Lala’s Story

My name is Lalasaheb Gaikwad. I live in Latur. I was born on 15th August 1981. Family background is fine in a way. My father was an army personnel. We live in a joint family in which we are 12 brothers. I had a passion to work for something different since my childhood. I was sent to school for Ist standard at my aunty’s home, because my father’s posting was at Hyderabad.

Aunty lived in a slum and hence there was no educational environment as such. After completing my 2nd standard in this area, my mother came to live in Latur. I then started my education in Latur. Here the school was reputed but I was an average in studies. My father retired when I was studying in 8th class. My father started cushion works with the help of carpenters and I used to work in his shop after my school. I learnt to work well in 3-6 months. I could earn Rs. 200-300 per day independently. This continued for two years. When I was in 10th class my father took the contract of selling sand from river. I used to go to school from 7 to 12 in the morning. Then I traveled back to my village on cycle. Then for the entire day I worked for obtaining royalty from the vehicle owners who used to take sand. Usually I wouldn’t be home before midnight. I spent the entire time in this manner in my SSC and somehow cleared it in second class. I took admission to 11th in Science stream with Mathematics as major.

At the same time, my neighbouring friend used to work a pathology laboratory. I would go with him after attending the college. For the first two months I could not understand anything but the senior technician kept guiding me about initiating some work. Thus I somehow started to work in the laboratory. Mr. Laddha, one of the reputed doctor in Latur, offered me a job when he observed my skills in pathology. He gave me Rs. 500 per month initially and I had to go around the city on cycle to collect samples throughout the day. In the evening I would help the senior technician in order to learn the work. Gradually I learnt everything and in six months I was offered a salary of Rs. 1400 per month. In a year’s time, I started earning Rs. 3000 per month. In the 14th month I was asked to look after the lab and then I was given a salary of Rs. 4500 per month.

When I was studying in HSC, I took leave of one month before the exams. After the examinations were over I stayed at home. Doctor came to me a few times and finally gave me a offer to take the share (4% in the collection) in the profit obtained from the lab. I cleared HSC in 1st class and took admission for BHMS but did not attend the college. I took admission for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). College and Laboratory was the equation for three years. I was active in various cultural and sports activities held in the college. I also participated in the elocution competitions and I was awarded as Best Student of the Year in the college. Then, I took admission for MSW in University Departement of SRTMU, Nanded. I also started working on a part-time basis with an NGO. I worked for different activities in the University Campus for two years. I was very active in all the happenings in the University despite my engagement with a part-time job. I had participated in different national and state level competitions and was successful; hence I was loved by my friends as well as teachers a lot.

After completing MSW, I worked with ICSSR, Action AID, Gramin Vikas Shikshan Sanstha, Latur, Samagra Bahuddeshiya Shikshan Sanstha, Latur as field investigator, co-ordinator, Team Leader. While I was working for this, my younger brother was not studying and hence I helped him in setting up a music shop and a carom house. I registered a finance company and started money lending, but nothing much could be achieved. Therefore I helped my brother to be a cable operator and I look after it sometimes even today. He then started a Hall for Wedding and other ceremonies. This business took a grip because of good contacts. However, I did not leave the NGO field. I then started a cyber café in partnership. Computer sales and services were also started along with this. Today, we need adequate capital to run this business in a successful way.

After taking a look at my journey of 10-15 years, I realize that we definitely get sweet fruits for our hard work and efforts. I have good relations in the Latur Market. Traders respect me and invite me for various programmes. I am also invited as a resource person. I wish to be a renowned personality and an entrepreneur but with a social belonging. I do general reading now a days. I work in the NGO sector for my satisfaction. I keep searching for new things which could be implemented. I have good support of my family and friends while working. In future I wish to be a person who my parents are proud of. I would definitely do something for this.

I wish to tell that there is no other way than education. Nothing is impossible in this world. What we need to do is hard work and success will follow. Everything seems to have a right time. This time means an opportunity. We should be able to grab the available opportunity. I have faced a number of problems but never accepted defeat. I kept working hard and will continue to do and I believe that success will be achieved.

Chanda’s Story

Though I was born in village, I completed my whole education in Mumbai. My family’s economic condition was not so good. My mother and father used to go for labour work and my two elder brothers worked in a factory. But due to my father’s alcoholism, we had a very bad time. Lack of education and due to poverty, my brother got the habits of alcoholism and many other habits which were there in the slum.

I was going to school with other children in my community. But later the number of children decreased due to girls getting married and boys starting to support their families. Though we were staying in Mumbai city, there was no electricity and drinking water available in the community, and we were constantly exposed to gambling, liquor bar and everyday quarrels. Still, in such an environment, we few children attended school regularly. I enjoyed the school a lot. We used to play outdoor games, dance, sing and study under kerosene lamps. We studied together so that we could help one another – This helped me to study thoroughly, understand properly and solve the questions fast.

After completing secondary school, I wasn’t sure whether to complete my further education, but my mother gave me tremendous support. She worked so hard for me and despite being a domestic worker and earning very little, she encouraged me. I remember once she told me, “You don’t bother about fees and other things, Don’t listen what others say to you, Just concentrate on studying”. What courage she had. Instead of telling me to join her in domestic work, she told me to concentrate on studying. She never forced me to work or get married. If sometimes my father asked me to help him in Kaddiya work, she would get angry at him. There is also a great impact of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life on me. I knew that to change this present situation, education was the only instrument.

Like my mother, I had very excellent teachers who knew my progress in school and my family condition whenever I had any difficulty, they would help me out at any cost. I always excelled by coming 1st or 2nd up to Xth standard. My teachers encouraged me to participate in various competitions like elocutions, drawing, language exam etc. which increased my confidence and determination.

In 1987, I passed my Xth exam, and asked myself – after this what? A question came before me. I was greatly impressed by my teachers, so I decided to become a teacher. I went to enquire at Tarabai Modak D. Ed. College; there I came to know that I have not completed the required age. So instead of wasting a whole year at home, I enrolled in Shailendra College for my first year of junior college. Although the medium of instruction was English, I managed and got 1st class. Then I left the idea of D. Ed. and continued college, getting 1st class in S.Y.J.C. also.

In college, I was very active and participated in various activities – debates, discussions, festivals, etc. Simultaneously, I was running adult education classes, helping poor people in the community and running tuitions for my pocket money. An officer, from Adult Education Department, Mumbai University, Mr. Kundan Jadhav suggested me to go for Master Degree in Social Work. While completing this master degree, I was staying in Government Hostel for two years. 1994 was a very special year for me in my life, because firstly, I got a Master Degree in Social work, from Nirmala Niketan, College of social work, Mumbai. Secondly I got the job in Prayas, a Project of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, posted as Social Worker in Police Station and thirdly I got married. Though my husband Mr. Rajendra has a Government job, he had many contacts with social organizations and was a very active member of the Railway Union. He always appreciated my work and motivated me to go for competitive exams and get the higher post.

At Prayas, I enjoyed my work lot. I counselled women in distress, and conducted vocational trainings. I gained a lot of experience in ten years. But after this, I wanted to do something different. When I started searching for jobs in the Government Sector, my husband suggested me to go for a higher post.

Fortunately, in 2002, the Maharashtra State Police advertised some posts of Child Development Project Officer for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for Maharashtra State. My entire family was very supportive towards my MPSC studies and after two years of hard work, in 2005, I was selected as CDPO and posted in the Andheri Project, Mumbai. We all were so happy. My mother, my family and all my friends were the partners of this success.

One thing that made me happy was that with administration I got the opportunity to work in the field. I am working in this department for four years. Working in this department is a challenging job but there is a wide scope to work for the public. More and more youngsters should go for such public service jobs. Recently I have been given the additional charge of Assistant Commissioner, ICDS.

In this whole process, I received excellent guidance from my teachers, support from my family, greetings and financial help from my well wishers and most importantly the blessings of my mother. Nothing is impossible. We can change our situation. We must have a positive attitude and goal in life. If we work hard we can achieve our desired goal.

Jayendra’s Story: Meeting President APJ Kalam

I have been associated with Pratham for ten years. In 2002, I was involved in the Child Labour Project – an issue very close to my heart. As a Team leader for the Rescue Operations under Pratham’s Child Labour Outreach Programme, I had witnessed how children were being commercially exploited in various industries. I had rescued children who had been physically and even sexually abused. But this was an incomplete solution to the vast problem of child labour. Pratham’s reach was limited and somehow, I felt helpless as the efforts of all organizations working on the issue was not enough to tackle the problem. I had a burning feeling inside that something big was needed – something that would act like a catalyst to Pratham’s efforts.

As I discussed my feelings with a fellow employee and a good friend, Mr. Harsh Shetty, a thought emerged that maybe we need to approach the highest decision making authority in India – the Hon’ble President, Dr. Abdul Kalam Azad – to give favorable push to our efforts. At that time, I had no idea how to reach the President or what I would tell him. It took me two weeks to take a final decision to approach the President on my own as nobody in my office would take my idea seriously. I applied for a ten-day leave and set off on my mission alone carrying some photographs, 3 CDs of a Marathi documentary on Child Labour and some data on the child labour situation in Mumbai.

When I reached Delhi on June 22, 2004, I tried to find out how to get to Rashtrapati Bhavan and got an appointment letter typed in English and emailed from my friend Harsh. As I reached, I was feeling a little excited as well as nervous. I went to the security guard and told him that I wanted to meet the Hon’ble President. He laughed at my courage. I tried to show him the pictures of child labour I was carrying and explained the purpose of my visit. The guard advised me to go to Lalu Prasad Yadav because most of the children had been brought from Bihar. I tried to explain that I would rather bring this matter to the notice of the President. Finally, he told me to meet the guard at Gate no. 7. This time, I was taken a little more seriously and the kind man told me to come next afternoon. So, I headed back to office to check my mail. As I reached the office, I was told that Mr. Bharat Patni, a senior executive at Pratham Delhi wanted to meet me. I was to meet him the next day although I did not know of the reason to meet Mr. Patni.

The next day, I obediently reached Gate no. 7 and was told to go to meet a Mr. Yadav. I spoke to him about Pratham, child labour and the condition of this problem in Mumbai. I felt this man would lead me to the President and I explained how crucial this meeting was for my organization. Now this kind man too advised me to meet Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav. I tried to reason with him that it was possible that many more child labourers in Mumbai would die if I changed my route now. Somehow, I was able to convince him and he promised to get my letter to the President’s table. Then it was lunch time.

I tried to get friendly with the office people and asked them to watch the CD I was carrying as they had lunch. In 15 minutes, they had seen the documentary. They could not understand Marathi but were able to get the message through the visuals. Now, these guys were so moved that they immediately asked for the copy of the letter and guided me to meet Mr. Tangapan, the Secretary to the President of India. They spoke to Mr. Tangapan on my behalf and he agreed to meet me. After an hour or so, instead I met a senior executive who explained that I should come after two days and promised that my letter would be the first letter to reach the President. He gave me Mr. Tangapan’s direct phone line number. I spoke to him and he too said the same.

I headed back to office to meet Mr. Patni. He asked me my objective of this trip. I told him that I planned to meet the President. He did not laugh at my face but tried to explain the procedure to meet the President. Mr. Patni, a wise man, tried to explain that I should not get my hopes up and that it wasn’t so easy as I was assuming. He even asked me to wait outside while he called Pratham Mumbai to inform the people there about what one of their team members was doing here. And then I get a call from my boss Mr. Vikas Sawant in Mumbai. Without asking any questions, I was told that I should, by any means, catch the evening train and meet him in office immediately on reaching Mumbai. I tried to tell him the progress I had made on my mission but in vain. I was told that if I didn’t follow the order, the team in Mumbai would have to take a decision on my employment. I replied that I needed 10 minutes to make my decision. I went out and thought of the effort I had put in for my organization during this unofficial leave period. However, I had used the office name and I felt that I wanted to go along with the organization and not against it. I called Mr. Sawant and said that I won’t be coming to Mumbai and that I would try to meet the President – something I felt that was important for Pratham.

Monday afternoon, I called Mr. Tangapan. He informed me that the letter had been delivered and that I would get my reply by the 30th. I tried to explain my financial condition to him so that he could make things move faster. Still, I was relieved on my progress. I reached my lodge and called Harsh to tell him that the appointment was likely for the 30th or the 1st. I booked my return ticket for July 1. Now, I had only 3 days left. On June 30, I called Mr. Tangapan again. He told me that the President was busy but that a Mumbai trip had been planned where I would be able to meet him. I was very happy. I thanked him and the next day, I left for Mumbai with just this verbal assurance.

When I reached my office in Mumbai, I was suspended for 15 days – suspended not fired because of my good past performance. I stayed at home for a week without telling my family the reason. Meanwhile, some more meetings took place in Pratham Mumbai office where it was decided to call me back. I continued with my work as usual waiting for the call from the President’s office. On July 29, Pratham Mumbai office got a call saying that the President would be landing at Sahara Airport on July 31 and would like to meet Mr. Jayendra Jadhav there. Two more colleagues planned to accompany me. But unfortunately, the President’s plan changed and he did not come to Mumbai. Still, I was happy and hopeful that some day I would get to meet him. Suddenly, everybody in office began praising me. The word spread in other offices of Pratham all over India and I started receiving calls to congratulate me.

Some months passed after that incident. On April 18, a child labourer died. He had been starved to death. I decided to raise this issue with the President. I wrote a letter to him informing him about the issue and reminding him of a meeting that was long due. On April 25, I received a call from his office. Dates were given and I was asked which would be convenient for me. I chose the closest date April 29th. The meeting time was fixed and the names of people who would be accompanying me were conveyed. This time, flight tickets were booked, hotel arrangements were made.

April 29, we were given a warm welcome in the President’s office. Instead of 15 minutes, we were given 42 minutes in which the Hon’ble President understood what we were doing to eradicate child labour. He asked some questions. Ultimately, he promised to come to Mumbai to meet us. He assured us that some action would be taken to solve this problem. He would call for a meeting with the Human Rights Department and do whatever he could.

And thus was the trip.

Eventually, I felt that the decision I took while I was talking to my boss Mr. Vikas Sawant to stay in Delhi was the right decision. And now I know that those who keep on trying and don’t give up DO eventually succeed.