Good Samaritans spreading smiles & doing yeoman service to those in need

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 19

A city-based veterinarian doctor along with other members of Spreading Smiles People Foundation Society are doing a yeoman service to bring happiness in people’s lives. They not only teach slum children, but buy products from small vendors and distribute these among the needy.

Those patients who cannot afford medicines and medical aid are given help. We even identify small vendors, who are unable to sell their products. Then, we buy these and distribute among the needy. Dr Arnav Kumar, Member, Spreading Smiles People Foundation society local chapter

They have been providing free evening classes to children living in slums. All volunteers of the NGO also arrange for hygiene awareness and menstrual health awareness among the slum dwellers. Every weekend, they teach kids from slum localities. They are taught English, maths, science and arts and crafts. They are also trained in making paper bags, showpieces out of thermocol and other domestic waste. They are also given tips to interact with people. So far, they have covered slum localities around Rego bridge, Batala Road and near Court Chowk. A majority of them are engaged in daily wage works and vending.

Dr Arnav Kumar, an alumni of Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, said he learnt about Spreading Smiles People Foundation Society from his Chandigarh-based friend Itika Sharma. Itika founded the society with a motive to spread smiles. It was nearly three years back that he started its local chapter.

Those patients who cannot afford medicines and medical aid are given help. They even identify small vendors, who are unable to sell their products. Then, they themselves buy these and distribute among the needy, he said.

The society has launched a project ‘Pehchan’ under which skilled orphan children are promoted. Their products are advertised online to help them sell it in the open market and the amount earned this way is routed to their accounts.

Another project is to feed street dogs, tie reflective bands around their necks and they are vaccinated. To fund these activities they depend upon above 200 members of the NGO and do not collect any charity.

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