Moodubelle: Melpete Friends donate wheel chair and crutches to Udhay

Report and Pictures by Anil Alva

Moodubelle, 25 January 2010: It has been a common sight in St. Lawrence High School, a young boy struggling to walk to attend classes. Udhay Acharya, eldest son of Achyutha and Vasanthi Acharya of Bangala Gudde, Mattar has been crippled since his birth. In spite of his disability, Udhay had a dream of attending school.

However, he has been finding it very difficult to attend the school without others helping him. As his younger brother, Shrikant has been ready to help his elder borther, Udhay could continue his education and is presently studies in the 9th standard in St. Lawrence High School, Moodubelle. Shrikant himself  is a student of St. Lawrence PU College studying in Second Year of the Pre University Course in Commerce, while their youngest sister is in the 4th standard at the primary school at Mattar. With meagre income from his carpentry work, Udhya’s father, Achyutha and mother, Vasanthi, who ties beedis, could not afford a decent wheel chair to their son.

Udhay and Shrikant would come every day to the school by bus from Mattar. Alighting in front of the church, Udhay would sit on an old worn out wheel chair that would be pushed by his brother Shrikant. This was a regular routine, but both the brothers were determined that they would continue their education and Shrikant wanted his elder brother to be as comfortable as possible.

Seeing the plight of these two brothers and the difficulties that they were facing with the old worn out wheel chair, the Melpete Friends of Moodubelle decided to come to the rescue of these brothers and pooled their money and purchased one new wheel chair and two crutches costing around Rs. 6000/- so that the commutation of Udhay from the bus stop till the High School  and back home would be smooth and more comfortable.

On Monday, 25th January 2010, the Melpete Friends, Moodubelle handed over the wheel chair and the crutches to the Principal, Fr. Paul Sequeira during the morning assembly at 9.30 AM. Fr. Paul in turn presented the wheel chair and the crutches to Shrikant on behalf of his brother Udhay. Fr. Paul Sequeira greatly appreciated the act of kindness and generosity of the Melpete Friends, Moodubelle.