or T. Ratna Kumari, an 11-year-old girl, the day starts at 5.30 a.m. with karate training. After the daily martial art session, she gears up for the study hour, followed by a few minutes of meditation. She then sets her bag, eats a healthy breakfast, and heads to Bapu Vidyaniketan School to start a fresh day with her friends.
Five years ago, her father was affected by an incurable disease. Unable to bear the mounting medical expenses, Ratna Kumari’s stepmother admitted her in a girls’ home.
Today, she is not only good at studies but also in sports.
She won a gold medal, securing the top spot in the 36{+t}{+h}State Open Karate Championship-2015.
Like her, inmates at Manasu Girls Care Centre in Srinivasa Nagar share their unforgettable episodes of life.
Some have endured a lot of pain — mental and physical, and a few others want to overcome their dark experiences by setting new goals, aspiring to become IAS officer, Chartered Accountant, and entrepreneur. Providing the children shelter, a balanced diet, and holistic education is V. Praveen, director of Manasu, a home to 22 girls who have been rescued from child labour, child trafficking, and other forms of slavery.
“Manasu is an arm of Kidpower, an NGO that provides safety skills training and education to schoolchildren and customised educational kits for the visually-challenged. The home was set up in 2008 to save girls from child trafficking,” says Praveen, who did his master’s degree in Development Studies.
In all, 45 girls had been rescued from trafficking. Some of them had been reunited with their families. A few of them were given counselling and introduced to schools.
The home is supported by a network of local and international sources. “The focus is more on imparting quality education and help girls lead an independent life. One of them is now studying in a polytechnic college in Hyderabad. Our students really make us feel proud,” says Praveen.
The focus is more on imparting quality education and help girls lead an independent life, says Manasu director V. Praveen
