Samaritans reserve January 1, 2007, for bringing cheer and joy to others
MUMBAI: Some will dance; some will sing; some will drink; some will hit the road; and some will stay indoor watching TV, welcoming the New Year. But some good Samaritans will spread joy by doing a good deed on the first day of the year.
Like 19-year-old Shreelata Ravindran, a student of National College, who plans to spend the first day of 2007 at St Joseph’s Old Age Home, Vasai. “This way I will bring joy into the life of complete strangers who need a ray of light. I also believe that this will bring me good luck for the rest of the year,” says Ravindran, with a smile.
Young couple, Akhilesh and Richa Shah (name changed), is looking forward to welcoming the New Year with a new addition to their family from a city orphanage.
“We wanted to adopt a one-year-old baby girl. All the papers are ready and we will bring her home on January 1. We plan to celebrate it as her birthday every year,” said Richa.
For many, doing a good deed on the first day of the year is a tradition.
“I always donate meals to 100 beggars at Mahim dargah on January 1. I believe that people should not go hungry on that day,” said Mansoor Shahid Khan, who runs a cell phone business at Heera Panna.
Not to be left behind, activists affiliated to NGOs in the city are busy planning to welcome the New Year in their own way. Animal activist Anuradha Sawhney, chief functionary, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will be busy on January 1 protesting against bullock cart races to be held in Alibag.
“This is an annual affair. Last year, we managed to stop three such races. Villagers organise races and bet huge amounts of money on the bullocks. Not only is this illegal, but there is also a lot of cruelty involved as the animals are beaten with whips and sticks with nails on them,” says Sawhney.
GS Shreenivas, liason officer, Kripa Counselling & Rehabilitation Centre, has organised a “party with a message” on December 31.
“We are organising a party for about 50 people in Andheri and Bandra who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. It is a completely alcohol-free party. We want to show people if our recovering clients can have an alcohol-free bash, so can anyone else in Mumbai,” said Shreenivas.
Rutvi Chauhan, trustee of Ehsaas, an NGO, will kick-start a huge print and radio campaign against alcoholism on January 1.
“I think January 1 is the best day to do this. We will tell people nursing hangovers that the after-effects of drinking alcohol can be worse, and there is an answer o their drinking problems,” says Chauhan.
For 29-year-old Raja Patel, a garment factory worker, the New Year will mark a special beginning. Having tested HIV +, Raja was ostracised by everyone he knew.
A great fan of radio jockey, Aniruddh on BIG 92.7 FM, Raja managed to meet Aniruddh and go on air on his show with his story. Raja was married to a bar dancer, who died of AIDS. Two months later, he, too, tested positive.
When his symptoms started manifesting, not only did he lose his job, but people also started avoiding him. But after radio-listeners heard his story, they chipped in and collected funds up to Rs 25,000 to find a house for Raja, an NGO 'Umeed' offered to support Raja for his medical expenses, another NGO working as a marriage bureau for HIV + persons came forward to help Raja, who even received lunch invitations from radio-listeners. Raja will move into his new home on January 1.
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