Medha Pal, a second-year postgraduate student of Rabindra Bharati University, celebrated her 23rd birthday on Friday by distributing exercise books, pens and study kits among 120 children in the violence-torn area of Bhatpara and Kankinara jute mill lines.

Medha, the daughter of a retired employee of Anglo India Jute and Textiles Industries Private Limited, who lives at Bhatpara’s Babupara in North 24-Parganas, distributed around 800 exercise books to help students, who beginning May last year suffered two months of post-poll violence between workers of the BJP and the Trinamul Congress.

“My father spends a good amount of money every year to throw a party on my birthday,” said Medha.

The student, who studies social work at RBU, said that the plight of the students had moved her and it was only last month that she approached her father with a desire to celebrate her birthday in a special way.

“I knew he will be planning my party in advance, so I requested him to give me the money instead for the cause,” she added.

Armed with Rs 10,000, Medha ordered books and pens to distribute those among children who reside at Tina Godown, Darga Line, Kankinara railway siding and Labour Line-6 areas of Bhatpara municipality.

Beginning a week before the Lok Sabha poll results were announced in May last year, workers of the BJP and the Trinamul fought pitched battle that had lasted nearly two months and claimed at least seven lives.

“I had read newspaper reports about goons setting on fire books and uniforms of innocent children, and even destroying their homes,” said Medha.

“This made me resolve to celebrate my birthday this year in their honour,” she added.

On Friday, Medha went to the jute workers’ lines to meet with the students.

At Labour line-6 and Tina godown areas, sources said goons had vandalised at least 100 homes. Surveys conducted later by the Association of Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) had shown that 178 students had been displaced owing to the violence.

Ruing the plight of the students affected in the violence, Medha said: “I live in Bhatpara too, so it pained me to see young children having to flee their homes because of the strife. This is the least I could have done for them.”

Medha, along with her friends and parents, arrived at the Kankinara Jute Mills’ Coolie Line 6 on Friday afternoon, where they also gave cakes to 120 children.

Ruksar Parween, a Class X student of the Kankinara Urdu Girls’ High school and daughter of a mill labourer, said: “Our home is still in tatters. This assistance is a huge relief.”

“She has come as a blessing,” Ruksar added.

“I am happy at what my daughter decided to do for the children. It is a small effort, but every step counts towards changing the lives of these students,” said Soma Pal, Medha’s mother.