Rags to sagas

HE WAS a helping hand with a painter who white-washed houses. The one who scrubs the walls and the floor clean till the back groans in agony. And the irony? There is no colour in Prakash's life. But, it was colours that stirred immense creativity in him. And a million dreams too. But that was a year ago. Today, he's employed with one of the private banks as a customer relations executive. And how?

White was the only colour Lavanya knew. "I've never gone to school in my life. My mother died when I was six and I stayed with my grandmother who used to sell toddy," she says. Married to a contract labourer in the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, she became a mother at just 19. Harassment for more dowry and hubby's beatings... life was full of blues. And a total blackout too.

"After four years of untold misery and silent sufferings, I'm a new person today. I was strong enough to walk out of my husband's house and stay separately with my two children. Away from the hell...", she pauses. But, there is no stopping now. Life's full of hope and tomorrow a bright new day. Compulsions were always the companions of Prakash, Lavanya and 250 others. But, not anymore for they help themselves. "We now live with dignity and hope," is their united affirmation.

And Sunday was a milestone in their lives. They were passing out of the Livelihood Advancement Business School (LABS) run by the Dr. Reddy's Foundation in association with the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad. The MCH had signed an MoU with LABS to create sustainable livelihood opportunities to the promising ones living in anonymity in the slums. The youngsters drawn from various slums in the city underwent various training programmes, from IT-enabled services, nursing assistants and garment manufacturing to housekeeping, videography and so on, depending on their aptitude and literacy levels.

While Prakash did an IT-enabled service course and honed his communication skills, Lavanya opted for a tailoring course. So did Bhagyalakshmi, a ninth class drop-out, working as a maid servant in Bansilalpet area and earning Rs. 400 a month. "My dream of studying further was shattered as there was no money. After my father married again, I always felt alone and unwanted in the house and had no choice but to work," she says.

"November 21 is the most important day in my life. My best friend Sujata came to my house and told me about somebody making an announcement in the slum promising training and then jobs. Somehow, I knew this would change my life. I chose tailoring because I was unsure about myself and also did not know to speak English," she recalls, with a gleam in her eye.

"Here I met youngsters like me. All with compulsions in life that submerged their dreams. We were taught how to talk, behave in a group and many useful things. I felt I was an important person and confidence in myself began to grow," Bhagyalakshmi told a large audience at the Hari Hara Kala Bhavan who listened in rapt attention to sagas that made ordinary young men and women grow and realise their potential.

"Sixty per cent of them have earned themselves jobs already," a beaming Nalini Gangadharan, Foundation Managing Director, said. Some have walked into the corporate world as data entry operators and credit card sales personnel. And some have become nurses and tailors, all embracing a whole new world. One filled with confidence; one where there is no helplessness. Only self-help.

A fresh batch of another 250 youngsters drawn from various slums has begun working its way towards this same world. And a brand new day.

By K.V.S. Madhav

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Three-member gang of cheats held
Next     : Coast to feast