Govt needs to do more, says social activist
Dr Renu Nanda, educationist and social worker, has been working for the welfare of destitute children in the state, for which she was also honoured with the National Human Values Award.
The award was presented to her by Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal last year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had initiated the award.
During an interaction with The Tribune team she talked about her achievements and future planning.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You have been working under harsh conditions helping so many people and running several organisations, how difficult it is for a woman to strike a balance between family and social work?
Renu Nanda (RN): Where there is a will there is a way. Yes, there have been many difficult times, but being a woman I can well understand the pain of needy children. So multitasking is the way. With the passage of time, I have devised a system of maintaining a balance and as I spend money from my own pocket, I have learnt to make three shares of the available amount from my salary. One each for my two children and one for social work.
JJS: What has been the role of the government and the Social Welfare Department in helping you or such children?
RN: I won’t say that the government has not done anything. But its contribution can be much more. For instance, at times, there is not much response from government agencies when we seek their assistance and help.
These children, be they orphans or homeless due to militancy, destitute, differently-abled, spastic or autistic, need care or society would have to suffer in one way or the other by ignoring them.
The government needs to at least get a survey done of such children, including school dropouts, to enable all to know the number of population we have to cater to. Only then, concerted plans and schemes can be made.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): You have been saying that people should come forward and help in this cause. How do you want the people to contribute?
RN: People can contribute in the shape of donations. They can also help by sparing some time and joining these neglected children to raise their morale and to make them feel one among the equals.
SK: Since you have been working in this field for a long time, what do you feel is your biggest achievement so far?
RN: The inner contentment that I feel at the work cannot be replaced by anything.
JJS: The award must have been a satisfactory moment for you?
RN: No. For me, the greatest satisfaction is when any of the thousands of children studying, living in our homes or schools perform well and establish in life. I felt proud when a girl, who learnt tailoring from Shanti Niketan, was not only earning a livelihood out of it but also opened such vocational centres in the area where she settled after her marriage.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been actively involved with a number of social organisations. How do you justify you work in all organisations?
RN: I am actively involved in a number of social organizations, but it does not mean that I am solely handling all these organizations. I have a number of volunteers who are capable enough to handle their centres on their own. My role is of advisory and I only give suggestions to our volunteers how to handle the centre.
DM: Do you think that NGOs can play an effective role in the upliftment of the neglected and marginalised lot?
RN: No doubt about that. NGOs have been playing an important role in the betterment of that section of society, which is neglected. In my opinion, every person should contribute for the development and upliftment of such people. If we all contribute, there would a positive change in our society.
SK: Does your centre impart training of creative work distinctly for boys also?
RN: For male members, we impart training in manufacturing articles from bamboo and also collage work and creative support frames of wood, besides knitting shawls, mufflers, glass paintings and decoration articles of mud.
Archit Watts (AW): Do you have any plan to join politics?
RN: No, I am satisfied with my work. I have no plans to join politics. My field is altogether different from the political world. I am doing my job and concerned with my work only. I think I am not fit for politics. Being a straightforward person, it is not possible for me to join any political party.
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