Shabnam, formerly a teacher, is our Community Correspondent from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Being denied a much-deserved scholarship for completing matriculation with first division just because she came from a Muslim family did not stop Shabnam from pursuing higher education. Now the first graduate in her family, Shabnam believes that she has fulfilled her father’s dreams. Threatened by her progressive educational background,…

Shabnam Begum

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Radhika Devi — a 40-year-old woman and a widow — from Durga Nagar village in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, has been waiting for assistance under the Indira Awaas National Housing Scheme. Since the death of her husband 5 years ago, nothing has happened. She isn't alone either; several other homeless members of the community also await assistance under the scheme, reports Community Correspondent Shabnam Begum.

CALL TO ACTION: You can call the Village Council Officer of Cholapur Block in Varanasi district, on +91-887414044, to urge him to speed up the allocation of funds to proposed beneficiaries under the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme.

Meanwhile, these women survive hand-to-mouth in makeshift shelters devoid of any basic amenities. The Gram Pradhan of the village, who is sympathetic, assures that he has taken all the steps required to place Radhika Devi's name on the list of beneficiaries under the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme. However, the wait continues until the Government fulfills its obligations allocates funds to those on the list.

About the Partnership: The Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Programme and Video Volunteers have come together to create the Community Correspondents Network. The videos generated by the network will be able to highlight voices from the margins, providing skills to social communicators to provide advocacy tools to community based organisations.