LOST CHILDHOOD……A Virtual Interaction
Ms. Anuradha Gupta, Prithvi Innovations
“Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.” ― Albert Einstein
Child labour, child marriage, sexual abuse, physical injury, deprived of education and poverty-these are some issues that we see and hear about everyday, but blindfold ourselves to them. To make us aware of the burning issues in our society, we had a brainstorming session in our English class followed by a virtual interaction.
On April 30th, 2021, class XII students of Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Lucknow, had fruitful virtual session with Mrs. Anuradha Gupta, Founder cum Secretary, Prithvi Innovations, who has been pro-active towards the issues related to underprivileged children and making lives better. She discussed about her work and how her team has tirelessly worked to rescue children.
She started the session with difference of perspectives. Something which is just a piece of garbage to us is gold and daily bread to someone else. How easy is it for us to turn our heads away from those street children knocking on our car windows begging for food and money. Prithvi Innovations has been working passionately for such kids by adopting them and giving them education. There are uncountable problems in the world and Mrs. Gupta believes in working towards it step by step.
Ms. Anuradha Gupta continued the session by telling how they have educated and made children aware of their rights. They aren’t even privileged enough to know what wrong is happening with them as they are not aware about it. The group rescued two children with the help of child helpline number 1098. She further shared a few stories of young children who are under their protection. They have rescued them from kidnapping, sexual abuse, depression and even suicidal thoughts. She made the students aware about various platforms where a complain can be registered like -1098; Labour Department website and State Commissioner of Child Rights.
We Jaipurians, just by listening to her, realized how privileged we are and should be grateful for everything. Mrs. Anuradha touched our hearts by telling how sometimes we crib and complaint about smallest of things but as she looks at these children, always smiling and all happy, she gets inspired. She asked the students not to pity them but to get inspired and reach out. Students were asked to become Champions of Change and educate one child around them with care and sensitivity and share their story before 12thJune 2021, as it is World Child Labour Day. Along with this Prithvi Innovations has programs like Bhumija program that focuses on awareness of women and helping them financially with exciting projects for them. Sambhav as well as Nayi Dishayen are programs for the betterment of street children. Lastly Annapurna program educates them about hygiene and nutrition. She concluded the session by answering a few questions of students about child trafficking and how can it be dealt with. She asked the students to be part of a group and work together. Later she shared a video of the innocent children.
Our Principal, Ms. Poonam Kochitty, expressed her gratitude to Ms. Anuradha Gupta for making the students aware of problems related to children. She termed the interaction as an eye opener as it threw light on small steps that can bring about a change in the lives of the underprivileged children.
Today we are counting our blessings as we are safe in the confines of our home and under the protection of our parents and teachers. All the students learnt that with our hearts filled with compassion and faith in the almighty we can achieve the impossible and make this world a better place to live in! We are grateful to our Principal and teachers for organizing an informative and relevant session.
Submitted by-
Ananya Tripathi
XII Humanities
SAJS, Lucknow
