Pratima Baliram Jadhav
Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
I have come a long way from being a child bride who faced violence and separation to now dreaming of becoming a doctor. I was married at 16 because, in my village, girls have very few opportunities to study or work. My married life was full of struggle, humiliation, and abuse. I thought things would change after my son’s birth, but it didn’t. One day, when they denied medical treatment for my sick child, I decided to leave that house.
I wanted to start over, but years of suffering had broken my strength and confidence. Around that time, a friend told me about Pratham’s Healthcare Course, supported by TDH. At first, I was unsure, but with the support of Pratham’s staff and my parents, I gathered courage and enrolled.
The beginning was not easy. But gradually I regained confidence in a supportive environment. Through onthe-job training at Sushila Netralaya, I got a job with a monthly salary of Rs 20,000. The doctors noticed my dedication and offered me a fulltime position.
Now, with financial independence, I can support my son’s education and plan our future. I am in the final year of my GNM nursing course and aim to become a doctor. I am no longer that timid girl whose voice was once silenced by violence. Today, I have my own identity and am considered a role model in my community.
(TERRE DES HOMMES works to protect the health, hygiene, education, safety, justice, and dignity of children. Through its initiatives, the organisation has improved the lives of many children. As it marks 50 years of supporting children’s rights in India, the above case story reflects the meaningful change its work has created.)
