The project works on a three-pronged model — collection of waste paper, recycling, and production, the last part being handled by the Akshar Empowerment Trust.
When Ritu Kumari got married, little did she know that she will end up with an alcoholic, abusive man. Brought up in a conservative family, she did not even think that there was a choice, and soon, physical assaults became a routine. All this while, she struggled to bring up her children with her extremely limited means.
Finally, liberation came in the form of a group of college students, who had set up a camp in her locality in Jahangirpuri. Just a 15-minute conversation with the youngsters convinced her that she had the power to change her own destiny. Ritu did not hesitate for even a moment and joined Project Akshar, which involves manufacturing notebooks with recycled waste paper.
Launched by students of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, the programme rehabilitates domestic violence victims, drug traffickers, and physically challenged people, by giving them a sustainable source of income. The group, which initially worked with only deaf and mute people, has helped rehabilitate more than 10 drug abuse victims and five domestic abuse victims till now.
The project works on a three-pronged model — collection of waste paper, recycling, and production, the last part being handled by the Akshar Empowerment Trust. “We collect waste paper from corporate houses, schools, colleges, and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Delhi-NCR, Chandigarh, and Mumbai. It is then sent to the victims, whom we have helped by setting up small manufacturing units, to make notebooks,” said Ria Dokania, a second-year student, working with Akshar.
Every A5 notebook helps those involved earn Rs 5, while an A4 notebook gets them Rs 10. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has also acknowledged the project, which is currently being run in Jahangirpuri and Peera Garhi areas. “Our main aim is to help people from marginalised sections of society get back on their feet, ” Dokania said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Akshar manufacture notebooks")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}