With gift of love, Chandigarh school-kids send warmth to J&K

Shruti Bhardwaj, a Class 8 student of a school in Chandigarh's Sector 29, was busy packing a gift in her favourite coloured wrapping sheet. Inside was a pullover bound for Jammu and Kashmir. But Shruti does not know for whom she is sending the beautifully wrapped gift.

Thousands of new woollens are being gift-wrapped by students from various schools in Chandigarh for their counterparts from the state. Like Shruti, there are hundreds of other students who have not only volunteered and bought woollens, but are gift wrapping them as well.

"I always wanted to visit Jammu and Kashmir as that state has always attracted me. But now, even before visiting the state, I am going to have a friend over there who will be receiving my pullover. I am very anxious and I am waiting for the reply of my new friend from the border area," Shruti told IANS, her excitement quite evident.

Adding the much-needed tinge of warmth to the lives of children living in the state, the idea of sending woollens was initiated by a Chandigarh-based NGO Yuvsatta. The woollens will be air-lifted from here this month-end.

The campaign has been organised by Yuvsatta with support of the Army's Western Command headquarters. Army units in Jammu and Kashmir will be taking care of the distribution there.

Christened "One India - Children's Friendship Campaign", over 10,000 pullovers will be sent from here to Jammu and Kashmir on January 30.

"One of the special features that has made this campaign very popular among the students is that they have to gift-wrap the woollen clothes with a friendship card and a self-addressed envelope or self-addressed postcard inside. Tis is to ensure that their new friends in Jammu and Kashmir could respond," Yuvsatta coordinator Pramod Sharma told IANS.

Yuvsatta volunteers are now engaged in reaching the maximum number of schools in Chandigarh to motivate more students to pitch-in.

"Through this campaign we will be able to promote the feeling of national unity and communal harmony among the students, who are the future of our nation. As a majority of the population of our country is youth, it is our duty to guide them towards the right way by such volunteering and community activities," Sharma said.

"This endeavour of Yuvsatta has given the students a chance to connect with the other students living hundreds of miles away from them. Students of the school are actively participating in the campaign," said Sanjay Sardana, director-principal of Manav Mangal School here.

(Akansha Sharma can be contacted at akansha.sharma9821@gmail.com)