As an only child, Luxmi Nautiyal grew up in a protective environment, never venturing out to explore her environment alone. But once she joined IndiaUnheard, Luxmi surprised herself as well as her community by integrating so fully that she is now, as a Community Correspondent, a pioneering spirit bent on addressing environmental, educational, and children’s rights issues.

Luxmi Nautiyal

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As India’s alcohol consumption increases by more than 30% on a year to year basis, cases of addiction and abuse have gone up steadily. Video Volunteers’ Community Correspondent Luxmi Nautiyal from Gairsen, Uttarakhand turns the spotlight on her friend, Pooja who belongs to a family suffering under the father’s addiction. Pooja’s testimony gives a vivid portrait of her difficult family life. Luxmi says that Pooja is caught between her love and responsibility towards her father and his consumption. She describes how her father’s alcoholisms put undue duress on every aspect of family life from the managing of the household to the education of the children to a general peace of mind.

In a recent survey by NIMHANS, Bangalore, 94.5 per cent of women identified their husband’s alcohol consumption as a risk factor in incidents of domestic violence. The increasing production, distribution, and promotion of alcohol has already seen drink-related problems emerging as a major public-health concern in India. The affects are more acute as one goes down the economic pyramid.

Pooja was selected as a fellow by the organization Udayan Care which works with girls from underprivileged backgrounds. There she has found role models, support, love and care. She looks ahead towards a brighter future.