In India, Caritas supported programs are transforming the lives of the world’s most vulnerable, through the essential disability support services.
Sakun, 32, lives with her sister in a rural area of Chhattisgarh, India’s poorest state. Home to 26 million people, where 10 million live in poverty. When she was a child, Sakun had polio and now relies on crutches to move around.
Having a disability and being an unmarried woman in the disadvantaged Gond tribal community, Sakun knew she had to find a way to look after herself.
Being isolated by her disability, Sakun was unaware of any schemes that could help her.
“Being physically challenged, I was incapable of doing any kind of work. I felt disregarded in my community,” Sakun said.
“As well as this, I feel that discrimination, inequality and negligence of vulnerable people by the upper castes of society is the biggest challenge in India.”
In 2018, Sakun joined a Caritas Australia-funded program, implemented by Caritas India and its local partner, Samarthan.
The program aims to improve the incomes of vulnerable farmers and the most marginalised people in the community, including women and people living with disabilities. It also focusses on strengthening traditional village governance, to improve access to government entitlements.
Sakun is now enjoying a newfound livelihood with access to mobility aids and training in micro-business management. With a small grant, she has set up a kiosk nearby a school to sell food. Sakun is enjoying her independence, earning an income and a newfound presence at village governance meetings.
Rajesh Kumar Sahu, Programme Manager of Samarthan NGO (a Caritas partner), said Sakun was a great example for motivating others who are living with a disability.
“Before the program she was not recognised in the village,” Rajesh noted.
“She did not have any identity in the community, she used to live an isolated life – and now she is self-reliant and independent of her family members.”
Nearly 35,000 people have benefited from the program so far. Agricultural innovations, such as collective farming techniques and growing nutritional gardens are helping farmers to adapt to climate change and improving the overall health of the community. Many have increased their incomes by 15 to 20 per cent.
“For the future, I am planning to extend the shop and to establish a permanent shop so that I don’t need to carry all the items from my house,” she added.
Your gift will help uplift the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society. Please give generously and support women like Sakun. A brighter future for women, men, and their families can start today.
To donate to Project Compassion, visit Caritas Australia’s website: www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or call 1800 024 413.