Kolkata, Sep 13: Two school-going sisters from Kolkata have dipped into their modest savings to extend a helping hand to flood-affected people in their ancestral village in Malda, donating their entire ₹25,375 savings for relief work.
Asmita Misra, 14, and her 10-year-old sister Ahana, students of G.D. Birla Centre for Education, had accumulated the money over several months from portions of their tiffin allowance and cash gifts received from relatives and elders.
Moved by newspaper and television reports of the devastation caused by floods in Ratua 1 block, where their ancestral village Kahala is located, the sisters decided to use all their savings to help those affected.
The money was handed over to their father, Abhishek Misra, who is currently involved in relief work in the flood-hit areas.
“I have already purchased several relief materials with the money sent by my daughters,” Abhishek said.
The sisters’ ancestral village, Kahala, has been severely affected by the floods, with nearly 50,000 people impacted in the area. The girls were particularly concerned after learning about the situation in Ratua 1 and the Bhutni islet in Manikchak.
This is not the first time the sisters have used their savings to help people affected by disasters. In 2019, they spent money saved in their earthen piggy banks to assist waterlogged residents of Ratua.
“In 2019 also, Asmita and Ahana had spent the money saved in their earthen piggy banks for the waterlogged residents of Ratua,” their father said.
Although they have grown up in Kolkata, the sisters have maintained a close connection with their ancestral village. During visits to Kahala, they spend time with local children and also visit the village school, where they sit with students for mid-day meals.
“Though they are growing up in Calcutta, their attachment to Malda remains intact,” their mother Manisha Pandey Misra said.
The girls are now eager to travel to Malda themselves and participate in relief activities.
“The girls are now desperate to visit Malda and do something physically for the flood-hit people of the district. They cannot be dissuaded at all. Let us see whether we can fulfil their demand,” Manisha said.
Their gesture has also drawn praise from Swami Tapaharananda, headmaster of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidyamandir, who described the sisters’ contribution as a commendable example of philanthropy at a young age.
“Asmita and Ahana have set a commendable example of philanthropy. Such virtues, if inculcated since childhood, lead human beings to serve mankind in greater ways,” he said.
Referring to Swami Vivekananda’s emphasis on serving people, Tapaharananda said the sisters were following the path of compassion and service.
“India is looking towards a humane generation like them,” he said.
