From the Village to the City Hospital
The Story about Sankara’s Students
Early on the 16th of June, more than forty determined young women arrived at the Bangalore hospital. They were going to receive a once in a lifetime opportunity. A chance to train at Sankara and become ophthalmic assistants.
That day, I assisted Mrs. Priya Sundaresan with the admissions process. The first phase was a written examination to test knowledge of basic biological functions and eye anatomy. Since a majority of the girls learned English merely as a second language, the other proctors and I walked around the room translating the questions into native Indian languages: Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. Once the papers were submitted, the girls were called in individually for a viva voce. Based on their combined exam and interview score, twenty-six girls were selected for admission into Sankara’s free training program.
Over the next three years, these girls will be trained to work closely with ophthalmologists in the consultation room and the operation theater. During their training, they will be provided with free accommodation and a monthly stipend. After the three year period, the newly certified assistants will be able to either stay at Sankara or seek employment at an eye hospital of their choice. In this way, Sankara is able to produce their own manpower while simultaneously enriching the lives of underprivileged girls.
Many of the girls I met came from small agricultural villages far away from the bustling city. Without the right opportunities, these girls may never receive a decent education as educating women is not a priority. Through their nationally recognized program, Sankara has given many young women a shot at realizing their dreams. Take the case of 18-year-old Dali. Even though she wanted to attend nursing school, her family’s financial troubles suppressed her aspirations. With the meager wages her parents earn as laborers, their troubles are a given. As an assistant, Dali will be able to contribute to the welfare of her family and sculpt a new life for herself away from poverty.
