Hardly two years old, Kartavya, the social responsibility cell of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University, Bhubaneswar, has been making efforts to bring smiles on the faces of less privileged people. The members of the cell, around 30 in number, have been visiting orphanages, schools for the speech and hearing impaired, and old-age homes, taking time out of their study schedule.
Sarvesh Shukla, who is the student coordinator of the cell, says, “Most of our members are girls who have a better emotional quotient than the boys. We, as a team, visit places and bring the inmates’ spirits alive, be it in orphanages, schools or old age homes. We carry eatables and other goodies for them, and have our food with them together to make them feel like one among us.’’ Sarvesh is a second year MBA student of the University.
The team had visited an orphanage some time ago, which had 25 girls residing there. They had carried gifts for the girls and provided them with basic food items required for a month. They also organised many competitions and gave away prizes. The children were also distributed water bottles and pencil boxes.
“On International Women’s Day, we felicitated 30 women inmates of an old age home located at Khurda. We made arrangements to bring them to our campus and got their medical check-up done, free of cost, at the KIIT Medical College and Hospital. We felicitated each of them with sarees and gave them the required medicines. The event saw a huge response’’ says Sarvesh.
The Kartavya team gets financial help from the student activity centre when required, and teachers and students also chip in with their contribution from time to time.
“With help coming from one and all, and the spirit of the team remaining high, we hope to continue the good work for a long time to come,’’ says Sarvesh.
kasturi@newindianexpress.com