Ranchi, Nov. 21: Thirty students, two colleges, one goal and one destination.
With a common aim of community service, 30 students of St Xavier's College and Ranchi Women's College (RWC) thronged Cheshire Home at Bariatu today.
They cleaned the sprawling campus, taught the children and served food at the home meant for the differently abled. In return, they earned social service brownie points for themselves, necessary for their curriculum.
The day started with 11 first-year political science students of St Xavier's College visiting the Bariatu home at 8am. They spent two hours cleaning the garden, teaching alphabets and poems to the children. The special visit ended by serving a meal, comprising dal, rice, vegetables and sweets.
One of the students, Atul Sahay, said their visit was part of social work credit, which they have to earn during their academic session. "We have to earn three social work credits. We had earlier organised a blood donation camp at sadar hospital last week. This is our second task. Being a weekend, we decided to spend time with these 40 inmates of Chesire Home, who seem to be at peace despite their physical constraints," Sahay added.
"Tomorrow, we will come back to the home for a cultural programme," added another student, Antara Sinha.
After the St Xavier's College students left, 19 third-year girls of philosophy, history and geography (honours) of RWC visited the campus as a part of National Service Scheme from noon to 2pm.
RWC's seven-day programme under the scheme of Union ministry of youth affairs and sports started yesterday. It was just a customary welcome yesterday and the main task started today.
Even these students took out brooms and cleaned the campus. The little inmates attended yet another class taken by the RWC girls.
A student, Sanchita Karn, said the Cheshire Home children joined them in the campus cleaning initiative.
For the inmates, it was a happy change as the campus was abuzz with academic activities. "Our children can't go to school. At least, they are picking up the basics and learning alphabets and poems," said Dhanjeet Ram Chand (40), who also stays at the home.
