What’s Good, India? | From India’s First Rare Disease Helpline to An Abandoned Rail Coach Turning Into a Lifesaver

From a father turning his daughter’s rare disease battle into a lifeline for thousands to a railway manager turning an abandoned train coach into a ‘hospital on rail’—this week’s edition celebrates those who dare to rewrite the rules.

These stories prove that a single act of courage and innovation can ripple outward, transforming struggles into movements and inspiring countless others to believe that change is always possible.

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

1. Father Turns Daughter’s Loss Into a Fight for Rare Disease Care in India

When Prasanna’s daughter, Nidhi, was diagnosed as India’s first Pompe patient, he and his wife were thrown into a race against time.

Doctors gave her just two years, but she defied the odds for 22—fueling Prasanna’s resolve to ensure no other family faced this battle alone.

In 2014, he founded Organisation for Rare Diseases India (ORDI), transforming personal pain into a nationwide movement. From securing ?100 crore under the NRDF to shaping global rare disease policies, his efforts have changed countless lives, including Rekha K and her brother, who found hope and stability despite their rare conditions.

Today, ORDI runs India’s first rare disease helpline, has set up the Rare Diseases Care Coordination Centre in Bengaluru, and offers everything from ventilator support to emotional counseling—turning despair into action.

?“When a parent sends me a picture of their child undergoing therapy at RDCCC and tells me that they are relieved because of me, it makes me happy.”?

2. An Abandoned Train Coach Is Taking Lifesaving Medical Services To Remote Areas, Thanks to This Officer’s Vision

The sound of train whistles and the rumble of carriages define life in Bhusawal, a railway town tucked away in Maharashtra’s Khandesh region. Here, the railway isn’t just infrastructure—it’s a way of life. But while the town is well-connected by tracks, healthcare remains out of reach for many. Railway workers and their families, spread across remote pockets of the region, often find themselves racing against time when medical emergencies strike, with no immediate help in sight.

Against this backdrop of struggle and uncertainty, Rudra, the ‘hospital on rail’, has become more than just a medical service—it’s a beacon of hope. For countless railway workers and their families, who once saw healthcare as an unreachable privilege, Rudra now brings healing right to their doorstep.

This powerful initiative is driven by Ity Pandey, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) for Bhusawal, whose creative thinking has turned a simple idea of reusing an abandoned rail coach into a life-saving reality. There are plans to refurbish a second coach to include ophthalmology and dental services, making it a more comprehensive healthcare provider. “It brings me great happiness watching people receive the care and diagnoses they need. We are also exploring the possibility of creating a small operation theatre for cataract surgeries and minor dental procedures,” says Iti. “Our goal is to offer even more services and reach as many people as possible.”

3. Turning Cigarette Waste Into Hope: How Two Brothers Are Cleaning Streets & Empowering Women

Cigarette butts are the world's most common plastic waste—4.5 trillion of them pollute our planet.

In Noida, brothers Naman and Vipul Gupta saw these toxic remnants littering every street and decided to act. In 2018, they launched Code Effort, India’s first cigarette butt recycling startup, turning waste into opportunity.

Their innovation? ‘V bins’—specialised disposal units installed nationwide to collect cigarette waste at the source. At their Noida facility, discarded stubs are transformed: fibers become plush toys, paper is recycled, and leftover tobacco is converted into compost.

But the impact runs deeper. Over 100 rural women artisans craft eco-friendly products, gaining financial independence, while 2,500 ragpickers across 250 districts collect cigarette waste, turning pollution into livelihood.

In six years, Code Effort has recycled 10 billion cigarette butts, saved 250 billion liters of water from contamination, and offset 400 billion grams of carbon emissions.

With plans to expand globally, the Gupta brothers are proving that even the smallest waste can drive a revolution.

Week in a Wink: What Made News On Social Media

Amid the chaos of Anand Vihar Railway Station, a silent battle was unfolding. A pregnant woman from Samastipur, Bihar, clutched her stomach in pain—her baby was coming, but she was miles away from a hospital.

In that moment, RPF Sub-Inspector Naveen Kumari became acted as the guardian angel. With a police constable and compassionate strangers by her side, she helped bring a new life into the world, right there on the train.

“I was on duty when I got the call. We just did what had to be done,” she humbly recalls.

That night, amidst steel tracks and station lights, kindness won. A baby girl took her first breath, cradled in the warmth of humanity.

As a child in Malbazar, West Bengal, Bikash Agarwal knew hunger too well. Some nights, he slept with an empty stomach, dreaming of a day when no one would have to.

Years later, that dream became Apni Roti, a mobile food initiative that feeds over 1,500 people daily across remote villages in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

At its heart is a van with an automated roti-making machine, churning out 1,000 fresh rotis per hour, served with homemade pickles and sweets.

With a team of volunteers and a simple WhatsApp group—Apni Roti Squad—Bikash has built a movement of compassion.

“The reader does not steal, and the thief does not read."

In the quiet corners of Annai Indira Nagar, Chennai, a small wooden box is rewriting the story of community reading.

S. Jeyakumar, 54, set up the city’s only Little Free Library (LFL)—a simple concept with a big heart: take a book, leave a book.

Many doubted it would survive. Would the books vanish? Instead, people stepped up. Neighbours donated, strangers contributed, and a carpenter even built a bigger box for free.

Jeyakumar updates the collection regularly, making sure there’s something for everyone.

??Inspiration In Motion: Watch This!

For 25 years, Hyderabad’s Shanthamma and Shiva have risked their lives to save drowning strangers at Hussain Sagar Lake.

They’ve rescued 139 people, retrieved countless bodies, and even performed last rites for the unclaimed—without expecting anything in return. "A person isn’t great because of money, but because of their actions. No work is big or small, as long as humanity stays alive," says Shiva.

Loved the video? Stay tuned for more in #ForceForGoodHeroes, an extraordinary series on India’s unsung heroes that will inspire you to believe in the power of change!

Incase you would like to help them, here's the account details:

A/c holder name- ANIMALLA HANUMANTHU SHIVA

Savings A/c No. - 9992505026199201

IFSC- KARB0000721

Bank name- Karnataka Bank

?? Quote of the Week

“True empathy is rooted in humility and the understanding that there are many people with as much to contribute in life as you.”

-Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group

Photo of the Week

Help a Changemaker: This Valentine’s Day, #GiftProtection To A Stray Safety for Just ?40!

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.

This Valentine’s Day, 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

Race for 7 – Run for Rare

Date: 23 February, 2025

Venue: Across India

1 in 20 Indians suffers from a rare disease, with 50% being children—many losing their fight before age five due to delayed diagnosis and unaffordable treatments.

Race for 7 is an awareness run by Organisation For Rare Disease India (ORDI), symbolising 7,000 rare diseases with 7,000 people running 7 KM.

?? Weekend Cheer List

Green Humour for a Greying Planet

Who says saving the planet can't come with a side of laughter?

Rohan Chakravarty’s Green Humour for a Greying Planet delivers a masterclass in satire, turning conservation and climate issues into laugh-out-loud moments.

Through witty cartoons, he skewers flawed policies, exposes human folly, and takes readers on a journey across various environmental themes—wildlife conservation, climate change, deforestation, and human impact on nature.

Instead of preaching, Chakravarty uses laughter to inspire action, making this book a must-read for nature lovers, activists, and casual readers alike.

Mrs.

Streaming now on Zee5, Mrs. is a quiet yet powerful reflection of the unspoken struggles women face in Indian households.

On the surface, it’s a simple tale of food, family, and love. Beneath, it’s a piercing feminist statement on deep-rooted patriarchy the society has normalised.

Directed by Arati Kadav, this remake of The Great Indian Kitchen follows Richa (Sanya Malhotra), a newlywed burdened by unseen expectations.

As household duties consume her, the film subtly exposes societal conditioning and the suffocating ‘adjust kar lo beta’ mindset.

How radical must everyday feminism be to break free? Mrs. raises the question—loud and clear.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Until next time, keep seeking, keep questioning, and keep believing in the power of change.