Answered Prayers: A Journey of Sight and Strength

Sailabala Malik is a skilled 53-year-old woman from Kandhpalipada, Balangir. She has no family so she has dedicated her life to the betterment of women in the village. She has spent her years perfecting Pattachitra Art on fabric, wood, earthen pots and the like. Her designs made the centrepiece items in souvenir shops and with the money earned she runs a small shelter for abandoned and widowed women and children.

She dedicates her time teaching them the skills and mindset needed to become self-sufficient. Over the years, however, her imperfect skill has suffered due to blurry vision which impacted her precision and time of delivery gravely. With lower income, the demands of her shelter could not be met and it became her main concern of worry.

When we organised an eye-camp in her village, she exclaimed that God had answered her prayers. She has again resumed work with the same efficiency courtesy the corrective reading glasses she was prescribed and continues to inspire us with her dedication till this day.