VALPOI
Taking cognisance of a report in The Goan, the Health Minister on Friday gifted smartphones to three poor students from Harijanwada-Malpan in Khotoda-Sattari, to enable them pursue SSC online classes.
The Goan had highlighted the plight of the three poor students of a high school in Barabhumi-Sattari who had been disconnected from online SSC classes, simply because their families could not afford mobile phones and internet facilities.
Efforts were then made by the Sattari Patrakar Sangh (SPS) to mobilise funds for three new smartphones or to get people to donate their old phones which can be used for the purpose.
Taking note of The Goan report, the Health Minister posted a message on social media: “Came across this (The Goan) article today morning. To support these kids, I shall be organising smartphones for them to ensure they are not deprived of online education. We are always here to serve the people of Sattari, standing by them in the face of any obstacle. Always working towards a progressive Sattari.”
The minister, who is also the local MLA, then got in touch with the three students -- Deepika Harijan, Dishikha Harijan and Sanjay Harijan -- and invited them to his office in Miramar on Friday morning, where he gifted them smartphones for their online classes.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said he and his father, former chief minister and Poriem MLA Pratapsing Rane, had contributed significantly to the development of education in Sattari taluka.
“The people of Malpan-Harijanwada have been rehabilitated by constructing houses under a special scheme and a number of facilities have been provided for them. We will also pay special attention to ensure they get other facilities as well,” said the minister.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of all three students, Deepika Harijan said they had been unable to attend a single online class as they could not afford smartphones.
“The SPS took note of our difficulties and the issues was highlighted in The Goan. The Health Minister responded quickly to our plight and gifted us smartphones. We can now start online classes immediately,” said Deepika.
Added Sanjay Harijan: “Our families could not afford to make smartphones available to us, but the SPS, The Goan and the Health Minister came to our aid. We have now got new smartphones and we can now be part of the online education system.”
The three families also expressed their gratitude to SPS, The Goan and the Health Minister for enabling the three children to start online classes.
Incidentally, a number of people had offered to donate their old phones to the three students on reading The Goan report and they were then informed that new phones would be handed over to the three students.
