Sunita Devi, a 49-year-old member of the Jammu Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission, has become a source of inspiration for her community in Bala Village, Budhal Block, Rajouri district. Despite facing numerous challenges, she has dedicated herself to providing free education to orphaned students at her school.
In a conversation with Rising Kashmir, Sunita Devi shared her journey, which began after completing her bachelor’s degree and starting a family. Undeterred by her family responsibilities, she pursued higher education, obtaining a Master’s degree in Hindi from Jammu University and completing a B.Ed. course after marriage.
However, her aspirations faced a setback when her third child was diagnosed with a spinal cord illness during her pursuit of a B.P.ED. degree in physical education in Maharashtra. Balancing her child’s treatment and studies became a daunting task. Seeking assistance, she approached the Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri for employment opportunities, who suggested she start a tuition center at home.
Following this advice, Sunita established a tuition center, which later evolved into Vivekanand Public School Bala. With support from the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission, she transformed her dream into reality, catering to students from nursery to 8th grade.
At Vivekanand Public School Bala, Sunita offers free education to 15 orphaned students and provides a 75 percent fee discount to economically disadvantaged children. Special education drives are organized to ensure access to education for orphaned children in surrounding villages.
Despite her commitments, Sunita ensures medical check-ups for her ailing child in Chandigarh, underscoring her dedication to both her family and her community. She encourages women from impoverished families to seek support from organizations like JKRLM, emphasizing the transformative impact of such assistance.
