and developed a passion for helping children. After completing her graduation, she joined Jatan Sansthan in Childline as a team member, working on child protection issues. Here, she encountered children facing challenges like child labor and trafficking, which deepened her commitment to child welfare.

Initially, Nilofar struggled with communication and confidence. She shares that before joining Jatan, she was unable to speak to new people or express her opinions. Through her experiences at Jatan, she learned to communicate effectively, assert her ideas, and work towards helping others. Her focus remains on child protection, ensuring children have a better future, are enrolled in schools, and are protected from child labor and other harmful practices.

Born and brought up in Kankroli, Nilofar studied at Bhopal Nobles Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Rajsamand. Later, she completed her BEd degree at St. Meera College, Nathdwara. She is married and has twin daughters. She began working with Jatan in 2018 immediately after graduation. During her BEd, she took a brief break but continued to volunteer with Jatan, supporting cases and fieldwork whenever required.

Her role model is Dr. Vinita Paliwal, who inspires by her dedication and perseverance. Nilofar shares that Dr. Paliwal’s ability to complete tasks despite challenges taught her the importance of dedication, persistence, and doing one’s best, regardless of available resources. She believes that young people today have access to numerous facilities and should therefore strive to work without excuses. Challenges are inevitable, but determination ensures progress.

Nilofar strongly believes in her guiding principle:

“छोटे-छोटे कदमों से शुरुआत करके हम एक बड़ी मंज़िल की ओर बढ़ सकते हैं।”

She feels that every day brings new opportunities, and by overcoming small challenges, one can reach their goals.

One of the biggest challenges in Nilofar’s life was personal. After marriage, her husband met with a fatal accident, leaving her widowed. She experienced immense depression and initially struggled to face society. She shares that Jatan Sansthan played a crucial role in helping her regain confidence and re-engage with the world. Support from Kailash Sir, Ranveer Sir, and her colleagues enabled her to return to work and grow professionally. Her parents also motivated her to step forward. Without Jatan’s support, she believes she would have remained isolated at home.

Her biggest professional achievement is her work under Access to Justice, focusing on child marriages, child labor, and child sexual harassment. Through this initiative, she has helped prevent 47 child marriages, assisted over 50 children through the ‘Peedit Pratikar’ project, and ensured that children continued their education. She considers the positive impact on these children as her greatest success. Even today, Jatan teams follow up with children in the field to ensure their ongoing education and well-being.

Programme Coordinator at Jatan Sansthan Nilofar Dayar emphasizes that anyone entering social work must be grounded and connected to the field. Working from an office alone is insufficient; understanding grassroots challenges and experiencing them firsthand is essential. She believes that empathy and the ability to feel others’ pain are crucial for effective social work.

Social Worker Nilofar Dayar also shares a broader message for the youth and society: contributing positively does not require being a professional social worker. Small actions, like proper disposal of waste or making roads safer, also count as meaningful contributions. She stresses that collective small efforts can move society forward and create lasting change.