Every life matters and protecting them is a mission that many continue to undertake. In a recent act of kindness, members of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and a unit of the Army have joined hands to rescue and rehabilitate a 35-year-old elephant who was found in critical condition. The elephant, now lovingly known as 'Moti,' was found collapsed in Uttarakhand due to weakness and injuries. The NGO - Wildlife SOS has been talking about their journey in helping Moti recover through frequent updates on their social media platform. In the most recent update, they received help from the Army to bring Moti out of critical condition. The heartwarming post has been receiving several reactions and winning the hearts of netizens. 

A 35-Year-Old Patient On Fours

According to Wildlife SOS, Moti was found in a critical and malnourished condition. He had collapsed as his footpads had worn off and was on the verge of death when the NGO found him. Soon enough, the NGO took the elephant under their wings and have been treating the injured animal back to health. Moti's drinking and eating improved gradually, and a dedicated team of veterinarians has been treating him with utmost care. The NGO has documented the entire journey, and his recovery has been one of the most heartwarming things to watch.

Posting frequent updates, Wildlife SOS assured wildlife lovers and netizens that "Our valiant caregivers are leading a heroic effort to help the injured bull. At just 35 years old, Moti deserved so much better." The NGO is looking forward to bringing Moti back on his feet, but unfortunately, he is still lying on his side and is too weak to turn, even with assistance. An elephant's movement is said to be critical to the entire process of circulation and healing, so Moti's continued lack of movement had the team extremely concerned. Not giving up on him, they reached out to a former Army chief Gen VK Singh. With his aid, they got connected with the Army, who will now be assisting them in rehabilitating Moti back to good health. 

Army To The Rescue

As Moti is being treated in the Rampur district of the hill state, the Bengal Sappers have come to the rescue. The soldiers helped the NGO erect a kraal (enclosure) structure, which will get 'Moti' up and give him an outside chance. With the Army's arrival, the NGO and team of veterinarians have found a new ray of hope and have gotten back on track with the mission. They've constructed a large hoist, but since the weight of Moti's huge body creates significant pressure on his compromised internal organs, they have to be extremely careful and calculative. They have tried several types of harnesses and pulley systems to help Moti stand, but most attempts turned unsuccessful. 

The army personnel and NGO members have been staying up overnight, making modifications to the hoist with Moti's comfort in mind. He continues to be fed fluids and medicines and is hoping that Moti would find the strength for their attempts to help him stand. The NGO conveyed that "This is Moti's last hope. He hasn't given up, and our rescue team and the Indian Army won't give up on Moti…Please keep Moti in your thoughts." Concluding the post with a sincere request, Wildlife SOS asked people to share the message to not ride elephants or exploit them as means of entertainment. They requested netizens to spread the word and help more elephants like Moti.

Also Read: Timely Action By Loco Pilots Save Herd Of 12 Elephants In Jharkhand, Receives Appreciation

Earlier in January 2023, President Droupadi Murmu stated that steps such as the construction of separate toilets in schools for girls and schemes related to menstrual hygiene led to a sharp decline in the dropout rate of girl students. While addressing the Parliament, she noted that the government is removing all obstacles from education to a career for the "daughters." Working jointly toward this goal, Bihar's brick kiln owner's association have volunteered to construct toilets for girls in the state-run secondary and higher secondary schools.

450 Schools To Ensure Facilities For Girl Children

The lack of adequate hygiene facilities has been observed as one of the major barriers to school attendance and the education of children, especially girls. Children spend a significant part of their day at school, and the quality of water, sanitation, and hygiene impact their life immensely. Several research studies from the past have shown how girls drop out of school due to a lack of access and proper facilities for menstrual hygiene and sanitation.

Acting up on this concern, Bihar Int Nirmata Sangh (BINS) - a brick kiln owners' association, has volunteered to construct toilets for girls in the state-run secondary and higher secondary schools. The association had already constructed several toilets in schools in Katihar, Madhepura, Begusarai, West and East Champaran, and Saran districts. Now they aim to build toilets in 450 schools across the state within the coming three to four months. 

BINS President Murari Kumar said that they had forwarded the proposal to the education department and the Women and Child Development Corporation (WDC). The aim is to create a safe and secure environment for girls in their schools. Talking about their decision to construct the toilets, Kumar added, "We want our daughters not to drop out due to lack of toilets."

Prioritising Menstrual Hygiene 

Additional Chief Secretary of the education department, Dipak Kumar Singh, said that the proposal from BINS has been received. A report by India Today stated that respective education officers would be providing BINS a list of schools where construction or renovation of toilets for girl students is required.

Welcoming the initiative, the WDC chairperson and managing director Harjot Kaur Bamhrah spoke of the many measures adopted to ensure proper hygiene facilities for girl students. The WDC, in association with the education department, is installing sanitary pad dispensers in the schools. Since 2016, they also have a scheme in place under which girls are given ₹300 each for maintaining their menstrual hygiene.

Also Read: 35.5 Crore Women Don't Have Access To Toilet In India: Report

A five-year collaborative project between the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and about 45,000 educators and students from Maharashtra wrapped up successfully on 21 November 2022. The initiative was launched to improve the quality of early childhood education in Mumbai and actively explored the possibilities of exchanging knowledge, skills, and experience. With the project's conclusion, SIF and India marked yet another milestone in their long-cherished friendship. Ever since 1995, SIF has brought together Singaporeans and Indians to work on shared challenges at the people-to-people level.

Toward A Brighter And Better Future

Early childhood education (ECE) is a crucial element that builds the foundation for a child's education. It plays a decisive role in the success of every stage of education that follows. According to UNICEF, the failure to provide quality early childhood education limits a child’s future and is equivalent to denying them opportunities to reach their full potential. Multiple studies on how pre-primary education advances development stands as evidence of this fact.

In a bid to ensure that quality early childhood education reaches one and all, the SIF launched the ECE Curriculum Enhancement and Pedagogy Project with several educators in Mumbai. The cross-border initiative was organised in 2017 in collaboration with the Muktangan Education Trust, a non-profit organisation that supports municipal schools in Mumbai.

The objective was plain and simple - enhance the ECE curriculum and the capabilities of teachers in Mumbai. Over the years, a team of Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) comprising 32 educators engaged with 700 educators in Mumbai through online and in-person workshops, study visits, and a symposium. It came to a conclusion by 2022, having benefited over 45,000 educators and students in Maharashtra.

Educating And Empowering Thousands

As a result of the five-year-long collaboration, thousands of children in Maharashtra between the ages of three and eight now receive better education. About 39 Indian Master Trainers were equipped with the skills and knowledge to train other ECE educators. They taught at least 3,400 teachers how to improve curricula and developed new teaching and assessment skills. According to the SIF website, the project saw its concluding note with a symposium held in Mumbai in November 2022. SIVs, Muktangan members, and project participants were among the hundreds of guests present at the event to mark the conclusion of the project.

During the event, Mr Ng Herk Low, the SIF Division Director, said, "Early childhood education is an essential building block of a child’s growth. We are privileged to have worked with Muktangan Education Trust on this initiative to help ensure that children in Mumbai have access to quality formative education." He also added that the SIF looks forward to more such opportunities to uplift lives and build a better world together. With the completion of the project, SIF and India marked yet another milestone in their 26-year-long friendship.

Also Read: Here's How This Non-Profit Is Turning Mumbai Into Kindness Capital Of India

Saying it with roses and thank you notes, about 50 students from several schools across Bangalore expressed gratitude to the city's traffic police. Understanding the many hardships the officers go through and the efforts they put in to keep the traffic moving in the city, the children wanted to ensure the officer's work did not go unappreciated. The event organised by the Children's Movement For Civic Awareness (CMCA), a non-profit organisation that has worked toward empowering the country's youth to be civic-minded and socially conscious citizens. 

Celebrating Namma Police

It was a day of gratitude at the Traffic Police Park as 50 students from different schools, and 50 Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) officers came together for the event - "Celebrating Namma Bengaluru's Traffic Police." The event, organised by CMCA, wrapped up a three-month-long programme where several volunteers made students aware of the role played by the city traffic police. CMCA often conducts similar programmes among school children to inculcate citizenship and life skills education. This event, too, helped build awareness among the students and understand the value of the rules and laws better. 

An article by The Hindu quoted a Class seven student saying, "We are grateful to our traffic police for keeping us safe. That is why I wanted to express a big "thank you" to them." Many children like her lauded the BTP for their services and gifted them with cards, poems, and messages. They also got the chance to interact with the police officers. The officers, who were touched by the kind gesture, thanked the children for making their day. 

Empathising With Those Keeping Roads Safe

Special Commissioner (Traffic), MA Saleem, spoke during the event and thanked the children for their gesture. He said, "This is a moment of nostalgia for me. We had such celebrations in the past, and CMCA has continued to recognise the work of the traffic police." Often their contributions go unnoticed by many, and it's during times of chaos in the city that they often realise the need for the policing system. Talking about the growing challenges faced by the traffic police, MA Saleem noted that the city has been growing enormously, with over one crore vehicles, and is expected to grow even further. 

Decongesting the roads is a task round the clock, but regardless of that, they have stayed committed to the service. During such times, small gestures extended by the school kids helped boost their morale immensely, and many officers noted that it helped them work better. The officers noted that the students following the traffic rules would be the biggest thank you and contribution they can make. Concluding the event, Priya Krishnamurthy, Co-Founder and CEO of CMCA, said that the children were able to understand that their right to safe roads comes with the responsibility to follow traffic rules.

Also Read: Applaudable Work! Video Of Bangalore Cop Saving Bird From High Tower Wins Hearts Online