Althi Atchappa is in 80 years of age. She lives in Rellivalasa village of Poosapati Rega Mandal, Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh. Her husband is not alive. She has only one daughter. Her daughter, Narasamma is 50 years old. Atchappa used to live in neighbouring village - Dharmapuri with her husband. Both of them used do labour work. They neither have house nor assets. They used to stay in a rented house. After the death of her husband Atchappa migrated to Rellivalasa. Atchappa is now staying with her daughter. Her son-in-law is an agricultural labourer. They have no children. They are in a very poor condition.

They have no assets except a small house. Both her daughter and Son-in-law go for labour work and earn money, which is not sufficient and also as agricultural work is seasonal, income is poor. Atchamma becomes burden to her daughter. As a result, Atchappa does not is not get proper care and nutrition support

Atchappa has several health problems mainly related to age. Atchappa gets old age pension from the Government of Rs. 200, which is barely meets her basic needs. As if this is not enough, she even has several health complaints. Her vision is poor and she needs support to walk.

Thus basing on the situation of the three old persons, we started providing support to her basic needs. In fact this donation helps three persons.

Atchappa is now under care and support of our Medical Officer, Dr. Ramesh. He visits the village weekly once and checks every one either at the centre or at their own house. We also buy and give medicines as per the doctor’s prescription. We give food items on a monthly basis. We have also given the required household items as per their own need. Now she is also a member of Granny Club and she gets involved in it. She is happy now because she has food security; health care; and able to participate instead of suffering alone in the house.

This support helps the aged and helpless person to live life till the end with security, empowerment, happiness and health; even she is happy to get assurance that final rituals are performed as per their folklore.

Ippili Ramakrishna is 15 years old boy passed SSC examination with 516/600 marks and got A1 grade in the recent examinations. His parents are infected with HIV/AIDS. He lives with his mother in Mallikarjuna Colony, Rajam town and mandal, Srikakulam district. Father died two years back. His Mother Mahalaxmi is taking care of the child. Ramakrishna is physically handicapped. He was affected with polio to his right hand. He has seen a lot of bad days in his life. He did not know about refreshment and enjoyment. When his father died, he got shocked.

Society and relatives left them alone. At that time, he decided that education can only help him in life. He concentrated on education. He secured good marks in 8th and 9th class exams. He was weak in mathematics. He did not have money for tuition. HIV project supported tuition fee and provided materials like 10th class all in one, note books, school bag, plank, pens and other stationary materials time to time. Finally, he overcame his disability and got A1 grade in 10th class examinations in 2010.

“I am very happy for getting good marks. This is the straight slap to the society and my relatives who left us alone during our bad period. Now my relatives are appreciating my mother. I could do better in language subjects but I could not get sufficient help in time. Now, my aim is Electronics Engineering.”

After death of my father, all left us but ARDAR staff counselled us and provided a thought of positive living in us. I was weak in maths but ARDAR-HIV project provided support for my tuition fees. I got 10th class all in one and other education materials in time which improved my knowledge fulfilled needs in time.” These are the words Ramakrishna which expressed his gratitude towards the project.

Mahalaxmi says “I lost hope in life after my husband’s death. As I am infected with HIV/AIDS and physically weak, I could not do any work. But ARDAR-HIV staff counselled several times and improved self-confidence in me and my son. I invested all my money and assets in his (Ramakrishna’s) study. Today he gave the results of my confidence. I will try to make him as an engineer. ”Now, Ramakrishna got free seat in IIIT, Nuzuveedu, Andhra Pradesh. Project supported him for other expenses in getting admission. Now, Ramakrishna is continuing his 2nd year in IIIT, Nuzuveedu, Andhra Pradesh.

Komarapu Lokesh is the only son of Appamma. Appamma is infected with HIV/AIDS. They stay in Ponugativalasa village, Rajam panchayat and mandal of Srikakulam district. She lost her husband with the same disease three years back. From that time she became the bread earning person in the family. Lokesh was brilliant student but did not get support from friends and relatives. He secured good marks in 8th and 9th standard. But after that Appamma got sick with opportunistic infections. Lokesh decided to work and study. He started as an Asst.

Project Operator in local cinema hall. He used to go at 9.30 am and work till midnight 12.30. He could not purchase books and other learning materials. FI/HIV project identified the family and started education support to the child. We provided test books and guides, school bag, note books etc. He started his studies from January 2010 for his SSC examinations. He was having excellent memory power. He just concentrated two months in studies and got B1 grade with 435 marks. This is amazing.

Lokesh says “I was hopeless about appearing exams as I was busy in my duties. But FI/HIV staff counselled me and interacted with my owner. They provided all the necessary learning materials as well as guides. Then only I concentrated on completing my academic course. Finally, I am happy about the results. I could get better marks if I started earlier. I will do MBA in future.”

Satya Sai Baba Samithi, Rajam came forward for sponsoring Lokesh’s intermediate studies. He joined in MPC in a private college at Srikakulam. At present, Lokesh is continuing his studies.

Poluru Shivamani is 16 years old girl from Kadapa. Shivamani’s father is a farmer. He is addicted to alcohol and used to harass the family. Her mother died when she was 6 years old. She was put in hostel, Navajeevan, Kadapa, where she studied up to class 4. Then she was taken back home and left to the father’s carelessness again. Her father got married again and she was put in another hostel at Kadiri, Anantapur district. There she had learnt tailoring. Shivamani was deceived by a woman who offered a job opportunity but was taken to a brothel house in Mumbai.

From there she escaped with the help of a police man and was sent back to her home town, only to face the harassment by her father again. This time she was forced to marry an elderly person who has daughters of her age. Vexed with this, again, she ran away from her house. She was found in railway station and was referred to Manasu Girl Care Centre by Balatejassu. We provided rehabilitation and counselled her at our Girl Care Centre at Visakhapatnam. After several counselling sessions, she regained her confidence and expressed her willing to learn vocational course.

In the month of March, she was unified with her family and as part of our follow-up, we also knew that her marriage too is fixed and she is also trying to make a living in the vocation she had learnt, when she was in Manasu centre.

Avala Appalanarayana is a 18 years boy with both legs polio. He is staying in a Pedda Pathivada, a rural village in Pusapatirega mandal of Vizianagaram mandal. He just completed his primary classes and could not continue his further studies. His parents are fishing labourers and that is the only source of income for them. The child stays with his parents in a small hut in the village. They have no assets to back themselves. Due to old age the father stays sick most of the time. Now the family depends on the mother to get their livelihood.

Suryanarayana had interest in learning stitching/tailoring work. He learnt at a tailor in his village. We identified the boy and trained him at professional. After learning, we provided electric hand sewing machine to him. He started a small tailoring centre at his village. Our social workers informed about his capacity to the villagers and promoted his trade in the village. Suryanarayana is doing stitching and earning for his family. He says “I am happy as because I was useless and idle in my family. With the support of skill and machine, now, I can contribute to my family.”