To celebrate the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on November 14 (more popularly known as Children's Day), the Indian National Congress has announced the launch of a programme called Mohabbat Ki Dukaan. Under this programme, street children across India will be provided with food starting on November 14, 2023. The initiative is being taken by the Congress’ Jawahar Bal Manch and will be initiated as a pilot project in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Jawahar Bal Manch President, GV Hari announced recently that the Mohabbat Ki Dukaan project will focus on distributing food packets among street children every week to ensure they get access to balanced nutrition. At a press conference held at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Hari said that the project has been designed to ensure child wellness. "We are not doing anything for political purposes. Our aim is ensuring the well-being of children and that they become good citizens," he said.
Video Credit: YouTube/Kabita's Kitchen
At the same conference, Hari also announced that on October 2, to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Jawahar Bal Manch will also start another programme called Ding Dong Bell. Children with access to the internet will be able to click on the website dedicated to this programme and express their opinions and wishes related to their education. The Jawahar Bal Manch will then select the most genuine of these and fulfil the wishes of the children.
"If any child presses the bell icon on the website of our organisation, he/she can express any wish related to education. Suppose if a child wants a bicycle and really needs it, we will provide it," Hari said at the press conference, while revealed that the Ding Dong Bell programme will be launched in Chandigarh by Congress Treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal on October 2.
For those unaware, the Jawahar Bal Manch is an organisation dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of children, which was also a major goal set by Jawaharlal Nehru. In recent times while on his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has been urging fellow Congress leaders to open the Mohabbat Ki Dukaan (a shop to spread love) instead of engaging in Nafrat Ka Bazaar (a market of hate). Clearly, the programme to be launched soon is inspired by Rahul Gandhi’s words.