She knits a new skill for women

CHANDIGARH: A face stood out from the other Shirdi Sai Samaj volunteers who started the "langar seva" at 10.30am near PGI's Gol Market on Thursday morning. Usha Soni was neither a Times of India employee, nor a member of the community that brought the food. She was just one of the attendants who stay at the rest-house while their relatives were being treated at PGI.
Contributing in the real sense to Times Parkash Utsav sprit, the woman came forward and spent over two hours on her feet to serve food to those converging at the langar.For those staying at PGI sarai, she is not an unusual sight. For, she often takes the financially weaker persons to the institute's poor patient cell for assistance and, sometimes, teaches them how to knit.
"I have to visit PGI every month for my husband's liver disease treatment. Usually, the reports take around three to four days to come and we stay here for that time. In the meantime, I do whatever 'seva' I can. I use my time knitting woolens that I can sell, and teach the other women too, so that they can also become self-sufficient," Soni said.
Visiting PGI for the past few years has become a sort of a routine for Soni, who is now mulling shifting to Chandigarh from her hometown Abohar. "We are also looking for a job for my husband in Chandigarh so that the visiting time and expenses can be cut down, since the doctor's say he will have to continue undergoing the treatment for the rest of his life," added Soni, whose sons are married and settled at different places.
Soni also assists patients from economically weaker sections approach the poor patient cell and guides them about the procedures to be followed. "We stay here as a family. I try to help whoever requires it," she said, while being joined by other women from the rest-house to serve the langar.