In the crowded, winding lanes of the Sawda slum community, Nidhika’s life unfolded like a bittersweet melody, heavy with sorrow but lifted by a fragile thread of hope. Born into a family of eight, her childhood began with the kind of loss that leaves scars too deep to heal. When she was just five years old, her mother passed away after a long illness, leaving a void that no one else could fill. It wasn’t just the death of her mother—it was the loss of the warmth, love, and security that once held their family together. From that moment on, Nidhika learned what it meant to survive without comfort, to live without a safety net.
Her family had to move to Sawda slum community from Thokar Number 8 in 2007 as their slum was demolished by the government to make way for a flyover just before the commonwealth games. She and her family had to live on the side of a busy highway till Dr Kiran’s relentless persuasion gave them a piece of land in Sawda, a place on the outskirts of Delhi. Nidhika’s father worked tirelessly in a plastic factory, earning a meager ₹10,000 a month to feed and clothe his four children—three daughters and a son. He did his best, but it was never enough. As Nidhika grew older, the weight of their struggles grew heavier. In 2019, her elder brother Jagat had a falling out with their father. In a fit of anger and frustration, he left home to carve out a life of his own, leaving Nidhika without her brother’s support. The family, already fragile, began to splinter.
Then came the pandemic—a brutal reminder of their vulnerability. Their father’s small income disappeared, and they were forced to rely on free rations and whatever scraps they could borrow from neighbors. In the midst of this, another crack formed in the family. Nidhika’s elder sister Jyoti married in 2022 and moved away, leaving Nidhika with fewer shoulders to lean on. The house grew quieter, the emptiness more pronounced. And then, the greatest blow of all: in March 2024, their father passed away after suffering a stroke.
For Nidhika, the loss was unbearable. Not only had she lost her mother, but now her father was gone too. The man who had worked himself to exhaustion to provide for them, who had tried to keep their small, fragile world intact, was no longer there. Without him, the family fractured completely. Relatives, who once seemed like a lifeline, distanced themselves in the wake of grief, and Nidhika was left feeling more alone than ever.
In the days following her father’s death, Nidhika found temporary refuge with her brother Jagat and his new family. But the warmth she desperately sought was absent. Jagat, now earning ₹15,000 a month as a laborer, had his own family to care for. Meanwhile, her elder sisters, Monika and Kajal, were lost in their own grief and struggles. Monika was studying for a junior accountant exam, while Kajal worked at a call center, trying to make ends meet. The once-close bond they shared seemed to crumble under the weight of their collective sorrow. Nidhika felt like she was losing everyone she had ever loved, one by one.
And yet, through the darkness, Nidhika clung to her dreams.
When Amar, a member of the Asha team, counselled and motivated Nidhika to join Asha, everything started to change. She began attending classes and found not only academic help but also emotional support that helped her heal. Asha became her second family. Amar guided her patiently through her 12th-grade studies, helping her score high marks. When the time came to prepare for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), Amar stood by Nidhika every step of the way. From helping her fill out forms to coaching her for the exam, he made sure she didn’t feel lost. Thanks to his guidance, Nidhika passed the entrance exam and got admission to Delhi University—a moment that filled her with hope and joy.
Despite these challenges, Nidhika did not give up. She dreamed of studying at Delhi University and wanted to pursue a BA in Hindi and OSME at Aditi Mahavidyalaya. With financial support from Asha Even in the toughest times, Nidhika’s academic achievements shone brightly. She scored 81.2% in her 12th grade and secured a CUET score of 329. But financial struggles threatened her future. That’s when Asha came into her life, offering her the lifeline she desperately needed.
But Asha’s support didn’t end there. Nidhika was also admitted to the Earth Institute, where she will learn valuable skills to help her secure a good job after college. This opportunity gives her hope for a brighter future and the chance to change not only her life but also uplift her family. It was because of Asha and Dr. Kiran, and the entire team that Nidhika could overcome her struggles and move forward. Their constant encouragement, love, and support gave her the strength to dream big, despite the odds.
