TARA Akshar: Success Stories
 

Maina Devi, Uttar Pradesh
Thirty-two year old Maina Devi, India learnt to read and write with the TARA Akshar programme in 30 days. After the completion of her course, she wrote a letter of appreciation to ‘Colonel Babuji’, Colonel MS Ahluwalia, Chief Project Manager, TARA Akshar. She profusely thanked TARA Akshar for erasing the humiliating stamp of ‘illiterate’ from her life.

Jaina Bai, Madhya Pradesh
Jaina Bai Uike, 35 years old, 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 was an 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 also learn to read and write. 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 has made in her life.

Kanta Bai, Dori, Madhya Pradesh
Kanta Bai was affected by polio when she was two 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 centre 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 have conceived of before.

Phool Kumari, Hisua, Nawada, Bihar
Phool Kumari is 18 years old. She was affected by polio as an infant and cannot walk properly. Her father works as a labourer and earns a monthly income between Rs 1000 and Rs 1500 ($20 to $30). Her whole family is illiterate. Phool Kumari started her 35-day Tara Akshar course and graduated with ease. Now that she can read and write, her confidence level has increased tremendously, and she has now joined a school where she can pursue further studies.

Nakati Paterva, West Champaran, Bihar
Nakati Paterwa is afflicted with polio, which prevents her from moving about easily. 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 travels. She heard about the Tara Akshar literacy programme, but saw no way of attending the classes because she could not walk to the Tara Akshar centre. The Tara Akshar instructor heard about her problem and came to visit her. Because she was so keen, he volunteered to come to her house every day and teach her. Nakati was a fast learner and passed the Tara Akshar written comprehension exam after 30 days’ study. She is now doing pursuing studies at home.

Komal, Darbepatti, Banka, Bihar
Fourteen-year-old Komal was afflicted with polio. The whole family is illiterate and lives below the poverty line. Daughters in rural India are considered a major economic handicap because they are unlikely to be wage earners, they cost money to clothe and feed, and they need to be married off at the earliest opportunity. Because Komal and her father were very keen for her to become literate, the Tara Akshar centre itself was shifted so as to be nearer to Komal’s home. Komal studied diligently and passed her graduation exam after 30 days. Komal was very happy, as she now had job prospects, her family respected her more and she was more likely to get a husband. Her sisters are now going to study at the Tara Akshar Centre.

Momita, Dhumka, Jharkhand
Momita has had polio since childhood and she cannot walk properly. Her father is a labourer and the family lives well below the poverty line. Momita’s husband is also handicapped. She joined her local Self-Help Group, but was concerned that she couldn’t participate properly because 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 do was a thumbprint. So, when the Tara Akshar literacy programme started in her village, she jumped at the chance to attend. Inspite of her handicap and being 7 months pregnant, Momita 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.

Chhutkanni Devi, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh
Chhutkanni Devi cannot stand straight nor walk properly because of a back problem. Nevertheless, she does all the cooking and cleaning in the house. She has eight children. Her husband, Shivram, works as a labourer and they are living below the poverty line. Chhutkanni Devi is a member of her local Self-Help Group, but she was unable to read and sign any documents. A student at the Tara Akshar centre in her village told the instructor about Chhutkanni Devi’s desire to learn reading and writing. 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? But Chhutkanni Devi was determined to study. She joined the Tara Akshar centre and cleared the literacy exam with ease. She can now read and write in Hindi. Her confidence level has increased tremendously and she is very happy with her new image as a literate women and wants to study further.

Sagini Dulaiya, Jalandhar, Lalitpur, UP
Sagini Dulaiya has not been able to walk since the age of 3. She and her labourer husband have 3 sons. All her family members are illiterate and live well below the poverty line. Sagini wanted to attend the Tara Akshar literacy programme in her village, but couldn’t walk the distance. So the centre was moved 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, which has made her husband very happy. He now wants to make sure that all their children are also literate.

Krishna Bai, Jaitgarh, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh
Thirty-two year old Krishna Bai has two sons and one daughter who are at school. When she was 9 years old, Krishna’s spine was fractured, and since then she cannot walk properly. Her husband is a labourer. When Tara Akshar opened a centre in her village in July 2007, Krishna Bai joined in August and graduated in September. The most noticeable change in her is her confidence level. Her husband and children are very happy with how she has turned out!

Jamna Bai, Ramgarh, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh
Jamna Bai is 36 years old and has been married for 20 years. Her right leg was affected by polio when she was 7 years old. 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 the instructor to move the centre nearer to her house to enable her to attend. During the course, she was way ahead of other students and she graduated with flying colours. Her confidence level has increased tremendously, and her new goal is to make her children literate.

Chironji Bai, Mendhaki Silwani, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh
Chironji Bai is 48 years old. She is married with four sons and one daughter. She 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, and the eldest child was only 10 years old. When the Tara Akshar centre started in her village, she had no hesitation in enrolling. Chironji Bai can now read and write in Hindi. She is now self-confident and very happy with her new image as a literate woman.

Reena, Mewat, Haryana
Reena, aged 16 years, is a resident of village Karheda in Mewat district of Haryana. Both her legs were affected by polio and she walks on her hands. Her father is a shepherd, and they are living below the poverty line. When a TARA Akshar centre commenced in Karheda village, Reena expressed a keen desire to study. Reena joined the centre, her day-to-day performance improved, and in no time she was way ahead of her fellow students. Reena’s movement was hampered due to rains, but she continued attending at the TARA Akshar centre. Reena can now read and write in Hindi. Her confidence level has increased tremendously. Reena, along with 221 women in Mewat District, has become literate.

Asha, Bhatti Mines, Delhi
Asha used to be completely illiterate. She enrolled for the Tara Akshar course. At the end of the three weeks, 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.’ Asha then said to us: ‘I bless you. Let every good thing happen to you for making me literate.’

Seeto, Bhatti Mines, Delhi
Seeto is a single lady in her late twenties. She used to be completely illiterate. Afflicted with polio as a child, she cannot stand. She can move herself about slowly using her hands. She had a wheelchair but it broke a few years ago. That, plus her lack of self-confidence, caused her to shut herself away and remain in her house year after year. Then she heard about the Tara Akshar course in her village of Bhatti Mines. She requested her sister-in-law to take her to the Community Hall where she enrolled for the course. She became our best student. She always arrived on time (on her sister-in-law’s back). She always smiled. She learned quicker 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. She went on to run our Reading Club for other Tara Akshar graduates. Now she gets about unaided using her new wheelchair! q

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