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INDIA: Don Bosco alumni start food drive, clinic

Alumni motivated to give back to their community

INDIA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco alumni have started a free food distribution drive called “Bosco on Wheels” at the Don Bosco School in Park Circus, a neighborhood in Central-South Kolkata in the Kolkata district, West Bengal, India. The food drive was held in coordination with an eye check-up camp for people who are underprivileged in the area, according to an article from GetBengal.com.

The first event distributed sabzi (a stew) and 2,000 rotis (flatbread). The goal is to grow the project and provide a meal every Sunday.

In the article, Shahansha Mirza, an alumnus of Don Bosco School, said, “There are many who cannot afford a proper meal most days. The whole idea is to provide a proper meal at least once a month. Many of them have been drastically affected by the pandemic that shook the entire world. We want to give something back to society and create an awareness to inspire others to help society in their own little ways. The whole thing is being monitored by the alumni so that the right people can benefit from this drive.”

Vikash Choraria, alumni president of Don Bosco Park Circus, added, “Bosco on Wheels is right now in Park Circus, but we are also getting information from our members who are showing interest in doing the same kind of drive in various localities to spread the reach of Don Bosco. So, maybe in the future we might try other locations.”

Don Bosco alumni have also created Bosco Cares — a model multi-specialty health clinic which was launched on April 2. According to the article, the clinic has four departments — cancer, urology, gastroenterology and orthopedics. More departments will be added in the future. This free clinic is run by successful doctors who are alumni of Don Bosco Park Circus and are motivated to give back to their community. In addition to consultations, doctors also provide tests and medicines and will be seeing patients through their course of treatment.

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22% of the country lives in poverty. About 31% of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.

India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44% of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10% of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.

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Sources:

GetBengal.com – Bosco on Wheels: distributing free meals to the underprivileged

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India