Ramshree: Forgetting a Handicap

15 year old Ramshree is the resident of Kherpur village of Kishanganj block. Kherua by caste Ramshree is partially handicapped. Her right foot is affected by polio since infancy. The oldest child of a family of 9 children, life for Ramshree was not easy to live. She started taking the responsibility of the whole family since she was barely 8-9 years old. There was no other alternative. Parents use to migrate in search of livelihood in stone mines leaving Ramshree behind, playing the role of a mother to young siblings. It was by sheer luck that Ramshree could come to the residential camp organised by Doosra Dashak in Bhanwargarh village of Kishanganj field unit. She studied diligently and acquired the stage when she was capable of getting enrolled in class 6th in formal school. However, it remained a dream for her. She was old enough to go to a formal class. Besides her age, her physical inability was also a major problem. The middle school was situated approximately 4 kilometers away from her village and there was no way for her to trudge that distance.

She says, “I was even enrolled in a school prior to my joining Doosra Dashak. My physical handicap was a major barrier. Though nobody laughed at me but I myself succumbed to a state of self pity. I came for the residential camp as some of my close friends were coming and experienced a totally new culture. Whereas the school people were indifferent to my condition, here I felt as it I was being cared and loved...”

“Now in OMS the atmosphere is even better. Most of the girls are those who have already studied in residential camps. We live together, do our own work, study not only language and mathematics but everything which has meaning in our lives- particularly democratic system in our village, about our health, our rights… It has a lot of importance in our lives particularly as we come from a caste suffering from social deprivation for centuries...”

“I am preparing for class VIII and my teachers say that I can comfortably appear for the exams next time. I believe it would also help me in my livelihood. I do want to study further but all will depend on my being able to convince my parents. My teacher Purushottam Ji says that I do everything well. His words are my strength”.