Chinese Consul General acts as Good Samaritan to street kids in Kolkata

By Rabi Sankar Bosu
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, November 24, 2017
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The PRC Consulate General in Kolkata, West Bengal delivered the message of charity and friendship filled with gifts to street children in Kolkata on the 128th birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru on November 14, 2017, using the occasion of Children's Day.

Chinese Consulate Kolkata donates van and smart class infrastructure to Indian charity units on November 14, 2017. [Photo courtesy of the PRC Consulate General in Kolkata]

The consulate chose the day to symbolize a shared future for the children concerned, the two great nations and the whole of humanity.

Indian media often stirs up negative sentiments about China by highlighting mud-slinging, chest-thumping reports over the Doklam border incident between India and China, or Beijing scuttling India's entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, as well as its Inclusion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as part of the China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Traditionally the Indian media's China-related headlines reek of paranoia and sensationalism, which is most unfortunate in portraying China as a bully and an aggressor responsible, for example, for the imagined blocking of the Brahmaputra river, and upgrading its missile bases in Tibet, as if China is a danger to India.

During the historic 19th CPC National Congress last month, two major diplomatic tasks for China were proposed: Forging a new form of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation; and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

In his keynote address, President Xi Jinping said China's intention was not to hurt anyone. Rather, China wants to build ties with its neighbors. "We should adhere to the democracy of international relations and enhance efforts to safeguard a fair and just global community," he said.

Now, the CPC is sending envoys to visit neighboring countries, especially to reach the common people to show characteristics of Chinese peace diplomacy.

On November 14, the Chinese Consulate in Kolkata, the Rotary Club of Calcutta Millennium and the Rakshak Foundation joined hands with local police to give street children a treat -- their first smart classroom.

Attending the ceremony, Chinese Consul General Ma Zhanwu called for development work not hostility. Other guests at the Children's Day program included Dr. Partha Chatterjee, acting chief minister of education with the State Government of West Bengal, Mr Sujay Kumar Chanda, joint commissioner of Kolkata Police, and members of the Rakshak Foundation and the Rotary Club of Calcutta Millennium.

Addressing the audience, Ma Zhanwu cited the Stars Welfare Society and Naba Disha Centers at Tollygunge and Ekbalpur contributing to the healthy development and growth of the underprivileged children studying in three places, and helping to enhance social harmony and good China-India relations.

The Kolkata Consulate wished to demonstrate the good will of the Chinese people towards their Indian counterparts, as China and India are neighbors of mutual importance. With joint efforts, the two countries could make huge achievements in their exchanges and cooperation and witness great development of the bilateral relationship.

It's really encouraging to note the children and their parents as well as all those involved will join the Chinese Consulate in its effort to promote friendly exchanges and mutually beneficially cooperation between China and India in the coming years and build a better and shared future for the children between the two great nations, Ma said.

In the past five months, volunteers from the Rakshak Foundation have been visiting the Rashbehari-Tollygunge area on weekdays from 3 pm to 5 pm to teach the children through various activities as part of the "Nabadisha Education Project," an initiative of Kolkata police.

Some of the children are school dropouts. In order to teach street children, the Kolkata Chinese Consulate is donating lighting, fans, smart desks, chairs, tables, blackboards, soft boards, paintings, water purifiers, toilet facilities, educational aids and library books to the 34 Nabadisha centers Kolkata police have set up.

During the Children's Day program, Ma Zhanwu handed over a van to be used as a school bus, as well as Smart Class Infrastructure including TV monitors, smart desks, chairs and tables. Getting the smart TV with an LCD screen, toddlers were really happy.

"We plan to show educational films. The students will grasp better through audio-visual presentations and it will also go on to widen their horizon," said Mr Jaydip Das, founder trustee of the Rakshak Foundation.

Street children, working children and child beggars deserve a bright future. They want to be loved, and they need to be loved. However, the harsh reality of this cruel world is depressing. Good initiatives are started when public welfare agencies come forward.

The people of West Bengal are grateful to the Chinese Consulate for making "the little daffodils" bloom.

Rabi Sankar Bosu, Secretary of New Horizon Radio Listeners' Club, West Bengal, India

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

 

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