VEDANTA KHUSHI - THE LITTLE SPARROWS OF “KHUSHI” ANGANWADI CENTRES ARE BACK

Care for the underprivileged children is very close to the heart of Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group. “No child in India should remain malnourished and be deprived of nutrition, health and primary education” is what he has envisaged. In this process, Vedanta initiated adoption of government run Anganwadis in the year 2008. The intervention was for a limited period, benefiting children in age-group of 0-6 years.

Last year in 2015, Hindustan Zinc signed the MoU in association with Government of Rajasthan for the adoption of 3055 Anganwadis in Rajasthan under its project “Khushi”.

Anganwadi Centre at Khanpura is one such Anganwadi where initially 20 children were enrolled and looked after Asha Coordinator, Anganwadi Mitra and “Khushi” team. But during the start of the session this year, parents of some of the children withdrew their names from Anganwadi Centres and got them admission elsewhere.

“Khushi” team, Asha coordinator and Anganwadi Mitra took it as a challenge and decided to strengthen the Anganwadi and re-enrol the children in the centre.

The team invited parents of the children who left for the meeting at Anganwadi Centre to sensitize them and create awareness about the role-play of Anganwadi Centre in development of the future of their children. Parents were then briefed about the facilities and benefits that an Anganwadi centre would provide to their children.

The efforts of “Khushi” team and Asha Coordinator paid off.

Parents understood the importance of Anganwadi Centre and how it will help in grooming and overall development of their children.

They re-enrolled their children. Now there are 22 children enrolled at Khanpura Anganwadi Centre and the smiling faces of these Little Sparrows say it all.

“Khushi” has been creating awareness towards care for the underprivileged children – their health, education and nutrition.

VEDANTA KHUSHI - BE POLITE TO THE CHILDREN OF STREET, SAYS “KHUSHI”

I was travelling from Bangalore to Delhi in Karnataka Express. With fatigue of travelling almost 40 hours in train, with tons of baggage, it was quite an irritating and hectic journey. The time I got down on Delhi Station with all my baggage, a child not more than 6-7 years started pulling my shirt and started asking for money. As my hands were full of luggage and had a bag on my shoulder, I was getting terribly irritated. In all this push and pull my bag fell down and it opened. Everything inside the bag was on road. This was enough to push my patience and my hands did the rest.

Everyone who passed looked at me with anger and disgust. No one helped me. Rather everyone sympathised with the little child.

Though I left the Railway Station, that guilt of letting lose my hand stayed with me. From that day whenever I see a child begging I experience that guilt. Today, after almost 24 years, when I am attached with Vedanta’s “Khushi” campaign - for the underprivileged children in India, for their education, nutrition and health, I feel I am doing a bit for myself and for my country. My guilt has been now converted into energy.

The very first line that “Khushi” wrote to its members was ‘be polite to the children of street – they are not on street by choice but by force’.

With largest child population in the world and almost 1/3rd of world's malnourished children living in India, our country has to find a future for these crores of children. 

”Khushi” encourages individual efforts are what the country needs today.  Government, NGOs and Corporates cannot do it alone.

With about 50,000 members in the “Khushi” group on facebook from across the world, many want to donate money. But “Khushi” is not about donating money, but for donating time. Donations are not encouraged or accepted.

I am sure, many of you must be carrying some feeling for the underprivileged children in India. Here it is a chance to put value to life.. Join “Khushi” – www.facebook.com/groups/vedantakhushi. 

VEDANTA KHUSHI - LAKSHMI GOT SURPRISE GIFT OF HER BOOKS-NOTEBOOKS TODAY..

Lakshmi’s father works as car cleaner and has been cleaning many cars, including ours. A  work that he starts early morning. He is determined to educate his daughter, Lakshmi, and wants her to study till she wants. He has a cycle and daily drops Lakshmi to school, though the school is not far from his house. He proudly says, ‘I will clean more cars and do other work sir but education of Lakshmi will not stop’.  

We have been asking him about the education of his daughter since the final school result had come-out. He informed that she has passed satisfactorily and is now in class-I. After repeatedly asking, Lakshmi father informed that he has not been able to get the books for his daughter due to sudden expenditure pressure. May be he would buy after the summer vacations and till than he would save money.

Lakshmi has been asking for books from her father almost daily. Carrying empty bag to school, for a child who is keen to study, is very disappointing and discouraging, he informed.

My fear was that in all this financial crunch education of Lakshmi should not be left and the school should not remove her from the school.

This is when we decided to buy school books and other school items to Lakshmi so that she is sure of her continuation of school.

Adhering to the “Khushi” philosophy, giving cash was never considered. So I decided to go to the school myself, call Lakshmi and accordingly buy all the books and notebooks to her.

Today perhaps was the day. Lakshmi was called by the Administration Head of the school and she came with an old water bottle and an empty school bag. Neatly dressed she was quite, wondering what is in store for her. I told her that she would get books and notebooks and all other things that she requires to get good marks right now.

Lakshmi smiled and smiled and smiled.. also wondering why I was buying for her.

I requested the Administration Head to kindly get the books-notebooks. Lakshmi constantly kept looking at the Office Assistant who was to get the books. Honestly, the books did not cost much.

The Principal of the school asked me, ‘how was I related to this matter’. I explained him the objective of Vedanta’s “Khushi” and told him that ‘I did because I could’. ‘Someone else would also do, if he could too.’ 

I experienced a satisfaction of doing something for a needy child who wants to study.. and for Lakshmi, it was a bright “Khushi” on her face, a priceless “Khushi”.