New additions to the Wings For Little Minds support list

Prem Narine Singh and his wife Indradouti live in the nearby village of Majuwa Baba. 

Prem is a small-time farmer who has six daughters - a great burden in India due to their dowry system. 

Four of his daughters are now married and living away from home. He managed to finance the weddings and dowry costs by selling off part of his field each time.

Now Prem is an ill and frail man, not capable of much field work. His two younger daughters Nidhi and Tanu are living at home and going to school.

Nidhi is 20 years old and currently in her second year of a Bsc course. Tragically on 11th January 2019 she was struck by a car on the road to school, resulting with head and leg injuries. She was taken to the local hospital for treatment where they found that the wound to her head had not caused any lasting damage, but her leg was serious injured.  

At the time of writing she was still in Basti hospital being treated for infection in the leg wound. It is expected she will be there some time yet.

Tanu is in her 10th grade class in the College of Science in Harriya (about five miles away). She cycles each day to school - a journey that takes about ½ hour and partly via a main highway.  She likes to play badminton with her friend Sachi when she can and has a dream of being a doctor one day.

Prem Narine is a believer of the benefit of a good education and is clearly struggling to keep his two daughters in school.

WFLM has signed up both children and made a payment to their mother of 2,500 Rupees each to assist with the current year’s school fees, again with the explanation that if the attendance and exam results are satisfactory then the support will continue.

Bireend Singh and his wife Punam are from the nearby village of Pakerwa Kala. They have two children; a son Adars (14) and daughter Astuti (15).

Bireend who used to work as a labourer in other farmers fields, sadly committed suicide in 2007. 

Since then his wife (who is frail and of poor health) has been struggling to bring up their two children. She gets by with a part time job as a dinner lady in the local government school and handouts from relatives and friends. Punam and her children share a room in the family home.

Astuti attends Mathura College (9th grade) about a two miles from home and walks to school each day. Her school fees of 150 Rupees per month (variable depending on the class) are due.

Her best subject is home science and her hobby is playing badminton. As for her future career thoughts, she has not yet made up her mind.

Adars attends Baghouti Persaud Intercollege, (8th grade) located some four miles from home. He cycles to school each day. His school fees similar to Astuti and are due monthly.

Adars likes playing cricket and hopes to join the army when he is older.

WFLM has signed up both children and made a payment to the mother of 2,500 Rupees each to cover the current year’s school fees, with the explanation that if the attendance and exam results are satisfactory then their support will continue.