Children in Idukki care homes made a wish, District Collector & team did the rest

"I need a mother," the note read. The officials of the Idukki district administration were going through notes on which children of care homes jotted down their wishes. When one note was read aloud, the room fell silent for a moment. They went on with the list. They knew there were wishes they could actually fulfil for the children. What began as a Children's Day initiative titled 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' ended up realising the wishes of 1,084 children from 43 shelters across the district.

The children's wishes ranged from snacks, watches, and dresses to carom boards, musical instruments and bicycles. Some of them were hesitant to ask; some only wanted chocolates they had wanted to taste at least once. Small or big, the team made sure that all the wishes were fulfilled, says an official from the district administration.

"The sight of the children, all smiles and holding their gifts, was unforgettable. We had a video conference one evening where we saw their joy—it was a huge success," an official shared with Onmanorama, reflecting on the initiative’s impact. While many had suggested pooling resources for shelter development, Collector V Vigneshwari remained steadfast in her belief that each child’s individual wish deserved attention.

Some of the requests posed challenges, like a child's wish for a kabaddi kit. However, the team worked tirelessly to source the best items from trusted suppliers. Despite logistical hurdles, such as children leaving the care homes during the course of the project, the administration made sure that no child was left out.

The process was straightforward but impactful: children wrote down their wishes, which were compiled into a table, and the campaign was promoted to attract sponsors. Gauthamdeep Krishnaa K, an intern with the Collector, explained that while the public initially found the process confusing, the team reached out to sponsors directly, cleared up any confusion, and managed logistics.

"We had six collection points across the district. We even facilitated online shopping options," Krishnaa said. They coordinated the donations and even dealt with fraudulent accounts that popped up during the drive with the help of Google Sheets.

The programme culminated in a memorable event at Thodupuzha, where Malayalam actress Manju Warrier, who had earlier supported the initiative with a promotional video, spent over three hours engaging with the children. She also sponsored their meals, adding a personal touch to the event. “Meeting her brought immense joy to the children,” said an official from the Collector's team, underscoring the significance of the interaction.

Inspired by the success of ‘Chinna Chinna Aasai’, the Idukki district administration is now planning to extend the initiative by fulfilling the wishes of senior citizens in old age homes in collaboration with the Social Justice Department. Additionally, Wayanad has launched a similar programme, ‘My Dear Santa’, to fulfil the wishes of 500 children, including those affected by recent landslides.