Samvedana

"Do you think it is possible??”

"Let’s give it our best shot, Sonali. I am sure we won't be disappointed".

"I am very tensed, Deepti"

"Relax. We won't give up until our goal is reached."

"Hmm...Okay then, cya at 8"

"Bye"

“Bye”

Click.

I checked the time, 5.47 AM

Another tiring day ahead with just 3 hours of sleep! I got up and looked out of the window. A cool breeze greeted me good morning. Feeling better, I remained grounded there staring out of the window searching answers for a number of questions surfacing in my mind. Will it go well? Will she listen to us? What if she doesn't trust us? I tried not think of the consequences and quickly checked my check list.

+Pack old clothes for Shravani

+ Take cam from Prateek

+ Wake Charan up at 7.

I tried to sleep again. But…but… her clothes might be torn and I think she would need a wash before she comes with us in an auto. People might make a scene if we take her in an auto… What if.. what if..

7:00 AM

I got up with a jolt, called Charan and asked him to have his breakfast as we were set for a very long day. After getting ready when I reached the breakfast table, I realized my stomach had too many butterflies leaving no room for anything except for a glass of water.

--x--

Charan and I were supposed to be at Mehdipatnam at 8 AM. There was a girl child of 13-16 years of age, living on the streets suffering from fever, in lack of food and more importantly in inadequate safety. Sonali, a good friend of mine and an active member of Aashayien, had observed her around 10 days back on her way home from office. She had offered her fruits and biscuits and had spoken to her. The girl had told her that her name was Shravani and that she had run away from home and had been on the streets for the past 1.5 years. Upon Sonali asking her whether she would like to live in an orphanage and go to school, she had nodded, got up and walked away leaving Sonali wondering how she could possibly help this child.

As soon as Sonali contacted us and told us about Shravani, we all set out searching in the directory built by Samvedana and asking our friends for a place which took in a child above 14 years of age. We later zeroed in on Prajwala in Charminar.

--x--

8:00 AM

When we reached the place, we could not find her at the place where Sonali had met her the other day. Nervously, we searched around only to find a lone person sleeping at the threshold of a shop on the other side of the road. We decided to approach the person for some information on Shravani. We walked up to her and bent down to wake her up, but she wouldn't budge. Suddenly, she stirred and turned to our side and her face was exposed and I found myself staring into the face of Shravani

She sleepily looked at us, looked at all the guys behind us (Charan, Suyash, Dhanraj, Arun, Bharat), and panicked and was not ready to get up and even talk to us. She whisked us away, yelling at us, asking us to leave the place and leave her. Sonali and I sent the guys away and waited until she woke up completely and then spoke to her. She recognized Sonali and after our persistent persuasion, told us that she has been taken care of by a sweeper who came in the afternoons at 2 PM and gave food to her. Shravani said that she would come with us only if that lady agreed to it. We had no choice but to leave her there with a request that she be at the same place at 2 PM with the lady so that we could ask her permission.

2:00 PM - Nanal Nagar X roads

Myself, Bharat, Sonali , Dhanraj and Suyash were back at Mehdipatnam. Sonali and I spoke to Shravani’s aunt who took the whole thing quite positively. She explained the girl the advantages of staying at an orphanage and happily sent her with us. We reached Prajwala's office in Charminar in about 45 minutes.

3:30 PM -Prajwala's office,  Charminar

Prajwala is a non-governmental organization in Hyderabad fighting against forced prostitution and human trafficking. The counselor spoke to Shravani, and after the session informed us that she had never been physically abused and that she would be better off in an orphanage than in Prajwala. They directed us to Aman Vedika in Marredpally.

Sonali and Suyash had a meeting to attend at 6:30 and had to leave. Bharat and I along with Aruna and Sujatha who are the assistant coordinators of Prajwala made our way to Marredpally. Aruna spoke about her experiences which were so harsh that I couldn’t but pray for people for whom Prajwala works so tirelessly, besides thanking God for giving us the best of life. Aruna's job is to accompany the police during raids and help the prostitutes get away from the brothel houses...

6:30 PM - Aman Vedika

"Akka, kotta ammayi ni teesukochava??" (Didi, did you get a new girl into this home?) were the words of a 3 year old girl who greeted me when I entered Aman Vedika in Musheerabad. It is an orphanage for girls and has about 65 inmates. We spoke to the official and after a few formalities; they agreed to take Shravani in. I gave the clothes which I had brought for her. She washed and changed and it was the first time that she was looking relaxed after an eventful day.

Finally, it was time for us to leave Shravani in the safe and able hands of the orphanage. I gave her all our contact numbers, promised I will visit her regularly and repeatedly requested the caretakers to give her some time to adjust.

8:10 PM - Sec'bad Bus station.

Realizing how much of an impact can come about when two Non Profit Organizations work together to do something good, I reached the bus stop. I was seeing Shravani in every child who was begging there at that time of the day. Can Samvedana help them? Is Samvedana capable enough to take such a bold step?? Fogged in my own thoughts, I failed to notice a small girl walking right past me and when I turned my head in the direction in which she went, she looked back and gave me a warm smile. It was the same smile like that of Shravani's which made me feel...

Samvedana CAN, Samvedana SHALL and Samvedana WILL...

Signing off,

Deepti G