Sunita, now 35, is a woman whose life is defined by extraordinary courage in the face of relentless hardship.
Her struggles began early. At just nine years old, she was struck by polio, leaving both her legs paralyzed and confining her to a wheelchair for life. Before she could recover from this devastating blow, her childhood was stolen when she was married off at only 13. She moved with her husband to Amritsar, but life there was no kinder. Conflict with her in-laws and husband soon escalated, and she was cruelly abandoned with three young children to raise on her own.
For eight long years, Sunita fought every single day for survival. Working in a small packing factory in Amritsar, she bore the unimaginable burden of feeding, clothing, and raising her children single-handedly—all while navigating life from a wheelchair. Her determination alone kept her family afloat.
When the slums of Seelampur were demolished, Sunita’s parents were relocated to Lal Bagh and called her back from Amritsar. She moved to the Lal Bagh slum community 10 years ago and began collecting scrap to survive. Despite her disability and grinding poverty, she managed to see all three of her children married—a testament to her perseverance and indomitable will.
It was here in Lal Bagh that Asha encountered Sunita. When our ambulance service was launched, she came to us desperately seeking help. She had been suffering from serious health issues but could not afford the costly medicines of private hospitals. On testing, her blood sugar was found to be alarmingly high at 531—she was living with uncontrolled diabetes that could have cost her life. Immediate medical intervention and treatment were provided through Asha’s telemedicine program.
Today, Sunita’s health has improved significantly. She takes her medicines regularly, follows medical advice, and is learning to take charge of her well-being.
