Making world a better place

Jasmine Singh

It is okay to say we have inched closer to intolerance, but at the same time, there are events that require our attention; incidents that we need to stand up for and recognise. No matter where we live, what we do, which caste bracket we fall into, each one of us deserves the basic fundaments of human needs. This could be as small as the right to get clean drinking water, right for education despite the physical challenges, right to jobs irrespective of gender. This is a shout out to all those who are not just raising their voice but contributing to secure the human rights of others.

Leading by example 

Vivek Trivedi, Chandigarh based social worker is always in the front line when it comes to safeguarding human rights of those around. Helping orphans with their passports and promoting sports among the physically challenged, Vivek along with his wife, Rekha Trivedi push the wall to secure these basic rights. The duo organised a program on Leadership And Capacity Building Of Persons With Disabilities Through Sports recently. “Interstate wheelchair cricket was part of this program. Teams from Chandigarh, Haryana and Delhi participated in this event. We could manage to buy 1-2 special wheelchairs required to play sports, soon we will be arranging funds to buy wheelchairs for all the members,” echo the two. 

Getting rid of drugs 

Mukhtiar Singh Patti, president, Anti Drugs Organization Punjab, Tarn Taran lost his 27-year-old son to drugs. “The numbers of drug deaths are increasing in Punjab as well as Chandigarh; I am trying my best to fight the system, which is allowing the spread of this menace,” shares Mukhtiar. In addition to fighting against the system, Mukhtiar is always one call away for anyone who needs his service. He attends all emergency calls related to drugs, whether it is admitting young underprivileged boys in drug deaddiction centres, or fighting with the doctors to write ‘drug overdose’ in the column of reason for death. 

Environment  for Transgenders

Swetha, a transgender woman, founder member of Born2Win Social Welfare Trust is making a valuable contribution to society. A Masters in sociology, she formed the Welfare trust to empower people who belong to the third gender, and also provide support to anyone who needs it.  Born2Win Social Welfare Trust supports the education of trans people by providing them space to study and also study material, provide employability to trans people in whatever vocation they prefer and providing them environment where they can chase their dreams and follow their passion. “If only people understood even 5-10 per cent of the pain that transgenders go through, they will find that the hatred is uncalled for,” adds Swetha. 

“We have a role model program under which we award trans people who are contributing to society,” adds Divya S Sarathy, chief operating officer of the trust.  

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