Lucknow: For 10-year-old Alfaz Sheikh, the little piggy bank he carried to the Kushinagar district magistrate’s office on Thursday held much more than coins and currency notes. It had a dream — carefully saved over months in one- and two-rupee coins and Rs 10, Rs 50 and Rs 100 denomination currency notes.But images of devastation in Nepal made him rethink what those savings meant.Instead of spending his savings on objects that children of his age crave for, the Class V student decided to give it to people struggling for food, shelter and safety after the disaster in the neighbouring country.A resident of Betia village in Kushinagar, Alfaz, son of businessman Imran Ali Siddiqui, reached the office of district magistrate Mahendra Singh Tanwar with his father and handed over his piggy bank.He also submitted an application requesting the administration to ensure that his savings reach those affected in Nepal.The gesture touched everyone present, particularly Tanwar, who patted the child on the back and praised him for his compassion.Alfaz’s father said the boy had been watching news reports on TV and social media showing houses submerged in water, families getting displaced and people battling for survival in Nepal.“The videos disturbed him deeply. He kept thinking about the people who lost their homes and told me that he wanted to do something to help them. We respected his feelings and supported him,” Imran said.For Alfaz, the decision was simple. He wanted his savings to bring some relief to people facing hardship.“I had saved money for my future needs. But when I came to know about Nepal disaster, I decided to use to it to help people in distress,” Alfaz told TOI.The district magistrate that said the administration deliberately chose not to count the money immediately, as the child’s feelings were more important than the amount.“We respected the child’s feelings and the spirit behind his gesture, so we did not even count the money he brought in his piggy bank. The entire amount will be sent through the appropriate channel so that his contribution reaches Nepal as aid. What matters is not the amount, but the compassion and humanitarian spirit shown by this 10-year-old,” Tanwar told TOI.Asked what he wanted to become when he grew up, Alfaz offered an answer that was as uncomplicated as his gesture: “Whatever I become, I would help people in distress.”