UP

Post-retirement, in 1993, Dr Mahendra Prasad Singh returned to his village in Raipura and dedicated his life to the upliftment of the rural youth.

With the number of homeless people in India constantly rising, shelter homes were meant to be a safe place, especially for children. However, the reality is something entirely different.

Adarsh Shrivastava, a  passenger onboard the Muzaffarpur-Bandra Awadh Express on July 5, made it his business to find out why a group of 26 girls on the train were crying and looking scared.

Using over three lakhs from his provident fund after his retirement and taking some financial help (as part of shramdaan) from villages in the vicinity, Santu built a 70-feet long, strong permanent bridge.

"Another serious challenge was to overcome the prejudices of my family and community. But I knew that if I decided to do something, nothing could deter me," says the determined girl who also helps fight eve-teasing!

Hari Prasad, the village head, observed that a few girls had stopped attending school in the middle of the term without any explanation or warning. He found this to be very peculiar, and when he tried to find out why this was happening, he realised that menstruation was the reason.

The man who doesn’t even own a pucca home and lives under a dilapidated thatched-roof hut with his family of six was forced to sell his only source of income.

this small village just a 150 kms away from Ayodhya/Babri Masjid site in stark contrast to the decades-old communal struggle has become a shining example of harmony and peaceful coexistence.

The Apex Court in 2006, which came down heavily on this ‘barbaric’ practice, noted, "There is nothing honourable in such killings, and in fact, they are nothing but barbaric and shameful acts of murder committed by brutal, feudal-minded persons who deserve harsh punishment."

“They are experts for such mega events. Keeping the place clean and tidy when VVIPs, religious leaders and lakhs of devotees attend the event is a big challenge.”