Radhaben Maheshbhai Dantani
Age 21
Radhaben lives on the corner of the Prabodh Rawar Bridge in a house held up by two poles covered with a tarp. Gramshree’s own Chandrikaben found Radhaben and discovered that she was widowed at the young age of 21, and she was left with three children – a three year old daughter, a two year old daughter and a seven month old son. Her husband had died of cancer two months earlier. Helpless and without a proper source of income, Radhaben turned to begging as a means to support her family. Luckily, Chandrikaben found her and introduced her to Gramshree where she was able to apply some of her skills. She started work on a project where she created new crafts from recycled materials. To help Radhaben support herself and care for her children while she settled into her new work, Manav Sadhna gave her and her family 1100 rs. worth of food to last at least one month. Once a month she will also receive 10 kg of wheat as she is now also part of a program Manav Sadhna has set up to support widowed women. In addition, her two eldest children have been placed in one of the Manav Sadhna preschools. One month after her first encounter with Manav Sadhna, Radhaben has adjusted to her new job and is gaining the motivation and strength to sustain and support her family on her own.
