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Rev
.P.K. Joshua, of the Eternal Hope Charity Mission (EHCM), Nerul, recently
bagged the state government's Prestigious Mahatma Gandhi award, for
his meritorious service rendered to the destitute and underprivileged.
The All India Christian Council recently
felicitated him in a function in Mumbai. Rev Joshua received the award
from the state home minister Manikrao Thakere in the presence of other
dignitaries.
The EHCM, over the past 14 years, has been
actively involved in rescuing destitute people who face acqute problems
with basic necessities. Till date, the NGO has sheltered and taken
care of more than 160 people. "on receiving a call, we immediately
deploy volunteers to the spot where a person needs help. After assessing
the physical and mental condition, the person is sent to a suitable
shelter", says Rachel Joshua, Rev Joshua's wife.
The charity mission runs a daycare centre at Turbhe,
which takes care of children of single parents."Now we have 230
children at the center; we provide them a meal, an informal education
and essential medical care."
The Joshua couple believe that 36 percent
of population in major metropolitan cities live in slums, which are
the breeding places of immorality, sickness and helplessness. Children
are exploitated by anti-social elements, they explain. This strengthens
the role of charity organisations, observes Joshua, who played a key
role recently in rescuing 19 minor girls from the Turbhe red light
area. |
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