Republic Day Initiative

Conceptualized and set rolling by the senior members of Make A Difference Foundation (MADF) and carried forward by the juniors, clothes distribution was slated to be the Republic Day initiative at the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (IMT) for the year 2008. In fact it also turned out to be the first MADF activity of the new year. A group of second year MADF members actively involved themselves in the collection of usable clothes, with an aim to distribute it to the poor and needy in the town of Ghaziabad. The clothes collection drive, held over a few days, witnessed the students contributing generously and in large numbers to the cause; they filled up the huge card-board box kept on the greens beside the mess in no time. On a lighter note, the box with a scare-crow kept beside, beckoning the students with a “Clothes Here” board induced many a smile, besides keeping away birds!

Roughly around a hundred clothes were collected from the students, ranging from shirts and jeans to ladies wear. The heartening fact was that most of the clothes were in excellent condition and were not ones anywhere close to being termed as worn-out. At this point, MADF would like to extend its heart-felt gratitude to those who responded with such warmth to the call to contribute to the betterment of their less privileged brothers and sisters. We are indeed touched.

A few days before the occasion of Republic Day, the MADF team personally visited a slum in RDC, Raj Nagar to inform them about the clothes distribution initiative. We also got in touch with several of the cycle-rickshaw drivers in and around Sector 10 and RDC for the same. On the Republic Day, a stall was put up outside the IMT main gate for the distribution purpose. On the culmination of the official Republic Day celebrations, our director Mr. B.S. Sahay himself came to the stall to start off the initiative by handing over the first set of clothes to the needy hands that received them. He was followed by S.K. Singh Sir and Prusty Sir from whom the MADF members took over and completed the task of distribution.

This January 26 marks 58 years since India’s transition from a British dominion to a republic and we at MADF, feel immense pride and honour at having been able to serve the society in our own way by distributing clothes and spreading smiles on this joyous occasion. We would like to once again thank the students at IMT for their generosity. We also extend our gratitude to S.K. Singh Sir for his guidance and to NavBharat Times and Sky News who covered the event.

Fact is that, even after over half a century since independence, roti, kapda and makaan undoubtedly remain the greatest needs of the under-privileged Indian and empowerment, perhaps is the only true answer as MADF has always believed; but, if our initiative has been a relief in this bone-chilling and merciless winter to atleast a few of the fellow humans around us, we believe that by clothing them with the warmth of love and concern we have indeed made a difference.