A Disability is not an Inability
“My name is Gurubari Bhatra, and I come from a small village called Tangajhari. I belong to a humble farming family. We are four sisters, and I have no brother. My father, Padam Bhatra, is a farmer and the only earning member in our family. Life has always been tough — many days we struggle even for the basics — but my parents never stop trying.
In addition to the financial hardship, I live with a motor disability due to a deformity in my left foot. In a place where being a girl often means growing up to do household chores and settling into marriage early, being a girl with a disability makes things doubly difficult. People around us never expected much from girls like me. But I had dreams — and I refused to give up on them.
The turning point in my life came when Help a Child India started the Child Opportunity Centre in our village. It wasn’t just a place to study — it became a space where I felt seen, heard, and supported. For the first time, I started to believe that education could truly change my life.
At first, my father didn’t understand why girls should study. In our culture, especially in villages like ours, education for daughters is not always considered necessary. But through regular community meetings and awareness efforts by Help a Child India, my father began to see the difference education could make. Slowly, his mindset changed. Today, he’s one of my biggest supporters — constantly encouraging me to study and believe in myself.
When I reached Class 10, a new challenge arose. I couldn’t afford to buy the test papers and materials required to prepare for my exams. I was heartbroken. I wanted to do well — not just for me, but for my family and for everyone who believed in me.
Once again, Help a Child India stepped in at just the right time. They provided exam support materials for students like me. It wasn’t just a stack of papers — it was a message of hope. It said, “We believe in you, Gurubari. You matter.” I studied hard, every single day. And when the results came on 13 May 2025, I had scored 360 out of 600 — a proud 60%. For us, it was nothing less than a miracle.
Today, I’ve applied for higher secondary education. I dream of going further, learning more, and someday helping girls like me believe in themselves. Because disability is not inability — and poverty should never be the end of a dream.
What is happening in our village is more than just my story — it is the story of many girls whose lives are changing. Indian villages are evolving. Traditions that once restricted girls are slowly giving way to new possibilities. This transformation is happening because organizations like Help a Child India believed in us before we even knew how to believe in ourselves.
I want to tell every child like me: Don’t stop dreaming. You are more powerful than your circumstances.”