At Railway Children India, we believe that protecting children starts with strengthening families. Our comprehensive support to families comprises varied facets, from school re-enrolment and assistance in opening a bank account to parent-centric workshops and vocational training. Among these, ration and nutritional support plays a vital role in ensuring children don’t just survive — but thrive.
This Mother’s Day, we bring to you a story of one such mother. A story that reminds us of a mother’s resilience, her silent battles, and the powerful impact of support at the right time.
We first met Meeta* and her family in February. They lived in a small, rented home in Delhi NCR — a family of six, including four children, one of whom lives with a physical disability. Her husband, a daily wage laborer, earned just enough to scrape by. The family’s meals were heartbreaking in their simplicity: tea and biscuits in the morning, a portion of vegetables and five chapatis for lunch, and six chapatis with a little gravy at night. No kitchen. No gas. No groceries. Just survival.
For Meeta, every day was a test — not just of hunger, but of hope.
When we began working with the family, we spoke at length about nutrition and the benefits of home-cooked meals, especially for growing children. But the idea felt impossible to them. Meeta gently told us that they relied on low-cost food from roadside eateries — the idea of setting up a kitchen felt like a distant dream. The cost of a gas connection, a stove, monthly groceries — it all felt out of reach.
But we didn’t give up. We kept showing up. With every visit, we listened more, encouraged more, and built trust — not just with words, but with consistency. And slowly, something shifted. The family began to believe in the possibility of a home kitchen — a place where Meeta could cook for her children, where her love could be served warm, on a plate.
And finally, when they were ready, we stepped in with what they needed: a small gas cylinder, a stove, and essential ration supplies.
The moment the stove was lit for the first time, the joy in the home was indescribable. The children laughed. The father smiled. But Meeta — she stood silently for a moment, eyes filled with tears, and then said something that will stay with us forever:
“Aaj lagta hai hum bhi apne ghar ka chulha jala sakte hain, apne bachon ko apna bana khana khila sakte hain.”
“Today, it feels like we too can light our own stove, and feed our children food made by our own hands.”
This is what a mother’s love looks like — quiet strength, unwavering care, and a deep desire to give her children something better, even when she has almost nothing herself.
*Name changed to protect the identity of the individual.
