Dhanbad: Jamtara, the phishing capital of India is on a transformation spree. The good news is that its transformational model is emerging as a model for not only Jharkhand but also for the country.

Thanks to two exemplary social initiatives of the district administration under the leadership of Faiz Aq Ahmad Mumtaz, the deputy Commissioner of Jamtara, the air of positivity is palpable.

While 118 community libraries situated in each of the 18 panchayats are already supporting education of the needy, the second out of the five elders’ clubs was launched on Sunday at Nala Block in Mumtaz’s presence.

The club equipped with a host of entertainment and games facilities including, carrom board, chess, ludo, badminton rackets and television sets besides books of diverse subjects, newspapers and magazines, is the second of its kind in the district after the one in Fatehpur block.

Talking to The Telegraph Online, Mumtaz said, “We have established the elders’ club by renovating the old and unused government building with the aim of providing an avenue for senior citizens to alleviate their boredom. We have also constituted various committees, including maintenance, health, library and others for overall development of the club.”

The health committee led by a Civil Surgeon will ensure holding of health and medical checkup camps. The maintenance committee under the BDO will take care of keeping the club in good shape.

Mahesh Kapur (65), a senior citizen of Nala, also a member of the management committee said, “The club is one of its kind. Being a book lover I am a member of the library situated far away from my village at Pandeshwar where I have to pay Rs 3 per month but with the latest facility in my locality I can access books at ease.”

Praduman Choubey

Social workers feed downtrodden

Volunteers of Dhanbad Care and Serve Foundation serving food among the needy persons during their Free Feeding Drive for Needy programme near Dhanbad Railway Station on Sunday. Gautam Dey

Dhanbad: A group of 80 social workers of Dhanbad conducted a drive to feed the needy near the south side extension of the Dhanbad Railway Station on Sunday.

Incidentally, they have been engaged in this endeavour since October 16.

The group, Care and Serve, launched this year in October is also extending help to the downtrodden for medical treatment, marriages of daughters and others

Prbhash Chandra, President of the club, said “We are conducting free feeding drive for daily wage earners, rickshaw pullers and beggars on a daily basis at various places of the district including near South Side Extension complex, near Shakti Mandir Dhanbad , Shani Mandir Barmasia, DAV School in Daria Muhalla where large numbers of daily wage earners congregate in large number.

Rajesh Singh, secretary of the club said, “ The members the club are either working or are traders. The food for today was arranged by one of our members Dipankar Banerjee. We are also bearing the medical expenses of a cancer surviving child Saraidhela.”

Praduman Choubey