Story Of Sheetal

Sheetal blossomed in the face of adversities

Sheetal lives in Bhalswa JJ Colony, the largest slum colony and garbage dump in Delhi. Her family of six, two brothers and a sister, find it difficult to make ends meet with an income of Rs. 7000 per month. The inhabitants of the colony are rag pickers and belong to the lower economic strata. Children are forced to drop out of school at a tender age to support their parents in their livelihood. Girls are most vulnerable in these surroundings.

Project Nanhi Kali took Sheetal under their wing when she was in Std 8. Being an extremely active student, both in school as well as at the Academic Support Centre (ASC), Sheetal chose to pursue art as an interest when most girls of her age played with dolls. The teachers of the ASC nurture her passion for art and help her balance her academics at the same time. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she regularly practices drawing. She understands the financial as well as community restrictions she and the girls in slums face. She along with her mother, provide their constant support towards Project Nanhi Kali’s Maa Samiti initiative to help more girls and their mothers in the colony. She dreams of becoming a doctor to help the children in her locality who are susceptible to diseases. In a recent examination, she scored 456/500 and stood second in her class. Watching her progress, we are sure she isn’t far from fulfilling her dreams.