Gulabi Gang, a DB Block-based ladies group, celebrated Saraswati puja by donating a laptop to a needy student.
The student, Sahil Ali Molla, is a Class IX student from Rajarhat who neither had a laptop nor smartphone before this and so was unable to attend online classes. “This laptop will help me a lot. I want to study and become a scientist and help humanity through my inventions," said the boy who regularly watches educational videos on his father’s phone.
Sonali Basak, founder of Gulabi Gang, said that despite primarily being a cultural group, they wanted to do their bit for society. “Our members contribute Rs 100 a month to a fund that is eventually used for a noble cause”, she said. “Till December, we had saved around Rs 10,000 and thought of donating it when our member Mou Dubey told us about Sahil, who is a bright student in need of a gadget.”
Dubey said Sahil’s father Yead Ali Molla had approached her at the end of last year. “I know Molla through our family business. Initially we thought of buying a second-hand computer but realised their family would probably need to spend a lot on its maintenance, so we purchased a brand new laptop for Rs 21,000 instead,” she said. The balance amount was footed by Dubey’s son Samya, who is in the printing business. “When we initiated this membership fund, our objective was to help the needy in fields of education, health, elderly care etc. and this fit the bill.”
Molla was grateful for the help. “I used to work in a private firm but lost my job during the pandemic. I can barely make ends meet these days let alone afford to buy a computer. But since my son is interested in studies, I appealed for a laptop. He can study now.”