My Story

Chiranjeevi and Lakshmi faced pressure from Chiranjeevi's dominant mother to have only male heirs. Lakshmi's concerns notwithstanding, she gave birth to a boy, bringing joy to the family. However, when Lakshmi later gave birth to a girl named Varshini, she faced rejection and hostility from her family. They refused to support Varshini and insisted she be married off at 15, ignoring Lakshmi's pleas for her education. Varshini endured verbal and physical abuse simply for being a girl. Desperate, Lakshmi sought help from a IGP social worker, but initial attempts to change her family's mindset failed. Through persistence and support from village elders and IGP’s partner on the ground, they gradually began to understand the importance of gender equality. IGP’s intervention in Varshini’s life ensured a life free of child labor and an early marriage, and turned what would have been a rather bleak future into one that was bright and hopeful.