When people launder for charity

DOES WASHING of about 75,000 pieces of clothes sound a little extravagant in these days of water scarcity and high prices of detergents? Not at all, if these clothes are meant for a cause. Such as, for being distributed among the needy.

That was the scene at the S.S. Jain Boarding Home on Madley Road, T. Nagar. Piles of clothes were heaped all over the place, waiting to be dipped in detergent water, brushed, washed, dried and ironed for distribution.

About 15 pairs of hands were seen busily rummaging through the huge piles segregating the clothes as usable, mendable and rejects. While the good pieces are sent for wash immediately, the mendable ones are mended first. The rejected clothes are sold off to cloth merchants or interested parties.

Those involved in the exercise are no professional dhobies. They are members of the Rajasthan Cosmo Club Foundation. Together, they run a cloth bank that benefits many across the country. They had contributed about 25,000 old clothes, 5,000 new blankets and the same number of school uniforms to the quake-hit families of Gujarat, said Padam Tatia, Managing Trustee.

A `dry run' for the mass washing was organised on Saturday which determined the extent of effort to be put in and resources required for the massive exercise. Resource number one: water. One tanker load of water containing 12,000 litres was bought from a private party. This would meet about a quarter of the exigency, said M. Rajendiran, Foundation President.

Resource number two: manpower. The Bharat Scouts and Guides and other voluntary organisations were expected to send their volunteers to help the members.

That would clear the backlog and distribution could be taken up immediately after that, said Sanjay Bhansali, a member of the Foundation. Those who wish to contribute in any manner can contact 8213149.

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Hindi's answer to Mudhalvan
Next     : Water machine