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Bhubaneswar, 28/5/2021 ( Odisha Samachar )- Amidst the all pervading gloom of fear, uncertainty and practical inconveniences, small but meaningful actions of a few young people rekindles the hope for a better tomorrow. The tireless efforts put in by the frontline workers like the doctors, nurses, care givers and essential service providers are protecting the people from the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from these frontline warriors, a few volunteers are also contributing in their own small ways to alleviate the suffering of the people during the lockdown period.
The plight of the people living in the slums has become manifold due to the disruption of their livelihoods. As the schools and colleges remained closed indefinitely and no outdoor games or activities are allowed due to the lockdown situation the children of the slums are the most hit. They are also deprived of the free mid-day meals served to them during the school days. As a result many poor children are facing starvation and malnutrition. They are also finding it difficult to remain confined to their tiny makeshift houses without proper amenities. This is also impacting the mental wellbeing of these children, some of whom are also experiencing depression and trauma.
Sakuntala Nayak, a young girl of Salia Sahi slum in Bhubaneswar, is reaching out to 300 such small children in her community and making a change in their environment. Sakuntala is a graduate and a volunteer of one NGO–‘Society for Nature, Education and Health (SNEH)’ working among the people of Salia Sahi slum. She is moving from house to house and meeting these children and making them aware about the Covid appropriate behavior and encouraging them to engage in various creative activities like drawing, painting, making crafts using the household waste materials, writing poems and stories and also doing exercises to remain both mentally and physically fit. She is also helping them with their studies and inspiring them in boosting their confidence. It is worthwhile to mention here that, Sakuntala was mainstreamed in the nearby govt. school by the efforts of SNEH which also supported her through the college education. She in turn is now giving back by providing free coaching to the poor children in the neighborhood. ‘Working as a volunteer for SNEH has made my life meaningful and I want to continue doing social work no matter in which profession I remain’, a beaming Sakuntala says.
