HIGHLIGHTS
The couple runs an orphanage on an eight-bigha plot of donated land in Shukrtaal
Nearly a decade into their marriage, they discovered that a tumour in Meena’s uterus rendered her unable to bear children
Currently, they have 46 children under their care and the entire expenditure is met through donations
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Muzaffarnagar :
Unable to have children of their own, a farmer couple here decided to adopt an abandoned, disabled boy in 1990. Nearly three decades later, they are the proud parents of 51 such children.
The couple runs an orphanage on an eight-bigha plot of donated land in Shukrtaal. There is also a small school on the premises. Currently, they have 46 children under their care — most of the others grew up, took up jobs, got married, and moved away — and the entire expenditure is met through donations.
Meena Rana, 50, of Kudana village in Shamli, married to Baghpat resident Virender Rana, 55, in 1981. Nearly a decade into their marriage, they discovered that a tumour in Meena’s uterus rendered her unable to bear children. They then moved to Shukrtaal in 1990, bought a small plot, and adopted a one-year-old abandoned boy whom they named Mangeram. The child died five years later, but the couple did not stop bringing other abandoned children home.
“I do not care whether they are Hindus or Muslims. All I know is that they are my children. Our main focus is the education of these children,” said Meena.
Of the 46 children living with them now, 19 are girls and 27 boys, many of them physically challenged. The orphanage has a fully equipped kitchen, rooms and a big playground.
“The Shukrtaal gram panchayat provided us with a bigger plot of land. For supplies and other essentials, we mostly depend on donations. Our neighbours provide us with wheat and other basic food items,” said Virendra
Mamta, a 22-year-old raised by the couple, is currently pursuing postgraduation at a district college. “I do not know what my future would have been had they not taken me into their care. I owe them my life,” she said. Mamta is among several charges who have completed their graduation and now volunteer at the orphanage.
“Not many can do what Meena and Virendra have been doing. Giving them the land was the least we could do to help them,” said Shukrtaal pradhan Susheel Sharma.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Mohd. Dilshad / TNN / December 08th, 2017