Mayur’s story

A Story of Hope and Resilience

In the remote village in Maharashtra a story of love, hope, courage and unyielding determination unfolds. It is the story of a young six-year-old boy Mayur. Born blind and abandoned by his mother when he was just six months old, Mayur found unconditional love in his grandparents’ home.

Mayur’s father works as a sugarcane harvester, while Mayur’s younger sister lives with their parents. He stays with his grandparents who have embraced him completely.

Mangal, his 45-year-old grandmother, is truly remarkable. It is her dedication towards her grandson that makes this story go from one rejection to one full of possibilities. Convinced that education is the key to her grandson’s independence, Mangal undertakes an extraordinary daily journey to ensure her grandson can access Sightsavers India’s Plus Curriculum Training programme in Jalna. Each morning, she walks nearly two kilometres from her village to catch the first of five different vehicles needed to reach the training centre. The journey involves multiple transfers, long waits and considerable expense. The return journey proves even more challenging, with limited transport options often forcing them to walk significant distances home. She travels several kilometers everyday committed to seeing her grandson learn and thrive.

It is not just the journey that is hard, the family’s financial situation makes it even more challenging. Their land is barren and Mangal and Somnath often must work on other people’s fields to get by. Still, Mangal refuses to let hardship stand in the way of Mayur’s future. She knows that while she and her husband can care for him now, they will not always be there. “If he learns, he won’t have to depend on anyone,” she says, full of hope.

Mangal truly believes that all the effort is worth it and that one day, Mayur will be able to stand on his own. Sightsavers India is grateful for the trust she has in the training programme and her belief that the training will help him become independent.

Mayur’s story is not just about overcoming a disability; it is about love, persistence and a grandmother’s unbreakable spirit, who simply will not give up.