𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆...

It was around September 2024 when I came to Lucknow after my name appeared in the merit list for admission to the LLM course. After the admission process, a notice was issued by the university administration announcing the commencement date of classes, stating that all newly admitted students had to join from the specified date. In compliance with the official notice, I came to Lucknow to attend my classes and to give new dimensions to my future and to pursue my dreams through the postgraduate course in law. After coming here, I stayed in a room with Vayunandan, whom I have known since childhood and who has also stayed with me in various CCIs.

I had never heard the word care leaver before, nor did I know what it really meant—even though I myself was one. One day, while talking with Vayunandan, he told me about the CLU–Uttar Pradesh WhatsApp group. He explained that the group consists of care leavers like us, who are working or pursuing careers in different fields according to their interests. He also shared that whenever someone among us faces any difficulty, the group admins try their best to extend help and support.

Because of my past experiences and a few unpleasant incidents, I couldn’t really trust what Vayunandan was saying. Yet, he kept encouraging me time and again to join the group. Finally, after his repeated requests, I allowed my number to be added, and soon I became a member of the CLU–Uttar Pradesh WhatsApp group. Once I joined, I came to know about an NGO called Udayan Care, which works across different parts of the country to empower care leavers like us in various aspects of life.

A few days after joining this group (as far as I remember, sometime in October), the application form for the LIFT Fellowship, Batch-3 was released. I carefully went through the rules, eligibility criteria, and all the required conditions mentioned in it. However, I was quite unfamiliar with many aspects—such as the kind of questions asked in the form, what the actual selection process looked like, and what responsibilities one would have after finally being selected. To get some clarity, I asked a few questions in the group. Surja, who had previously been a fellow in LIFT Batch-1, Uttar Pradesh, kindly responded and tried to answer my queries. Still, despite her replies, things didn’t feel completely clear to me, so I asked again. Perhaps due to her busy schedule, she suggested that I connect with Narmadi, who had been a fellow in LIFT Batch-2, Uttar Pradesh. She advised me to reach out to her for a deeper understanding of my questions and to get more detailed information about the fellowship.

So, as suggested by Surja, I reached out to Narmadi and spoke with her about all the points that were unclear in my mind. She answered each of my questions one by one, in a detailed and clear manner, which I was eager to know. Gradually, I began to understand everything, and even after that, whenever a new question came to my mind related to this, I would message her, take her time, and at the scheduled moment try to understand this project better. Thus, I became fully satisfied and convinced. Along with this, I also had a detailed conversation with her about the projects she worked on as a former LIFT fellow and about her past experiences during the LIFT journey, after which my eagerness to work and learn in this fellowship began to grow stronger.

Thus, the date of my interview arrived, which I had been informed of by the LIFT Team via email. During the interview, I was asked about myself, the topic I wish to work on in this fellowship, and other important points, to which I tried my best to respond accurately, clearly, and honestly. Shortly after the interview ended, it was announced in the CLU-Uttar Pradesh WhatsApp group that I had cleared the interview (which was the first stage of selection for this fellowship), after which the next stage, a Group Discussion, was scheduled.

I informed Narmadi about this, which made her very happy, and then I asked her about the questions and methods related to qualifying the group discussion, for which she gave me valuable advice. Finally, by mid-November to December, the date for the group discussion arrived, in which all of us participants took part. During it, we were asked many types of questions, and opinions on various points were heard. Listening to everyone in the group discussion was a truly wonderful experience, through which I gained important insights related to the care-leavers community. After successfully crossing all these stages, I received an email in January 2025 confirming my final selection for this fellowship, which truly filled my heart with joy and happiness.

After that, all of us who were finally selected were invited to Delhi in January for the Induction Programme, where we each presented our future project. We had the privilege of listening to many remarkable people working in different fields; everyone shared in detail about the work happening in their areas and presented truly brilliant ideas to all of us. After that, all the fellows interacted with one another, trying to know and understand each other better. Truly, the Induction Programme was an amazing experience.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 :

When I started working on this project, I found it difficult to balance my classes, studies, personal tasks, and project responsibilities, but gradually I managed to improve. Earlier, failing to coordinate between project work and my own tasks often made me frustrated, and at times, even stressed, but now I handle it much better. Before starting this project, I used to speak before listening to others. I realized this, and now I make it a point to hear others first. During this time, I learned how to communicate effectively with people and officers, and how to express my thoughts confidently. Now, I feel more responsible and deeply committed to my work.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 :

During this period of the fellowship, I have visited 2 CCIs where I delivered lectures on various topics, engaged with the children by asking questions related to their issues, and established direct interaction with them. I personally met the DPO (District Probation Officer) of Varanasi district and had meaningful discussions on several issues with him. So far, I have written 2 blogs and 1 article on my project-related topics and shared them with the LIFT Team. During this time, I studied several official documents, aftercare research conducted by Udayan Care, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016, Mission Vatsalya Scheme, 2021, and aftercare provisions of some states, which significantly influenced my project work. Throughout this period, the guidance I received from my mentor, Ms. Sangeeta, and the LIFT Team regarding my projects enabled me to understand my work better and contribute more effectively.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 :

During this period, my communication skills have improved significantly, and I have gained the confidence to express my thoughts clearly and simply in front of others. As a result, I benefited greatly in my LLM exams and presentations, and now I can write and speak much better compared to before. During this time, I also became more responsible and accountable towards my work, which has positively impacted my daily life as well. Within these six months, I cleared the All India Bar Examination and the UGC NET/JRF exam on my very first attempt, where undoubtedly this fellowship contributed both directly and indirectly. Moreover, the fellowship I received for working on this project not only strengthened me financially but also helped me cover my personal expenses, purchase necessary study materials, manage medical treatment during illness, and meet other important needs, which was personally very significant for me.

𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 :

Since the tenure of this fellowship has not yet concluded, I will continue my research work on my respective subjects. In the coming period, my goals are to visit as many CCIs and aftercare homes as possible and to understand the existing arrangements to achieve my set objectives. I aim to establish contact with and hold meetings with as many DCPOs as possible. I plan to write as many blogs and articles as I can and publish them across various platforms. I will strive to achieve all the necessary objectives under my project, complete it in a satisfactory manner, and, at the end of this project, when I present the account of my work, I want my complete honesty, hard work, and sense of responsibility to be evident to everyone.

These six months were not just a journey, but a chapter of self-confidence that taught me that real change always begins from within. During my time in the LIFT fellowship, I realized that when we walk hand in hand with our community and work together, we not only transform ourselves but also become a catalyst for change in the lives of others. This journey of the project has strengthened my belief that learning is a continuous process in life—one that never truly ends—and that every small step lays the foundation for a greater transformation. In the end, I can confidently say that the LIFT fellowship has not been merely an opportunity for me, but a pathway to becoming a better human being, transforming my personality, and giving back to society—a privilege I am committed to embracing in every possible way.