Students pitch in for U’khand relief

LUCKNOW: A week after the city schools reopened, several students have come forward to extend a helping hand to the victims of the Uttarakhand natural disaster. Responding to the call give by Bishop Gerald John Mathias, several Catholic schools of Lucknow have stepped in to help the cause.

Principal of Loreto Convent L George said, “We have not fixed a specific amount for donation. It is up to the parents because they have already contributed for school development work and we cannot force them any further. But still we hope to raise more than R 1 lakh.”

At St Paul’s School, the students expressed their solidarity by putting up pictures of the tragedy on the notice board. “To begin with, the students collected pictures from newspapers and magazines and displayed them on the school board. Now they are all collecting money. Many of the parents have generously contributed. We expect to collect about R 70,000. We have not set any fixed amount,” said principal, Father Alwyn Madtha.

Similarly, the Gandhi Corner and La Martiniere Girls’ Alumni Association of the La Martiniere Girls College have appealed to all parents to reach out to the victims with any kind of aid that that they can afford. It ranges from monetary help to dry rations like rice, pulses, milk powder, sealed flour bags. Parents may contribute clean old clothes for men, women and children, bed sheets and blankets.

The LMGC appeal reads that all contributions will be routed through reliable help channels so that it reaches the victim and may bring some scour even as they battle with the loss of family, property and struggle to re construct their lives. A team of teachers and staff will accompany the transporters to ensure that the contributions are delivered to those in dire need of help. Collection will be done at La Martiniere Girls College auditorium between July 16 and 26 between 8 am to 2 pm.

Students of Cathedral Senior Secondary School have already raised close to R 1 lakh. The money will be routed through diocese office, said Fr Malwyn, school principal. The students of St Francis’ College and St Agnes’ Loreto had also pitched in, informed Sister Goretti, principal of the school.