Huddled under the dim glow of a streetlight in a crowded Bengaluru slum, 12-year-old Nadia (name changed) sketched furiously on a piece of cardboard. Her family, forced to leave their drought-stricken village for a better life, struggled to make ends meet, leaving little room for luxuries like school supplies, let alone art materials.

Her parents migrated from Raichur, where farming remains a primary occupation despite the poor groundwater levels. “They earn just Rs 200 per day working in farmlands in Raichur due to poor yields. In Bengaluru, daily wage workers can earn up to Rs 800 to 1000,” shares Chenthil Kumar, the co-founder of Proud Indian — an organisation bringing empowerment to children through art.

Nadia’s family — her parents and two siblings — call a tiny shed made of iron sheets home. For the five members, Nadia’s father struggles to make ends meet as an auto-driver. Her mother, a housewife, chips in by cooking food and taking care of the shed they live in.

Nadia loves to express herself through art — painting in particular. “Recently, I tried cake-based paint, and I made this beautiful sky with vibrant colours. You can see that painting on my wall,” she shares.

“The parents, unfortunately, don’t have the time to worry about their child’s education and passion towards art,” Chenthil says. “All that they can think about is how to ensure their child does not sleep hungry every day.”

Starting Proud Indian

Having spent his entire childhood in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari, Chenthil was strongly affected by the 2004 tsunami.

“I could see people struggling to find food and accommodation, all while trying to process the........

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