The Success Story of Disabled Khadija and Her Mother
Khadija Khatun, daughter of Md. Liton Ali and Muslima Khatun, is from Alukdia village in Alukdia Union, Chuadanga Sadar Upazila. Since Khadija was born with a disability, her family considered her a burden. Due to her disability, both Khadija and her mother led a very difficult life within their family. Khadija’s father never treated them well and often abused her mother. Despite all the hardships, Khadija grew up in an environment filled with struggles.
Hearing about their miserable condition from a local village member, PRPD project field volunteer of Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS) directly met with Khadija and her mother and listened to their sufferings. Khadija’s mother shared her pain, saying, “Brother, I feel like I have fallen into a vast ocean after giving birth to my child; that’s why I have to live like this. My father is no more, and my two elder brothers are struggling with poverty, so I cannot go to them. On the other hand, my husband’s family doesn’t take care of me properly. I don’t know where to go or what to do. Sometimes, I feel like ending both my and my daughter’s lives by consuming poison.”
Hearing their heartbreaking story, the field volunteer discussed their case with senior officials at the organization. Meanwhile, Manusher Jonno Foundation instructed PSUS Social Development Organization to select some extremely vulnerable disabled individuals in the working areas for livelihood support. Khadija’s name was included in the list, and she was provided with 7,000 BDT as livelihood support. Upon receiving the money, Khadija, her mother, and their well-wishers were overjoyed. With this financial aid, Khadija’s mother bought two female goats and used the remaining money to buy food for them. After a few months of raising the goats, one of them gave birth to a male and a female kid.
Muslima Khatun, Khadija’s mother, dreams of selling the grown-up goats and buying a dairy cow, which would allow her to sell milk and sustain her family without financial struggles. PRPD officials later visited their home to assess their current situation. Khadija’s mother shared her happiness, saying, “With the money from PSUS, I was able to start raising goats. Right now, I have four goats, and in a few months, they will give birth to two more kids. I will sell them and buy a dairy cow to sell milk. We will no longer suffer from poverty.”
She further expressed, “Because my daughter was born with a disability, my husband made me suffer a lot. The same daughter, for whom I endured so much pain, deserves a better future. I am grateful to those who helped my daughter. I pray that they continue to support other vulnerable disabled individuals just like they supported us.”
