“Initially when the lockdown was announced, we got scared and wanted to go back to our village. It was then that the contractor assured us of providing ration on time and we could stay at the labor camp. We received the ration thrice from our contractor since the last two months as part of our construction company’s initiative Kartavya. We also received an allowance of Rs 2000. If not for the support from Kartavya, our family would have been on the roads starving and suffering.”

Mumta started coming to iMpower club in October, 2020. Initially it was difficult for her to adjust to the new environment, but she gradually learned to read and write. Mumta now is well versed in Hindi as well as in English. She can do basic calculations and is an active participant in all extra-curricular activities too. Her mother is very happy to see all her children learning at the iMpower club while she is away at the work-site. 12-year-old Mumta, comes from a small village in Uttar Pradesh. Her parents, along with her two younger brothers moved to Gurugram in search of livelihood and started living at IFC labour camp. Mumta stayed in her ancestral village with her grandparents. Both her brothers became regular members of the iMpower club. Mumta’a mother, Rupali was also very happy with the establishment of the same. She observed the changes and felt satisfied to see the new learnings. Both her sons were able to read, write, interact well etc. After experiencing the impact, she decided to bring her daughter, Mumta to the labour camp as well.

Santosh started coming to the iMpower club along with his three year old sister. iMpower staff took Santosh and four other children to the nearest Government School, Khatola for their admission. The gap in his educational period became a challenge. To make learning a stable experience for Santosh and other children, iMpower supported them with preparation during exams, opening bank accounts etc. As a result, Santosh now happily goes to school. Like Santosh, four more children from Cornerwalk labour camp have been enrolled in school. Documentation work and other aid is also in process, to get every child enrolled in the school for their formal education.
14 year old Santosh came to Gurugram with his family two years ago. There are five members in his family. Santosh’s mother, father and elder brother work as labor at one of the M3M’s construction sites. Santosh takes care of her younger sister and brother. He studied till third standard in the village school, after that his family migrated in search of better livelihood. Due to lack of awareness and documents, Santosh couldn’t continue his education and he remained out of school for three years.

Covid was indeed a life-altering experience for the most of us. Some lives changed for better and some otherwise. Mamta Verma’s journey can’t just be categorized into either of the extremes. Reality, at times, is certainly stranger than fiction and Mamta’s trajectory of life is proof to that.

Mamta used to lead a fairly comfortable life as a home maker and mother of two young daughters while her husband. Everything was bed of roses for her until destiny had other plans. Fractures are uninvited guests as they say, such was the wound that Mamta met with. During the fatal second wave of the covid pandemic, Ravikant her husband tested positive and with each passing day post him getting struck by the deadly variant, his situation only worsened. He was put on ventilator and the doctors gave it their all to save his life, but in vain. They lost him.

This is exactly when things turned topsy-turvy for Mamta, as Ravi was survived with two daughters along with her before departing. A loss that was really shocking and unexpected. 2nd May, 2021, a date that clearly changed everything for Mamta.

It took some time for this inevitable reality to seep in and there was nothing in this world which could compensate the loss that Mamta and her family incurred.

“Sometimes, life compels you to leave the past behind and move ahead. Life without Ravi is unimaginable, it’s a void that can never be filled. But it’s life, some day or the other, you’ll have to come to terms with whatever has happened and let just bygones be bygones. There’s no doubt that He will be missed,” stated Mamta, with tears in her eyes and grief in her heart.

Mamta knew that this period of melancholy couldn’t prolong as she had her loved ones to take care of. Initiating something was now a matter of priority.

“I wasn’t well educated, didn’t hone any of my skills for years and was happily leading my life as a housewife. Ravi’s passing away didn’t just leave me numb but also baffled about the contingencies. I didn’t know what to do, how to go about things and how to plan the future of both my daughters,” She continued.

Little did Mamta know that the ray of hope wasn’t lying elsewhere but within her. She’d have never anticipated that her once attained culinary certificate would come to her rescue and act as a saviour. 

“I had learnt cooking years ago and also received a certificate but that was a matter of the past.” said Mamta, reassuring the world that matters of the past only push an individual to do better.

“I couldn’t understand its value until M3M Foundation identified it for me and came up with a proposal that they’d fund for my fast-food centre and provide me with everything that is necessary in setting up the same.” She further added.

Though initially hesitant, she gathered the courage to take the leap. “With someone as credible and authentic an organisation as M3M Foundation having my back and handholding me to climb the ladder of enterprise, I thought it was only fair on my part to accept this beautiful opportunity that they offered to me on a platter.” Said Mamta.

This is when Mamta, along with a group of close friends and with the constant support of M3M Foundation, built her own, cosy fast-food centre at Sainik market, Faridabad.

The shop, if viewed from the external lens might be a small affair, but for Mamta, it gave her a second chance, a valuable chance to get her life back on track, to help her daughters in everything possible and to live with dignity. She named her fast-food joint ‘Sai Di Kitchen.’

From a woman who didn’t understand how the world outside functions to a woman who now can be comfortably called an entrepreneur; From a woman who couldn’t commute all by herself or by a cab to a woman who now rides her scooty; From a woman who was comfortable being a homemaker to a woman who now turned into a bread winner for her family; Mamta has come a long way.

Kudos to Mamta and hats off to such women whose lives are nothing short of a hero’s journey. Kudos to the internal battles that they must have fought and more importantly, kudos to the courage that they showed in order to become something, especially when they thought they couldn’t do anything. Kudos to their optimism and kudos to their perseverance. Their existence in this world undoubtedly instils loads of hope and positivity.

Mamta’s life isn’t just a story that one merely should read through, it is an example that one should live by. A journey that one should seek inspiration from.

From a woman who didn’t understand how the world outside functions to a woman who now can be comfortably called an entrepreneur; From a woman who couldn’t commute all by herself or by a cab to a woman who now rides her scooty; From a woman who was comfortable being a homemaker to a woman who now turned into a bread winner for her family; Ms Mamta Verma, W/O late shri Ravi Kant Verma has come a long way and we are happy to share with you that M3M foundation under its programme Kaushal Sambal has supported Ms Mamta to not only establish her dream “Sai Di Kitchen” but also helped her to identify the entrepreneur with in herself and set the role model.

Today Dr. Payal Kanodia, herself inaugurated this first enterprise at Faridabad and we are happy to be part of this new journey of Ms Mamta Verma.

Departures are tough, especially when one doesn't want it but is forced to leave a space that holds a special place in one's heart, simply because life has other plans designed for them. It's definitely a poignant, painful and heart-wrenching experience for an individual to go through all the above. Aziza,  unfortunately, is no exception.

Aziza, a 45-year-old woman from Assam travelled with her husband all the way to Gurugram in search for employment. Unavailability of work compelled her to leave home to run a family consisting of six members. 

After days of disappointment for not being able crack an opportunity, she and her husband found work at M3M India. But life wasn't bed of roses as Aziza couldn't take advantage of any state and central government schemes due to lack of identity proofs 

M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M3M India, is extending its support to Aziza and her family. 

Under its meticulously designed programme 'iMpower' initiative, M3M Foundation is helping the family in making their 'Parivaar Pehchaan Patra'. It was an initiative taken to 'reconstruct' the lives of both construction workers and their families in knowing their rights and help them understand that they aren't any less in the labour cycle by any means.

Sarswati, a talented roller skater from Padheni village, Nuh district, Haryana, has achieved remarkable success despite her challenging background. Her father works as a daily wage laborer, and she is part of a loving and supportive family that includes her parents, two brothers, two sisters, and her grandmother. Her grandmother and kind neighbors accompanied her during rigorous training, while Coach Aradhana guided her to success. Sarswati, a Lakshya scholar, recently won gold and bronze at the Special Olympics, World Games in Berlin, elevating India's roller skating reputation. Her exceptional skills and determination inspire aspiring athletes. The M3M Foundation played a pivotal role in her journey, providing support and training facilities. Sarswati's family's unwavering presence and support have been her motivation to excel in roller skating. In the face of numerous obstacles, the collective strength of her family has been a source of inspiration and motivation for Sarswati. Their unwavering presence and support have given her the confidence to overcome challenges and achieve greatness in the world of roller skating.

Radhika Keshari, a 17-year-old girl from Gurugram, Haryana, comes from a spiritual family with a deep connection to "Krishna consciousness" through ISKCON. Her passion for spiritual music ignited at the age of 8, and she has since aspired to share her profound learnings through music. With the support of the M3M Foundation, Radhika pursued her dreams and embarked on a remarkable journey. She achieved the remarkable feat of entering the Golden Book of World Records as the Youngest Professional Indo-Western Music Performer. Under the mentorship of Dr. Aman Bathla, a Fastest Piano Artist with 52 World Record Titles, Radhika sang the Dashavatar Stotram in ten different combinations, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication. Radhika's deep-rooted connection to spiritual music has been with her since birth. She firmly believes in the power of spiritual music to alleviate pain and mental disturbances. Her music education, blended with spirituality, has enabled her to positively impact the lives of others, making her an inspiring example for many. Radhika's journey demonstrates the transformative power of passion and dedication to one's craft.

Manjeet Vyas's journey is a testament to the incredible power of the human spirit. After a 2015 accident left him visually impaired, he faced complete darkness and disappointment. However, his commitment and dedication, combined with the support of the M3M Foundation, reignited the light in his life. Today, Manjeet stands as a National Record Holder in Javelin throw and a Para Olympian gold medalist. His inspiring story showcases remarkable resilience and unwavering determination, resulting in numerous championship wins. Adding to his achievements, Manjeet recently won a gold medal in Javelin throw at the 21st National Para-athletics Championship in Pune in March 2023. He secured world rank 9 in the World Championship in Paris in July 2023 and the will be participating in the Asian Games in China in October 2023. Manjeet's story serves as a source of pride and inspiration, demonstrating that with determination and support, one can overcome adversity and achieve greatness in the face of significant challenges

Kelasahi, situated in the urban slum of Damana square in the Bhubaneswar City, Odisha faces challenges where the community relies on daily wage work or rag picking. The community showed little interest in their children's education, often involving them in unfavorable activities. With the support of "Mashaal Fellowship" the Ashayen team tirelessly worked with the community, emphasizing the importance of education and organizing engaging activities for the children. Slowly, children started participating, building trust within the community. With the help of community leaders, the team organised meetings for the discussions about the significance of education, resulting in a positive response from the community. They agreed to allow their children to pursue education and provided a community hall to team Ashayen for establishing an informal education center. With the community cooperation, the school enrollments had shown a high rise. Through the support of M3M Foundation, team Ashayen have made a significant impact, creating a transformative space for education and fostering a brighter future for the children of Kelasahi.