VIJAYAPURA : At a time when many wait for government assistance to change their lives for the better, a group of daily wage workers from Shahapeti in Vijayapura is on a mission -- to help the poorest of the poor in society.
Under the banner of Bijapur Youth Coverage, the group, comprising autorickshaw drivers, vegetable vendors, painters, automobile mechanics, carpenters and masons, who struggle to make a modest living themselves, has built a house for a poor Hindu widow, who has been living in a deplorable condition with her three children.
Kasturi Rudagi, a domestic worker from Shahapeti, lost her husband a few years ago. She had been living with her children in a crumbling hut.
“After the death of her husband, Kasturi began working as a domestic help to raise her son and two daughters. Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke that rendered her immobile. This forced her to depend on others for help,” Mehboob Bagwan, a vegetable vendor, said.
Bagwan, who is part of the group, said, “Seeing Kasturi’s plight, we decided to help her. We collected nearly Rs 1.5 lakh, while masons and other construction workers from the group constructed a small house for her. Our efforts have won many hearts.”
Bagwan said Kasturi’s elder son, who is around 14, quit school some time ago and is now working to take care of his mother and sisters, who are studying in a government school.
While masons, centring workers, carpenters and electricians built the house for free, others in the group made donations and raised money for the noble cause, he said.
The proposal to build the house was initiated by Fayaz Honnutagi, Babulal Chaudhary, Mateen Meeradhe, Babajan Ukkali, Sadik Chaudhary and Zubair Mogare of the group, Bagwan said. Every month, members contribute Rs 100 each towards a fund set up by the group. It offers financial help to the needy, besides providing groceries to at least five families every month.
“For us, nothing is bigger than humanity. People from all communities are with us. Our members are only rich in heart. We are not doing this for publicity, we only want to do something good for society,” said Fayaz of Bijapur Youth Coverage.
