Heartwarming gestures by our children

Over the past few years, we’ve done many things to raise funds for PNLIT, and we’ve realised that fund-raising is quite a challenge. To a social-cause fund-raiser who may knock on your door, the most disheartening experience is when you express regret and shut the door. Donations apart, we have often found it difficult to get people to part with Rs 220 for a PNLIT calendar, or even Rs 30, in exchange for a PNLIT wristband.  
 
However, there are many generous souls out there, generous both in terms of time and monetary support, who share our dreams, who believe that together we can make a change, and because of whom we have sustained. When these generous souls are children, it is truly heart-warming.
 
Recently, Sanjay Dev, a young boy of 9  years, donated Rs 1000 to PNLIT. Sanjay had put up a car racing game stall at his apartment’s Christmas celebration on 24th Dec 2015. After paying the stall charges, his net profit was Rs 500. His father Reghunath had promised to make an equal contribution, which is how the figure reached Rs 1000. 
 

Sanjay, at his car racing game stall

Another young donor is Rohan Mishra, a Std 12 student, who like Sanjay lives in the Puttenahalli Lake area and believes that “charity begins at home”. A few months ago Rohan said he would like to contribute by donating Rs 1000 from his pocket money every other month. And he does! Apart from monetary contribution, over the past year, Rohan has spared some of his time doing a few back-office things for PNLIT.    
 
Some months ago, another young enthusiast Vishnu Sreenivas, who was then in high school, took a group of children for a nature walk around Puttenahalli Lake, charging a small fee. And he donated the money he had collected to PNLIT. 
 
We’ve also had our children actively promote the PNLIT cloth bags, while dissuading the use of plastic carry bags. 
 
Thank you children, and thank you parents.
 
“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Frank

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Flooded lands, disappearing birds: Pallikaranai wetland tour highlights impact of shrinking lakes

A vital wetland, Pallikaranai has shrunk drastically due to urbanisation, threatening biodiversity and vulnerable communities in Chennai.

Many of us who have lived in Chennai for years have probably crossed Pallikaranai Marshland at least once. Yet, we often overlook that we are passing through an area that was once ecologically rich and a haven for diverse species. But the marshland, one of the few coastal aquatic habitats in India to qualify as a wetland, is now just a shadow of its former self. Unchecked encroachments and rampant urbanisation have drastically reduced the catchment area of Pallikaranai Marsh. With the Northeast monsoon bringing rains to Chennai, residents are increasingly concerned about flooding. Experts point out that rejuvenating the…

Similar Story

Garudachar palya: The “hot spot” in Whitefield’s IT Hub

Examining the heat island effect in densely built-up Garudachar Palya ward in Whitefield’s IT Hub, which also has limited tree cover.

Garudachar Palya is part of Mahadevapura constituency, with an area of 6.5 sq km, which includes four revenue villages — Garudachar Palya, Hoodi, Seegehalli, and Nallurahalli. These villages have stayed mostly the same, while the city has expanded around them with more organised development from the BDA. This mismatch has led to issues like narrow village lanes becoming crowded with traffic, as they’re now used as shortcuts to bypass main roads. Looking at population growth, between 2011 and 2024, the ward has seen an estimated increase of 62.24%. This rapid growth adds to the existing strain on infrastructure. Ward no…