Youngsters nowadays may seem a disinterested bunch who are mostly self-absorbed. Proving this notion wrong are the members of Sulakshya Seva Samithi, who are heading towards bringing a positive change in the society.
“It all began in 2008 when I got Rs. 1,500 from my family for my birthday. I spent Rs. 600 on a watch and wanted to spend the rest on a good cause. I bought a stainless steel water filter for the inmates of Ekashila Old Age Home,” said Santhosh Manduva, founder president of Sulakshya Seva Samithi. “After conducting over hundred events from 2008 to 2013, we floated the organisation on April 11, 2013 with the objective of bringing all the activities under one umbrella. We have been using social networking sites such as Facebook to drum up support for our work,” he said.
“In all these years, we have donated 150 benches and desks worth Rs. 5,40,000 to four government schools, distributed play items worth Rs. 60,000 to orphan children, planted saplings across the district, distributed 1,200 blankets worth Rs. 2,40,000 to the homeless and the poor, have taken orphan children on heritage tours and organised special movie screenings for them, organised seminars on contemporary issues, felicitated unsung heroes, distributed clay Ganesh idols, financially assisted meritorious students, donated groceries, stationary items and other basic needs to the underprivileged,” said Manduva, speaking about their work. In recognition of its work, the Samithi was awarded the Best NGO by the District Collector on August 15, 2014 and on January 26, 2016 on Republic Day, apart from many awards given by various organisations and institutions. “The moment of pride was when I was invited as a guest speaker by my school where I did my primary education,” he said. The Samithi members wish to continue their activities and help more underprivileged to have a positive impact on their lives.
