Differently-abled and an animal activist Raju (41), who had lost her job at Pingla Ghar in Jalandhar, heaved a sigh of relief after being asked to join back her duties.

Sticking with their stance of not risking the lives of inmates by the entry of ‘outside staff’, the Pingla Ghar authorities have asked her to continue her duties from her home for now. While the matter was taken up by Deputy Commssioner Ghanshyam Thori with the Pingla Ghar authorities, they assured that Raju shall be continuing her duties at the shelter home for which she shall be paid her entire salary.

Raju, Differently-abled animal activist

I have been asked to join my duties at the Pingla Ghar from tomorrow onwards. I am very thankful to the DC and the chairman of the Pingla Ghar. I have been working here for the past 25 years and look forward to continue my service. I will be provided the material to sew clothes and will be working from my home. When the pandemic eases, I will be called back to work from the premises.

Raju will be provided the material to sew clothes at her home from where she will do the work.

Notably, Raju who had been sewing clothes and teaching sewing to girls at the shelter home had been working at the Pingla Ghar for the past 25 years. The Tribune had highlighted her plight in these columns in a news item published on May 26 (Read news).

Speaking to The Tribune, Raju said, “I have been asked to join back at the Pingla Ghar from Tuesday onwards. I am very thankful to the Deputy Commissioner and the chairman of the Pingla Ghar. I have been working here for the past 25 years and look forward to continue my service. I will be provided the material to sew clothes and will be working from my home. When the pandemic eases, I will be called back to work on the premises.”

Established in 1951, by Bawa Sarup Singh, a disciple and descendant of Guru Amar Dass, Pingla Ghar provides food, shelter, clothing, protection and medical treatment to 300 inmates. During the pandemic, the Pingla Ghar authorities have also started the drive to vaccinate their staff members.

Disability activist Amarjit Singh Anand said, “It is a humanitarian step and will provide a huge relief for the activist who has done a lot of humanitarian work in the city and has been toiling hard to make ends meet. It is laudable step by the Pingla Ghar which has been delivering yeoman’s service for the destitute and underprivileged for the past many years.”

Senior officials at the Pingla Ghar said the current arrangement (of working from her home) will continue till the pandemic persists, to avoid risking any of the inmates at the Pingla Ghar. However, the officials said when the situation eases, she shall be called back to her work as usual.

DC Ghanshyam Thori said, “The issue was conveyed to the Pingla Ghar authorities. Since the cases are on a decline, we have been assured that the employee has been hired back. Henceforth, she will be working at Pingla Ghar.