Pingalwara comes to the rescue of lesser privileged

Neha Saini

Tribune News service

Amritsar, January 22

Running a successful rehabilitation programme for the destitute, homeless, mentally and physically challenged, Pingalwara Charitable Society has become an example in terms of providing opportunities to the lesser privileged. Pingalwara, a destitute home founded by Bhagat Puran Singh in 1924, comes to the aid of homeless and destitute with life changing results.

The society runs educational, vocational and counseling programmes for the homeless in the region, emphasising not just on material resources, but also skill and personality development. The main branch at Manawala, houses children’s ward, rehabilitation centre, printing press, dispensary, medical lab, dental centre and community kitchen for the inmates. Pingalwara also operates a blood bank, a shelter for intellectually disabled children and a free primary school at a slum area in Amritsar. Working selflessly for the betterment of the destitute, Dr Inderjit Kaur, director, Pingalwara, believes that rehabilitation of the homeless is a slow process, which requires sincerity. “Most state-run rehabilitation centres are just shelter homes, looking for short-term solutions. But one needs to understand that for the people, who have made streets their home, begging becomes a habit, their only chosen source of earning. Most of the homeless brought to Pingalwara suffer from this habit. Also, begging breeds drug abuse, which also is responsible for some physical deformities and illness. So, we have a multi-target approach towards them.” From giving them medical treatment, food and shelter to funding their education, Pingalwara helps them re-establish themselves in society at completion of their school education.

Dr Inderjit said, “The begging problem, as we understand, is not about quick –fix solutions. Some of the beggars brought to us run away after spending four-five months in rehab programme. I remember a case where an old man found begging was brought in and provided rehabilitation. He later started working at Pingalwara as a sewadar. So, there is a difference between helplessness and habit, the latter being difficult to overcome.” The skill development programme includes teaching inmates carpentry, handloom, gardening, maintenance of organic farms and housekeeping. Several inmates have been rehabilitated as volunteers, working for the society and helping others follow the example.

Dr Inderjit says, “For a long-term solution, there is a need to work on children, who are forced to beg. “We need to rehabilitate children, give them education, so that they do not take to begging. It also requires integrity, patience and sincere efforts by the state,” she added.