I Have Seen Poverty And Hunger Up Close, I’ve Always Wanted To Make A Change

“Growing up in a tribal community near Dhanbad, Jharkhand, I have seen poverty, hunger, need and a lot of missed opportunities. Society didn’t see us as equals — the language barrier created an even bigger difference between ‘us’ and ‘them’. The coal miners community was the worst hit among them.

But I was resolved to do something about it. I just didn’t know what would be the best way to bring about a change. I was fortunate enough to receive education and get a MBA degree unlike all the little children in our community but my heart continued to ache for them.

One day, while I was cycling on a busy road in Dhanbad, I noticed a little child taking out a notebook and a pen. I stopped by only to see that he started scribbling on the notebook. I went up to him and asked if he would like to study and he said ‘yes’. I was excited, I thought this was the start of something new. But I hardly had an idea that this would be an uphill task.

There were more than one obstacles. Sometimes, the families didn’t want their children to study because they wouldn’t get the money they got previously from child labour. On other occasions, teachers refused to teach these kids who were rowdy and were often involved in petty thefts.

But slowly, I gained their trust and that was the start of Nand Care Foundation. Today we not only impart education to the kids of the coal miners and the tribal communities but have also been able to feed thousands of coal miners and their families during the pandemic with the help of generous donations.

The life that they lead is dangerous and full of hurdles. Working in terrible conditions, they often complain of persistent coughs, headaches and health conditions such as tuberculosis, asthma and other respiratory diseases caused due to the nature of their job. They ensure all this to feed their families.

I want to do everything in my power to give them a good life and their children a bright future. I belong here and working for them is the only way I can give back to them.”

-Deepak Kumar, Nand Care Foundation