Cities will have all the facilities like education, healthcare, transportation, and modern living. But deep inside the hills and forests, many tribal families struggle for even basic needs. With very little access to education, medical care, or awareness, many lives are lost to preventable diseases, malnutrition, and lack of treatment.
This is the real-life story of a 14-year-old girl whose life almost slipped into darkness…
Mallika’s Story
Mallika Durga Bhavani, a 14-year-old girl from a tribal village near Rajavommangi, lost her father to an undiagnosed illness. Her mother works as a daily-wage labourer and struggles to raise her three children. Unable to support all of them, she admitted Mallika into a Tribal Welfare Residential School, where she could get food, stay in the hostel, and continue her studies.
Mallika was a bright student-always scoring high marks, winning prizes in games, and dreaming of a better future. But one day, she suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. The government doctor at the campus checked her and was shocked. Mallika had severe diabetes, something she didn’t even know she had.
She was rushed to the government hospital and put on treatment. From that day, Mallika needed daily insulin injections to keep her sugar levels under control. Even with all this, she continued her studies with determination.
The Darkness Begins
After a few months, Mallika’s eyesight started to weaken. Things became blurry. She couldn’t see like before. The Tribal Welfare Hospital examined her and found cataracts in both eyes, which were fast damaging her vision. They referred her to the nearest government hospital-but there were no pediatric eye surgeons available.
A private hospital in Kakinada finally agreed to examine her and informed the family that surgeries for both eyes would cost nearly ₹2,00,000. For Mallika’s mother-who couldn’t even afford daily meals-this was impossible. With a heavy heart, she took Mallika back to their tribal hamlet, hopeless and helpless.
A Miracle of Support – SEVA & Srikiran Eye Hospital
Noticing their situation, the ITDA officials guided them to Srikiran Eye Hospital which has been offering free eye care for children to the poor families currently and are in existence since 33 years in Kakinada. With new hope, Mallika and her mother travelled to Kakinada.
At Srikiran Eye Hospital, Mallika saw children, elders, and families from many remote areas receiving treatment-all at no cost. The pediatric eye specialists examined her and scheduled surgeries for both eyes.
There was no fee for registration, no fee for tests, no fee for surgery, no fee for food, and even the medicines were given free. Everything was done with compassion and care, thanks to the hospital’s generous service mission.
Light Returns to Mallika’s Eyes
Both her eyes were successfully operated on. Mallika could see clearly again-a gift she thought she had lost forever. She returned to her Tribal Welfare School joyfully, continuing her education and playing with her friends, just like before.
“If Srikiran Eye Hospital had not helped us, my daughter’s life would have been lost in darkness,” her mother says with tears of gratitude. Now, whenever she meets anyone suffering from vision problems, the first name she tells them is:
“Go to Srikiran Eye Hospital — they will help you.”
For Mallika and her mother, this feels nothing less than a dream.
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