Success Stories
From Addiction to Dignity: Ramesh’s Transformation
Ramesh Kumar, a 35-year-old from Bhojpur district, was trapped in a vicious cycle of alcohol addiction that consumed his family’s meager earnings and dignity. Known in his Musahar settlement for brewing and selling country liquor, Ramesh had lost hope and respect within his community. His wife Sunita struggled alone to feed their three children while he spent days intoxicated. In 2019, Nayee Asha’s Nasha Mukti Abhiyan team reached his village, but Ramesh initially resisted all rehabilitation efforts.
Dr. Bhavesh personally counseled Ramesh multiple times, understanding his pain and providing emotional support without judgment. Through persistent care and community intervention, Ramesh gradually joined our de-addiction program. We provided him vocational training in bicycle repair and small business management. Today, Ramesh runs a successful bicycle repair shop, earning ₹300-400 daily. His children now attend school regularly, and his wife Sunita has joined our women’s literacy program. Ramesh proudly says, “Nayee Asha didn’t just save my life – they restored my family’s honor and gave us a future worth living.”
From Musahar Tol to University Dreams: Priya’s Journey
Eight years ago, 12-year-old Priya Devi from Arrah’s Musahar settlement had never seen the inside of a classroom. Her parents, daily wage laborers, believed education was meant for “other people’s children,” not theirs. When Dr. Bhavesh visited their settlement through the Nanhe Kadam Abhiyan, he found Priya helping her mother collect firewood instead of playing with other children. Despite initial family resistance, his patient counseling convinced her parents to enroll Priya in the local primary school.
Nayee Asha provided Priya with books, uniforms, nutritional support, and after-school tutoring at our community center. Her natural intelligence shone brightly – she consistently topped her class and received the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship in 8th grade. Today, 20-year-old Priya is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a prestigious college in Patna, aspiring to work with marginalized communities. She visits her settlement during holidays, inspiring younger children to dream beyond their circumstances. “Dr. Bhavesh uncle saw potential in me when I couldn’t even write my name,” Priya reflects. “Education transformed not just me, but my entire family’s outlook on life.”
Breaking the Chains: Ending Child Marriage in Musahar Communities
In many Musahar settlements, a harmful tradition persisted for generations – financially struggling families would fix marriages of their minor daughters and send them to live with prospective grooms before the actual wedding. The girls, often just 13-14 years old, would spend 10-15 days at the groom’s house before the marriage ceremony. This dangerous practice led to devastating consequences.
Fourteen-year-old Kavita’s story shook the community. Her father, unable to feed his family, arranged her engagement and sent her to her would-be groom’s house following this ritual. Within weeks, Kavita became pregnant. The groom’s family, seeing an opportunity to escape responsibility, denied the relationship and abandoned her. Kavita returned home pregnant, traumatized, and ostracized. Tragically, she was not alone – several other minor girls faced similar fates.
When Nayee Asha learned about these cases, Dr. Bhavesh and his team took immediate action. They organized community meetings, educated parents about legal consequences of child marriage, and counseled families about protecting their daughters’ futures. Working with local authorities and women’s groups, Nayee Asha successfully stopped multiple child marriages in progress. The organization provided psychological support to affected girls, legal assistance against exploitative families, and ensured the victims received proper medical care.
Today, this harmful ritual has been largely eliminated from Nayee Asha’s operational areas. Parents now understand the importance of educating daughters instead of marrying them off. Kavita herself, with Nayee Asha’s support, completed her education and now works as a community health volunteer, counseling other families against child marriage. “Nayee Asha gave me back my childhood and my dreams,” she says. “No girl should suffer what I did.”
Chourahi Transformation: 150 Days That Changed Everything
Chourahi, a remote Musahar settlement, exemplified extreme deprivation. When Nayee Asha first surveyed the area, only 17 people in the entire community could read or write. Children played in open fields that doubled as toilets. Women walked kilometers daily to fetch contaminated water. Darkness enveloped the settlement after sunset, making evening activities impossible. The community had no bank accounts, no access to government schemes, and no hope for change.
Dr. Bhavesh committed to intensive intervention – 150 days of focused transformation. The Nayee Asha team moved into the settlement, living alongside community members, understanding their challenges intimately, and implementing comprehensive development programs.
The results were extraordinary. Through door-to-door enrollment drives and adult literacy classes, 150 people gained education – nearly a tenfold increase. The organization facilitated installation of 4 hand pumps, bringing clean drinking water to every corner. 40 toilets were constructed, ensuring dignity and sanitation for families. 4 solar lamps illuminated community spaces, enabling children to study after dark and women to move safely at night.
Beyond infrastructure, Nayee Asha connected 25 elderly and disabled persons with social pension schemes, providing them financial security. 65 community members opened bank accounts for the first time, accessing formal financial services and government benefits.
Today, Chourahi stands transformed. Children attend school regularly, women participate in self-help groups, and the community radiates hope. “We went from darkness to light in just 150 days,” says village elder Rameshwar Manjhi. “Nayee Asha proved that transformation is possible when someone truly commits to our upliftment.”
Laxmanpur Library: A Lighthouse of Learning
In Laxmanpur Musahar settlement, children had never seen a library. Books were luxuries their families couldn’t afford. When Dr. Bhavesh proposed establishing a library specifically for Musahar children, many doubted whether these marginalized children would even use it. Today, the Laxmanpur Library stands as proof that given opportunity, every child can excel.
The library serves over 150 Musahar children daily, providing them access to textbooks, reference materials, and a conducive learning environment. But it’s more than just books – the library functions as a comprehensive educational support center. Regular practice tests and mock examinations prepare students for competitive exams and school assessments. Trained volunteers provide homework assistance and doubt-clearing sessions
The library’s crown achievement is its NMMS (National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship) preparation program. Recognizing that scholarship exams could transform deserving students’ educational trajectories, Nayee Asha designed targeted coaching. The results speak volumes – numerous library students have secured NMMS scholarships worth thousands of rupees annually, enabling them to continue education without financial burden on their families.
Twelve-year-old Rohit Kumar, whose parents work as daily wage laborers, secured an NMMS scholarship after preparation at Laxmanpur Library. “Before the library, I studied under streetlights,” Rohit shares. “Now I have books, guidance, and dreams of becoming a teacher to help children like me.” The library has become the community’s pride, a space where Musahar children dare to dream beyond their circumstances.
Parvarish Yojana: Supporting Orphaned Children’s Guardians
Orphaned children in Musahar communities faced double marginalization – already belonging to society’s most vulnerable group and then losing their parents. Many relatives, despite willingness to care for these children, lacked financial means to provide proper food, education, and healthcare. Children were often forced into labor or begging to support themselves.
Nayee Asha identified this critical gap and connected with the government’s Parvarish Yojana – a scheme providing ₹3,200 monthly to legal guardians of orphaned children. However, most Musahar families were unaware this scheme existed, and those who knew faced bureaucratic hurdles in accessing it.
The organization launched a systematic campaign to identify orphaned children across operational areas, counsel potential guardians willing to provide care, and navigate the complex application process. Nayee Asha volunteers assisted with documentation, followed up with government offices, and ensured timely disbursement of funds.
Currently, 87 orphaned children’s guardians receive Parvarish Yojana benefits through Nayee Asha’s intervention. This regular financial support has transformed lives – children attend school instead of working, receive nutritious meals, and grow up in loving family environments rather than institutional care or streets.
Sunita Devi, who took in her orphaned niece after her sister’s death, struggled to feed both her own children and her niece. “I wanted to care for her, but we barely had enough,” she explains. “When Nayee Asha helped me access Parvarish Yojana, it changed everything. Now my niece goes to school, has proper clothes, and knows she’s loved and valued. This scheme didn’t just provide money – it gave our family peace and hope.”