Chandigarh man helps needy children, provides books, other study materials

Sandeep Kumar, who runs an NGO named "Open Eye Foundation", has collected about 10,000 books in the last two years. His NGO will soon adopt 200 poor children and help them with regards to their education. His team members go on door-to-door drives to collect books and distribute the same to underprivileged students.

Chandigarh (Punjab): Many students can't afford to buy books on their own owing to their poor financial condition and this is where people like Sandeep Kumar step in.

Kumar runs an NGO named "Open Eye Foundation", and visits government schools, colleges and other areas of the Union Territory to identify students who can't afford to purchase books.

He has collected about 10,000 books in the last two years.

Open Eye Foundation will soon adopt 200 poor children and will provide them with facilities with regards to their education.

Sandeep also wants other people to come forward for this social cause and help educate the poor children.

Talking about his journey, Sandeep said that while undertaking a course on Junior Basic Training, he found that the children from poor financial backgrounds did not have resources to buy books.

"When I came back to Chandigarh, I found the condition to be terrible. I was looking at my books when this thought struck my mind that others can use these books. So I thought, why not collect these books for those children?" Sandeep said.

"Today, we have 200 children. There are organisations which provide free tuitions in the slums to the children, we provide books to those children as well. We collect books go to schools and ask the Principal or Teacher to provide a list of those children who are needy. The children have to return the books once the session is over," he said.

Sandeep and his team also organise camps in colleges and ask students to give books they don't need.

His team members go on door-to-door drives to collect the books which are then distributed to needy students. He has also established an office where anyone can donate books.

Before taking the books, one has to fill up a form assuring that after fulfilling his or her purpose, the books will be returned.

He says he is also planning to adopt 200 needy children to help them in their study. He wants more people to join his movement to educate the poor and needy children.