Kerala: Lighting up lives of migrants

KOZHIKODE: The determined efforts  of a Kerala student studying in a Sharjah school have  brought cheer to the lives of hundreds of Rajasthanis living in tents at Koyilandy, her native place. Vrinda Mohan,   a grade 11 (class eleven) student   of  ‘Our Own English High School’ Sharjah, is the winner of the prestigious Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance in Sharjah for two consecutive years.  She utilised the prize money of 40,000 dirhams (around Rs 7,27432)  to improve the living conditions of the poor Rajasthanis, who have  been making a living at Koyilandy for over a decade by doing petty jobs and selling statues  of gods, goddesses and others.

Vrinda Mohan, who was moved by their plight, gave  the funds to the authorities concerned to provide them  solar lights, fans, books for their kids  and  water supply facility. On Saturday,  she came down to Koyilandy for a day and accomplished her mission by distributing the benefits to the people.  

“Every time I passed  by these people near Pookkad,  I  wondered how they could survive without electricity, as even a few minutes without it  is a nightmare for me,”  says Vrinda.  During one of  her visits home,  Mr K. Dasan MLA,  a  family friend, told her about the Rajasthanis’ plight and she  expressed her willingness to contribute for their welfare,  Vrinda adds.“I was surprised that there were students among them who have completed class 10  from the nearby Thiruvangoor Higher Secondary School and  are  studying in the next class in the same school.  They have studied without lights and  battling all odds, which should be an eye-opener to others,”  she added.  

ANERT, a state government agency for renewable energy projects, helped her provide solar lights and fans in their  tents.   She feels happy that  nearly 25 students living there can study  during night hours now. Vrinda,  daughter of  Sharjah-based businessman Mohanan Puramundekad and  Ajitha Mohan of ‘Nest,’ Nandi, near Koyilandy ,  is  interested in supporting children’s education.  She hopes to become a doctor to  improve the lives of others  and  work with poor people overseas and also in her native land. Vrinda also is in charge of  a students’ initiative named   ‘Down to Earth’  in Sharjah, where she promotes education.  She  has initiated several social activities under this banner.