Sharda Gadde, 77, Delhi, imparts life skills to poor women and teaches children.

Come late afternoon and Mahila Chaupal at the Freedom Fighters’ Enclave in Delhi comes alive with the chatter of children and women. While children seek help for homework, women are trained in stitching and beautician courses. The woman behind the buzz, 77 year-old Sharda Gadde, smiles, “The aim is to make them self-sufficient so they fit into mainstream society.” Run under the banner of the Sadhbhavna Stree Seva Samiti, Gadde and her friends have been teaching and training poor women and children since 2011. The beginnings were humble though. They started off as a kirtan mandli in 1996; in 2007, they got a hall from the government, which became a place to empower the poorer sections of society. “The parents of these children work as labourers or in households,” says Gadde. “Our vocational courses will help them earn more, while the kids also get help with their studies.” Though the journey began with just 50 children, today close to 150 children are regulars. Pointing out that over 20 women are learning tailoring now, ‘Dadi’, as Gadde is popularly referred to, says, “We are trying to get more space to introduce computers.” Besides vocational courses, the samiti, comprising 52 members, conducts monthly lectures on subjects such as naturopathy, acupressure, health and nutrition. Seema, a 16 year-old, mentions how tailoring is going to help her augment her family income. Another young lady, Asha, whose marriage is on the rocks, comes daily with her toddler to learn tailoring, and plans to set up shop in her native village near Agra. Suresh, who has joined an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), says Gadde has mentored not just him but his siblings. “Dadi has been doing so much for us,” he acknowledges gratefully. With donations pouring in from the neighbourhood, clothes and books are distributed to these children twice a year. The samiti also helps them with admissions in schools, and reaches out to cancer patients and senior citizens’ homes on a regular basis. Renu Kakkar, 53, who has been associated with the samiti for a long time and teaches stitching and handicraft, says she has seen a distinct change in the children’s attitude. “They are more confident, cleaner and enthusiastic.” However, Gadde and the rest are quick to point out that work has just begun and they have “many more miles to go”.

—Ambica Gulati

Photo: Himanshu Kumar
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
August 2016