While I was reading............

Sunday,17 February 2008

Guilt trodden, that I didn’t read newspaper since many days (A sin for a budding journalist) I sat down with the Sunday Times. It was very elaborate and a lengthy issue, but when you have a strong will, nothing matters.

As I read, many issues came to light:

• An accident at HCBS corridor (now known as Bus Rapid Transit corridor), Questioning its very existence. Same old unplanned ways of ‘improving’ traffic conditions in Delhi…..


• A special report on growing Maoist trouble in Indian states. Questioning the centre’s failed attempts to raise security and fill up security personnel posts.(As many as 7000 constable vacancies in Orissa alone)


• 1 shootout of a student (yet again) when he objected to eve teasing of his sister; A molestation case, victim yet another N-E girl. Questioning the Delhi Police and a slap on its face for the nth time.

But what really caught my attention is Shashi Tharoor’s article on the edit page. He writes about his visit to a school run by Bangalore charity Parikrma. Reading on, I find out how smartly this organization tackles the schooling business. Besides taking in kids from families earning less than Rs.750 a month. The organization goes on to make sure that other factors do not hinder their education. For example: They provide the kids with full breakfast on arrival, a solid lunch at mid-day & a snack before they leave for home. They also provide with bus passes and health care assistance to entire family during student’s years in school.

I recall that the most common stand poor parents take for not sending their children to school is- “It is useful only, If they reach till college level and later earn”

Now, interestingly, this organization is fully prepared to check this excuse also. They raise funds for full scholarships to send their graduating class to university.

Isn’t this brilliant?

When we think of charity in terms of education/literacy. We just think till a certain point. Like, opening a school for poor children. But this organization has gone a step ahead and has thought about all whereabouts that exist. They have checked all possible conditions that could hinder a child from getting education and have turned the negatives into positives intelligently.

Another thing, which came to my mind while reading today’s newspaper, was that there are so many issues surrounding us. Each needs equal attention, care, zeal. So, this leaves me confused. I want to do ‘something regarding everything’. But where do I start from? & how should I go about it?

Once in a while actions (Parikrma) rather than words answer my questions and leave me inspired……….