Growing up is difficult for everyone, but even more so for disabled people as they are more skeptical of their vision for the future. Nuari Pradhan, a differently-abled tribal girl from Kandhamal, not only overcame her life’s challenges, learned skills, and found work in a foreign state to make a place for herself in our society, but she also modeled her life for others who typically give up on facing life’s challenges.
Nuari, a resident of Dahu village in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, a remote tribal village 50 kilometres from Daringbadi block office, has never had it easy. Nuari was a child when her parents died. Only the compassionate assistance of her elder sister helped a deaf and dumb Nuari forget her impotence.
“I was completely lonely after my sister’s marriage. I had to deal with my disability. But I quickly realized that sitting at home thinking about my flaws would not change my situation. As a result, it was necessary for me to stand on my leg. I never imagined that a girl like me would cross Kandhamal border to train in Bhubaneswar and then find a work in Tamil Nadu. All of this, I believe, is only possible because of my desire to live a self-sufficient life.”
Nuari applied for a job in the Daringbadi block office after hearing about it from some of her relatives and the local MBK. Later, she moved to Bhubaneswar for the first time to receive skill training from the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) through the Sahana Company in Bhubaneswar. Her disability, however, was never a hindrance to her technical training. Her efficiency and self-assurance aided her in quickly learning how to operate the ISM and thread machine. She also grew her personality by learning soft skills and other relevant topics there.
After completing her training, she began working as a sewing machine operator for Sahana Clothing Company in Thiruvananthapuram, Tamil Nadu. Nuari’s dedication, hard work, and skill gained during her training allowed her to become an asset to the company within a few months. Within a year, her abilities and meticulous work elevated her position in the company.
“When I returned to my village after the completion of one year of work in Sahana, I got mesmerized of the reaction I got from my relatives, friends, local MBKs and neighborhood. They were delighted and proud of me. In the eyes of my villagers, I finally felt the respect that I had craved for so long. Not only that, but the district administration also praised my success.”
Nuari’s triumph over adversity is an inspiration to many tribal girls in Kandhamal district. Despite the difficulties of life, she demonstrated the courage to fight and carve out a place for her in society. It shows how anyone with strength of character and motivation to change their current situation can empower their life.
