After long search, he selected Nanda Kishore Parida of nearby Nagiaposi Village. He is a farmer and has some acres of land. Arjuna was optimistic that Nanda Kishore would give more happiness and contentment to her only lovely and beautiful daughter. Sulochana married to Nanda Kishore, ‘20 years back’.

Regrettably, ‘the marriage lasted only for a year,’ according to Sulochana. Her husband in company with her in-laws started torturing her physically and mentally. She became a maidservant in their home. Her in- laws hit her daily and sometime, no food was provided to her. She was forced to divorce. All these heinous acts were because, ‘Sulochana was incapable of bearing baby’. But Sulochana was destined to accept all dreadful behaviour. She knew that if she would go to her parents back, the misery of her parents would be manifold.

However, the torture became more harsh and brutality. It crossed the limit of cruelty. Nanda Kishore married to another lady, in presence of Sulochana. The lady started to resist. She was nervous, as there was none to go along with her. But she was determined to fight on her own. She opted for divorce- that was imposed on her, rather than a life of pain and suffering.

In a village meeting and latter in court, she was divorced and came back to her parents. Since then, she is challenging the law of nature, ‘survival of the fittest’. NYSASDRI- an NGO engaged towards the development of the downtrodden and distress extended its helping hand to make her ‘fittest’.

She was accommodated in the Short Stay Home- run by the organisation. This addressed her immediate needs to a large extent. Instead of being a burden on her family, she stayed in the SSH and availed free accommodation, food, clothing, sundry items, pocket money and education facilities. The professional counselors normalized her to lead a dignified life without being a problem for anyone else. Through vocational training, she mastered the art of tailoring and printing. “This changed my approach towards life. I was frustrated and lost hope. But the staffs of Short Stay Home rescued me,” contented Sulochana.

Presently, she is a member of Tridhara SHG, a women’s organisation promoted by NYSASDRI. Each month, she saves Rs 30.00. As a SHG member she is has also received loans to engage herself in income generation activities. Last year, she had taken Rs 1500.00 from the SHG and invested the same in the petty shop- run by her father. She has already refunded the amount and has taken another Rs 1500.00. She invested the amount in procurement and trading of rice. “I got Rs 1000.00 form the business,” she informed. She is refunding the amount in installments.

NYSASRI, under its rehabilitation programme has provided three goats to provide an alternative and sustainable livelihood. The lady is quite optimistic about her future. She plans to buy a Stitching Machine from the profit of Goat Rearing. So that she can utilize her skill of tailoring- that she acquired at the SSH.

Now, she is confident and happy woman, like her friends. Worries of leaving husband and not having baby have been reduced to a large extent. But the assistance- physical, psychological and monetary- made by NYSASDRI has restored hopes and happiness in his life. The follow-up activities by the organisation is very helpful in ensuring that Sulochana would be no more vulnerable and will lead a dignified life.