Goonj, a non-governmental organisation which got the ‘NGO of the year award’ last year, is now pinning its hopes on the city for donations.

A brainchild of Anshu Kumar Gupta, who set up the organisation around 11 years ago, the NGO works on the principle of dignity of labour. “We are going to start a weeklong campaign under the name Vaster Samman from September 27 to October 3 across the country where we will motivate people to donate different items for the poor. These may include clothes, footwear, books, stationary, dry ration, newspapers etc. These items are not provided to the needy people on charity basis but on the basis of dignity of labour,” he said.

Gupta added: “For this, we seek the help of local NGOs and villagers and ask them which development work is lying pending in the area. The needy people are given an opportunity to work there for the development of a locality or village and then they are paid in terms of these items, including wearable clothes. We dispatch 40 tonnes of wearable clothes and other material every month.”

He also said, “By now, we have provided clothes and other items in 21 states across the country and now plan the same in Punjab. We will contact some city schools, colleges and other organisations from where these voluntary donations could be collected.  As Ludhiana is known for woollens, I hope we would be able to get good stuff.”

Gupta remarked: “We have tried our level best to turn waste into a resource, charity into development while keeping in view that the self respect of a needy person is not violated. Anyone who wants to help us can contact us at: 011-41401216 or at mailgoonj@gmail.com or visit www.goonj.info.”`