‘Wall of kindness’ spreads warmth
SRINAGAR: With moist eyes, an elderly widow takes a few warm clothes hanging on a backstreet wall which faces the picturesque banks of Jhelum at Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar.
Raising her hands in prayer for those who donated them, she says, “My husband is dead and my son was disabled in an accident. Poor people like us need these clothes. Rich have a lot to spare.”
Spreading warmth in the Valley, a group of young men in Kashmir have come together and set up ‘wall of kindness’ to enable people to donate clothes and food to the needy.
“It is an attempt to inspire people towards kindness. We are providing a platform so that people can provide help themselves,” said 29-year-old civil engineer Asgar Baba who is one of the 30 youths who have started the initiative in the Valley, which is gripped with intense cold wave conditions.
The initiative is by Londonbased charitable organisation ‘Who is Hussain’ which started the drive across countries, beginning Iran, in 2015.
Painted in white, black and red with the message ‘take if you need, hang if you have’, the wall is situated at the iconic walkway on the banks of Jhelum river called The Bund. The youth have been allowed to use the wall by Srinagar Municipal Corporation for a few days and may be given more time owing to its success.
“The initiative is self financed. People are donating clothes and food, however, we do not want to remain restricted to just that and expand to other donations as well ,” said another volunteer Sheezan Muntazir, 24, a student.
SOCIAL MEDIA APPLAUDS MOVE
The initiative has been commended on social media as people come out to help and donate generously. “This is a good step but needs to be done in an organised manner. The clothes should be usable and must be washed and repacked to make the help more meaningful and dignified,” said a local resident Masood Raina.
Meanwhile, the volunteers say that they plan to organise similar initiatives in Kashmir in the near future.
“This is just the beginning. We are planning an event in Kashmir University where people can donate books and stationery to those who cannot afford the same. We are also in talks to start delivery of food packets to needy households,” Baba said.
SIMILAR INITIATIVE
On similar lines, another initiative ‘Apparels for Poor’ is ongoing in Kashmir since mid November. Started by a group of doctors, the initiative aims at collecting warm clothes, including sweaters, Pherans and caps, and distributing the same among the needy.
“We have already distributed 250 sets of clothes with most of them being new or never used before. We are in the process of distributing another 200 set,” a doctor associated with the initiative said.