Balveer Purviya is an addict for the second time in his life, but this time around the 18-year-old is getting his kick from karate, education and dreams of a better life, not drugs and alcohol.
Balveer Purviya is an addict for the second time in his life, but this time around the 18-year-old is getting his kick from karate, education and dreams of a better life, not drugs and alcohol.
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Leaving an impoverished home at the age of seven - a decision influenced by the presence of a drunkard father and absence of mother, who died when he was four - Purviya landed from Datia district of Madhya Pradesh in bustling Gwalior.
The royal city's railway station was his home and undoing for the next three years. Forced by anti-socials to pick pockets, he got hooked to drugs, alcohol and sniffing whiteners.
Purviya landed in state capital Bhopal at the age of 10 and was rescued for the first time by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Bachpan. But he ran away, before being rescued by NGO Childline, which proved the turning point.
"Childline provided me a shelter for a year. Later, they enrolled me in bridge course classes where I learnt from 0 to 100. I also started karate training," he said.
Setbacks continued, but Purviya fought on to acquire a brown belt in karate and an Industrial Training Institute certificate. Pursuing high school education, he has his heart set on becoming an electrical engineer.
Earning money by providing karate training and working at electric shops, Purviya has bagged multiple medals in junior national and international karate events.
The once no-hoper, who owns a motorcycle now, said, "If children like me find an appropriate place to stay, as I did, their lives would change." Childline director Archana Sahay said, "I am proud of Balveer. He is an inspiration for poor kids."