30/06/2026
The Experience of the youngest member of TOS Odisha, Master Gaurav Mohapatra (Adi) during the Jalachatra 2026:
***********************************************************************
What started out for me as a simple day out to meet my Aai (maternal grandma) turned into a complete 5 day long, i.e. from 10th to 14th May, experience of a lifetime.
For five days, I volunteered in the Jalachatra (water/ buttermilk charity service) near Capital Hospital, helping provide cool drinking water and curd water to people in the summer heat. Along with this, I also distributed biscuits to small children and helped donate old clothes to those in need. I assisted in serving drinks, managing the queue, and organizing the distribution of food and clothing so that everyone—especially underprivileged families—received proper support. Seeing the smiles of kids and adults was always the best part. This experience taught me the value of kindness, sharing, and community service, and it felt truly meaningful to contribute to a good cause.
Today, I feel happy as we could rehabilitate an old abandoned person roaming around our Jalachatra Centre for last 10 days. Today I saw him without any clothes in the upper part of the body while lower part was wrapped by a torn blanket. I asked him whether he would like to stay in an Old Age Home. He immediately nodded his head. I called up Ramanathji of MB Old Age Home and requested him to rehabilitate the old man by shifting him to his Old Age Home. He agreed and was kind enough to come immediately to the centre. Fortunately, I had taken some new banians and half pants with me to the centre today. Ramanathji helped him wear the clothes and was given food to eat as he was very hungry. I expressed my thanks and gratitude to Ramanathji for this kind gesture and immediate action.
