Former Devadasi struggles to get daughter admitted to school

BENGALURU: A former Devadasi from Vijayapura district is struggling to get her daughter admitted to the Morarji Desai Residential School, which is run by the Social Welfare Department. However, the authorities have allegedly refused admission citing various reasons.

“For over a year, I has been trying to get my daughter admitted to Class 7, but they keep saying there is no availability of seats or that the documents are not in order. As a mother, it is heartbreaking to see my daughter’s dreams of education being crushed. But I am determined to fight for her future and provide her with the education she deserves”, the woman says.

Despite facing many challenges, the woman pursued education, completing her SSLC and PUC, and is now currently pursuing a BA. “But this society did not recognize me though I accepted life as a challenge”, she said.

The girl had four siblings but two brothers died at the same time when she just completed SSLC. “No one knows what the Devadasi system is in my family. My parents had belief in me that I would fulfill their wishes. I have suffered every day”, she said.

The former Devadasi said, “I didn’t choose to become a Devadasi, I was pushed into it at a young age. When I grew older, I realized this life wasn’t for me; this miserable life was enough. With three children, I decided to join an NGO and send them to school, hoping that their future would be secure. I wanted a better future for my three children.”

She said, “I faced insults from society. If I show respect to anybody, they still mistreat me and use abusive language at me. The discrimination is still in practice; I was an SSLC dropout, but I am still pursuing a BA now. My parent is not well. Despite my being educated, there is no one to look after our family”.

When she tried to get her daughter admitted to the Morarji Desai Residential School, which is run by the Social Welfare Department, they made her run from pillar to post to get proper documents, and she was refused admission. She has now sought justice to ensure that her daughter gets education and wants to ensure that she does not face discrimination in society.