🌾 From Struggle to Strength: Monica Mundu’s Journey of Empowerment 🌾

13 March 2025, Khunti: Meet Monica Mundu from Bari Doudhi, Murhu Block, Jharkhand—a trailblazing leader transforming lives through the Lakhpati Kisan™ Smart Village Project run by NBJK with support from CInI-Tata Trusts!

Her journey began in 2016 with a Self-Help Group (SHG), empowering women through goat rearing, poultry farming, and financial support from NRLM. With guidance from NBJK & CInI, she played a key role in the Murhu Nari Shakti Kisan Producer Co. Ltd., an FPO promoted under the Lakhpati Kisan™ project, and in 2023, she became its President, driving economic growth and self-reliance in her community.

Her message? “With dedication and effort, anything is possible!” 💪✨

#WomenEmpowerment #LakhpatiKisan #NBJK #CInI #RuralLeadership #SelfReliance #TataTrusts

Cholamandalam Supports RO Water Plants for Passengers & Villagers in Gaya

10 March 2025, Gaya: With the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Limited, Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) has successfully established two RO Water Plants at Sikariya More Bus Stop and Dhanawa village in Gaya district. These water plants aim to provide pure and cold drinking water to passengers and villagers, addressing a crucial need in these areas.

Mr. Manish Kumar Choudhary, Regional Business Manager of Cholamandalam, inaugurated the RO Water Plants at both locations in the presence of NBJK’s Program Director Mr. Gandharv Gaurav, Branch Manager Mr. Pawan Lal Gupta, and Assistant Manager Md. Nayeem. The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the local community, who had long struggled to access clean drinking water.

At Sikariya More Bus Stop, local social worker Mr. Sanjay Kumar has been entrusted with the management of the RO Water Plant, ensuring its smooth operation for the benefit of travelers and residents. Similarly, in Dhanawa village, a representative of Dr. Pintu Kumar has taken charge of overseeing the facility. The locations for these installations were carefully selected by Cholamandalam and NBJK officials after thorough consultations with local residents.

Expressing gratitude, Mr. Sanjay Kumar emphasized that additional facilities, such as seating arrangements for passengers and bus staff, as well as a vehicle washing outlet, are being planned to enhance public amenities. He extended his heartfelt thanks to Cholamandalam and NBJK for their commitment to community welfare.

The launch event was also graced by Cholamandalam’s Regional Sales Manager Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Regional Receivables Manager Mr. Bipin Kumar, Regional Sales Manager Mr. Saurabh Kumar, and Regional Credit Manager Mr. Yogeshwar Kumar. As part of the awareness campaign, a street play highlighting the importance of water conservation and pollution control was staged during the event, engaging the local audience effectively. The overall arrangements and execution of the initiative were efficiently managed by Md. Nayeem.

Lok Samiti & Jagriti Socio Economic Empowerment Services Celebrate International Women’s Day

08 March 2025, Patna: Bihar State Lok Samiti, Patna, and Jagriti Socio Economic Empowerment Services (JSEES), Ranchi, jointly organized a Women’s Conference at Mahila Charakha Samiti, Kadamkuan (Patna), to mark International Women’s Day 2025. The event was presided over by Mrs. Manti Verma, President of Patna District Lok Samiti, and conducted by Mr. Shivji Singh, General Secretary of State Lok Samiti.

In his written address, Mr. Girija Satish, National President of Lok Samiti, extended his greetings to all participants, expressing concern over the lax implementation of the prohibition law in Bihar. He urged women to take a proactive role in preventing the illegal consumption and trade of alcohol and assured them of his full support in their efforts toward prohibition.

The conference commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address by Mrs. Kranti Rashosh, Convener of Women Lok Samiti. Mr. Kaushal Ganesh Azad, National Coordinator of Lok Samiti, emphasized that despite advancements, women continue to face harassment and inequality. He called for the implementation of employment reservations for women to ensure their empowerment.

Former MLA Shri Suryadev Tyagi highlighted the negative impact of alcohol on society, linking it to increased domestic violence and social instability. While acknowledging Bihar’s stringent laws against alcohol, he stressed the need for greater public awareness and enforcement to achieve successful prohibition.

Women leader Smt. Kanchanbala spoke on the persistent gender disparity in society, emphasizing that women still face subjugation within families and limited access to equal opportunities. She strongly advocated for 50% reservation for women in governance, questioning why women, who form 50% of the population, are only granted 33% representation.

Several distinguished speakers, including Smt. Meena Devi, Smt. Neelu Devi, Smt. Mridula Prakash, farmer leader Shri Suresh Prasad, Shri Satyendra Kumar, Shri Amit Ranjan, and Shri Nitya Mishra, addressed the gathering, reinforcing the call for women’s rights, leadership, and social justice.

The conference concluded with a vote of thanks by Smt. Meena Devi, acknowledging the participation and contributions of all dignitaries and attendees.

This Women’s Day celebration underscored the importance of women’s collective strength in driving social change, ensuring gender equality, and advocating for stronger laws and policies. Lok Samiti and JSEES remain committed to empowering women and fostering a more just society.

🌾 Empowering Women Farmers in Jharkhand! 🌾

08 March 2025, Murhu (Khunti): Murhu Nari Shakti Kisan Producer Company Ltd. (MNSKPCL) is transforming rural livelihoods in Khunti district! Established under the Lakhpati Kisan: Smart Village program by NBJK & CInI (Tata Trusts), this women-led FPO is creating economic resilience through:

✅ Input Supply – HVA crops, piglets, fish fingerlings & more
✅ Market Linkages – Selling NTFP produce to institutional buyers
✅ Training & Financial Support – SRI farming techniques & credit access
✅ Micro-entrepreneurship – 34+ entrepreneurs in lac, poultry, piggery & fisheries

🏆 Awards & Achievements:
🥇 Best FPO Award – Jharkhand (2022)
🏅 Vijayalakshmi Das Friend of Women FPO Award (2021)
🥈 ONGC Foundation Social Impact Summit Runner-up (2022)

With solar cold storage, Better Life Farming Centres, and new initiatives like the Finger Millet Value Chain, MNSKPCL is empowering women to lead & thrive! 🌟

💬 “We will become Lakhpati and make everyone Lakhpati!” – MNSKPCL Board of Directors

#MNSKPCL #WomenEmpowerment #LakhpatiKisan #NBJK #CInI #TataTrusts #RuralEntrepreneurship #Jharkhand

NBJK Distributes 4,127 Nutritious Meals among School Children with Support from Feeding India

07 March2025, Chouparan (Hazaribagh):  Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) successfully distributed 4,127 meals, including breakfast and lunch, to school children from March 1st to March 7th, 2025. The initiative benefited students of Amoli Apurva Middle School – Bahera, Amoli Apurva Middle School – Prajapat Nagar, Chandrakala Devi Daga High School – Kewaliya, and Amoli Apurva High School – Mangarh. Some students from Amoli Apurva High School joined the meal program on March 4th after their school was used as a Class X board exam center.

Under this initiative, students receive nutritious meals every study day:
✅ Breakfast: Sprouted gram or green gram with milk
✅ Lunch: Wholesome rice, pulses, and vegetables

The Feeding India – Zomato Giveback Initiative has been instrumental in providing this vital food support, ensuring that children receive the necessary nutrition to stay focused and engaged in their studies. By alleviating hunger, this initiative makes school education more accessible and attractive for children.

NBJK management ensures strict hygiene and sanitation during food preparation and serving, maintaining a safe and clean environment for students.

316 Micro Enterprises Strengthened Under SIDBI-NBJK Entrepreneurship Promotion Program

05 March 2025, Hazaribagh: The SIDBI-NBJK Entrepreneurship Promotion Program, launched by Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) with support from SIDBI, has successfully assisted 316 micro-enterprises across Hazaribagh, Giridih, Ramgarh, Khunti, and West Singhbhum districts in Jharkhand. This initiative aims to empower artisans, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, youth, and small entrepreneurs, fostering self-reliance and economic growth in rural and urban areas.

Mr. Satish Girija, Secretary, NBJK, stated that this program has created employment opportunities, provides essential resources to marginal entrepreneurs, and helps to reduce migration by enabling aspiring individuals to establish and expand their businesses. The project aims to support 1,100 micro-enterprises by December 2027, focusing on both new business establishments and strengthening existing ones.

Project Manager, Mr. Vikas Joseph, shared that over the past 1.5 years, 316 entrepreneurs engaged in furniture, tailoring, garage services, aluminum fabrication, bamboo and lac crafts, candle and incense-making, pickles, bakery, beauty parlors, and general stores have received financial and technical support. Notably, around 75% of the beneficiaries are women. District-wise, 116 enterprises in Hazaribagh, 25 in West Singhbhum, 64 in Giridih, 21 in Khunti, and 90 in Ramgarh have been supported, generating employment for 330 individuals.

The program facilitates easy loan access, subsidies, skill development, technology support, market linkage, and connections to government schemes through nationalized and rural banks. Entrepreneurs have benefitted from schemes like PMEGP, PMFME, MUDRA, and Vishwakarma, with over 80 applications submitted at District Industry Centers for further assistance.

The SIDBI-NBJK Entrepreneurship Promotion Program is playing a crucial role in strengthening small enterprises and boosting Jharkhand’s rural economy. NBJK remains committed to expanding its outreach and supporting more individuals in the coming years for holistic socio-economic development.

Restoring Sight, Restoring Life: LNJP Eye Hospital Transforms the Life of Gangiya Devi

03 March 2025, Gaya: In a remarkable demonstration of how accessible healthcare can transform lives, LNJP Eye Hospital, Kajha, Gaya, operated by Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK), has restored the vision of Smt. Gangiya Devi, a 52-year-old daily laborer from Sanaut Tola, Manpur block, Gaya district.

Gangiya Devi, the sole provider for her family of twelve, struggled with deteriorating eyesight for two years, which significantly impacted her confidence, mobility, and ability to work. Eventually, her worsening vision confined her to her home, turning daily life into a challenge.

Her hope was rekindled when she learned about an eye screening camp organized by LNJP Eye Hospital. Encouraged by her family and neighbors, she attended the camp, where doctors diagnosed her with cataracts in both eyes. Her pre-surgery vision was recorded as 5/60 in the right eye and 6/60 in the left eye, making immediate surgical intervention necessary.

Understanding her financial constraints, LNJP Eye Hospital, with support from Combat Blindness, provided her with free cataract surgery for her right eye, including travel assistance, food, accommodation, medicines, medical care, and post-surgery follow-ups. The successful operation was performed on November 28, 2024, using a lens provided by Combat Blindness.

Post-surgery, her right eye vision improved dramatically to 6/36, and with glasses, it became 6/6. The restoration of her eyesight has enabled her to regain independence, resume household chores, and return to work. With her confidence restored, she no longer fears stepping outside.

Doctors have scheduled her left eye cataract surgery in the coming months, ensuring complete vision restoration.

Expressing her gratitude, Gangiya Devi stated, “I am deeply thankful to LNJP Eye Hospital and Combat Blindness for giving me my vision back. This has not only improved my eyesight but has also restored my dignity and ability to support my family.”

Her journey is a testament to the life-changing impact of accessible eye care. LNJP Eye Hospital remains committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent individuals from receiving the critical vision care they need.

NBJK Provides Nutritious Meals to Over 2,200 Students Under Feeding India – A Zomato Giveback Initiative

01 March 2025, Chouparan: Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK), in collaboration with Feeding India – a Zomato Giveback initiative, successfully served 2,271 breakfasts and an equal number of lunches to school children during the last week of February 2025. The nutritious meals were provided to students enrolled at NBJK-run Amoli Apurva Middle School – Bahera, Amoli Apurva Middle School – Prajapat Nagar, and Chandrakala Devi Daga High School – Kewaliya, all located in Chouparan block of Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand.

As part of this initiative, children received a healthy breakfast of sprouted gram or green gram with milk in the morning, followed by a wholesome lunch consisting of rice, pulses, and vegetables. These students hail from rural backgrounds, with many of their parents being small farmers or daily wage laborers who are striving to provide quality education despite financial constraints.

NBJK remains committed to supporting underprivileged families, particularly parents of girl children, by offering fee relaxations, freeships, and sponsorships to ensure their daughters receive an education. This initiative also aligns with NBJK’s mission to eliminate child marriage by empowering girls through education.

NBJK extends its heartfelt gratitude to Feeding India – a Zomato Giveback initiative, for their generous support in promoting a holistic development approach that integrates education and nutrition for children in need.

A New Vision: Shri Lakshmi Rana’s Journey to Sight

27 February 2025, Deoghar: Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital, with the support of Naraindas Morbai Budhrani Trust, has successfully restored the vision of Shri Lakshmi Rana, a 70-year-old resident of Chitoleddaya village, Deoghar district. After struggling with blurred vision for two years due to cataract, Shri Rana has regained his independence and quality of life.

A skilled carpenter in his younger days, Shri Lakshmi Rana’s deteriorating eyesight had left him homebound and entirely dependent on his family. Unable to recognize people or engage in daily activities, he felt isolated and withdrawn. However, his life changed when a free eye screening camp was organized in his village by Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital. His family brought him for a check-up, where he was diagnosed with a cataract in his right eye.

The hospital team ensured he received free surgery, post-operative care, and related services at the base hospital. Following a successful cataract operation, Shri Rana’s vision was restored, enabling him to move freely, resume daily activities, and reconnect with his community. Recently, he attended a village fair—an experience he had not imagined enjoying again.

Expressing his gratitude, Shri Lakshmi Rana shared, “I feel like I have been given a new life. I am deeply thankful to Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital and Naraindas Morbai Budhrani Trust for restoring my vision and bringing happiness back into my life.”

This initiative is part of the hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible and high-quality eye care services to rural communities. By organizing free screening camps and offering cataract surgeries at no cost, the hospital aims to eliminate preventable blindness and improve the lives of many more individuals like Shri Lakshmi Rana.

Restoring Sight, Restoring Life: The Story of Smt. Mahadevi

24 February 2025, Deoghar: NBJK run Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital, Deoghar, in collaboration with Naraindas Morbai Budhrani Trust (NMB Trust), is making a profound impact on lives through accessible eye care. One such beneficiary is Smt. Mahadevi, a 66-year-old resident of Chitoleddaya village in Deoghar Sadar block, whose vision was restored through a free cataract surgery.

For the past few years, Mahadevi had been struggling with severe vision impairment, which made daily activities increasingly difficult. Living in a family of six, with her husband Shri Ganga Rana and other members dependent on daily-wage carpentry, seeking specialized eye care seemed beyond their means. As her condition worsened, she found it difficult to recognize people, perform household tasks, and even step outside her home due to the fear of falling.

A turning point came when Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital, Deoghar, organized a free eye screening camp in her village with the support of NMB Trust. Encouraged by her family, Mahadevi attended the camp, where she was diagnosed with cataract in her right eye. Recognizing the urgency of her condition, she was taken to VRB Eye Hospital, Deoghar, for surgery.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship from NMB Trust, Mahadevi underwent cataract surgery free of cost, covering all medical expenses, travel, medicines, food, and post-operative care. The procedure was highly successful, restoring her vision and transforming her life.

Today, Mahadevi leads an independent and confident life. She visits the market, interacts with neighbors, and recently attended the village fair—activities that once seemed impossible. Expressing her gratitude, Mahadevi shared, “I am feeling very happy now. I can see everything clearly, and I am extremely grateful to Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital and Naraindas Morbai Budhrani Trust for their timely support. They have changed my life.”

This initiative highlights the transformative power of accessible eye care and community-driven healthcare programs. Through its ongoing efforts, Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital, with the support of NMB Trust, continues to bring light into the lives of many, ensuring that vision care reaches those who need it the most.