“Leave it if you don’t need it, Take it if you need it”, is the motto behind Jhalawar’s Wall of Kindness…
The famous “Wall of Kindness” was initially introduced by an anonymous Iranian who to encourage people to donate miscellaneous items like clothing, books and toys for the needy. Soon, this practice spread throughout the country and lots of people started donating unwanted items through this wall. This global custom finally reached Rajasthan this week. Kota UIT’s (Urban Improvement Trust) secretary Pradeep Singh Sangawat is credited with the establishment of this trend in Rajasthan. He introduced this trend in Bhilwara five months back. Today, Bhilwara already has 20 public walls dedicated to this cause. Moved by the noble cause, Jhalawar fell into the footsteps of Kota administration.
Jhalawar’s Wall of Kindness is Trending in Rajasthan These Days…
Jhalawar district had opened its wall of kindness for people to leave their unwanted, extra things so that the needy can take them from there. The concept was first launched by Jhalawar Panchayat Samiti’s building in Bhawani Mandi. The natives called it ‘Bhalai ki Diwar’. There were hooks for hanging up clothes whereas footwear was kept in a metal box below the hook.
According to Shambhu Lal Meena (Executive Officer, Bhawani Mandi Municipality), the local civic body is managing this project with great interest and enthusiasm. It witnessed overwhelming response from the natives. Till date, the locales have donated about 1,000 winter clothes so far and 600 needy folks have benefitted from the wall. Most of the beneficiaries belong to nomadic tribes of Rajasthan mainly Gadia Luhar and Kalbeliya communities.
The municipal body has inscribed a heart-touching message to encourage more people for participation. The message was,
“Jinke pass adhik kapde ho rakh jaye, jinko zaroorat ho kapdo ki woh le jaye“,
which means those who possess extra stuff can lend them whereas those who need them can take them from this wall.
When asked, both the senders and receivers shared their experiences regarding the wall. A daily wage labourer from Bhawani Mandi– Deepak Kumar said that he didn’t have warm clothes for his family. Due to shortage of money, he couldn’t buy it from high-priced shops therefore, he was overwhelmed to received clothes from the wall. Likewise, a local cloth retailer Ashish Pareta decided to donate his “dead stock” to poor people rather than clearing it out in the sale.
According to Sangawat, this concept is a huge hit in Jhalawar, Udaipur, Dungarpur and Rajsamand. The ‘wall of kindness’ is a sentimental, benevolent move to help the people in need. Hopefully, this act will help prevent deaths caused due to cold winter climate.
