Monday, March 12, 2012

High standard beggar...


There have been many charitable institutions and big houses constructing hospitals to cater to the needs of poor. 


This attempt in Uttar Pradesh is no way in that league with such efforts. But, none-the-less the effort is noteworthy as intentions appear to be sincere and genuine.


When she had embarked upon her mission to construct a state-of-the-art 
hospital for the poor and needy three years back and requested the people to donate Re 1 for the cause, many simply laughed while some even ridiculed her.


Three years later, the hospital still remains a distant dream but the 27-year-old IT professional from the city of  Taj has succeeded in helping many poor and needy patients in getting back their lives by ensuring them the best available treatment by the best available medical experts.


Sapna Agarwal, who runs a computer education institute in Agra, is certain that her dream will definitely come true one day and that too with Re 1 help from the people.


It may appear “childish” to some when they come to know how she plans to 
collect the money for her dream project. Sapna has placed hundreds of small coin boxes at shops and offices in the city of Taj Mahal with an appeal to the people visiting them to donate at least Re 1 every time they go there.


“A donation of Re 1 may sound very little but the intention behind it is very big… it’s not so much a question of donating money… it is something that inspires the people,” Sapna says.


The first box was kept on January 17, 2009, and then we started putting up one or two boxes every day at shops and offices, she told Deccan Herald. “I know a hospital can not be built in this way but if millions join us, it can be,” she said.


The boxes are collected after every two-three months and the money in them is used for the treatment of the poor and needy patients. Today, there are 500 such coin boxes placed at different localities in the city. Even the Agra commissioner’s 
office has one such box.


“Many doctors, diagnostic centres and hospitals joined the mission after a few months and are providing help to the poor patients,” she said adding that one feels a different kind of joy when one helps a needy person.


“We have been able to get minor and major surgeries performed over 10 patie­nts, who were not in a position to pay even a few hundred rupees”, Sapna says.


“The patients come to us and we refer them to hospitals, where they receive free treatment… the tests are performed free of charge…. the cost is borne by us, courtesy the piggy banks and, of course, the magnanimity of the doctors,” said the young lady.


“Of course, we find it difficult to get major surgeries performed as they cost too much and we do not have that much funds,” she said. She gave an example of a 10-year-old boy Bilal, who urgently needs to be operated upon. The surgery will cost Rs 3 lakh and is available only at select centres.


“Bilal’s father is a daily wage labourer… he can not afford the surgery… we are 
trying to help and have appealed to the people to come forward and save his life,” she said.


“The idea came to mind after my parents fell sick a few years back and I had to take them to Delhi for treatment… they got better as I could afford their treatment but then I realised that there must be many others who could not”, she said.


Sapna lamented that the people, who have resources, do not show magnanimity and come forward to help the society. “When I started putting up boxes, some people called me a high standard beggar… I took it as a compliment,” She adds. 


Sapna has no idea when will she be able to start her dream project but she feels that she will one day. “I am prepared to wait as I know the time will come”, she says with a conviction that is clearly visible in her eyes.


"A single drop may be insignificant but when many drops combine, they bring joy and support life like rain," Sapna said.


WILL THESE LITTLE DROPS MAKE A OCEAN..

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