Dear Friends,

We are raising funds to support Sujata, daughter of an ex-devadasi to help complete her engineering education as well as her mother Shobha's medical treatment and surgery. 

Sujata Dodamani is a 3rd year Engineering student of Electronics and Telecommunications at GSSS Institute Of Engineering And Technology, Mysore. She's the first person in her family to go to college and the first in her village to pursue engineering.

Her mother, Shobha Harijan is an ex-devadasi Who has overcome tremendous hurdles to help Sujata get a college education. Shobha is among the 1000+ ex-Devadasi women who have been supported by ASSET India Foundation with micro-loans to set up a goat rearing microbusiness in 2014. 

This was done in partnership with a local organisation MASS that helps women who were trafficked in the name of religion get out of the practice. I met Sujata during my visit to Belgaum to meet these women and their families. I was impressed with her determination to pursue education against all odds.

Since past few months, she has not been keeping well and the doctor has informed there is an infection in her uterus and she needs to undergo a surgery. The cost for the surgery would come around INR 40,000 ($600) and medical and other expenses including Sujata's education would sum up to INR 150,000 (~$2300).

The family does not have any source of income apart from Shobha's goat rearing business which has been on hold for the past few weeks. Sujata is already relying on loan for her education.

I am requesting you to help in supporting her mother's treatment. I have committed to paying for the surgery so there's no delay. The funds raised will go towards her medical follow-ups and family expenses until she's able to get back to work.

Sincerely,

Ray Umashankar