Sushila Bai Asawale, a daily wage worker (sweeper) in the Kalaburagi City Corporation, who faced all odds to ensure a better future for her four children, including a daughter, is a symbol of self-confidence and determination.
Sushila Asawale, who shifted from Akkalkot in Maharashtra along with her husband Laxman to Kalaburagi in search of livelihood 25 years ago, has been working as daily wage labour for the past two decades. Her husband chips in doing odd jobs to run the family. Recalling her earlier days, Shushila Asawale said that “We could hardly manage to have meals once a day with our meagre wages of ₹ 1,000 a month. We struggled to feed our large family.” But she did not give up her resolve to make her children get education. “We starved at times but did not allow our children to suffer and be deprived of education,” she said.
Living in a two-room tin-roof house in the Hirapur locality in the city, Shushila Asawale, holding back her tears, said that it was the most difficult time for the family when wages remained due for more than two years some time ago. This is when they were forced to borrow from moneylenders and “even today, we struggle to repay loans,” she added.
Ranjeet, the eldest of the children, is pursuing Bachelor of Arts and has applied for a police constable post. While pursuing his education, Ranjeet worked as a part-time painter.
His younger brother Rahul has completed Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) course and works for a pharmaceutical company. Rahul’s journey has not been a cakewalk; he worked at private hospitals during night hours to support his family and also pay fees.
Recalling the days of struggle, Rahul said that though his mother did not go to school, the driving force that kept her going was her commitment to providing good education to all of us. “My mother is a firm believer in the power of education,” Rahul said.
Meanwhile, Rakesh, the youngest of the brothers, is doing his Diploma in Automobile and wishes to continue his studies. Shushila Asawale’s daughter, Reshma, the youngest of the four, is studying PU Commerce and wants to become a Chartered Accountant.
All of the four acquired education in government schools, as it was not possible for their mother to send them to private institutions.
