Happy to be studying…

Sarla was only three when she lost her father. He suffered from tuberculosis. He was mentally unstable and suffered from amnesia. There were many occasions during which he would sit quietly staring motionlessly at nothing for long hours. Though scarcely did he go for work, even on those rare occasions when he worked he'd return without collecting his wage or lose it on his way back home.

Sarla's mother continued to engage in basket making even after her husband's death and took good care of her daughter. Although strong and confident she succumbed to the community persuasions and remarried when Sarla was about three and a half years old.

This was the start of travails in Sarla's life. The stepfather showed no affection and even had the little one drop out of school to assist her mother in making baskets.

At this point of time the Bala Tejassu team noticed Sarla and managed to convince her mother to enroll her in a bridge school. These schools are meant for dropouts and the school procedure allows them to pass a specified exam so that they can later be enrolled in regular schools.

Although Sarla's mother wanted to marry her daughter off but her husband's constant nagging provoked her to admit Sarla in the school as soon as possible. There is no end to Sarla's happiness, who, likes to be in her school and also dreams of becoming a teacher someday.