Jaina Bai
Madhya Pradesh
Jaina Bai Uike, 35, lives in the village of Gunwant Nagar, in Athner, Betul, Madhya Pradesh. She is married with two sons and three daughters. Her husband Mishri Lal works as a labourer. They are living below the poverty line. Jaina wasan illiterate, and in August 2007, she eagerly signed up for the TARA Akshar literacy course. Her husband was very supportive. Jaina Bai passed her reading and writing exam on September 24, 2007. Her confidence level increased tremendously. She was very happy that she was now literate, and fully resolved to make her children literate. After graduation, Jaina got elected as the Sarpanch of her village. She performs her duties as a Sarpanch very effectively and efficiently. She is very thankful to TARA Akshar for the difference it made to her life.

Kanta Bai
Madhya Pradesh
Kanta Bai got affected by polio when she was 2 years old and was crippled forever. Her husband Bhaddu Lal also suffers from polio and runs a small retail shop. They have one son and five daughters. The family lives fairly below the poverty line. When a TARA Akshar centre opened near her village Dori, Kanta Bai became interested in learning, especially because her fellow friends told her that TARA Akshar teaches Hindi with modern techniques in just 30 days. She joined the center on August 17, 2007. Her disability never came in the way of her sharp mind. She successfully graduated and reached new levels of confidence, which she never could conceive of before.

Asha
Bhatti Mines, Delhi
Asha, married, in her twenties. She used to be completely illiterate. She enrolled for the TARA Akshar course and would bring her son along. Three weeks into the course, she told us, "My husband used to consider me good-for-nothing because I was illiterate. He would never include me in taking decisions. But now that I can read, our whole relationship has changed. My husband treats me with respect. I am now for the first time a part of the decision-making in our house. She then said to us, "I bless you. Let every good thing happen to you for making me literate.

Chironji Bai
Mendhaki Silwani, Raisen, MP.
Chironji Bai, 48, is married and has four sons and a daughter. Chironji Bai lost her right eye at the age of 6 due to chicken pox. Her husband died young, leaving her with 5 children to bring up, the eldest just 10 years old. She is currently living with a man who does not want to marry her. [Editors note: In an Indian village, this is cause for great stigma.] When the TARA Akshar centre started in her village, she had no hesitation in enrolling. She graduated in September 2007. Chironji Bai can now read and write Hindi. She is now very self-confident, and happy with her new image as a literate woman.

Chhutkanni Devi
Marsanda, Sitapur, UP.
Chhutkanni Devi cannot stand straight, nor can she walk properly because of a back problem which she developed in childhood. Nevertheless, she does all the cooking, and other chores around in the house. She has eight children. Her husband, Shivram, works as a labourer, and they are live below the poverty line. Chhutkani Devi is a member of her local Self-Help Group, but she was unable to read or sign any documents. A student at the TARA Akshar centre in her village informed Avanish Pand, the instructor, about Chhutkani Devi’s desire to read and write. She wanted to study, but her family members and neighbours used to make fun of her. They said that if she could not even walk straight, how was she going to study? In spite of this, Chhutkani Devi was determined to study. On Sept 13, 2007, Chhutkanni Devi joined the TARA Akshar centre. Her literacy exam was conducted on Oct 13, 2007 and she passed. Chhutkanni Devi can now read and write Hindi. Her confidence level has increased tremendously.

Haseena Begum
Nakati Paterva, West Champaran, Bihar.
She contracted polio in childhood and this prevents her from moving about with ease. She has been married for 20 years. Despite her handicap, she has always managed to do all the housework, but she is restricted in her travel. She heard about the TARA Akshar literacy programme, but saw no way of attending because she could not walk to the centre. The TARA Akshar instructor, Rupak Kumar, heard about her problem and came to visit her. Seeing that she was so keen, he volunteered to come to her house every day and teach her. She was a fast learner and passed the TARA Akshar written comprehension exam after 30 days study. She is now pursuing further studies at home.

Jamna Bai
Ramgarh, Raisen, MP.
Jamna Bai 36, has been married for 20 years. Her right leg was affected by polio when she was 7 years old. Since then, she cannot walk properly. In spite of this, she manages all the housework. She has two sons and one daughter. Her husband Pratap Singh works as a labourer, and they live below the poverty line. Jamna Bai was so keen to enroll in TARA Akshar when it started in her area that her husband persuaded us to move our centre nearer to her house to enable her to attend. During the course, she was way ahead of other students and she graduated in September 2007. With increased confidence levels, her new goal is to make her children literate.

Komal Kumari
Darbepatti, Banka, Bihar.
Komal, 14 has been unable to walk properly since the age of 3 due to polio. Her father is a labourer with 6 daughters and one son. The whole family is illiterate and they live below the poverty line. Daughters in rural India are considered a major economic handicap because they are unlikely to be wage earners, they are seen as a drain, and need to be married off at the earliest opportunity. The cost of a single wedding is an enormous burden, let alone the cost of six! Because Komal and her father were very keen that she become literate, the TARA Akshar centre was shifted so as to be nearer to Komal's home. Komal studied diligently and passed her graduation exam in 30 days. Her instructor, Manju Roy, was asked what benefits Komal could now look forward to because she was literate. The answer was: She now has job prospects; her family respects her more; she is more likely to get a husband. Her sisters have now enrolled at TARA Akshar.

Meera Devi
Kasba, Maker, Saran, Bihar.
Meera Devi was affected by polio as a child and cannot walk properly. She has two daughters and one son. Her husband Munnu Chaudhary works as a labourer. They live below the poverty line. Meera sends her children to a local institute where free education is provided . One day she heard about TARA Akshar which had started in her village, and that it teaches reading and writing in just 30 days. She was keen to attend, but she was scared to show her eagerness fearing that people would laugh at her because she was an illiterate adult trying to read. So instead she went to her friend's house, where she made an effort to study on her own. One day, the TARA Akshar instructor happened to pass by the house and saw Meera Devi engrossed in study, trying to learn from her friend who herself was not very adept. He invited Meera Devi to join the TARA Akshar centre. Initially she refused, but later agreed - subject to getting permission from her husband. She came to the centre the next day and started to study. She learnt well and passed the exam in June this year. Now she studies at her own home with her children.

Momita Devi
Bada Chandana, Dhumka, Jharkhand.
Yet another polio victim who cannot walk properly. Her father is a labourer. He has 7 children. He has difficulty making ends meet, and the family lives well below the poverty line. Momita married a handicapped man. She joined her local Self-Help Group, but was concerned that she couldn't participate fully as she was illiterate - she never knew what was in the register or how much money was credited to her account. She felt ashamed when other Self-Help group members signed their names, but all she could manage was a thumbprint. So when the TARA Akshar literacy programme started in her village, she jumped at the chance. Despite her handicap and despite being 7 months pregnant, she managed to attend the course every day for 30 days. She passed her written comprehension exam with flying colours. She is now a role model for other women in her village.

Nazni Khatun
Kuldeeh, Kauakol, Nawada, Bihar.
Ms Nazni Khatun, 16 , was affected by polio in her childhood and she cannot walk. Her father, Mohammed Iqbal Ansari, a small farmer, and earns Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per month ($20 to $30). All members of her family are illiterate, so Nazni is the first person to be able to read and write in her home. Nazni was the best student in her class, and graduated in May 2007. Her self-confidence has increased enormously, and she is now keen to go for further studies.

Phool Kumari
Bhola Bigha, Hisua, Nawada, Bihar.
Ms Phool Kumari,18 , was affected by polio when she was a year old. Her father works as a labourer, and earns a monthly income between Rs 1000 and Rs 1500. ($20 to $30) Her entire family is illiterate. She started her 30 day TARA Akshar course in April 2007 and graduated in May by passing her exam with ease. Now that she can read and write, her confidence level has increased greatly and she has now joined a school where she can pursue further studies.

Sagini Dulaiya
Jalandhar, Lalitpur, UP.
Sagini Dulaiya is affected in both legs by polio and has not been able to walk since the age of three. She and her labourer husband have three sons. Her family members are all illiterate and live below the poverty line. Sagini wanted to attend the TARA Akshar literacy programme in her village, but couldn't walk to the place. So they moved the centre near her home. This enabled her to come to the centre piggyback on another student. She learnt to read and write and passed her exam in October 2007. This has made her husband very happy - he now wants to make sure that all their children are literate.

Seeto
Bhatti Mines, Delhi
Seeto is a single woman in her late twenties. A polio victim, she used to be completely illiterate. She cannot stand, only move herself around slowly using her hands. She had a wheelchair but it gave way a few years ago. That, plus her lack of self-confidence, caused her to shut herself away and remain a recluse in her house for years.. Then she heard about the TARA Akshar course in her village of Bhatti Mines. She requested her sister-in-law to carry her piggyback to the Community Hall where she enrolled for the course. She became the best student. She always arrived on time, she was always smiling. She learned faster than everyone else. She was an inspiration to the instructors, let alone the students. She passed her written comprehension exam at the end of the course with almost full marks. Seeto then went on to run the Reading Club for other TARA Akshar graduates. She now gets around in her brand new wheelchair!

Reena
Village: Karheda ; District: Mewat ; State: Haryana
Reena, 16, with both her legs affected by polio, she walks on her hands. Her father Karamchand, is a shepherd, and they are living below the poverty line. In June 2007, a TARA Akshar Centre opened in her village, Karheda. Reena learnt about the Centre from Kamlesh, her friend and instructor at the TARA Akshar Centre. Reena too expressed a desire to study. Kamlesh and Razia, the Quality Controller, met her family members and convinced them to send Reena to study at the Centre. On July 25, 07, Reena joined the centre. Day-by-day her performance improved and in no time she was way ahead of her fellow students. During the rainy season, Reena faced lot of problems with her clothes getting ruined in the slush on her way to the class. Nevertheless, she continued attending the classes at the TARA Akshar Center and completed the programme in Aug 2007. Reena can now read and write in Hindi. She is now a confident, literate woman.

Sevanti Bai
Jamniya, Barwani, Madhya Pradesh
Sevanti Bai, 51, is the Sarpanch (elected village head) of Jamniya. Her husband Aada Sisodiya is a farmer and she has four sons.

When Sevanti Bai heard that a TARA Akshar Centre was going to open in her village and that it would teach Hindi using modern techniques in just over 30 days, she became interested in learning to read and write. She met Sudha Singoriya the Instructor and informed her of her keenness .

On September 30, 2008, Sevanti Bai joined the centre and qualified for the exam held in November, 2008. Sevanti Bai can now read and write in Hindi and is very happy with her new image as a literate woman.

She is now performing her duties as a Sarpanch (village head) with more efficiency Her confidence level and her image as a Sarpanch have grown significantly. She is very thankful to TARA Akshar and the local CSO ‘Kasturba Vanwasi Kanya Ashram’ for providing her the opportunity to learn Hindi. Here is her "thank you" letter and a news-clipping of her becoming literate, that appeared in a local newspaper :

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