Impact Stories

Arun Sah is a 32-year young man lives in Jamsari village of Gopalganj district, in Bihar. Arun is the sole bread winner for his family who lives with his wife, parents and two small children. He is a Commerce Graduate and is engaged in teaching profession. Nine years ago, he got affected by leprosy. In the beginning, he felt pain and tinkling sensation in both of his hands which was unbearable. After taking regular treatment for about six months, slowly the pain and tinkling sensation subsided. But after few months, he developed clawing and he was unable to move his fingers and hold things. He again visited the same clinic and the doctor advised him for an X-Ray and referred him to the Gopalganj Govt. Hospital for better treatment, where he was diagnosed with leprosy and MDT Treatment was started. After his finger started clawing in both hands and deformity was visible, he was worried, and he was not able to continue teaching profession which was the main source of his livelihood. In the meantime, his parents passed away, and he was struggling for his livelihood adding to that Covid-19 lockdown situation did not provide any scope for income. Damien Foundation field team came across Arun during the field visit and Arun requested DFIT to provide a support for livelihood by setting up a grocery shop in his village.

In the year 2020 DFIT provided him a grocery shop worth of Rs.20000/- under Livelihood Enhancement Programme. The shop was well managed by Arun and his wife and is earning good income and fulfilling community demand for grocery items. From the above earnings he purchased an e-rickshaw on loan and earning good income. His wife is managing the grocery shop. During the evening time Arun is teaching five local students and earning some money every month.

Presently Arun is earning about Rs.1000/- per day and is living happily with his family. Now he is free from all his worries and confident that he can lead a better life. When team from Damien Foundation visited him, he expressed his sincere thanks to Damien Foundation for their timely support. He said, “without the support of Damien Foundation his life would have been destroyed”. Now Arun’s economic and social status has improved, and he is able to lead a better life, he added “he could achieve all this because of Damien Foundation’s support”.