Annual Report 2010 - 11 - Purkal Youth Development Society

her record of securing the 1st position in her college in
each of the past 6 semesters.
Aiming for Harvard:
A deprived village girl with nothing much except big
dreams and an indefatigable spirit to ameliorate her
life, she worked hard, competed against the best and
emerged triumphant. Fable-like, this real narrative of
Purkal’s Kritika Kumari manifests that most often what
really distinguishes is the will to succeed. Kritika’s
father, a watchman at a local supply depot, is the
only bread-earner in an unlettered family of six. They
lived in a dilapidated mud hut with limited power and
water connection. Belonging to the lowest rung of the
economic strata, first generation learner Kritika has
bagged a $10,000 annual scholarship and admission
to the distinguished Asian University for Women,
Chittagong, Bangladesh. On successful completion
of her course, Kritika is likely to go to the Harvard
University. She aspires to become an IAS Officer and
later, join politics to contribute to India’s development.
Women heading the social revolution:
Typical of a male dominated underdeveloped society,
majority women in the area were relegated to routine
emotional and physical abuse within households.
Having no earning power, wives were disrespected
as being incapable and suffered misbehaviour of their
husbands. Getting slapped for asking for a nominal
amount of money to run the house was a daily affair.
It was this inequality that Stree Shakti (woman power)
sought to change. What started as a small project
operating from the house of the Swamys, has now
grown into a social revolution sustained by employment
avenues for the women of Purkal. Around 90 women
have been trained professionally in handicraft and are
creating splendid pieces being exported to several
countries. Each of these women carries home a
monthly earning of an average of Rs. 2,500, many
of them earning twice this amount with experience.
The effect has been phenomenal. Being financially
independent, these women have gained confidence,
a sense of self -worth and have successfully battled
domestic exploitation. In several cases, the wives are
earning more than their men.
Access to opportunities through English:
A major limitation of underprivileged children in the
country has been lack of English communication skills.
Poor children get to learn only in Hindi, while affluent
youth attend quality English medium schools. This
disparity has stalled upward mobility of disadvantaged
children, robbing them of self-confidence and denying
them access to opportunities. However, the rural
children of Purkal present a success story that we wish
to replicate throughout India. Access to mainstream
English medium schools coupled with our constant
stress on creating an English speaking environment
has honed these young ones into strikingly confident
and well groomed individuals with an impressive
command over the English language. The refinement
and communication skills exhibited by these children
belie the shoddy backgrounds that they hail from,
gleaming as hope in their dreamy eyes. There is also a
great accent on the learning of Hindi, its poetry, novels
and drama.
Integrating nutrition with education:
A fundamental philosophy of PYDS is to integrate
nutrition with education. Ever since its inception, the
Society has been providing a breakfast, fruits a full
meal and a snack to each child in its care. Medical
attention to each of them is also guaranteed. We are
extremely happy to witness the visible improvement
this has caused in the health of the poor children; as
reflected in the increased BMI (Body Mass Index) of
these kids. One can sense the happiness that comes
out of a well fed,healthy care free childhood.
PYDS ANNUAL REPORT 53