It does look like our country is growing fast, but unfortunately there is a darker side of the coin. Belgaum, a small district in Karnataka, is still prey to social issues like child marriage, dowry system, prostitution and human trafficking; widely prevailing till date. What is more unfortunate is that the people of the areas where such crimes persist, accept them as a part of their life, than oppose and stop them from happening.
However, a few good saplings manage to grow even in a broken land. We had the privilege of crossing roads with a social reformer from Belgaum, who has shown courage to question and change the conventionally accepted malpractices of his society. Pramod Sadashiv Chandake is a ray of hope that is fighting his way hard to reach out to people and be accepted. It was like speaking to the new age father of social renaissance, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, we remember from the history books.
Realization Leading To The First Step For Change
Pramod says that the majority of Belgaum is way behind the times. People in his district still believe that child marriage, Devadasi system (where women are left in temples as God’s servants but are used by the wealthy), dowry and prostitution are all a normal part of a society. However, the biggest of all the issues would be the mindset of the people, who tend to accept all this as an inevitable part of life.
I could see that a part of the society was not happy with what was happening, though they couldn’t oppose it as they believed it was all traditionally correct. However, the poorer section of the society, and mostly women were always the victims. If people are not happy about something, how can it be right? Hence I thought some change had to be brought about.
Pramod Sadashiv Chandake – The Seed Of Reformation
I was a student of social work. I first spoke to my classmates and identified three people who shared my ideas. We then formed a team and approached an NGO in the area. After gaining legal permission and collecting statistical information, we set to work, preventing malpractices and spreading awareness.
Small Steps For Big Changes
We’ve been successful in stopping two child marriages, with a lot of opposition and criticism though. We’ve also rescued three women who were being forced into prostitution. 30 cases of legal issues like domestic violence and dowry, which were filed but not solved, were traced down and pushed forward, and most of them are solved now. We aided 18 kids with HIV with finance, food, shelter and schooling. Also, 30 drop-out kids were re-admitted to the school.
The Girls In Our Team Make Us Proud
We’ve not done enough so far to make us feel elated. However, the girls in my team make me proud. They had to take the initiative when it came to spreading awareness against prostitution, Devadasi system and HIV. It is extremely embarrassing and unacceptable for women to be talking about having protected sex and such things in our area, but the girls in my team have done an excellent job with regard to spreading effective awareness. I am proud that we have made a few people cross the unreasonable limitations and become broadminded.
The Irony
We are not accepted by the people so far, and will not be for years to come. People assume that we’re spoiled or trying to oppose what has been believed since very ancient times. When we try to tell them something is wrong, they outright deny to listen to us and ask us to walk out. Even after having done some work worth notice, people do not accept the fact that we’re working for their betterment. Their ignorance and unwillingness to change is the biggest problem that we’ve faced.
Future Plans For Achieving The Goal
I am pursuing Journalism. I believe that a journalist would be more accepted and respected, because right now we’re just commoners, and people don’t understand why they should listen to us. Though we have legal permission for what we’re doing and we’re also associated with an NGO, people do not want to hear us out. I hope to build a self-identity that would make them listen to me, and understand that we’re doing things for their good.
Pramod Sadashiv Chandake is a soulful person, full of love towards his place of birth. Though his people tend to consider him a spoiled brat, all that he feels towards them is pure attachment and an urge to take them forward. He wants to take them away from the malpractices that withhold them from being the good people that they are on the inside. Pramod’s eyes are full of dreams for reforming the place he is so fond of, and we at KnowYourStar, wish him the very best in his future endeavours.