Dhanbad deputy commissioner Amit Kumar inaugurated an exhibition, showcasing paintings by 40 inmates of various quarantine centres, at BBM College Baliapur on Monday.

The exhibition, organized by the district administration in association with Shubh Sandesh Foundation, aimed at engaging and helping migrant workers and other disenfranchised people affected by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

Kumar also felicitated 45 volunteers of the Shubh Sandesh Foundation who worked tirelessly for three months, counselling of inmates of over 150 quarantine centers of the district, besides providing food to residents of containment zones, in coordination with the district administration.

Applauding the organisation’s efforts, Kumar said “A total of over1200 social organisations have worked with the district administration to provide facilities to migrant workers during their stay at the quarantine centers after returning to Dhanbad. The Shubh Sandesh foundation played a crucial role in encouraging workers by carrying out counselling with the help of experts.”

Daniel Ponraj, chief Executive officer of the Shubh Sandesh Foundation, said, “People returning to their homes from distant places amidst heightened anxiety levels, required emotional soothing and counselling, more than any material help. Hence, we carried out counselling sessions through our group of over 45 counsellors and also organized competitive events to engage and cheer people up.”

“There were also complaints of sample reports arriving late for those quarantines in centres, along with before time and delayed discharges. We worked with the district administration to sort those out,” Ponraj added. The foundation also provided bus service within the district for migrant workers, ensuring that no workers walked home after arriving in the district.

“Altogether 140 paintings were made by migrant workers during their stay in the different quarantine centers. We have displayed over 40 paintings in the exhibition and awarded a thermostat flask to the Baliapur group which received the first prize” Ponraj informed.