Finding purpose in life is easier said than done - the innate desire to give back to the society is very hard to manifest. It¡¯s surely something all of us want to do, but it takes sacrifice, courage and will to go out of your way.?
Achieving all this won¡¯t seem that intimidating after seeing what people like Pushpa Preeya do for society.
Hailing from Bengaluru, Pushpa Preeya has been writing exams for the disabled for nearly a decade and her initiative has inspired people across the country.
In an interview with Indiatimes, Preeya said that she and her brother beat all odds to build a life for themselves. They both completed their education in an atmosphere of severe financial constraints and all of it led her to believe in the value of education and that everyone deserved to be educated - no matter what their physical or mental state.
Speaking of how her cause for the disabled started, Preeya shared that she lived a locality very close to an NGO for the blind. "I would see them crossing the road and try to catch them for a conversation. Later on an NGO named Samarthana based in Bengaluru got in touch for volunteering and writing exams for the disabled and that¡¯s how my journey began nearly 10 years ago."
"Now I think I have written close to 700 exams, but I never keep a count, what I look forward to is helping a hundred more," says Preeya, who has been a scribe for 10 years.
Five months ago, she was juggling her 9 to 5 IT job alongside her busy exam schedule and she pulled through undeterred.
Indiatimes/Pushpa Preeya
Even if examination centres are far away, she finds a way to get there - by switching public transport - takes due permission for her absence in the office.
"It¡¯s not just the visually impaired students, I even deal with those suffering from cerebral palsy and downs syndrome."
From schools, colleges to bank exams, Preeya has been the writing hand and listening ear for all kinds of students with disabilities. ?
"One of the biggest obstacles I face while writing the exams is when students ask me to repeat the question multiple times, which sort of comes in the way of the time limit. But I make sure they feel comfortable and confident about the answer they are giving in"
"I am always calm and collected, because the exam I am writing for them is a deciding factor for their future."
While talking about the skill-set required to be a scribe, Pushpa Preeya says that it¡¯s nothing but patience. The only skill she learned was sign language to make it easier to communicate with students who suffer from cerebral palsy.
Pushpa, who did diploma in computers, is currently pursuing a Master¡¯s Degree from Indira Gandhi Open University.
The noble initiative has gotten her many awards, but the one that gave her a push was the Nari Shakti Puraskar on the occasion of International Women¡¯s Day 2019.
"Earlier people in Bengaluru knew about my initiative and it was easy for them to reach out to me for help, now there people from Sikkim who are calling me to write exam for the disabled. I am glad that people are aware and I hope to sensitise a thousand more," she told Indiatimes.?
Indiatimes/Pushpa Preeya
Apart from this, Pushpa Preeya also volunteers with several NGOs which work for acid attack survivors and manages a Facebook page for the blood donors.
At the end of it all, the biggest joy for Preeya is to see students she helps, succeed - a B Com student she helped not only scored distinction, but is now pursuing higher studies abroad.
"I feel on the top of the world when I see the students I help succeed and that's my greatest strength and motivation."
Mahatma Gandhi said, 'Be the change you want to see in the world' and Pushpa Preeya, with her incredible contribution to the society, shows us just how it's done!?