Journey of Resilience

In a small village in the Kalyan district, there lived a girl called Vedika (name changed). She came from a very humble background; her family, originally from Jamkhed, had migrated to Kalyan for better work opportunities. They had found shelter in the house of a local farmer, working in his fields to make ends meet.

Vedika, who is mute and mentally challenged, lived with her father and her stepmother. Her stepbrother worked in Pune. This left Vedika home alone for extended time, while her parents toiled in the fields. Vedika was extremely vulnerable and when her stepmother noticed Vedika had not had her menstrual cycle for around five to six months and her belly was starting to swell, her concerned parents took her to a government hospital for examination. Doctors confirmed that Vedika was six months pregnant. Shocked and confused about how this had happened, her parents filed a police report to prompt an investigation.

The police and her family agreed that Vedika needed to be placed in a safe environment and she was admitted to our Snehadhar project, where she would receive the care she desperately needed. Once here, Vedika faced challenges particularly in communicating with our team and other residents. Even simple signs were hard for her to understand, and it took time for our staff to learn how to interact with her effectively. For the first few days, her stepmother stayed with her for support, but eventually had to return home as her own family struggled to manage without her.

We provided Vedika with medical care, and as her due date approached, she was admitted to our local civil hospital where she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy through cesarean section. After counselling, the baby was made legally free for adoption through our Snehankur project and Vedika returned home. Meanwhile, a DNA test also revealed the identity of the perpetrator - Vedika’s father. This revelation devastated her stepmother, who was left grappling with the betrayal and the reality of the situation.

With the support of the project, both Vedika and her stepmother underwent counseling to process their trauma. Legal action was taken against Vedika's father, and when the fra,er they worked for saw him being arrested he evicted the women. This not only left Vedika and her stepmother homeless, but also in a state of anxiety, unsure of how to they would care themselves and each other.

Fortunately, we were still on hand to provide emotional and psychological support helping the stepmother to return to her native village, where she could find work in the fields. Concerned that this would take her away from Vedika during the day again, she recognised that Vedika would be safer and better supported by returning to our care. Over the next couple of months we realised that Vedika's required specialised support. Unable to communicate, she often wandered aimlessly around the premises and was reluctant to engage in activities. We began searching for alternatives where she could thrive.

This was not straightforward, our sister Anamprem project was ruled out as they rely on sign language, something that Vedika didn't know. We were also advised to obtain a disability certificate which would open more doors. After a lengthy process at our civil hospital we finally discovered the certificate had already been issued at a hospital in Dharashiv, complicating matters further. With assistance from the Kalyan police, we tracked down her previous school and the teachers who had enrolled her and after persistent efforts, we finally obtained the necessary documents.

In the meantime, we contacted Savli Care Home in Kolhapur and although they were initially concerned about Vedika's ability to integrate, through persistence and effective communication, we successfully negotiated Vedika's admission. Once settled into her new environment, Vedika began working as a helper and we are pleased to hear she is adapting well.

Ultimately, Vedika's journey was one of resilience and strength. Despite the immense challenges she faced, she found a place where she could be cared for and begin to rebuild her life. We are proud and grateful to your support in facilitating her rehabilitation, providing not just shelter but a sense of belonging and hope for a brighter future.