Slum-dwellers learn benefits of maintaining hygiene

Naina Mishra

Ludhiana, March 16

There is a proverb ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’. Slum dwellers of the city learnt its meaning through sensitisation, besides their children were educated on various aspects of cleanliness and societal values during a drive here.

The cleanliness drive was conducted by Noble Foundation, an NGO, at Tajpur Road here today. Parents with well-maintained and cleaned ‘jhuggis’ or homes were bestowed prizes during declaration of annual result of their children today.

Mala Kumari of Tajpur Road is a Class V student of Maa Sharda Vidya Peeth, a school run by Noble Foundation. She bagged first prize in the school.

Her sister said, “I want my sister to excel in life. Earlier, we used to live in ‘jhopdi’. We skipped two meals a day to save money and build a home for ourselves. We clean our home every day. Our lives have changed.”

Rajesh Sani work as labourer in the city. With high aspirations about his children, he says, “Ye Jo bhi banna chahe, mai inki madad karunga. Inhe pura haq hai apna bhavishya chunne ka. (My children have all the freedom to opt for any profession. I will support them in every way. They have right to choose their career).

His son Harish likes painting as a hobby. ‘I want to serve the nation by enrolling in Army,” said Harish.

The NGO is mulling to open bank accounts of students of the slum areas, who have been saving money in their piggy banks for almost a year now. Sonu, who had collected Rs 3,800, the highest amout, was felicitated on today. “I have been saving money for over a year now. My aunt used to give me money to eat candies, which I used to save,” he said.

The cleanliness drive was conducted in different slum colonies, including Old Satluj Bridge, Amrit Colony, Bihari Colony Dholewal Chowk, Mundian Kalan and Tajpur Road.

Rajinder Sharma, head of Noble Foundation said, “We will be opening bank accounts of students, who have been saving money for so long. Tomorrow, we have invited DC Pradeep Aggrawal to grace the annual result function at Giaspura.”