Nav Umeed – An Initiative by BIT-Patna Students to Educate Underprivileged Children
An initiative called ‘Nav Umeed’, started by the students of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Patna campus (BIT-P) in 2011, is changing the lives of various underprivileged children.
An initiative called ‘Nav Umeed’, started by the students of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Patna campus (BIT-P) in 2011, is changing the lives of various underprivileged children. Nav Umeed has started many inspiring stories and has provided education to many children.
Among these students was the 8-years old daughter of a rickshaw puller, Nidhi Kumari. Nidhi aspired to study but was not able to pursue education due to lack of resources. To fulfill her dreams, Nav Umeed sponsored her education and got her enrolled in class 1 in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bailey Road.
So far, the group has changed the lives of 10 underprivileged children and has provided them admission in schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gardanibagh High School, DAV BSEB and Amaltola Girls High School.
Nav Umeed was started by Kumar Harsh, a B.Tech (ECE) Student of BIT-P, when he saw two slum kids perform well in the institute’s national service scheme (NSS) programme. Harsh realised that these children could not go to schools despite being talented.
Along with his friends Vikas Ranjan, Kumar Shivam and others, he decided to gather funds to provide a scholarship worth Rs. 10,000 for these children. This marked the beginning of Nav Umeed and later, in 2015, the group was converted into a society.
Talking about the progress of the society, Harsh said that it was a difficult project as initially, they had to raise funds with the help of fellow batch mates. Friends and juniors willing to help for the cause use to donate Rs. 100 per month or Rs. 1000 per year, he added.
Also Read:Visually Impaired Girl from Gujarat Makes it to IIM Ahmedabad - Read her Story Here!
Convincing the parents was difficult, said Harsh but they were determined to help. He is currently working in Bengaluru but has inspired his juniors to carry on the good work of Nav Umeed.