Making a difference quietly

This 42-year old demonstrates the power of a common housewife “Money can’t always comfort a person in grief but a few words of support always works wonders and costs nothing. If each of us can spare even a little time in understanding the emotions of our fellow human beings, this society will definitely be a better place to live in” expresses Dr Krishnaveni Kotha, a social saviour who has helped shape the lives of several poor and needy people.

Unlike other homemakers, Krishnaveni didn't just restrict herself to serving her family or spend time in idle gossips but chose to extend her helping hands to those sections of the society who were looking for hope in their dark times. The 42-year-old who is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Law shares that it was her parents who taught her the values of being kind and showing empathy towards the sufferings of people in the society.
"I hail from a family that owns agriculture lands in Sircilla.

But my father was always a down to earth person and helped landless labourers who used to work on our farms during their difficulties in either cash or kind, earning blessings of their families. Similarly, even my mother used to play her part in helping those who would come home asking for help either financially or through boosting their morale. But she would also feed their till they were full. It was from them that I've inherited the genes of kindness and warmth." narrates the social worker.

Married at an early age, Krishnaveni had to discontinue her education after intermediate but still held a faith that she had more to contribute to the society above the duties of a mother and a wife. Balancing the chores of her household like any other homemaker, the Sircilla native would make time to read as many newspapers as she could to provide support to those in grief. " Be it an abandoned aged person or people from the slum suffering due to heavy rains, all I would do is visit them and share their worries.

But the first question I always asked myself is how I could help them with the little resources I had and plan a visit accordingly. But it so happens that seeing me come from Hyderabad to remote villages only to express my support or share feelings of the needy, local leaders would automatically extend financial aid to them. Once an entire village constructed a shelter for an elderly lady whom they had once outcasted only after they saw me cleaning the premises near her old broken hut. I felt very happy and satisfied." gleams the housewife.

But Krishnaveni doesn't do it as a charity work. For her, it is more about forging bonds and seeing others happy. Every women's day, she makes it a point to have a square meal with maids and staff of the municipality, by preparing the food by herself.

From distributing plastic sheets to slum dwellers in the rainy season to sponsoring bags to poor school children, the 42-year-old finds different ways to help the lesser privileged sections of the society only to find solace for herself after seeing the bright faces of her beneficiaries. " Earlier, I used to think she was just doing all these activities for passing time but slowly did I realise that she was setting an example for many housewives to make a difference in the society we live in. We are very proud of her" smiles Srinivas, Krishnaveni's husband.

Although she was felicitated with a Doctorate for Social Works for her immense contribution in extending help to her fellow beings, Krishnaveni feels that no award or reward can be equivalent to the abundant blessings she receives from all those whom she had comforted through only heartfelt conversations.

When asked whether she aims to open an organisation to pool funds, the social worker refutes saying that she only believes to nurture her good thoughts and that the rest would fall into place eventually.Now, that's the power of a common housewife!