Girl waiting for leftover food outside classroom gets admitted to school

A photo of a little girl holding an empty container and peeping inside a classroom while waiting for leftover food from midday meals provided by the government recently went viral on social media.

The photo, which was clicked by Avula Srinivas, was published in Eenadu, a Telugu daily, with the title ‘Aakali Choopu’, which means a ‘hungry look’ in English. The photo showed the girl named Mothi Divya looking at the school children, around her age, in uniform. Divya would visit the Deval Jham Singh Government High School in Gudimalkapur, Hyderabad, regularly during the lunch hour to eat the leftover food. She lives with her family in a shanty near the school.

Soon after the photo went viral, it caught the attention of Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation, an NGO that works for child rights. Venkat Reddy, national convener of the foundation, said, “Why not this child is enrolled and have her right to food and right to education…it’s a shame…”

Reddy, with the help of local volunteers, traced the little girl and her family. They made arrangements for her admission to the school.

Reddy later updated, “Divya exercised her constitutional right to be in school. Today our team and other community members admitted her in the same school where she was waiting for lunch bell to eat her food…..Congratulations team. Congratulations Divya.” He also shared a photo of Divya dressed in her new uniform and standing with her parents.

Netizens applauded Reddy and the NGO for helping in the girl’s admission to the school.

A user said, “I salute for your human deeds and getting the poor girl admission in school.” While another added, “Sir You made her wish true, Best of luck divya. Great job sir you and your team.”