Vaishali Dalmiya is an MLA from Bally Constituency. She has been a true socialite, catering to the needs of the downtrodden since her early days. She has shared her inspiring journey in the domain of social work which no doubt reflects her passion and commitment to the poorest of the poor of our society. Excerpts:
From my childhood days, I have been associated with social work and various initiatives attending to the needs of the downtrodden or the underprivileged. All this has been possible due to my family members who have not only instilled the values from the very beginning in me but also my grandparents who have been central figures in imparting the need to stand by others irrespective of the changing circumstances. I have seen so many people coming up with such passion for social work or executing projects in between, but eventually deviating from the main motto. In my case, such wholehearted support from my family has truly enabled me to go ahead with my mission. Frankly, the focus was never only on studies but also taking up a holistic approach, responding to my natural inner passion for social work.
I remember those days in myteens when I was not at all aware of what social work is actually but I made it a habit of visiting old-age homes and spending substantial time with the inmates there. Within a few days, I realized that they don’t need money but rather they look for companionship. Even in those days, I had to prepare myself for examinations and all but still I would not miss my regular visits. Moreover, I also made it a point to visit old couples who had no one to stand by them. Today also, whenever anyone asks me about my favourite childhood memories, I always talk about those days when I was a party to someone else’s smile. People keep on telling me that being the daughter of late Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former President of the Board of Control of Cricket in India(BCCI), I had the pleasure of meeting several cricketing legends like Dennis Lillee, Sir Garfield Sobers, Imran Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and the like. But believe me, my most pleasant memories centre around those happy faces in the old-age homes or in the shelters. My father was extremely supportive and always encouraged me to spend quality time with them.
To be more specific, I remain more indebted to my parents and the other elderly members of my family for inspiring me to rise above all selfish interests and inculcate the most essential values which promote “the greatest good of the greatest number” without any prejudice or expectation. Indeed, this still motivates me whenever I am actively participating or curating Kanyashree or Ruposhree schemes. Very recently, I have initiated a dal-packaging factory in Liluah where all the workers are women. Agromi & Agrogami Self-Help Group is indeed helping my dream of women empowerment to become a reality. Presently, I am planning to move ahead with a good many projects which are not only going to be sustainable but viable in the long run as well. The Chief Minister has been an inspiration for all of us and I do believe that in the coming days too, I will be able to stand by the poor and the distressed and transform their lives in my own capacity.
By our Correspondent
