Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Where would you invest your money if you wanted the younger generation to be the future leaders of this country? What kind of investment would you make to benefit children the most? Would you spend on education? Or on health? Or on something else? The answer is important as our resources are limited but that can be no excuse for not improving the lives of the marginalized children.

To rephrase the first question: What stands between the deprived children having a decent livelihood? The obvious answer is lack of access to education. Thus, for long it has been Deepalaya’s objective to provide education to the needy children in the slums of Delhi.

However, the provision of education alone may not help. From experience we know that a child cannot do well academically if he/she is malnourished/ has poor health. This not only increases the incidence of morbidity but also affects the child’s attention span. Hence there needs to be a holistic approach which takes into account not just the educational but also the health needs of the deprived child as well as its family.

Towards this end HDFC Ltd has lent a helping hand by donating Rs 5 lakhs for the provision of comprehensive health care for underprivileged children from six slum clusters in South Delhi. Not many corporates seem to realize the importance of investing in the health of our youngsters. If people do not have sound bodies and minds, a prosperous nation cannot be built.

This project entitled “Comprehensive Health Care Programme” was inaugurated on 16th May 2008 at a colorful function held at Deepalaya School, Sanjay Colony. Present on the occasion were Mr. Prabhat Rao, General Manager, HDFC Ltd., Mrs. Poonam Gupta, Senior Lecturer, Dr. Rajkumari Amrit Nursing Training College, Rtn. Wg. Cdr. S.S. Roychoudhury (Retd), Director Resource Mobilization, Deepalaya, Mr. Pradeep Kumar, Sr. Manager Programs and other senior officials and students and teachers from the Deepalaya School.

The function was marked by a colorful cultural program by Deepalaya students. The Chief Guest lauded the role of Deepalaya and asked the children if it is possible for them to have education or entertainment when they lack health. Instantaneously the children chorused ‘No’. Rtn. Wg. Cdr. Roychoudhury thanked HDFC and said that it has set a worthy example for others to follow

Health check up services began immediately afterwards. Dr. Satpal Kaur working at A.P.Dewan Memorial Community Clinic run by Deepalaya and Dr. Brijendra Singh, a private practitioner carried out general health check up of the children.. A group of nursing students from Dr. Rajkumari Amrit Nursing Training College performed a skit aimed at raising the awareness about preventive health measures. A poster exhibition and an engaging question & answer session also were held with the same intent.

The sterling example set by HDFC is laudable. We wish more and more Corporates would join us in giving a helping hand to the building of a healthy and prosperous India.