Aasma is 39 years old. She is handicapped, she can’t walk properly. Aasma is wife of Mr. Shehzad, he is a tailor, what all he earns he spends all his money in gambling. He gives her nothing from his earning. Aasma works as a dry cleaner and she irons clothes. She earns a very little amount of money but still she arranged for her children’s education. Aasma is mother of 4 children. Her elder daughter Farah (19 years) is mentally handicapped. Alisa (17 years), Manisha (14 years), Armaan (10 years). Aasma wants all her kids to get educated.
Aasma says she has faced a lot of hardships in her life. She have to manage everything for the family needs by herself. Her in-laws have thrown her out of their home for having girl child for the third time. She belongs to a poor muslim family. Her in-laws are so orthodox that they don’t want any of the girl to go to school, but Aasma fought for her children and now she lives alone in Kotdwara slum in a single rented room.
For SHINE Conference Aasma says last year she joined in with the dancing. It was the first time that she had ever been on a stage. She says SHINE is like a festival for her. Because of the conference she was able to make her daughters understand about their personal hygiene and health.