On Independence Day, hundreds of tribal children living in Murbad and few from Shahapur talukas of Thane district will have a reason to smile. Those from Murbad will be presented with food, crayons, drawing books, notebooks, pens, slates and blackboards for their schools, and those from Shahpur will get food grain thanks to the Nargis Dutt Foundation. Priya Dutt, a trustee of the Foundation, ensured this help after reading two mid-day reports on the plight of the people here.

Moved by the story in mid-day on August 1, titled 'Here, HSC pass outs run special 'Covid schools' for younger students,' highlighting the plight of thousands of tribal students deprived of basic schooling, due to the extended lockdown, the Dutt Foundation, decided to provide stationery for hundreds of the tribal students.