My life's journey:

8th March 1975 the first year of Women Day An Essay on International women’s day took me to a path ….my mother (MA Sanskrit IP College Batch) researched and forced me to write a ten-page essay on International Women’s Day. I got 9.5 out of 10 in 1975. I was made to read out the essay in my class. My first ever experience in public speaking. I was a sports person and a good student, but I could hardly speak in front of audience. The teacher Mr. Rao, Our Vice Principal and Mr. Ved Prakash (Popular Hindi News Reader of DoorDarshan DD) our English Teacher of Central School Gole Market guided me to a path where there was no looking back.

1976 -79:

I joined Lady Irwin College, Sikandra Road, New Delhi. I took part in NSS National Social service in first year and became secretary and then President in the final year.1n 1978 I did my first ever relief work with Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital during Delhi floods. In 1979 as the President of NSS I got an opportunity to organise the popular Fete of Lady Irwin college. I was 19 years old dealing with various stake holders and sponsors.

1980 -82:

One of the lecturers guided me to do master’s in social work. My field work in Barwala Village on outskirts of Delhi and St. Columba’s School, Ashoka Road gave me insights into urban rural and Public school students . While doing my master’s I got engaged and was married three day after final Examination

Apppointments:

1982:

Family Planning Association of India As a young social worker, it was my first job. I was assisting in taking out the publication. Here I started giving talks on pregnant and lactating mothers advocating Breast feeding. I had to leave because of pregnancy. I still refer cases there though I left in 1982.

1983-1989:

From 1983 I was a proud home-based worker. I took a break to raise the family and worked from home as a teacher and counsellor. I have two daughters. During this time, I joined Bachelor of Education so that I could take up a school job which would help me in looking after family better. My in laws were chronic patients of Parkinsons and Arthritis.
In 1990 February I joined as a leave vacancy teacher for 2nd standard of Springdales School Kirti Nagar, my daughter’s class. This three-month stint took me to Springdale’s school, Pusa Road where I was appointed as Social worker / Counsellor in July 1990.Here besides counselling senior students I was responsible for taking students of XI and XII for SUPW, Socially Useful Productive Work. I monitored and supervised their work in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Blind School Panchkuinya Road. My 1991 students are still in touch support SCOPE Plus, an NGO I founded in 1996.

1992 -1995:

Within two years I was handling Delhi Schools Literacy Project Sponsored by National Literacy Mission, Ministry of human Resource and Development. This was based in spring dales School Pusa Road and then shifted to Dhaula Kuan. I worked with Padmashree awardee, Late Dr. Rajni Kumar who was coordinating this project after retiring as Springdales School Principal. During this tenure I worked with about 60 Public Schools in Delhi. We had to promote “Each One Teach one” and Community work amongst students. I interacted with Principals, School social workers, teachers, NGOs and community leaders adjacent to various schools. I was responsible of organising trainings and competitions on Street theatre, Poster Making, Poem and slogan writing, Melas. I organised International Literacy Day (8th September) functions involving 60 Public schools, Officers from Central and Delhi Government. During this period, I was invited by Delhi Government to help in Delhi Sarva Saksharta Smiti their adult education program. I joined them as member on the executive Board and motivated teachers at Government schools to join adult education movement. Municipal Corporation schools also joined the literacy movement in 1994. This was the time when income generation, skill development, soft skills, life skills were gradually being added to literacy movement. A new chapter was added in my life . During my DSLP days I worked in close coordination with the officers and staff of Directorate of adult education and Shramink Vidyapeeth . It is technical wing of Ministry of Human resource development. When we were talking of educating the adult, they were more interested in learning a skill so that they could help them in earning. Speaker at Shramik Vidyapeeth JSN now 1996 Onwards I served on Executive Board of Shramik Vidyapeeth and Delhi Sarv Saksharta Abhiyaan, Education Department. Delhi government

Work in Tihar Jail 1993 Onwards:

Schools I was coordinating were struggling to find unlettered students. I thought of Kiran Bedi and reforms in Tihar Jail. I met her and offered services of public schools in Tihar education program. She was very happy and invited the schools to help. Schools joined with Gusto. Students and teachers came forward to donate Television to stationery and their precious time in adult education program of Tihar inmates. After being awarded Magsaysay award she thanked me for strengthening her efforts in school speeches. Her Charismatic personality attracted lit more schools. First time I met her was in 1977 as a student in Lady Irwin college. Since 1996 the NGO I founded has been working closely with Tihar inmates and Tihar staff.

Working with Rajni Kumar (1990-1995):

She had just retired from Springdale as the Principal. She was the Chairperson of Patel Education Society. Though my job was to assist her she gave me full freedom. I got lots of exposure to work with politicians, community, leaders, Principals, Vice Principals, teachers, social workers, sports teachers. Drama, poem and debate and other cultural programs were part and parcel of Literacy program. Theatre personalities like Mr. M. K. Raina ,V.K Dadi Padam ji and many other artists of repute. Met Shubha Mudgal also.

Meeting Mother Teresa 1993:

I share my birthday with her. 26th August. For me it was a god sent moment when National Literacy DG selected me to go to Calcutta to invite her for International Literacy Day. A hug from her and a photograph with her are my most cherished moment and possession.

Taking part in Republic Day parade 1996:

High light of my life was coordinating this event. My daughter was a participant. We worked with senior officers from Defence Ministry and other departments. Walking on Rajpath during December January winter for rehearsal and then early morning participation on 26th January 1996 will remain etched on my heart.

1996 –1999:

With in a month, I joined as a Consultant Adult Education and Income Generation for CASP Plan, a national-level organization. This resulted in starting of SCOPE Plus. I founded this organisation in 1996 with my family and friends. We completed 27 years on 15th July 2023.

1996 Onwards:

Founder NGO, SCOPE Plus The association with CASP plan guided me to start an organisation SCOPE Plus. The organisation is volunteer based. Coordinating all the volunteers has been my sole responsibility. Since 1996 it is officed in our residence. This way I could manage my family responsibility in a better way.

1998- 2001:

Consultant Computer Literacy for school dropouts, Indira Gandhi Open University The adult education was for the illiterate’s Semi-literate youth were missing out digital revolution. I had started Computer Literacy classes in Tihar Jail. This was inspired by my husband who was the Editor in Chief of Cyber media. I was engaged by Indira Gandhi Open University by my Ex-Colleague Dr. Anita Dighe who was the Director. My job was to encourage computer centres to enrol school dropouts in Computer courses. Challenge was lack of English knowledge. So, I started English module with help of another colleague Saloni Mathur.

2002 –2005:

Secretary KIDAVRI, a network of NGOs working for the youth

1996 –1999:

With in a month, I joined as a Consultant Adult Education and Income Generation for CASP Plan, a national-level organization. This resulted in starting of SCOPE Plus. I founded this organisation in 1996 with my family and friends. We completed 27 years on 15th July 2023.

2008 Onwards:

Resource person for Justice Sunanda Bhandare foundation for Gender Sensitization. Conducted about 48 trainings for South Delhi policemen on Gender sensitisation through the Women’s cell, Nanak pura and Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation for South Delhi Police stations. Conducted about 55 trainings from 2008 to 2013 Police personnel was trained from the following police stations:

• Kalka ji
• Lodhi Road
• Kotla Mubarakpur
• New Friends Colony
• Lajpat Nagar
• Sarita Vihar
• Haus Khas
• Saket
• Ashok Vihar

2013 Onwards:

Volunteer Teacher /trainer/speaker at Soami Nagar Model school for lower income group I have been Speaker on Motivation, Living a positive Life and other social issues Some of the Institutions where I have given talks in Fifteen years:

• MoolChand Hospital
• Delhi Commonwealth Association Medical Centre
• Central School Babina and Management Institute, Jhansi
• Desh Bandhu Gupta College
• Shivaji College
• Soami Nagar Model School
• Harkishan Public School, India Gate
• Harkishan Public School, Karol Bagh
• Rani Laxmi Bai College, Shakti Nagar
• Institute of Home Economics, Haus Khas
• Janaki Devi College, Pusa Road
• Management Institute Jhansi
• Daulat Ram College, North Campus
• Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology and Management, North Delhi
• Delhi School of Social Work, Mall Road
• Mater Dei Convent, India Gate
• Mata Sundri College
• Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management
• Various Government schools in Haus Rani, Soami Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Piragarhi, Malcha Marg, Ashram Hari Nagar, Village Bawana

Email: scopeplus@gmail.com

Phone: +91 9818333200