RECENTLY, in a heartwarming display of compassion, the people of Kashmir came together to support a young cancer patient in dire need. Sadaf Ayoub, a 25-year-old from a modest background, was diagnosed with blood cancer and faced the overwhelming burden of medical expenses. However, in less than 24 hours after her family shared their story on social media, an astonishing amount of Rs 1 crore had been donated, far surpassing their initial appeal of eighty lakh rupees.
The generosity and swift response exhibited by the people of Kashmir in this instance serve as a shining example of collective goodwill. It highlights the inherent kindness and empathy that reside within people, as they rallied together to assist a fellow human being in her time of need. The outpouring of support from both acquaintances and complete strangers demonstrates that compassion knows no boundaries and that it can transcend geographical and cultural divides.
That said, such acts of kindness shouldn’t remain limited to individual cases, no matter how deserving. There is a need for us to act collectively and equitably for everyone who is in dire need of support. Over the past three decades, Kashmir has witnessed unmitigated murder and mayhem, leaving thousands dead. This has left so many families without a reliable source of income. To make their situation worse, most of them receive no institutional or social support. True, orphanages have proliferated over the years but they have insufficiently addressed only a part of the problem. So while we contribute, we must also remember the thousands of the victims of ongoing turmoil and contribute in a material way to lessen their misery.
There is a role for the government too. We need an institutional arrangement to address the massive humanitarian fallout left behind by the three decades of turmoil. But it is also true that the government has done its part over the years and still continues to perform it. It is time that society steps up to the need to offer succour in a more organized way. The incredible response to Sadaf Ayoub’s plight should inspire us all to reflect on the impact we can have on the lives of others. There are so many others out there and no one knows about them. The family of Sadaf Ayoub also showed mindfulness of this fact, when they publicly appealed to people to donate to other needy people after Rs 1 crore had been deposited in their account. This should be the spirit for a community-wide action for all the people who are in need of help.
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