“I used to work as a rag picker. Learning to drive and obtaining a driving license has helped me get a secured job with a timely salary, weekly holiday and other social security benefits,” expressed Mr. Krishna Barui, aged 35.

I, along with my wife Priyanka and two sons aged 17 and 11 moved to Bangalore from West Bengal, in 2016. We made our home in Kempapura slum, Bangalore. I saw migrants in our area working as rag pickers and earning their livelihoods. As there was no other job available, I joined them in collecting rags. Rag picking involves a lot of uncertainties and insecurities. I used to sit at home without work on rainy days. While collecting waste material at midnight I have to bear the threats from the local hooligans. Despite working hard my earnings were minimum and I could not support my family.

Later, I started working at a construction site as a daily wage labourer. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I and other construction workers were gravely affected. With the loss of a job and no finances to go back home, I struggled to survive in the city. Having survived the pandemic, I had to look for another job to support my family. I and my wife started selling vegetables in a cart. Though the profit was not high, this work gave us dignity. After a few days, my wife started working as domestic help. With this added income I was able to support only one of our sons in his education and enrolled the 11-year-old son in a school. I sent back my elder son to my native and requested my relatives to enrol him in a school in our home town. He is at present in Class 11 and doing well.

When the staff of Ashirvad met my wife, she agreed to be a teacher for the children at the evening study centre. She also shared our family situation and my dreams. I met the Ashirvad staff and expressed my desire to be enrolled in a driving school to get a license. The staff, who passionately listened to my life story, came forward to help. They paid the fee to the driving schools and in a few months, I learnt to drive and received a driving license.

Now I am employed as a driver in a private company. I draw a monthly salary, I get weekly holiday and other social security benefits. I just can’t believe that my dreams are getting realised and that I can live a peaceful and dignified life. I thank Ashirvad and Indian Social Institute Bangalore for recognising my dreams and potential and assisting me to move up in my life.

 

Mr. Debdulal Mondal

Field trainer, Ashirwad