KSO-Ccpur helps poverty-stricken kids attend school
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte

CCpur, April 11 2023: First half of the year draws near, yet a 6-year old Nemnuntheng is still playing in her house yard with her 5 -year old sister Lhingneivah, without an inkling of where their peers would have been around this time, studying and writing in a classroom.

For her, attending school is a far-fetched dream as the only bread winner of the family - her mother Kimneineng is not in a condition to send her wards for schooling.

Kimneineng, who actually hails from Loikhai village under Henglep sub-division in Churachandpur district, is suffering from severe goitre, a case that causes difficulty in breathing, swallowing problems and fatigue.

She has two sons and two daughters.

In 2022, she was admitted to Churachandpur District Hospital after suffering from severe maternal sepsis.

The family sustains on selling forest products that fetch them a small amount of money which in turn is insufficient to feed the family, not to speak about sending the children to school.

Few years ago, when Kimneineng was hospitalised, the family did not even have food to eat.

The husband, who was also suffering from severe liver problems, had to attend his wife at the hospital; unfortunately, he soon died while his wife was at the hospital.

After the death of her husband, Kimneineng and her children moved from their native village to M Songgel village, a town area of Churachandpur.

But she could barely make ends meet, selling vegetables house to house in her locality in the morning while cradling her youngest son on the back.

She walks long distances with hardship every day, thus struggling to earn for the next meal.

In such a situation, sending her children to school is next to impossible.

Meanwhile, her wards have been persistently praying to their mother for sending them to school.

Out of extreme poverty, her eldest son Paogoumang, though 15 years of age, has to help his mother in earning their daily bread by working in a local shop as an assistant, earning him Rs 3000 per month, which too is not sufficient enough to feed a family of five.

He too has the yearning for education and expresses his desire to go to school like many of his friends.

When this correspondent meets them at their tiny house in M Songgel village, visibly dejected Kimneineng narrated all the hardships and poverty that her family has undergone, due to which her children are devoid of basic necessary education.

On learning the pitiable condition of the family and the children who wish to attend school, members of the Kuki Students' Organisation, Churachandpur, took the initiative and found ways to send them to school.

Though the Constitution of India provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of six to 14 years of age, Kimneineng herself is unaware of the provision as she herself is uneducated and has no option other than confining their wards at home, said one of the members of KSO.

As such, the KSO member added, they are now making an all-out effort to sehd them to school, in line with the KSO motto - 'Learn, Unite & Serve'.

Taking responsibility for the welfare of students, the KSO unit contacted 'Mercy Home', an institution run by the Catholic community for the orphans and helpless children, located at Cannan Veng, Tuibong, and sought the availability of seats for the two young kids.

With the efforts of KSO Churachandpur, the two young kids were admitted to the Home on April 10, 2023 from where they will be doing their schooling at St Mary High School, Tuibong.

This was possible with the compassionate consideration of Mercy Home, St Mary High School and all donors who have contributed in cash and kind for the two young kids to get their much deserved basic education, said Lamkholhing Haokip, a member of KSO Churachandpur.

She also vowed to act as a guardian for them in the future, if the need arises.

The two kids were also visibly excited after learning that they will be going to school like many of her friends, after a long time.

However, the eldest one, Paogoumang Haokip's condition is still left in a lurch, whether he will be able to receive education like his two younger sisters.

As of now, the KSO Churachandpur is still looking for sponsors who are willing to come to the aid of the needy and helpless kid, whose only dream is about going to school.

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