HIV+, economically distressed kids taken around

In a gesture to include all in Durga Puja festivities, 28 HIV positive children and some from the economically distressed section were taken around popular puja pandals in upscale Salt Lake area of the city.
"They are all God's angels and are not responsible for the situations they face. You have to see their smile and joyous expressions when they take part in the festivities. They are like our own children," Nikita Sangai of Twist n Turns, the initiator of the move, said.
The 28 children, who had taken part in a dance workshop on Mahashasthi, the first day of the five-day festivities, were taken to 10 odd puja pandals in Salt Lake in the next two days.

With joy writ large on their faces, they said they liked the BL block idol the best and were awe-struck by the decor and idols of several other big budget pujas of the township.
"This is the small leap," said Sangai referring to the initiative involving 20 children of HIV+ from Arunima Hospice and eight economically underprivileged children from Samarpan Foundation NGO.
"We never make them think they are afflicted with exceptional circumstances. They are joyous and full of life," a Hospice official said.

The newly elected Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Sabyasachi Dutta and his wife pledged their support to the initiative.

"More such initiatives are in the anvil during December, the Christmas season, with the NGOs," Dutta said.
In a similiar gesture, children of an orphanage were given a tour of puja pandals by another organisation 'Sholo Ana Bangaliyana' yesterday.
"Our Puja Parikrama (puja tour) is meant to make this puja special for these special people by giving them new clothes and taking them around in a luxury bus," a spokesperson of the organisation said.
Film producer Satrajit Sen, former Mrs India International Richa Sharma, dance choreographer Sudrashan Chakraborty, RJ Roopsha Dasgupta, director Sanjay Nag accompanied the orphanage children in the 'Sholo Ana Bangaliyana' trip.