US-Based Sponsor Helps a Girl Child Regain Vision with Successful Lens Transplant Surgery

02 May 2023, Deoghar (Jharkhand, India): Radhika Kumari, a nine-year-old semi-orphan girl from Mahulbani village in Sonaraithadi block of Deoghar district, has regained her vision thanks to the generosity of a US-based sponsor and the medical expertise of the NBJK run Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital-Deoghar (VRBEH).

Radhika’s mother, Suhagi Devi, had noticed her daughter’s vision problems after she started attending school. The family, who belong to a very poor socio-economic strata, had been struggling to make ends meet and were unable to afford the costly surgery required to restore Radhika’s vision.

However, after an outreach camp by VRBEH, it was discovered that Radhika needed a lens transplantation surgery. The family was anxious and disappointed, until Mr. Aniruddh Pillai, a young man based in the USA, stepped in to sponsor all the expenses required for Radhika’s surgery.

On April 29th, Radhika underwent the successful surgery, and a new superior quality IOL lens was transplanted into her right eye. Her mother expressed her gratitude towards the VRBEH team and Mr. Pillai for their invaluable support.

This heartwarming story is a testament to the power of kindness and generosity, and how it can change someone’s life for the better.

NBJK and Sightsavers organize training on Gender Mainstreaming & Disability Inclusion

27 April 2023, Chouparan (Hazaribagh): NBJK-run LNJP Eye Hospital in Bahera, Chouparan, Hazaribagh, organized a one-day training on Gender Mainstreaming & Disability Inclusion. The activity was held in collaboration with Sightsavers as a part of the Inclusive Eye Health Program. The training was attended by 52 participants, including hospital workers, social catalysts, local camp volunteers, members from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, and community health center managers.

The training focused on discussing the importance of barrier-free easy access to eye health facilities for the differently-abled and women. Resource persons from Sightsavers, including Mr. Satyajit Singh, Ms. Nidhi Kshetri, and Mr. Kirti Rawat, highlighted various points such as human rights, fundamental rights, UN-approved sustainable development goals, gender equality, and disability concept-types.

The training aimed to sensitize participants on the need for inclusive eye health programs and gender-sensitive approaches to healthcare. The discussions centered on removing the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities and women from accessing eye health services.

The training was a step towards building an inclusive and accessible healthcare system that promotes gender equality and disability inclusion. NBJK and Sightsavers hope to organize more such initiatives in the future to create a more equitable society for all.

Inspiring Lecture on Career Development at Mission Rozgar Training Centre

27 April 2023, Giridih (Jharkhand): UTI Mutual Fund-supported Young India Project, in collaboration with NBJK, organized a guest lecture at the Mission Rozgar Training Centre (MRTC) in Giridih. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Sameer Raj Choudhary, a doctor-cum-health entrepreneur who runs City Care Hospital in Giridih. Ms. Rumana Azmat, the Centre Manager at MRTC, along with the faculty members, warmly welcomed Dr. Choudhary with a bouquet.

On 21st, the lecture was attended by 65 trainees from different trades, including General Duty/Nursing Assistance, Basic Computer Applications, Beautician, and Accountancy. During his lecture, Dr. Choudhary emphasized the importance of having a target-oriented ethical mindset to build a successful career. He urged the youth to stay rational, composed, and strong in the face of challenges.

Dr. Choudhary also praised MRTC for offering short and viable courses that make the youngsters skilled, job-oriented, and self-reliant. The lecture was insightful, and the trainees found it informative and inspiring.

The UTI Mutual Fund-supported Young India Project aims to provide skill training to the youth to enhance their employability and promote self-reliance. This project has been making significant contributions to the lives of the youth in Giridih and surrounding areas by providing them with opportunities to gain new skills and improve their career prospects.

Kadaknath Poultry Units & Training to Tribal Farmers

26 April 2023, Khunti: Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (ICAR-IIAB), Gadkhatanga, Ranchi, in collaboration with Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra, recently provided training and input to tribal farmers as part of the Lakhpati Kisan program. The event took place under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC), Government of India, and resulted in the distribution of poultry units consisting of 10 Kadaknath chicks and poultry feed to each among 152 local farmer families residing in Chhota Baru, Gajgaon, Siankel, and Otongora villages in Murhu and Khunti block of Khunti district.

The farmers were educated about the management of poultry units, particularly health care and disease prevention. Dr. Soumen Naskar, Principal Scientist at ICAR-IIAB and coordinator of the scheme, informed the farmers that Kadaknath is an Indian poultry breed, also known as Kali Masi, which originated in the Dhar and Jhabua districts of Madhya Pradesh and has received the GI tag. Kadaknath is renowned for its adaptability and brownish-black flesh. The weights of the cock and hen go up to 2 kg and 1.5 kg, respectively, and their eggs are brown in color. Due to its wide popularity, the meat of Kadaknath chicken is quite expensive, which will help increase the income of the farmers.

The initiative was fully supported by Mr. Somnath Das from CInI-Tata Trust, Mr. Mohit Purti from NBJK, and their teams. They expressed their delight in collaborating with ICAR-IIAB to empower the local farmers with the necessary skills and resources to enhance their income and improve their livelihoods.

Overall, this initiative has been successful in enabling local farmers to access new income-generating opportunities and improve their standard of living. With continued support and collaboration from government bodies and organizations, such programs can be scaled up to reach even more individuals and communities, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in the agriculture sector.

Seminar on Prohibition of Alcohol in Religions and Dawat-e-Iftar

20 April 2023, Hazaribagh: NBJK organized a seminar on “Prohibition of Alcohol in Religions” followed by an Iftar feast. The seminar was attended by approximately 60 people, including several dignitaries, who also participated in the Iftar. More than 150 fasting people, including women and children, completed their Roza of the day in this collective feast.

During the introduction of the topic, NBJK President Mr. Girija Satish quoted Swami Vivekananda and emphasized the importance of restraint, virtue, and conscience in each religion. He provided proof of opposition to alcohol in various religions such as Islam, Sanatan, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, and Jewish. Mr. Gautam Sagar Rana, a former MLA, considered alcohol as a symbol of evil with immorality and appealed to ban it without delay.

Physician Dr. A.P. Singh supported prohibition considering alcohol as a social evil and health barrier, while advocate Mr. Ghulam Jilani called alcohol an embodiment of vindictiveness. Mr. Abdul Kalam Rashidi considered prohibition of alcohol necessary for an exploitation-free society and praised the event for adding to the beauty of social diversity.

The seminar saw participation from various professionals who discussed the harmful effects of alcohol on society. Md. Muazzam of Legal Services said that alcohol is behind most of the criminal incidents, while advocate Ms. Deepshikha raised the question of why most of the people who consume alcohol are men. Sardar Paramveer Singh, considering humanity as the religion of man, termed alcohol as its enemy.

Senior advocate Mr. Swaroopchand Jain, who was a JP agitator, expressed concern over the promotion of liquor by western civilization, which offers it an elite identity. He appealed to responsible people and mothers to inculcate good manners in the new generation. Ranchi High Court lawyer Mr. Yogendra Kumar believed that alcohol pushes a man on the path of misdeeds.

The seminar concluded with the Lok Samiti coordinator Mr. Shankar Rana thanking all participants and the audience. The presiding over the event, Senior advocate Mr. Swaroopchand Jain, wished everyone a happy Eid and appealed for an alcohol-free India. The event was a great success, and it added to the ongoing efforts towards building a better society.

Rural Farmer Kaushal Mahato from Ranchi Improves Farming Practices with Vermi Composting

13 April 2023, Chanho (Ranchi): In Ganeshpur, a small village in Chanho block of Ranchi district, Kaushal Mahato, a 42-year-old farmer, is making strides in improving his farming practices with the help of Holistic Rural Development Project (HRDP) being executed with support of HDFC Bank’s CSR initiative. Kaushal, who is involved in both farming and dairy farming, has been linked with Vermi Composting as a new technique for improving his crop yield and livestock management.

Thanks to the training and support provided by HRDP, Kaushal has been able to switch from traditional farming practices to organic farming with vermi composting. After being provided with training and counseling on the benefits of vermi and azolla, Kaushal started making vermi compost and included it in his farming practices.

This switch has led to a significant increase in his crop yield, while also being cost-effective. Previously, he used to put 50 kg of DAP with two trolleys of cow dung, but now he uses only 15 kg of the chemical fertilizer with half a trolley of vermi compost.

Kaushal Mahato is now ready to share his experience and train other farmers on vermi composting. He thanks HRDP, NBJK and HDFC Bank for their support and guidance.

Kaushal’s story is an inspiration for other farmers who are looking to improve their farming practices, reduce their input costs, and increase their yields with organic farming. By promoting vermi composting, HRDP and HDFC Bank’s CSR initiative are enabling farmers like Kaushal to achieve their farming goals while also contributing to the larger goal of sustainable agriculture.

VRBEH-NMBT brings the gift of sight to Kishan Bhula

12 April 2023, Sono (Jamui, Bihar): Mr. Kishan Bhula, a 62-year-old shepherd from the village of Tarbank, post-Charka Patthar, block-Sono, district-Jamui (Bihar) had been suffering from cataracts for some time. His vision had become increasingly blurred, making it difficult for him to carry out his daily tasks as a shepherd and labourer. He was unable to count his cattle properly and had to stop grazing them altogether.

After consulting with his village doctor, Kishan was advised to attend an eye screening camp by NBJK run Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital-Deoghar, which was being organized near his village. The camp doctor diagnosed Kishan with cataracts and advised him to undergo surgery. The doctor informed Kishan that the Naraidas Morbai Budhrani Trust (NMBT) would be providing free cataract surgery at the VRBEH.

Kishan underwent the surgery and his eyesight was successfully restored. He is now able to carry out his daily tasks with ease, and is back to grazing his cattle. Kishan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to VRBEH-NMBT for their support, which has transformed his life.

Electric Motor Pumps for Farmers’ Groups

10 April 2023, Deoghar: Exciting news! 26 farmer groups from villages like Babudih, Modidih, Jormoh, Joruwadih, Gokhuldih and Dumarkundi in Deoghar district (Jharkhand) have received one electric motor pump each, thanks to the Gram Saksham programme by NBJK in collaboration with SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India.

This initiative will provide much-needed support to farmers in the region, helping them to irrigate their crops efficiently and effectively. We were delighted to have Deputy Director, ATMA-Deoghar, along with Mukhiyas & PRIs members from the villages, grace the event and show their support for this fantastic cause.

We’re proud to see such impactful collaborations that promote sustainable and equitable growth in communities. Congratulations to all those involved in making this project a success!

SBI Foundation and NBJK distribute electric motor pumps to empower farmers in Bihar under Gram Saksham programme

09 April 2023, Chakai (Jamui, Bihar): NBJK, with the support of SBI Foundation, has successfully distributed 42 electric motor pumps of 2 hp and 08 pumps of 1.5 hp among farmers in 10 villages of Ramchandradih and Gajahi panchayats in Chakai block of Jamui district, Bihar. This was done under the Gram Saksham programme, which aims to empower villages with sustainable solutions.

The distribution of these electric motor pumps has greatly benefited the farmers in the area, as they can now irrigate their fields easily and more efficiently. This will help increase agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of the farmers.

The success of this programme is a testament to the dedication and commitment of both NBJK and SBI Foundation towards empowering rural communities. It is heartening to see such initiatives being undertaken to create a positive impact in the lives of people living in remote areas.

We would like to extend our gratitude to SBI Foundation for their support and for helping us bring about positive change in these villages. We hope to continue this partnership and work towards a better future for all.

Eye Care Service at Doorstep, Vision Restored to 94 Cataract Patients

07 April 2023, Giridih-Jamui-Deoghar: During 28 March-06 April’23, NBJK’s Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital-Deoghar has organized nine screening camps for rural people deprived of any eye care service.

In Giridih district, VRBEH run and Sightsavers supported Vision Centre at Bengabad has covered seven remote villages of Bengabad, Jamua blocks on Community Awareness & Household Screening mode while in Jhajha and Sono blocks of Jamui district (Bihar), the screening camps took place at two school campuses.

The campaign has ensured treatment to 216 persons with 94 Cataract identified patients those met surgery at the base hospital and got back their vision without any cost as Naraindas Morbai Budhrani Trust has sponsored their treatment & allied expenditures. Also 03 cases of Pterygium have been found in the camps, 16 old patients have received Follow up service while 40 patients have received medicines.

NBJK gets a big applause to make people aware and the effort to curb avoidable blindness across underdeveloped regions in Jharkhand-Bihar.