Slum girl collects trash to fund own, sisters' education

Rashmi (not her real name) is a ragpicker in the morning and the evening, a passionate student in the afternoon and a great help to labourer father and homemaker mother in the remaining time.

Updated on: Mar 3, 2014, 20:30:05 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Indore

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Rashmi (not her real name) is a ragpicker in the morning and the evening, a passionate student in the afternoon and a great help to labourer father and homemaker mother in the remaining time.

Rashmi, a 16-year-old class 9 student from an Indore slum, not only funds her own education but that of her two sisters too. The father's income hardly suffices for basic needs.

"My aim is to become the most educated member of my family. I want to become a doctor and treat the people living in Indore slums," she said.

"I have to work hard these days. I am aiming at earning Rs 200, double of what I normally make in a day. Therefore, I often walk about 15km across the city to collect trash," Rashmi said.

After four hours of work in the morning, she goes to school. After school, she changes her dress and walks to another part of the city for the next six hours to avoid detection by schoolmates.

"I only fear my classmates. If they come to know about my work, they will begin to distance themselves from me and I would lose some precious friends," said Rashmi, who started collecting trash from the age of seven.

But for the past four months, she has not paid her tuition fee, as her meager savings went into a sister's treatment. She is resolute that she won't beg for help.

"I just want people to change their attitude toward ragpickers. They talk to us as if we are animals. We want some respect, that is all," she said.

Rashmi plans to clear the pending fees soon, as her mother plans to join her.

A research has shown a staggering 80% of girl ragpickers, some of whom are initiated into this work very early in their lives, are into some form of drug addiction. But Rashmi has not only resisted intoxicants, but plans to fight the evil.

"I never like people who chew tobacco or take drugs," she said.

And her inspiration is Anandi, the lead character in a popular TV serial about a child bride's hard journey.

"I love Anandi's attitude and will someday meet her," she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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