Dhanbad-based folk singer, Harun Rashid (32) in continuation of his musical crusade against lack of medical awareness and ignorance in the state has shot a music video - Covid 19 se bachne ke liye tikakaran karana hai jan jivan ko bachana hai.

The Hindi song sung by him has been shot with the help of local artists of Dhanbad, features the benefits of timely vaccination to prevent the spread of Covid. The video also features clippings of various people who have taken the jab including chief minister, Hemant Soren.

Talking to The Telegraph Online Rashid, a teacher at a private B Ed College in Govindpur, Dhanbad, said, “The four-minute song shot at Bhuli, Dhanbad which was released by Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs minister, Hafizul Hashan yesterday at his Jamtara residence.”

He further added, “This is the second song composed and sung by me that aims at spreading Covid awareness as. During the first wave I had composed a similar folk song, apprising people about do’s and don’ts to prevent the spread of Covid 19, which was even used by the state public relations department.”

“The basic aim of composing the song shot at local sites and in local language is dispelling the myth about side effects of vaccination and apprising people about the benefits of vaccination in keeping themselves, society and nation safe,” said Rashid.

He added, “I have special love for the local culture, tradition, art and history of Jharkhand. I have been composing and singing songs on these issues since last 20 years” said Rashid and added that a Khortha song launched in 2013 focussing on the issues like tourist places, local festivals, wild life, forests and martyrs of Jharkhand was one of his best creations.

Rashid, a Sangeet Visharad (equivalent to graduation) degree holder of Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, who also imparts training in singing at Dhanbad said “I have composed over 20 albums in light vocal but majority of these are in khortha and Nagpuri languages and focuses of issues close to the heart to the common people of Jharkhand”

Rashid however is unhappy over lack of recognition for his creativity. He said, “Despite my unique effort to raise awareness about Covid, the government machinery failed to felicitate the artist in order to recognize my effort.”