One good turn deserves another

They did not seem to be made for the spotlight, but they made their way to it by giving more than what their work demanded of them. Meet the conservancy workers who endeared themselves to residents through their acts of honesty. And when grounded by life’s unexpected battles, these foot soldiers have found an uplifting hand in these residents

Even after scraping the bottom of his savings, S. Ravi found himself distressingly short of what it took to keep his grandson in college. The college fees had to be arranged; and it was, in the nick of time, with help pouring in from expected quarters. Residents of Mandaveli Raja Street stepped in with financial support towards payment of the grandson’s fees.

Why would these residents be so generous in their offer of support to Ravi? 

Let us set the clock back by 11 months, and replay a scene from Mandaveli Raja Street. 

A late breakfast following an early shift has the desirability of an oasis discovered after a long trudge through a desert. S. Ravi, was settling in for that kind of a breakfast, when his hand was “stayed” mid-air between the plate and the palate. Homemakers from a nearby household had searched high and low for a five-sovereign gold chain in vain, and as a last resort, were now turning to the only place they had not brought under their dragnet — the garbage bin — and the only man who can turn hope into reality. Without a second thought, Ravi put his meal aside. Calmly and carefully, he began sorting through the waste pile he had just collected.

Bit by bit, layer by layer, he shifted through the mess — until a soft glint of gold shone from beneath the rubbish. He handed it to the family, their relief and gratitude knowing no bounds. 

Moved by Ravi’s honesty and effort, residents of Mandaveli Raja Street passed the hat around, collecting ₹8,000 to give away to Ravi as a token of appreciation. 

“It is not just about the money,” Ravi says. “When people care, you feel like you belong. That is what matters. If I ever go hungry or need anything, I know they would be there for me.”