Place: State of West Bengal-India
Inspiration:
One fine morning, in April 2001, a member of the Sai Organisation in West Bengal was glancing through a local daily newspaper in Bengali. As usual as for anybody, his eyes were just hovering through the important headlines and suddenly they stopped upon catching a glimpse of a picture in the newspaper. Ah, what was this picture that caught his attention? Not anything which probably a normal person would even think of. It was a picture of an infant who was chained to a collapsible steel gate at the Dum Dum Metro Station! The headline aroused curiosity in the minds of the reader and he read the article deeply.
Pathetic Condition:
This mother of the child worked as domestic help at several houses. Every morning, she would leave her child at the station after chaining him to a collapsible steel gate with an iron chain with no one to take care of the child until she returned in the evening! This news article and the picture left the reader speechless while instigating the urge to do something in the context in his heart that was filled with emotions. The next morning a group of Sai Youth went to the site to have a firsthand account of the situation. Lo and behold! The situation was even worse as there were several other children who lived and slept on the platform on daily basis. They were around 30-35 in number. These children had the Metro Station itself to them as their house but with no one to care, no one to feed them and no to ask them how they were!
Step in Action:
Beginning with April 14th, 2001 that marked the Bengali New Year day, the Sai Organisation took up the task of taking care of these children as an opportunity granted by Lord to serve Him. Each morning, a group of Sai youth and Sevadal would reach the platform at 6.30 am, wake-up the little toddlers and a few grown up, brush their teeth and bathe them. Thereafter, would begin a class in human values on the station itself. The class, that is based on the concept of Bal Vikas, would finely ingrain in itself all the elements of interest and fun that would make the class attractive to the children while, at the same time, cultivating the moral values and basic habit of hygiene and etiquettes.
Change in Attitude:
The children would sing, have fun, have somebody who would listen to them and above all, somebody who really loved them for they had never experienced what motherly care means and how it feels. Thereafter, every morning is concluded with a healthy breakfast consisting of chapattis, vegetables and a glass of milk.
Towards Academics:
After a few months of the beginning of this activity, classes consisting of academic lessons based on elementary education were started. The children would be grouped in groups of 5 to 6 with one mentor or coach from amongst the Sai Youth. Gradually, the academic classes became a regular feature with moral classes being conducted twice in a week. Over a period of time, a great amount of bonding developed between the Sai Workers and these children.
Appreciation:
Often the passengers and the passersby casually stand-by to observe what is happening, but such is the joy of watching these children studying, singing and dancing, that it leaves everyone mesmerized.
Continuity for 365 days:
This activity which is called as the “Dum Dum Metro Children Welfare Project” is carried on 365 days in a year and has been continuing since April 2001. A significant and positive change has been observed in the children given the venomous surrounding they live in. They have given up bad habits and addictions. Considerable reduction of slang has been witnessed in their daily dialect. With the seed of discrimination blossoming in their heart, the have stopped taking resort to begging and committing petty crimes with grown ones motivated to eke out their daily living in a righteous manner.
Annual Retreat:
Every Year on the occasions of Bengali New Year or on a festival day, the children visit our Sri Sathya Sai Seva center at Barrackpore. Here they are given a thorough wash and new clothes. Special delicacies are prepared, as per their request. All day they play, watch films in the big screen using LCD projector, our Youth members organize magic shows, game shows, musical programs for the children, which they participate in with full gusto. It is heart rendering to see how they crave for love, for a single pat of affection and a warm embrace from their Sai brothers and sisters.
It is on-Going Service:
Though several other new children have been added and many grown ones have left, this activity of sharing love with the innocents continues with the same vibrancy, enthusiasm, love and dedication to the Master with every rising sun knocking at the heart of a group of dedicated Sai Workers, waking them up and taking them to the Dum Dum Metro Station to share and care, to love and scold, to chide and smile – before they begin their mundane and worldly activities each day!
Project Coordinator: Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-West Bengal Contact Person: Sri S P Lahiri, State President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-West Bengal State, mail ID: ssssowb.mail@gmail.com
For additional info: admin@ssssoindia.org
