“What did I even do? I am a person with a disability; what was my fault? Wasim said while speaking to Miles2Smile
Wasim Sheikh, an amputee, was another survivor who lost his livelihood to Khargone’s violence in 2022.
Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, saw communal violence erupt during Ram Navami celebrations at Talab Chowk when two processions—one by the Raghuvanshi community and another by right-wing groups like Bajrang Dal and Gauraksha Samiti—clashed. Tensions escalated quickly, leading to widespread unrest across the city.
In the aftermath, the district administration launched a demolition drive, attributing it to the removal of “illegal constructions.” However, affected residents contested these claims, asserting that their homes and businesses were legally established. The demolition disproportionately targeted the Muslim community, leaving many families homeless and struggling to rebuild their livelihoods.
This sequence of events has sparked debate over the actions of the authorities, with critics highlighting the demolition drive as punitive and discriminatory, further exacerbating the suffering of an already vulnerable community.
Wasim was crestfallen after the loss and thought he would never be able to earn again, as his disabilities do not allow him to work in all the fields.
“Where will I go now? What will I earn now? How will I run my family?” Wasim said with a tear in his eyes.
Miles2Smile promised to restore his life to normalcy, even better than before. We successfully raised funds for his shop and provided him with a substantial amount, enabling him to rebuild and reopen his business.
“It is like a dream come true…I never thought I would get my shop again. Thank you, Miles2Smile” said Waseem after seeing his new shop.
Our Khargone relief work would not have been possible without the help of our donor. to learn about more stories read: https://stories.miles2smile.org/category/khargone-2022/
