Jeevika saved my life and family

“I travelled to Kerala from Uttar Pradesh in search of better employment opportunities. I am a painter by profession. I was hired by a malik (contractor) in Calicut who employed me and asked me to join a group that was painting an institution. I stayed with my friends from Uttar Pradesh in a one-room house […]

Positive thinking is my medicine

My name is Intajul Mulla, aged 30, working at a construction site, as a daily wage labourer at Puthiappa, Puthiangadi, Kozhikode, Kerala. I am from Wardaman district, West Bengal. My wife and my child are in my native village. I am from a large family of 14 members. I migrated to Kerala to support my […]

I would like to share a meal with you

“My husband and I sell toys in the temple to earn our livelihood and educate my two daughters and a son. When there are no festivals, I go for labour (coolie) work. Selling toys is part of our traditional job, as I belong to Irular, a migrant tribal community. I spend my little earnings to […]

What more can I ask for?

I, Mr. Sanjay Pintu, along with my wife Ms. Radha Pintu and three children decided to travel to Chennai from Odisha, in 2021 to earn our livelihood by engaging in construction work. There was no job available in and around our Adivasi hamlet. My 2-year-old second child, Santosh was diagnosed of a tumour in the […]

Why should this happen to me?

Poverty and unemployment forced my husband to decide to migrate to Kattappana, Idukki District in Kerala. Someone known to my husband invited us. I, along with my husband Besic Soren, age 23 and my 2-year-old child traveled to Kerala in September 2022. We boarded the train in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. As our train reached Ernakulam Junction […]

We will not be slaves to the counsellor at any cost

“Yes, we are Irulars (Tribals), but we are human. How long can we live as salves to an employer who pays a meagre amount of Rs 120 per day for 8 to 10 hours of work?” poured out Ms. Kowsalya a 28-year-old woman in Kondancherry village, Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.  In this village, about 250 […]

Running a small shop has given me big hopes

“The livelihood support of Rs. 25,000 to start a small shop has helped my family to recover from the debt and put back my children to education”, expressed Ms. Julia Mary. My husband, Mr. Louis, was working overseas in Dubai since 2010. His salary was low. He moved to various places in Qatar, and Kuwait […]

I have a role to play in building a vibrant democracy

I am a citizen of India. Do I know the Constitution? “As a student I studied the Constitution of India for the sake of passing in the examination but now I realise that I am learning it as a responsible citizen”, said Ms. Nithya. The second module of youth training was on ‘Democracy and Citizenship’ […]