Melancholy continues to haunt Madhulika, her ilk

Sangareddy: On May 30, 2015, a young orphan girl Madhulika Vadatya stunned one and all at the concluding ceremony of the ‘Police Friendly Cup’ in Gajwel constituency of Medak district, when she went on stage and boldly spoke of the plight of girls like her who had no one to care of them. Moved by her plight, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who was present as the chief guest there, immediately declared that not only would the State government take the entire responsibility of Madhulika, but ensure all possible help for all orphan girls in such dire straits, till they completed their education and settled down in life. One year down the line, the Chief Minister’s promise remains only a promise.
Madhulika was just a toddler, when her parents deserted her. A friend of her family left her at the Reddy’s Foundation at Madinapur in Ranga Reddy District. Records at the foundation have her parents listed as Valli Naik and Sangeeta Bai, both belonging to ST comunity.
After completing her upper primary at the foundation, Madhulika joined Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) at Ramachandrapuram, Medak district, where she passed her SSC with distinction. During vacations, she used to take shelter at Bala Sadan, a transit home located at Sangareddy or attend the summer camps organised by the district administration every year.
Things were more or less working out for her until SSC. But as she enrolled in Higher Secondary, things became complicated. She is currently in her second year of intermediate at Telangana State Model College, Ramayampet. With nowhere to go, she still stays at Bala Sadan during every vacation, even though the temporary shelter is meant only for children from the 1st to 10th standards. She intends to attend summer camp which would be kicked-off on Sunday, at Ranjole, Zaheerabad as a respite. Just like all other students in government-run hostels, she too gets Rs 100 stipend every month.
Half of her stipend goes towards purchasing sanitary pads. She has to make do with the remaining amount for other essential items like toiletries and stationery. Ironically, the stipend provided by the government is not sufficient even to purchase a good book. Madhulika was fortunate enough that good Samaritans like Kavitha, principal of KGBV and Dharani, former Special Officer, KGBV, have been taking care of her needs to an extent all these years. The situation is so hopeless that teenage girls are left to take care of their own financial needs and the girls have no option but to ask their teachers when they need something.
“There are not many people we can look up to, when we need something. It is also difficult for us to ask people openly. We are in a situation where we need to keep looking for shelter every now and then, whenever there are festivals or vacations,” said Madhulika, speaking to The Hans India. None of the BC/SC/ST hostels in Medak district are open during holidays and vacations. Madhulika is not the only one! She knows at least seven girls like her in Medak district, who have been suffering similarly. There are orphans, semi-orphans, abandoned ones and also those who do not wish to go to their
parents. Festivals and vacations are a time for rejoicing. But there are girls like Madhulika, for whom these holidays have become a curse.
“It would be a great help if separate hostels could be arranged for girls like us. Raising the stipend is also the need of the hour,” says Madhulika.
She likes dancing and reading books on and by Swami Vivekananda and Dr BR Ambedkar. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
However, in Model Colleges, education is offered only up to intermediate. EAMCET coaching is seldom offered. Her lecturers say that if the students secure good marks in Intermediate, they would be given private coaching the next year. This means they have to lose one whole year for long-term coaching.
There are thousands of these neglected girls studying in intermediate, degree and PG colleges across the State, who have no one to depend on except the government. It is high time the Chief Minister and the government take steps to address their issues. The much touted KG to PG scheme of the State government might be a long way off, but for starters, they can at least deliver on their promise to Madhulika.

Vivek Bhoomi