Decades ago, parents of a physically-disabled girl were advised by people to kill their daughter, however, she grew up to become a para teacher and is the sole breadwinner of the family. Basanti has set an example for all those who advocate for female infanticide.
Basanti doesn’t have both her hands ever since she was born. As a result, her parents refused to send her to school thinking she wouldn’t be able to write.
However, on her repeated requests, her mother decided to educate her when she turned six. Within a few years, Basanti learnt writing with her feet.
After she cleared her class 10th exams in 1993, she started taking tuition. She went on to become a contractual teacher in Rodaband secondary school and now teaches many students. She writes on the blackboard and checks copies of her students using her feet.
As her father has retired and two of her siblings are married, the responsibility of feeding her family members and getting her eldest sister married lies on her shoulders.
“Back in school, I learnt how to write with my feet. In 2005 when I joined as para teacher, to write on the blackboard became a challenge for me,” she said, adding that with practice and balancing her body, she was able to learn it.
