What’s Good, India? | From a Cop Helping Rural Students Find Jobs to A Solar Power Revolution

From a police officer coaching job aspirants on his farm to a young hero lighting up Manipur's villages with solar power, this week’s stories show how one person’s kindness can spark extraordinary change.

They are proof that change doesn’t always begin with grand plans—it often starts with one determined person taking a small step.?

This Week’s Spotlight: Top 3 Stories of the Week

1. Police Officer Turns Farm Into Free Coaching Academy, Helps 400+ Rural Students Land Jobs

“I am the first to become a government official and the first police officer from my family,” says S Manikandan, a student of ‘Puthiya Siragugal’, a police training academy. His voice brims with pride.?

This achievement is not just his own, it is proof of the dedication of Tholkappiyan Sivaraj, the man who made it possible.??

Like Manikandan, over 400 youth have broken the cycle of poverty and secured government jobs, thanks to Sivaraj, a 41-year-old police constable from Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram. Growing up in a small village, Sivaraj had once aspired to don the khaki uniform but had lacked guidance and resources. Unable to afford coaching himself, he cleared his police exam through self-study.?

Today, Sivaraj trains hundreds of students for free on his farm, providing free coaching, accommodation, and mentorship to crack highly competitive government exams.

From Meals to Miracles: How One Woman is Transforming Delhi’s Slums

When Payal Kumar first stepped into Delhi’s Priyanka Gandhi Camp during the COVID-19 lockdown, she was struck by the residents’ struggles.?

What began with distributing home-cooked meals soon turned into something bigger.

Leaving her family business, Payal started Feed the Souls (FTS) in Delhi – it now supports slum communities through food distribution, education, and empowering women with valuable skills.

Every day, over 125 children from slums attend her free evening classes, learning subjects they once struggled with.

Through ‘Project Utsav,’ she also organises birthday celebrations for kids who have never cut a cake before.

Beyond education, Payal empowers slum women through ‘Project Hunar’, teaching them to craft products from textile waste and gain financial independence. Twenty women now work as teachers, cooks, and artisans under her initiative.

“It’s not easy, but when women start earning, the change is undeniable,” she says.

Looking ahead, Payal aims to introduce computer literacy for children and expand her community kitchen.

“I never thought I’d run an NGO, but this is my true calling,” she narrates, proving that one person’s kindness can spark extraordinary change.

How One Man Is Single-Handedly Lighting Up Thousands of Homes in Manipur's Remote Hill Villages

In the remote hills of Manipur, where power cuts once dimmed dreams, a quiet revolution is unfolding.

Women who relied on power looms and sewing machines saw their economic independence flicker away with the electricity. Children struggled to study under the weak glow of kerosene lamps.

But today they sit beneath bright, steady lamplight – unlocking a new world that education and employment promises.

This is the new reality in the heartland of Manipur, thanks to Seth Moirangthem.

A graduate in arts from Manipur University, Seth collaborated with Selco Foundation to launch SNL Energy Solutions, bringing affordable solar power to over 1,000 households across 100 villages.

The transformation these systems brought about is profound.?

Women in the villages, now unfettered by power outages, can extend their working hours – allowing them to earn a lot more.

Potters have gotten solar-powered pottery wheels while fishermen on Loktak Lake now have solar-powered floating huts to sustain their livelihoods.

Despite the challenges brought on by the political unrest in Manipur, Seth’s mission continues to shine bright—empowering lives, one solar panel at a time.

Week in a Wink: What Made News On Social Media

Mohammed Muzaheed, a 45-year-old auto driver from Yellandu, Telangana, has spent nearly 20 years offering free rides to pregnant women and persons with disabilities—no matter the hour, no matter the distance.

A polio survivor born into poverty, Muzaheed knows hardship but refuses to let it define him.?

Beyond free rides, he also fills potholes with his own hands and sets aside half his Rs 500 daily earnings to cook for 30 struggling families twice a month.

“I’m disabled, but I won’t let others suffer,” he says.

Because true strength isn’t in what you have—it’s in what you give.

"Madam, Auto?"

Among a crowd of male drivers, one woman stood out. What started as an ordinary commute in Delhi turned into an unforgettable encounter when a Reddit user met Neelam.

Neelam wasn’t always an auto driver. Once trapped in an abusive marriage, tormented by in-laws who sought to break her spirit, she made a choice—to fight back.

With her daughter’s future as her guiding force, she stepped into a world where women like her are rarely seen, let alone celebrated.

Today, each ride she takes is a step toward a life on her own terms, proving that strength isn’t about what you endure, but what you overcome.

On 3 November 2024, Dipayan and Kasturi Patra’s world shattered when their beloved rescued dog, Greyhound, slipped her leash and disappeared into the bustling streets of Agra. What followed was an agonising search!

For three agonizing months, they scoured the city, plastering flyers, scanning CCTV footage, and even deploying drones. Each lead ended in heartbreak, but they never lost hope.?

But in February, a sliver of fate intervened. A tourist guide spotted a familiar-looking dog near the Taj Mahal. Racing back to Agra, Dipayan and Kasturi called out into the night.

And this time, the darkness answered. Frail but alive, Greyhound ran straight into Kasturi’s arms. After months of longing and despair, their family was whole again.

??Inspiration In Motion: Watch This!

This tea shop in West Bengal's Serampore operates entirely on trust, without a chaiwala in sight.?

Customers can help themselves to tea and pay what they feel is fair, embodying a system rooted in integrity, honesty and a strong feeling of community.

One might imagine such a model would invite exploitation, yet remarkably, it thrives.?

Customers even return to settle outstanding payments with a consistency that would astonish conventional business owners.?

The owner Ashok Chakraborthy has never encountered payment defaults, a testament to the power of this unique social contract!

?? Quote of the Week

"Women shouldn't have to choose between marriage and their career. The idea is marriage is an institution so it should have room for her career and dreams also.”

— Sanya Malhotra, Indian Actor

Photo of the Week

Help a Changemaker: With #GiftProtection, Save a Dog From Road Accidents

When it comes to road accidents in India, thousands of dogs and cattle serve as collateral damage. What if we told you that your donation has the power to cap these fatalities?

In our newest campaign, The Better India is working with Rimjhim Joshi Shende’s Pawsitivity to protect over 5,000 dogs across India from road accidents with QR-enabled reflective collars—preventing accidents and reuniting lost dogs with caretakers.

Simply donate Rs 40 to ensure that a stray dog is fitted with a reflective collar, and help them find safety, visibility, and love. Every collar counts!

Donate now!

?? What’s Happening – Upcoming Events & Opportunities

2025 Asian Waterbird Census

Date: Until February 28, 2025

Venue: Wetlands Across India

As part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC), this annual citizen science initiative plays a crucial role in conserving wetlands and monitoring waterbird populations across Asia.

How to Submit Data?

Step 1 – Record and upload your observations via the eBird app.

Step 2 – After uploading, share your checklist with awcindia on eBird.

Step 3 – Provide key details on wetland conditions, threats, and bird populations.

?? Weekend Cheer List

Chhava

While the movie Chhava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, is roaring at the box office, did you know it is based on Shivaji Sawant’s iconic novel?

Originally published in 1979, the book takes you on an emotional and immersive journey into the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj—often called Chhava, the lion’s cub.Born at Purandar Fort and raised by his grandmother Jijabai, he inherited his father’s indomitable spirit but endured relentless trials until the very end.

From being a political hostage to defying Aurangzeb for nine years, the book reveals his untold struggles and showcases him for the ruler he truly was—a warrior, poet, and strategist who refused to bow down.

Sawant’s storytelling vividly captures this tale of bravery, sacrifice, and unyielding courage.

Anandi Gopal

Anandi Gopal is a stirring ode to the woman who defied all odds to carve her place in history—India’s first female doctor, Anandibai Joshi.

Married off as a child to the eccentric yet progressive Gopalrao Joshi, young Anandi’s life took an unexpected turn when he insisted on her education—an audacious idea in 19th-century India.

His strict methods sparked in her a thirst for knowledge, but it was personal tragedy—the loss of her child and her own battle with tuberculosis—that cemented her resolve to heal others.

The biopic remains deeply relevant today, shedding light on the struggles of women who dare to defy societal norms. It’s a film that lingers in the heart, long after the screen fades to black.

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That's a wrap for this week! Until next time, stay curious, stay bold, and never stop believing in the power of change.