Stories of Recovery: Mohammed Firoz

July 14, 2010 9:34 am

Mohammed Firoz, hailing from Dharbanga, Bihar, might have reached Mumbai when he was 12-13 years old. He was in Delhi for some time, getting trained and earning in ‘zhari’ work. He was getting Rs.70/-a day, but somebody told him that in Mumbai they pay high wages for the same work. He needs that as he was the eldest of the three siblings and there is also a step mother, apart from mother, back at home and father stay separately, doesn’t give money at home. It took him 2 years to get trained and earn at that level.

He was used to smoking, but with the new friends in Mumbai he got into ganja. It helped him to get away from the thoughts of home as well as the pain from the daily chores. His friends were seriously into brown sugar, but he refused for some time. Eventually he also got into the habit and even went into injecting.

Family extended help, sent him for treatment, but he was not ready. Gradually the deterioration started, lost the job, he was into petty theft, chain snatching etc. He still remembers the day he was caught red-handed and beaten by the public. Once he was taken into custody and he slept for hours. Then they sent him to Arthur Rd Jail.

Soon he was back on street and somebody introduced him to Sankalp. After some days the staff put him onto OST. He might have had it for little over than three months and suddenly family came down and took him home. His sister was getting married and he stayed back. In six months time he regained some health and family took the first opportunity to get him married. Now he is committed to his wife!!

Today he wants to live honestly, don’t want to hurt anybody, don’t want to put anybody into difficult situation. While using he thought that ‘nasha’ won’t leave him till the last breath and presently he wants to better the life.

Presently he is in Mumbai, thinking of starting his Zari work on his own and including other like himself. But finds it difficult that he doesn’t have enough money and so has decided to work with Sankalp and look for other opportunities until he can fulfill his dream.