Extending a helping hand to the vulnerable, one drive at a time
One might think that since the number of Covid-19 cases have declined in the Capital, the work of pandemic heroes would have eased. But that’s just an assumption. Take for instance, Delhi-based educationist Manisha Bhatia, whose work goes beyond the lockdown phase. Her consistent efforts are aimed at making women and young girls aware about the significance of sanitation and hygiene.
During one of the recent drives in the Capital, she, along with some volunteers, educated sex workers about hygiene, and distributed sanitary napkins among them. Bhatia, founder of Abhinandan, an educational and welfare society, says, “Our target is to reach young girls who are about to experience menstruation. We try to inform them about how to maintain hygiene and the correct way to dispose used sanitary napkins. Illiteracy plays a major negative role in their minds, making it a difficult phase for them to accept that menstruation is a natural phenomenon. We even bring in young doctors to speak to them
about the taboos, and educate them in the right language.” Bhatia’s organisation also runs a school at GRP Police Station, Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. When the first lockdown jolted the city, Bhatia swung into action to provide meals to children and their families. “The first lockdown was very difficult as we lost touch with some of the kids. But we managed to connect with most of them, to fulfil their basic needs. The children who study in this school are like family to us... In the second lockdown, we were better equipped to deal with it. We were ready financially, with medical supplies, and had made a WhatsApp group for distress calls,” she recalls, adding that they are now getting back to conducting classes again.
Bhatia’s team has also been urging people to get vaccinated against Covid-19. She adds, “We don’t want to restrict our work to just a few camps. We mark areas where we have to work for welfare, in education, vocation or financial help. Our primary work is in education, but welfare means that one has to be available all times, so that people get the confidence to reach out to us.”
We mark areas where we’ve to work for welfare, in vocation, education or financial help. Our primary work is in education, but welfare means one has to be available all times. MANISHA BHATIA, Educationist