Rehana - Empowered with literacy

Name : Rehana
Village : Dev Hrishi Colony Dehrakhas
Dist : Dehradun
State : Uttarakhand

Life took a completely new turn for 22 year old Rehana, a resident of Dev Hrishi Colony, Dehrakhas in Dehradun, when opportunity knocked at her door and she came to know about TARA Akshar, an innovative computer based functional literacy programme that trains rural women to read and write in Hindi, and carry out basic mathematical calculations.

For years Rehana had lived a monotonous life with her truck driver husband and her only daughter. She knew that some thing was amiss but could not pin point what.

One day she came in contact with Mr Sunil Masatkar, Instructor TARA Akshar. A TARA Akshar centre had opened in her colony. She decided to join the course and broaden her knowledge.

She was good at studies from day one and excelled in her examinations. Today she and her husband are extremely thankful to the State Resource Centre (SRC) – Uttarakhand for giving her an opportunity to study.

Rehana’s confidence level has gone up tremendously and she is very happy with her new image as a literate woman and wants to study further. TARA Akshar has opened up a new vista in her life. She feels empowered now. She feels she has tendency to move ahead in life like her counter parts in urban India.

Sharaaz - Dream come true

Name : Sharaaz
Village : Dev Hrishi Colony Dehrakhas
Dist : Dehradun
State : Uttarakhand

For 17 years old Sharaaz, day began by doing household chores and ended by taking care of her five siblings. It was her dream to attend school. However, domestic problems and poverty made her keep her dreams on the backburner. Resident of Dev Hrishi Colony, Dehrakhas in Dehradun, could not believe her ears when she heard about TARA Akshar programme.

She met Sunil Masatkar, Instructor TARA Akshar and showed her desire to learn Hindi and Ganit. She joined the TARA Akshar and started learning. Her day to day performance improved and in no time she was way ahead of her fellow students. She qualified her examination successfully. She and her family members are equally thankful to the State Resource Centre (SRC) – Uttarakhand for giving her this opportunity. Today Sharaaz is a more confident lady. She is very happy with her new image as a literate woman in her home. She is now keen to study further by taking admission in a nearby school.

Karishma - Gift of literacy

Name : Karishma
Village : Sapera Basti, Nanurkhera
Dist : Dehradun
State : Uttarakhand

Education was least of priorities for Karishma, 16 years, a resident of Sapera Basti, Nanurkhera in Dehradun, Her father Vikas, a small shop keeper could not afford education for her or her siblings.

Karishma would have remained in the darkness of ignorance had she not come in touch with Mr Kailash Khumbhare, Instructor TARA Akshar, Who changed her point of view towards education.

Since childhood she wanted to join school like other children of her age in her area. But due to meagre resources at home and the reluctance from her parents she couldn’t fulfil her dream to study in a school. Destiny, however, had something else in store for her. TARA Akshar programme came as an opportunity for her. Her interest in the programme kept her at par with other top students in her batch. At the end of the programme, she was declared successful. She and her other family inmates are grateful to the State Resource Centre (SRC) – Uttarakhand for having given her life time opportunity to study. The programme helped Karishma to gain confidence. TARA Akshar has given her wings to fly.

Shamsheda - Darkness to light

Name : Shamsheda
Village : Sapera Basti, Nanurkhera
Dist : Dehradun
State : Uttarakhand

Like Rehana and Karishma, Shamsheda, a 25 year old woman longed to get education. She wanted to acquaint herself with letters. She had a desire to get education in basic calculations. She fancied writing her name, and keeping a track on her day to day budget. Inside her, this desire became firm once she heard of TARA Akshar programme in Sapera Basti, Nanurkhera. Shamshada was overwhelmed with joy. Her prolonged wait was over. She got in touch with Shri Kailash Khumbhare, Instructor TARA Akshar and expressed her yearning to learn Hindi and Ganit. She felt liberated from darkness to light after she completed her course. With TARA Akshar programme, she lived another life; a life more consented than she had lived earlier.

Zarina - Self revival through literacy

Name : Zarina
Village : Sapera Basti, Nanurkhera
Dist : Dehradun
State : Uttarakhand.

For 40 years old Zarina, life was tasteless. Often she used to ponder over her missed opportunity. Was she only born to raise up a family? And what did she miss during her 40 year long journey? She used to question herself. She had a strong desire to get basic knowledge and this was the only dream she wanted to be fulfilled. It was TARA Akshar literacy programme that revived her lost desire to read and write. She passed the programme successfully. Now she is able to read and write. She feels proud of her achievements and is grateful to the State Resource Centre (SRC) - Uttarakhand for having given her life time opportunity to study basics.

Sevanti - First step towards women emanicipation

Name : Sevanti Bai
Village : Jamanya Village
Dist : Barwani
State : Madhya Pradesh

A 35 years old Sevanti Bai, is the Sarpanch (head of a Panchayat, known as Local Government Council) of Jamanya village in Niwali block of Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh in Central India. She was an illiterate, but learnt to read and write in 35 days on TARA Akshar course. After being educated from TARA Akshar she stands tall and proud. She is confident in running the complete administration of the village. She gives credit to her new image to TARA Akshar and expressed her gratitude to her teacher at TARAAshar.

Gauri - From illiteracy to literacy

Name : Gauri Devi
Village : Kundhur, Giddhaur
Dist : Jamui
State : Bihar

An 80 year old Gauri Devi of Kundhur Village, Giddhaur Block of Jamui District in Bihar proved that age is not a barrier if one has will to do anything in life. She has become an example among the illiterates for her deep desire for learning. Ignoring her growing age and deteriorating eyesight, Gauri started learning under the TARA Akshar programme to rub off the stamp of illiteracy. Gradually the desire for learning arose in her and today she reads the Newspaper without hesitation.

A grandmother of six, Gauri Devi got full support from her family in her journey from illiteracy to literacy and today after becoming a literate woman she is conveying the message to other illiterates in the village that there is no age bar for learning. If a person has strong will power, no obstacle of age or poverty can stand in the way.

Gauri Devi says that she wants to read more and more but there is no facility to educate older women in the village. Nowadays Gauri teaches her grandchildren and reads the world news through newspapers. Gauri is motivational force for other villagers. During this journey, she faced many difficulties while starting the education programme in old age, but now she has started enjoying it. She is unable to hide her exhilaration when signing her name. In her fight to stop the darkness of illiteracy, she says that her family and villagers are standing by with her.

Maina - Literacy-catalyst of change

Name : Maina Devi
State : Uttar Pradesh

For 32 years old Maina Devi getting education was impossible. She had never thought that she could ever read and write. The idea of getting education germinated into her mind the moment TARA Akshar came to their village. TARA Akshar provided her with a life time opportunity for which she is thankful to its entire team. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh in Northern India, she learned to read and write in just one month with the help of TARA Akshar programme.

Jaina - Literacy gave her wings to fly

Name : Jaina Bai
Village : Gunwant Nagar
Dist : Athner, Betul
State : Madhya Pradesh

Jaina Bai, 35 years old, lives in the village of Gunwant Nagar, in Athner, Betul, Madhya Pradesh. She comes from a poor family, where education has never been a priority. Despite all odds, she signed up for TARA Akshar literacy course and graduated successfully. Education has brought a massive change in her attitude. She is now desperate to make her children literate no matter what. She was elected as the Sarpanch for her village once she was able to read and write and it was education that empowered her to this level. She wants other women from her village to liberat themselves from the shackles of illiteracy. q