Empowering Lives Through Guiding Hands
The bank had just opened its shutters for the day. Inside, nearly twenty people were already waiting for their turn. Among them stood an old farmer, about seventy years old, with a scarf wrapped around his head. Standing quietly near the counter, he spoke in a low, nervous voice, “Sir, I need to withdraw the money given by the government, please help.”
The bank employee barely looked up. “Fill up the form and submit,” he said, before turning back to his files. The farmer slowly walked to the table where the forms were kept. A young college student stood there with his parents staring at the sheets of paper with blank eyes, not knowing which one to pick. By his side, a lady looked equally helpless, clutching her passbook nervously.
Watching this scene was Lion Madhappa Tanappagol. His heart sank. He walked over, picked out the right forms, and handed them to the farmer and the lady. But the struggle didn’t end there; the forms had to be filled. Seeing their anxious faces, he gently said, “Don’t worry. I will help you.” He patiently filled the forms and guided them to the counter.
Turning to the student he asked you are educated but you don’t know which form to fill? The boy shuffled nervously “It is my first time at a bank and don’t know the procedure.” His parents had a scornful look at their son, as if saying we spent so much money on your education for this?
As Lion Madhappa walked back to his workplace, his mind was restless. I could help these people today but what about the hundreds of villagers like them? They silently suffer, sometimes losing their rightful money. The government deposits subsidies and pensions straight into their bank accounts, but these very people who need the money the most cannot access it.
That day, Lion Madhappa made a decision. His thoughts soon turned into action. The Lions Club of Jamkhandi came up with a unique idea: “Take help to help the needy.” They decided to train college students in simple banking procedures and take them along to assist villagers. The bank manager also came forward to support. The students were given both theory and hands on training. Every working day, groups of these students accompanied Lion members to banks, ready to guide anyone who needed help.
The results were heart warming. Basappa, a farmer, who had lost his subsidy the previous season because he didn’t know which form to fill, now held crisp notes in his hands with a wide smile. Danamma, an elderly widow, blessed the students with tears in her eyes. Earlier, she depended on others to withdraw her pension and often lost a part of it in the process. “These people treated me like family,” she said in a trembling voice.
The project was not only transforming villagers’ lives but also shaping the minds of students. Many of them had never imagined the struggles illiterate villagers face. They realized how something as small as filling the correct form or showing the right counter could change someone’s life. The students, too, were growing, understanding real-world challenges, empathy, and responsibility.
Of course, starting this project “Empowerment” was not easy. Convincing the bank staff, training students, and winning the trust of villagers took time and effort. But with perseverance, bridges were built. Today, villagers enter the bank with confidence, knowing help is waiting.
The villagers feel grateful, the young generation feels proud, and the Lions feel fulfilled. The Lions Club of Jamkhandi has shown that true service is not about charity, it is about empowerment. And with every passing day, Lions Club of Jamkhandi continues to spread hope, dignity, and happiness through this project. Bravo Lions Club of Jamkhandi
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