TCS 10K Marathon: Siddi girl Shantha Doddamani goes for a second run for her village
Bengaluru: Running cannot always be about fitness and the body's connect with the mind. Sometimes it goes beyond. The TCS World 10K Marathon, happening this Sunday, will again witness Shantha P. Doddamani from the Siddi tribal community in Tatwangi village in Haliyal taluk running for her village's development, second time in a row.
Shantha, who has a masters degree in social work, is now running to bring the focus on the development of villages in her taluk. Shantha, a field officer with the CherYsh Trust in Haliyal, wants her village developed.
“Last year, Shantha was the first woman from the Siddhi community to run in the TCS World 10K Marathon. She's running once again because there are miles to go before the rural girls and women of her community fulfill their dreams of education and livelihood," said Cheryl Rebello, Chief Strategy Officer, CherYsh.
Another participant this year is Sisiliya Juvanav Diggekar from Tatwanagi village in Haliyal taluk in Uttara Kannada district. “I have come to Bengaluru to run the TCS Marathon for the cause of the rural girl. Girls embrace the challenges of social pressure, inadequate infrastructure, teacher capacity and lack of support at home. Their journey is a brave one," says Sisiliya in one of the 'fundraiser' web page of TCS World 10K Marathon, where the young girl goes on to explain the need for learning and education resource centres at these villages and how donations have brought about a positive change in the lives of thousands of students in villages.
“Please support my Run for the Education of Rural Girls in Haliyal. My target is to raise Rs 50,000 towards CherYsh Shikshas. This is to secure the future of many rural girls like me,” says Sisiliya.
This year, the run for the rural cause continues at CherYsh, who have 22 CherYsh runners – both individuals, and representatives from institutions – have committed support. “The numbers have increased this year which shows that we are able to bridge what we have in urban settings to what is needed in the rural setting. The collective support to rural change in the areas of support and livelihood is really remarkable," Cheryl says.
