Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Shinnyo-en of Tokyo, Japan signed a MOU with Deepalaya on 10th September, instituting the “Shinnyo-en Deepalaya Scholarship Program”. The memorandum was signed by Shri T.K.Mathew and Mr. Syuichi Arai of Shinnyo-en. Under this MOU Shinnyo-en will provide a scholarship fund to the tune of 300,000 Yens (approximately One Lakh Rupees) every year for three years so that two girls can do the nursing course.. The qualifying two girl students should have passed XII standard, and be aged 16 or above.

19 year old Indu Bala is the first recipient of this scholarship. She came to Delhi from the small village Hara in Himachal Pradesh to join Class X in Deepalaya School, Kalkaji Extension. Her father is a farmer with a monthly income of Rs.2500. Her mother is a homemaker. She has a younger brother who goes to school and an elder sister who has completed Class X. The paternal aunt saw the plight of the family during a visit and decided to bring Indu Bala to Delhi. She felt this would lessen the financial strain on the family as well as enable Indu Bala to complete higher studies. Despite having difficulties in coping with English initially, her sincerity and persistence enabled her to surmount this problem. In April 2007, she completed Class XII through NIOS, scoring 46%. The Principal informs that though Indu Bala has not been a topper in academics, she had a strong determination to take up the calling of a nurse. The lack of medical facilities in her village and the subsequent sufferings of the people led her to choose this vocation. Indu Bala has now been enrolled in the 3-year General Nursing and Midwifery course at SOS Nursing College, Faridabad.

Certain aspects of the partnership are noteworthy. Shinnyo-en had got to know about Deepalaya and approached it on its own. The initial correspondence was in July and in record time the MOU was signed and the first candidate was chosen. All this was done despite the language difficulties. Further three Japanese traveled all the way to India to interview the candidate as well as formalize the MOU.

The deep desire of the Japanese to help some needy girls realize their dreams is most laudatory. While Deepalaya is happy that it has played a facilitating role it looks forward to seeing our Joans of Arc blossom.