Reena is a 16 years old adolescent and a resident of village Karheda in Mewat district of Haryana. Her father Shri Karamchand is a shepherd and they live below the poverty line. Reena was rendered handicapped after both her legs got affected by polio.

Despite her illness, Reena piled up courage and fortune favoured her bravery act. On 7 June 2007, the Sehgal Foundation started TaraAkshar center in Karheda village. Tara Akshar is a software technique that teaches Hindi in just 30 days. Reena came to know about the center from her fellow friend and instructor Kamlesh and at the spur of the moment she decided to study and give her life a new meaning. Although getting permission from the family was a difficult task, but she succeeded at this.

Reena got herself enrolled in the Second Teaching Cycle in July at the center and then there was no looking back. Her performance improved and in no time she was way ahead of her fellow students. The real testing time came when her clothes used to get ruined by mud and slush during the rainy season. Despite the odds, Reena continued coming to Tara Akshar center.

She passed her exam with good marks and has developed an unmatched level of confidence. Reena can now read and write Hindi. Happy with her new image as a literate girl, she says; “Tara Akshar Aao, Akshar Gyan Pao” (come to TARA Akshar Center and become literate)

For further information please contact:

Pooja O Murada
Institute of Rural Research and Development
A Sehgal Foundation Initiative
Plot No. 34, Sector 44, Institutional Area
Gurgaon, 122002 (Haryana), India