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India: Nursing degree for beedi girl |
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Urgent issues
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Twelve-year-old Rohini was forced to drop out of school when she was in her grade eight. Rohini's parents exchanged her labour for the meagre sum of Rs. 2000/- (US$50) to meet the marriage expenses of her elder sister.
From then on, Rohini had to adjust to the life of being a bonded labourer. Her work would start as early as 7am in the morning and would go on until midnight. Rohini would earn only Rs.15 (approximately 38 cents) after a day's hard labour.
"We lived in a small thatched house and I used to sit outside my house and roll beedis (cheap Indian cigarettes). I missed my school days," says Rohini.
"Rohini used to cry to me whenever I met her. She underwent a terrible time. She always wanted to study more. She never rested - I really wanted to help her somehow," says Parvathi, the leader of the Self Help Group in Moongapattu Village where Rohini lives.
Parvathi with the help of World Vision staff mobilised other members of her Self Help Group, met with Rohini's employer, paid off the sum of Rs. 2000 and released her from bondage.
Recognising that the family needed support to break free from poverty, the Self Help Group (SHG) also enrolled Rohini's mother as one of its members.
"My husband doesn't work and drinks away the money I earn. The cow given by World Vision provides additional income to my family. During any emergencies, I can go to my SHG for help," says Rohini's mother Deivanai.
"In 2001 I joined school again in grade nine after two years of break in studies. I was too happy to go to school," says Rohini. "World Vision provided me with all the support to complete my schooling."
Today Rohini is a confident young girl in her early twenties, doing her final year diploma in General Nursing Management in Sapthagiri School of Nursing, Tirupati (a town 150 kilometres from her village). She has always wanted to be a nurse and is looking forward to graduating and using her professional skills to serve her community.
"We approach Rohini for medical help whenever she is home on holidays. She helps a lot of our women and children," says Parvathi, extremely satisfied with the role her group played in changing the life of Rohini and her family.
"There are no clinics for emergency medical needs nearby my village. I want to help my community after completing my course," says Rohini.
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