Civil society organisations in Jharkhand have come forward to shoulder their responsibilities at a time the state is ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jharkhand Christian Youth Association (JCYA), a loosely formed outfit comprising Christian youths of various denominations, has not only arranged dry rations and masks but also creating awareness on vaccination in rural areas.
The members distribute food items, ration and masks to villagers. Manob Chowdhary
“Unlike the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the second wave has affected rural areas. While the city dwellers do have access to good healthcare, their rural counterparts unfortunately lack such facilities. Even the NGOs and corporate sectors seem to be confined to urban areas in organising social initiatives. We decided to abide by our conscience and consciously decided to come together to help the rural people,” said Ranchi-based Kuldeep Tirkey, 33, central president of the JCYA.
Nearly 20 members of the JCYA have contributed money to distribute dry ration kits comprising rice (6kg), dal (1kg), soyabean (1kg), edible oil (1kg) and masks.
“Some of us are employed and a few are students. Those who are employed are contributing from their own salary while those who are students contribute from their pocket money. So far, we have distributed ration and masks free of cost in Hahap village under Namkum block. We have asked our friends, associates and community members to let us know about villagers who are facing difficult times so that we can distribute the dry ration and masks among them,” Tirkey said.
Villagers receive ration from the youths in Ranchi district. Manob Chowdhary and Bhola Prasad
The members are also creating awareness about vaccination.
“Several misgivings are rampant among villagers against vaccines and we try our best to persuade them. We are also informing the villagers about the third wave of Covid, which is expected later this year and that vaccines will protect them from severe infections,” Tirkey said.
Ranchi Catholic church had on May 4 launched a free lunch service for the relatives of patients hospitalised in the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.
The service is conducted by Ranchi Catholic Church under the leadership of archbishop Felix Toppo and Ranchi auxiliary bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and organised on the ground by the Ranchi Catholic Youth unit led by its president Kuldip Tirkey.
Free packed hot lunches comprising rice, lentils (dal), chicken and vegetables along with bottles of mineral water were served to the needy.
“We have distributed nearly 500 food packets daily since May 4 at RIMS,” Tirkey added.
Meanwhile, JMM central general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey on Friday launched an ambulance fitted with oxygen cylinder from the JMM central office at Bariatu in Ranchi.
Bike ambulances launched by the Deoghar district administration on Saturday. Manob Chowdhary and Bhola Prasad
“Anyone can contact on the mobile number 8789493599 for availing free ambulance service in Ranchi city. We will soon be launching a similar service for rural pockets, too,” said Pandey.
Deoghar deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri and Deoghar SP Ashwini Kumar Sinha on Saturday launched five bike ambulances to ferry patients from inaccessible areas.
“It will cater to narrow lanes in city areas and rural areas that do not have good roads and make it difficult for usual ambulances to reach villages. It will have a first-aid facility along with PPE kits, gloves, masks and sanitisers. All the ambulance drivers have been trained to administer first aid to patients while ferrying them to nearest hospitals,” Bhajantri said.
On Friday, Jharkhand recorded 3,776 positive cases, taking the total active Covid count to 45,056. The day also saw 76 deaths, taking the total casualties to 4,366.
