The 12 year old with a heart of gold

NORMAL life has been hit by the outbreak of coronavirus. But some people are still helping others in this time of crisis.

One such Good Samaritan is a girl from Noida in Uttar Pradesh who sent a labourer family from Jharkhand home by air using her money from her “gullak” (money box or piggy bank).

Niharika Dwivedi is just 12 years old. She now wants to spend the remaining 17 000 rupees (R3 843) of her gullak money on the needy.

Niharika told IANS, “I was watching the news during lockdown. Everywhere it was about migrants. I remembered one thing about my grandmother. My grandmother says that if someone wants to know about emotion, then look into their eyes, you will know their suffering.

“The migrant workers have done a lot to develop our society, now we should help them when they are in need. I talked to my parents about this and they supported me. Then we contacted an NGO and I came to know about a family in Jharkhand, who were living in a shelter home in Delhi and wanted to return home.”

Three members of this family, Pyari Kol, his wife, Shushila, and daughter Kajal lived in Noida and worked as labourers. Pyari Kol was undergoing treatment for cancer. All three were unemployed due to the lockdown. Somehow they reached Delhi, but could not find any further means to return home.

“I came to know that the girl’s father has cancer, due to which his land has been sold. I broke my piggy bank (Gullak) and booked flight tickets to Ranchi for them.”

Niharika said, “I have 17000 rupees left and I will help any other needy with this money.”