The Dustbin Hero: A Motivational Story of a Boy Who Made a Difference

Raj was a 10-year-old boy who lived in a slum near a railway station. He had never been to school, and he spent his days begging for money or food from the passengers. He had no family, no friends, and no hope for the future.

One day, he saw a poster on the wall of the station that said, "Clean India, Green India". It showed a picture of a beautiful park with flowers and trees, and a slogan that said, "Be the change you want to see in the world". Raj was intrigued by the poster. He wondered what it meant, and how he could be part of the change.

He decided to start by cleaning up his own surroundings. He found an old plastic bag and began to pick up the garbage that littered the ground. He collected bottles, cans, wrappers, papers, and anything else that looked like waste. He walked around the station, the slum, and the nearby streets, filling up his bag with trash. He felt a sense of pride and satisfaction as he saw the places becoming cleaner and neater.

He then looked for a dustbin where he could dump his bag. He searched high and low, but he couldn't find one. He realized that there was no proper system for waste management in his area. He wondered what he could do with his bag of garbage.

He decided to take it to the nearest municipal office and ask them for help. He walked for an hour, carrying his heavy bag on his shoulder. He reached the office and knocked on the door. A man opened it and looked at him with disdain.

"What do you want, kid? Go away, this is not a place for beggars," he said rudely.

Raj was not deterred by his words. He said politely, "Sir, I am not a beggar. I am here to request you to provide a dustbin for my area. I have collected this garbage from the station, the slum, and the streets. I want to keep my place clean and green. Please help me."

The man was surprised by Raj's request. He had never seen such a young boy take such an initiative. He felt ashamed of his own attitude and behavior. He apologized to Raj and invited him inside. He praised him for his work and promised to arrange for a dustbin in his area as soon as possible. He also offered to enroll him in a nearby school where he could get free education and meals.

Raj returned to his area with his bag of garbage. He was happy to see that a new dustbin had been placed near the station. He dumped his bag into the dustbin and felt a sense of accomplishment. He looked around and saw that his area was much cleaner and greener than before.

He also noticed that some of his neighbors were following his example. They had also collected garbage from their homes and surroundings and were disposing it in the dustbin. They smiled at him and thanked him for his initiative. They said that he had inspired them to take care of their environment and community.

Raj felt proud and humbled by their words. He realized that he had not only changed his own life, but also the lives of others. He had shown that one small act of kindness can create a big impact. He had shown that anyone can be the change they want to see in the world.

The end.

Image credit: Annie Spratt

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