 |
|
|
Pooja Gandhi
|
There are some celebrities who tend to make it a big deal when they step out to support charity or a cause. There are others who do more than just support a cause — but they do so quietly. Actor Pooja Gandhi belongs to the latter, and DNA has found that she is quite the proactive person when it comes to taking up a cause.
“I’ve been working towards rehabilitating commercial sex workers for a while now. But, I’m glad that the momentum has picked up and everyone, including the chief minister, is sitting up and taking notice,” she says, adding that, “The CM has sent off an official letter to all the ministries that compels them to take note of our demands, which includes housing schemes and below poverty line identity cards for these women. Most of these women are driven to take up such a profession because they do not have an alternative career option.”
This is what led to Gandhi starting off the Gandhi Charitable Trust, which is now partnering with three NGOs — Jyothi Mahila Sangha, Swathi Mahila Sangha and Viajaya Mahila Sangha — to train its first set of women for skilled jobs. “We currently have 35 women in the first batch, who will undergo training to be placed in reputed companies. The training would be according to their expertise and ranges from BPO to hospitality and even security,” says Gandhi, who adds that the next batch in mid-June will have 55 women.
“I feel happy to be of help. They tell me that usually celebrities come, see them and leave. So when I first visited them, they had no expectations from me either. But I came, I saw and I stayed. I am glad I did too,” says Pooja, who adds, “The three months of training will not put their families at an inconvenience, as we are providing them a nominal amount to help sustain themselves till the women finish with their training.”
Comments
