The Veerni team first came across Bhanwri in the end of 2006. Looking frail and sick, she worked as a labourer to support her family. Her husband was an alcoholic, her parents partially blind and her brother a cripple. She was in charge of supporting her 4 children. Married at the age of 4, her effective marriage took place at 16. By the age of 17 she had her first child.
She was extremely poor, living in a hut without a proper roof. The Veerni team helped her with temporary roofing and took care of her medical issues. Her health has gradually improved, but Bhanwri still depends on Veerni to pay for her medication.
Thanks to a generous donation of $1,500 Veerni has been able to provide Bhanwri and her family with a proper house to protect her from the harsh Rajasthani conditions. She is very happy to be in her new home and says that the Veerni staff are her true parents.
Bhanwri still does heavy physical labour doing road levelling and famine relief work to earn some money. Despite many counselling sessions her husband is still an alcoholic and her children are not in school.
The Veerni team continues its efforts to help Bhanwri lead a normal life and have her children receive an education.
If you would like to help Bhanwri send her children to school, please click here.