Chief minister Nitish Kumar awards Pradyuman Kumar (right) for his work for orphans. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, March 4: Pradyuman Kumar, the founder of Jan Kalyan Samiti Chakwaja in Vaishali district, has adopted more than 4,000 children since 1972 to provide them with rehabilitation and education.

While many of the children have become graduates, many are still with him — like Nisha, Raja and the others. Pradyuman had found eight-year-old Nisha, when she was barely two months old, in Muzaffarpur. Vaishali police picked up four-year-old Raja from the streets and brought him to Pradyuman, three years back.

Pradyuman, who was awarded by chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, has started an integrated child education and healthcare initiative in Vaishali district with special focus on orphans and destitute children.

Pradyuman said: “My aim is to provide the children awareness, rehabilitation, livelihood, healthcare and basic primary education.”

Pradyumansaid he mainly works in five villages — Chakwaja, Nagwan, Chakia, Mishraulia and Afzalpur. He said: “While many are rescued by the police and some are rescued from the roadsides, I bring some from the hospitals.”

He added: “The area around Chakwaja is very backward and has several problems. The major problem is poverty and ignorance. Many of them are illiterate and are not aware of their rights. Neither do they focus on education and health, nor is there a proper infrastructure in place. Doctors are also rarely available in the villages. I help organise awareness campaigns with Bhojpuri drama groups, which go to inaccessible villages.”

At present, Pradyuman has 50 children. He provides them healthcare, food, counselling and education up to Class X in non-formal centres and later sends them to Muzaffarpur for higher education.

Dhiraj Kumar, a Class VI student, said: “I don’t know my parents and don’t even remember them — I have been with him since I was one-year-old. He works from his heart and takes good care of us.”

Pradyuman, however, has to face problems in running his organisation. He said: “Lack of money is a big problem. There have been times I have taken some of the children with me to beg. There was no other option. These children have touched my heart and I want them to get good education. I like it when people appreciate my work and I hope more people will soon come forward to support such a cause.”