On September 28, the lanes of Northeast Delhi that once echoed with violence and loss bore witness to a different chapter in Rukhsana’s life. Years after she lost her husband, Firoz, in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, she stood before a newly opened smile shop that offered her something she had been struggling to secure since his death: a stable source of income.
Firoz was brutally assaulted by a mob, forced into an auto-rickshaw and then burnt alive. His body was charred beyond recognition. It was only through a shoe belonging to him that his family was able to identify his remains.
The 2020 Northeast Delhi riots claimed 53 lives, many of them sole breadwinners of their families. Firoz was one of them, leaving behind a family that had depended on him not only for an income, but also for the security and stability he provided.
After his death, the responsibility of holding the family together fell entirely on Rukhsana. She had to run the household and make ends meet, all while carrying the weight of a loss that had changed the course of her life. Over the years, the responsibilities only grew. So did household expenses, while her means of earning remained limited.
Her children’s education was supported by Miles2Smile through its relief school, Sunrise Public School but education was only one part of the family’s struggle. Rukhsana also needed a sustainable livelihood that could help her support her household with greater financial security.
She eventually shared her struggles with Miles2Smile. The organisation helped her establish a Smile Shop, giving her an opportunity to earn a livelihood while rebuilding her independence.
On September 28, the ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the inauguration of the shop. As the ribbon was cut and the shop opened its doors, the moment carried a significance far beyond the formal opening of a new business. It marked the beginning of a more secure chapter, one in which she could work towards supporting her family through her own livelihood.
“I am so happy and at peace that I no longer have to worry about my source of income or my future,” she said.
“I hope this shop flourishes,” she added.
“The Smile Shop is one way of helping the family build financial stability and move towards a more secure future. But our relationship with the family goes beyond this support. We want to know them, understand their journey and continue walking alongside them until they no longer have to live with the consequences of such atrocities,” Aasif Mujtaba, Founder & Director, Miles2Smile said.
About Smile Shop: The Smile Shop is an initiative of Miles2Smile to bring the economically weak people who have witnessed communal hatred back to livelihood. In the span of six years, Miles2Smile has travelled the nook and cranny of the county and established Smile Shop. The name “Smile Shop” highlights the organization’s long-term commitment towards bringing smiles in the lives of survivors through long-term relief and rehabilitation works.
About Miles2Smile: Established nearly six years ago, the Miles2Smile Foundation is dedicated to making a positive impact on marginalized communities in India. From the crisis response during the pandemic to ongoing efforts in education and advocacy, the foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
