SANTOSH/23yrs

It is said that a pen is mightier than a sword. Santosh’s story is a true example of this. When Santosh filed an RTI for delays and denials of ration in her area, she didn’t know the ration merchants would take up a violent route. She was attacked, her throat was slit. She had an option of taking her application back. But she continued her fight. She kept on filing applications and appeals. She was attacked again and then again. Thrice, she faced threat to her life. Yet she didn’t give up. She simply kept on filling those applications. Finally the ration merchants had to give up. Their licenses were now under threat. Those who had knives and swords had to bend in front of Santosh and her mighty pen, with which she filed those RTIs. Even Mahatma Gandhi would have been very proud of this little girl, who took up a non-violent route of persistent perusal of truth. She was awarded Red and White bravery award for her courage. But as she puts it, the respect that the ration merchants show her now is the true reward.

Santosh presently works for the local movement called Parivartan. The people of Sundernagari (Delhi) have witnessed the beginning of this much awaited change. A change for a corruption free future of our country.