An NGO formed by a group of doctors out of an urge to stand by the less privileged following the devastation caused by Cyclone Aila in 2009 celebrated its 14th foundation day on Saturday.
Nishshabd Angeekar Welfare Association, which works in the health and education fields, made a presentation on the work it did last year. A programme with songs and impromptu performances followed.
The NGO was born in 2009 following Cyclone Aila, which ravaged parts of South 24-Parganas and caused considerable damage in Calcutta.
“The destruction caused by Aila was the trigger behind forming the NGO. All of us who formed this organisation were doctors at the Kothari Medical Centre then,” said Soubhadra Chakrabarty, joint secretary of the NGO.
The NGO runs a scholarship for needy students. Chakrabarty said they fund the education of MBBS and engineering students.
They also fund the education of three schoolchildren who lost a parent to Covid. “We have taken a pledge to look after their education at least till they pass school and enter college,” said Chakrabarty.
“We support some other organisations like one that runs a home for mentally challenged children.”
The NGO has also bought insurance for many elderly people from poor backgrounds who cannot afford to pay the premium. “We have purchased insurance for some students, too,” he said.
The organisation runs on donations made by its members and some others.
Singer death
Calcutta: Banani Ghosh, the Rabindra Sangeet singer, passed away in the city on June 7 at the age of 79 after prolonged illness. A disciple of the legendary KanikaBandopadhyay, among other teachers, Ghosh also lived in the US where she had several schools. She leaves behind son Prosenjit. Her last rites were performed on Friday.