“All men were created equal; then a few became firemen!” 

- Anonymous 

A slight carelessness with combustible substances can always lead to substantial fire outbreaks. In such situations, the firefighters are the ones to put their lives in danger and rescue the trapped people. However, to become a fireman, one must have a lot of courage, will, and complete support from family to pursue this dangerous profession. Kishan Purbia, a 14-year-old boy from Nathdwara, not only understands these factors, but he embodies them with a truly inspiring determination. He is resolute in his dream of becoming a fireman, a goal that he pursues with unwavering ambition. 

Kishan's dream of becoming a firefighter is not just his own; it is a shared aspiration within his family. He says, “My dream is to become a firefighter, and my family stands firmly behind my decision. I have read in the news and seen many videos about how fire destroys many places. After becoming a firefighter, I’ll reach places where there are fire outbreaks and save people in trouble. Also, I want to open a fire station in my area as we don’t have any such facility.” This unwavering support from his family is a testament to the strength of their bonds and their belief in his potential. 

Kishan is an 8th-standard student at Mahatma Gandhi Government School Mohi, in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. A single child, Kishan, lives near the school's premises with his parents and grandfather. Kishan says about his family, “I live with my parents and grandfather. My father, Shankarlal, is an electrician. He repairs transformers on the electricity board. He has to go on a job whenever he is called. It is a kind of a private job. My mother, Kamladevi, is a housewife. She goes to the farm twice daily, once in the morning and then in the afternoon, to feed the cattle. We have three cows. So, my mother takes care of them. She is responsible for milking the cows as well. While returning from the farm, she leaves some milk at the nearby dairy for sales and distribution and brings the rest home for consumption.” 

Describing his daily routine, he says, "I wake up early in the morning, get ready and come to school. After school, I go home, study for a while, and then rest. I go to the farm in the evening to help my mother feed the cows. On certain days, when my mother comes back from home and is not well, I massage her head as she is in pain. I also try to help her with her chores in the evening. I like watching TV and playing games with my friends during the weekend.” 

Kishan is one of the 2.25 million children who benefit from the meals provided by Akshaya Patra daily, a crucial part of the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan. These meals, beyond their nutritional value, play a significant role in Kishan's life. He says, “We get tasty food at school. Every day, there is something different. My favourite is laapsi, and I eagerly await the day when it is served.” These meals not only nourish his body but also fuel his mind, enabling him to focus on his studies and work hard to achieve his ambitions. The impact of such initiatives on children's well-being and aspirations cannot be overstated