When there is a will there's a way. The age-old adage holds true for a group of philanthropists of Dhanbad, who, despite facing economic constraints due to lack of any government support, are doing their best to provide shelter to the Covid orphans.

Over 20 members of the management committee of the oldest orphanage of the district, Hindu Mission Orphanage, are working on a plan to provide accommodation and help to such children, who lost one or both of their parents during the pandemic.

The help plan of Covid orphans for which the members are trying to contact such children is in addition to shelter being provided to 18 regular inmates including 14 who are under- 12 years.

Talking to Telegraph Online on Friday, Sujay Nandi, a movers and packers service operator of Hirapur, who is also a member of Hindu Mission Orphanage Committee, said, “We had 18 inmates before beginning of second wave of pandemic but 14 of less than 12 years of age have been sent back to their respective places as there was lack of permission to keep children of less than 12 years of age.”

“But, we are in process of bringing back these remaining 14 children in the orphanage as the situation has improved now,” said Nandi and added that they are simultaneously exploring ways of extending help to Covid orphan children as they are deeply peeved over the condition of these children.

“We have two permanent staff in the orphanage, including a caretaker and a cook and two to three teachers are also engaged in providing education to the inmates,” said Debabrat Jhampaty, another member of the management committee of the orphanage.

“Though, we are also facing financial constraints due to pandemic as the food expense, education expense, electricity and water bills, clothing expense, books and stationeries for the inmates but that didn’t dampen our spirit to help children who turned orphans due to pandemic,” said Jhampaty.

Established in 1939 at Hirapur, the members and office bearers of the orphanage committee contribute themselves for managing the expenses.

A part of the expenses was managed by rent received through a private school, Kids Garden, operating from a corner of the orphanage, but owing to the closure of schools during the pandemic, the rent has also stopped.

“Though, we also receive occasional fund from various benevolent people of the society including, some lawyers, BCCL officers and other persons of Dhanbad origin settled in other parts of the country but during the time of pandemic we are facing difficulty in approaching them” said Jhampaty and added that the two storey building of 1939 which houses, kitchen, care taker’s room, office on ground floor and room for orphans for second floor is lying and bad shape.

“Though, we have recently carried out repair of kitchen but the bathroom and toilets are lying in extremely bad shape and some rooms are also leaking, for the comprehensive repair of which they have prepared an estimate of Rs 8 lakh but arranging funds for executing the renovation plan” said Jhampaty.

Established by a group of Hindu Missionaries in 1939 the orphanage had 93 inmates during its initial days but gradually the number decreased to 18 inmates.