Feed a child

Child labour is prohibited in our country but still we find young children working on the roads, on construction sites, in small restaurants, in the fields, everywhere. It’s a dream situation where no child goes hungry and every child is educated but then, dreams do come true with efforts, intention and right direction. Nothing is impossible.

“There is no scarcity of food, we have plenty of rice, wheat, fresh vegetables in our fields but didi, we have food but there is no money. So I came here to work. Everybody works in the field but my daughter goes to school.” I could see my maid’s eyes sparkle as she said that they teach English in her school and she sings ABCD to her on the phone and loves going to school. She continued, “In her school they give a nutritious meal. I could never study because I had to take care of my younger brothers and sisters and also work with my parents but I won’t let this happen to my daughter. I want her to grow up into a responsible citizen, and earn money with a respectable job in a big office.”

She’s lucky that they don’t know hunger while there are a few institutions that have their own schools for mentally challenged children run by small missionaries where the parents leave their children because of their inability to take care of these kids due to lack of money.  Sisters work very hard with these kids and the schools are run with some grants and help offered by the locals.

Sometimes people visit to celebrate special occasions with these kids. Such celebrations are not only about sharing food but also about sharing love and joy and about bringing smiles to their dull faces.

If we can spend thousands of rupees in watching a movie, or on our personal well- being, it shouldn’t be difficult to donate the smallest amount to the institutions that take care of the basic needs of children.

I am going to #BlogToFeedAChild with Akshaya Patra and BlogAdda.

~~payal~~