Parvati (85) has been living on Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi for over 20 years now.

All she has for protection against the harsh cold in winter is a wrap-around shawl; the fabric offers little protection from the chill.

“I sell diyas (lamps) during the day and earn enough money to buy myself some food,” Parvati shares.

She is one of the thousands who are forced to live on the ghats of Varanasi because they are abandoned by their families or head to the ghats in search of work.

In fact, you won’t just be helping these senior citizens, but also the women involved in upcycling clothes in blankets.

A cyclic model of good was started by the Hope Welfare Trust, an initiative helmed by youngsters intent on bringing change to Uttar Pradesh.

At the helm of the organisation is Divyanshu Upadhyay who shares, “The fabric is stuffed into a casing and then beaten for uniformity for around 20 minutes. All four sides are then stitched to get a blanket which measures 7 feet by 5 feet.”

As another night settles in on Varanasi, the people of the ghats brace themselves for a tough night. But tonight is different for Parvati.

As she lays her mat, she remembers Divyanshu’s promise to her: “I’ll bring you a blanket soon.”

Let’s keep our promise to Parvati, this winter.