A resident group from Jogeshwari has become a ray of hope for children from the tribal pockets of Asangaon. The group, involving working professionals, is not only helping the children with nutrition and medication but also organises sport events and distributes bicycles to help them reach their schools —almost an hour away on foot from their tribal pocket. Due to continuous efforts of the group, the tribal pocket of the hilly region has finally achieved better medical standards and all the teenage children of the region, who were working, have now started going to school.
The group, known as Need Vikas Sanstha (NVS) came across the tribal pocket of Devicha Pada three years ago. Located on the hills, the small tribal community was involved in brick construction as bread and butter. “Through fun activities and games, we introduced them to learning. Post setting a schedule for them, we requested the local nursery teacher to teach them for at least an hour daily so their interests don’t diminish. For primary children who would walk one kilometre on foot, we gave cycles and raincoats so they could go to school during monsoons,” Kamlesh Shamanthula, spearhead of NVS, said.
Mr Samanthula also said the group also organises medical camps twice a month and distributes nutritional diets to the children as well as pregnant women to keep away malnutrition.
