8-year-old donates birthday party money to CM's relief fund

While most of us would forget the news about drought in the state we see on television and read in newspapers, here is how little Kanishka Dongre responded to it.  Rather than just forget it as an unfortunate event happening to someone else, Dongre, 8 a class II student from Badlapur decided to put his birthday celebration on back burner, and donated the money (Rs5000) to the chief minister’s Relief fund.

“I saw on TV and in newspapers how there are people in Maharashtra who have no food to eat or water to drink,” says Kanishka.  “I asked my dad the reason for it and he said that it was because of the drought,” he adds.

It took Kanishka some time to understand the meaning of drought and water shortage.  But when he did grasp the term he decided to do something about it rather than turn a blind eye to it.  “He told me that he wanted to help these people and if his piggy bank could be used for the purpose,” says Raju Dongre, his father who works as a photographer in the public relations department of Mantralaya.

“Every year he saves money to buy something on his birthday which is on March 19.  For example, last year he bought a cycle with his savings.  And this year he was planning a big party.  But when he saw this he said that when people do not have water to drink, I do not want a party.  Let us give the money to them,” says Raju.

Kanishka then asked ways of helping the drought affected people and Raju explained to him how they can contribute to the chief minister’s relief fund which would ensure that these people get the help in a responsible manner.  “We then arranged a meeting with the CM who promptly agreed to meet my son for his noble gesture on March 12.  Since he does not have a bank account, the cheque was given from my bank account.  Our aim to do this is to inspire others so that people come forward to help the needy,” he says.

Happy that his savings will make some difference,  Kanishka says he would limit his birthday celebration to distributing chocolates in his school.