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“I
never dreamt that my life would change so dramatically and I could lead
a life like other women. Not having a proper home and parents, I lost
all hope. But now my patience has paid off,” says Mahadevi, a
destitute young woman, whose marriage has been fixed for March 24.
Mahadevi is one of the two young destitute women whose marriage has been
fixed, thanks to the efforts of the Women and Child Welfare Department
that runs the State Home for women and the Observation Home for
destitute girls. Mahadevi left her home when she was eight years since
she was fed up with the behaviour of her father, who was an alcoholic.
With the help of the police in Pune, she joined the State Home for women
there and later she shifted to the State Home at Dharwad, then to Karwar
and finally went to the Davangere home for women. Rajendra Hegde of
Inabil village in Siddapura taluk has come forward to marry Mahadevi.
Suma, the other woman, was sent to the Observation Home for destitute
girls by her mother. Suma’s father who was an alcoholic used to beat
her mother every day. Suma’s mother feared that the situation would
have an adverse impact on her daughter and so she admitted Suma to the
Observation Home. Suma said that she was disgusted all these years and
she used to curse her bad luck. She thought that she had no future. Suma
is getting married to Ramachandra Dongre of Mala village in Karkala
taluk. Suma said that the only question she asked Ramachandra was
whether he consumed liquor. Only after getting confirmation that he was
not an alcoholic, she agreed to the marriage. Both of them want to
forget the past and start their lives afresh. The Women and Child
Welfare Department collected information about the bridegrooms and their
background before arranging the marriages. Even after the marriage, the
department will stay in touch with the couple for three years.
(Source: The Hindu, March 21, 2008) |
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