Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Though the lockdown was enforced to arrest the spread of coronavirus, unfortunately, it has also adversely affected a huge chunk of India's population, who are now resorting to desperate means to make ends meet.
One such heartbreaking story is from Patni, a little village situated just 30 kilometres away from Bhopal.
Raveena, a youngster with big ambitions, is a final year BA student. However, owing to the financial stress on her family, she chose to undertake the job of a manual labourer to make ends meet.
Raveena was preparing for entrance exams for government jobs in Sehore, but had to return to her village once the lockdown was imposed.
With their father sick and not in a state to work, Raveena and her two sisters were forced to take up manual labour in the village under MGNREGA to support the family.
However, Raveena said she does not consider any job big or small. She said the labour job was just a way to feed her family, and added that she studied everyday after returning home from work.
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Recalling the family's struggle, Raveena broke down. She said that her parents worked really hard to provide her an education, and she was trying her best to achieve something.
She said that she had earlier cleared the first round of the SSC exam, but could not go past the next round. She had also completed an ITI course, but to no avail as it did not help her land a job. It was then that she enrolled herself for a BA course from an open university.
Raveena narrated that on many nights, the family had slept on an empty stomach. It was extremely tough for her to silently witness her siblings and parents in such a condition, and hence she asked the village sarpanch for work.
Coincidentally, the village received MGNREGA work at the time. Along with many other women, Raveena and her sisters too got themselves enrolled and started working.
Despite difficulties, Raveena has her spirits high and continues working hard, hoping to land a good job once her studies are completed.
