Born and raised in the small village of Panyam Mandal in Nandyal district, Malavath Parameswari Bai’s journey is a powerful example of how education, care and opportunity can transform lives.
Hailing from a single parent family, Parameswari faced significant challenges from a young age. Her mother toiled hard as a wage labourer every day and Parameswari dreamt of a better future through education. “I lived in a small village that lacked educational infrastructure. At that time, I felt my dreams were constrained by circumstances,” recalls Parameswari.
When she entered class 2, Parameswari joined the Swami Dayananda AIM for Seva Tribal Girls Chatralayam, Nandyal, Telangana. That was in 2012. Very soon, the hostel become her second home providing Parameswari with a safe environment, nutritious food, educational support, guidance and finally, the confidence to pursue her own aspirations. “The welcoming nature of the wardens (Sri. Moksheswara Reddy and his wife, Mallama) who we used to fondly call as amma and nana helped me settle in quickly,” recollects Parameswari.
“AIM for Seva means a lot to me. More than a hostel; it was my home. Everyone treated me like their own child. The years I spent at the Chatralayam enabled me to make independent decisions and face life with confidence. AIM for Seva provided education and instilled discipline, guidance and self-confidence that continue to shape my life,” states Ms. Parameswari.
The girls living at the Chatralayam in Nandyal are actively involved in the day to day running of the hostel, be it helping with the cooking, cleaning to even gardening duties. Many girls from the neighbouring villages are drawn to the Nandyal hostel as it offers them safety and a home like atmosphere and this enables them to pursue their schooling in an uninterrupted manner. In fact, a striking hallmark of the Nandyal Chatralayam is the sense of discipline and perfection that is ingrained into the hostel DNA.
Physical education is also given due importance at the girls hostel in Nandyal. Yoga is part of the daily routine while kabaddi and badminton are other sports of choice. “Going to school required lot of discipline as it required balancing school hours with structured study timings at the Chatralayam. It was lot of hard work but the environment made it easy,” remembers Parameswari warmly.
Maths was Parameswari’s favourite subject in school and she loved ‘playing with numbers’ and arriving at solutions. Outside of school, she enjoyed playing games, dancing and singing. With the guidance gained from the Chatralayam, Parameswari managed to secure the first rank in class, i.e. from class 1st to 10th and also actively participated in major school competitions.
Very soon, the Nandyal Chatralayam became family to her and Parameswari and friends studied together, shared chores and watched movies together.
The strong foundation in her early years enabled Parameswari to pursue higher education. She successfully completed her diploma in Agriculture from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University in 2023, becoming one of the first-generation learners from her community to achieve this milestone.
Right after graduation, Parameswari secured employment with the Postal Department and was appointed as a branch post master in 2023. Today, she serves her community with dedication and earns a stable annual income, bringing in financial security and pride to her family.
Parameswari is happy that she is able to contribute to the household and look after her parents. “Education gave us social recognition, financial support and inspired the next generation in my family to aim higher. My message to young girls is never let your current circumstances define the boundaries of your dreams. Education is your best strength. Stay resilient, grab every opportunity to learn and believe in your own potential. You have the power to change not just your life, but destiny of your family.”
Good going Parameswari. May you achieve greater laurels.