07 February,2022 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Dev Kotak
Healthy and nutritious food items, like dal rice, khichdi, poori bhaji, poha and kheer, are provided to street and slum children
Aisha Sheikh, 37, is a widow and a mother to two children. She is among the many women who struggle following the loss of their husbands. However, an intervention by Kurla Voice - a social organisation aimed at providing educational, financial and medical support to the underprivileged and malnourished children - changed their lives for the better.
Reshma Khan, secretary and moderator at Kurla Voice, said "Underprivileged children are given food by our volunteers who distribute the meal boxes twice a week. Around 1,000 meal boxes are distributed in a week. Our objective is to fight and eliminate malnutrition. We have already identified such children and conduct regular CBC (complete blood count) tests regularly, which helps evaluate the deficiency in their body. Currently, we are helping around 500 street and slum children. Many of these children are of migrant labourers. They are spread across Kurla (250 kids), Dharavi (120 kids) and Wadala (100 kids)."
Healthy and nutritious food items, like dal rice, khichdi, poori bhaji, poha and kheer, are given to the children from time to time. There are around 60 per cent children in the 5-10 years age group, some are toddlers and others teenagers aged 14-15 years. The toddlers are given milk, bananas and items that are integral for their health at the early stage. Food distribution has also led to fewer children begging.
"Our initiative aims not just at children, but also on empowering the widows. There are 20 women in the cooking staff, but only six stay with us, as the others run their businesses," adds Khan. The women prepare the food at their homes and volunteers go and pick up the food boxes meant to give away.
Sheikh's husband passed away in 2019 due to a heart attack. She did not know how to lead her life as there was no support from her family members. "I got associated with the foundation in 2020. I cook meals for the street children and pack them into boxes for distribution. It makes me happy that I can do something meaningful to help malnourished children," she said.
"Even during the tough times, we, the kitchen staff, stand by each other and provide support. My children are young, hence I cannot work outside. After losing my husband, I feel thankful to have gotten this opportunity to serve people and take care of their food needs. Even during COVID-induced lockdown, the organisation supplied to us monthly ration. I don't feel alone or lost, I am more secure," said Sheikh.
She added, "Now that I am working, I feel confident and the future of my children also seems bright. Their school fees or other expenses are managed." A mother of a four-year-old daughter and one-and-a-half-year-old son, Asha Manjrekar, 35, lost her husband in 2014. She shares a similar story.
"I was worried about raising my two children. Then, someone told me about this organisation, Kurla Voice, and joined them. I have been cooking for the street children for the past two years now, and it has made me confident. I do not have to ask anyone for money and can take care of my family on my own," Manjrekar said.
1,000
No. of meal boxes Kurla Voice distributes in a week
