Honouring Loknayak Jayaprakash on His 122nd Birth Anniversary

11 October 2024, Hazaribagh: Under the joint aegis of Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra and Hazaribagh District Lok Samiti, on the occasion of the 122nd birth anniversary of the famous freedom fighter, Sarvodaya leader and pioneer of Total Revolution, Loknayak Jaiprakash aka JP, founder of NBJK and National President of Lok Samiti, Shri Girija Satish along with colleagues of JP movement garlanded the JP statue installed in Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan Central Jail, Hazaribagh complex.

Shri Girija Satish said that JP did not expect change from politics, hence he rejected the post of Prime Minister and did Sarvodaya work with Saint Vinoba, formed Bihar Relief Committee to help the famine victims and a non-political mass organization Lok Samiti to raise the issues of common people, tried to restore peace in Kashmir-Nagaland and strengthened the alternative stream of development by creating many voluntary organizations in the country. It may be noted that JP also played an important role in the establishment of NBJK in the year 1971. Shri Girija Satish, recalling the time spent with JP in Naxal affected block Musahari of Muzaffarpur, said that the simple life of a person like him always inspires.

Advocate Shri Swaroop Chand Jain, who was an active member of the JP movement, said that JP’s name is very high among the people who strengthened democracy in India, on whose call lakhs of youth had come out on the streets. Prof. Pramod Kumar, former teacher of political science at Vinoba Bhave University, described JP’s total revolution as a peaceful path of system change and called it relevant.

Jailer Shri Jitendra Kumar along with journalist Shri Prasanna Mishra, Jharkhand Sarvodaya Mandal President Shri Shankar Rana, advocate Shri Arvind Jha, social worker Shri Rahul Pathak, educationist Shri Arvind Ji Sahay etc. were present in this program. After this, JP’s followers also garlanded the photo of Lok Nayak at the proposed JP Memorial Complex next to the Gandhi Memorial at Kumhartoli Nala Par in Hazaribagh.

Bringing Vision to Villages!

09 October 2024, Deoghar: From September 15 to October 8, 2024, NBJK’s Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital (VRBEH), Deoghar, organized 28 eye screening camps in villages across Deoghar, Giridih, and Jamui districts of Jharkhand-Bihar. These camps provided 507 individuals with eye checkups, detecting: 226 cases of cataract, 170 refractive errors, 20 cases of pterygium and 18 other eye issues

Additionally, 37 patients received medicines, and 35 were referred to VRBEH for further treatment. All cataract patients received free surgery, including transportation, stay, food, black spectacles, and comprehensive medical care at VRBEH, Deoghar.

This initiative is supported by Sightsavers India, Westbridge Capital, and Vision Foundation of India to help eliminate avoidable blindness in rural areas.

Light the Lamp of Justice: 100 Days Satyagraha Enters 22nd Day

02 October 2024, Rajghat (Varanasi): 100 days Satyagraha today entered the 22nd day on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Satyagraha started at exactly 6:00 am with all-religious prayers and garlanding of photos of Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Today, along with Nagamma and Narasamma of Chikkaballapura, Karnataka, National President of Lok Samiti Girija Satish, Bihar Provincial General Secretary Shivji Singh, Executive President of Bihar Sarvodaya Mandal Satyanarayan Prasad, Ashutosh Kumar are also fasting. Remembering Mahatma Gandhi, Sarva Seva Sangh President Chandan Pal said that our Satyagraha is going on with the inspiration of truth and non-violence; we will try to garland the Gandhi statue inside the campus. He congratulated all the friends sitting on fast and said that the result of our sacrifice and penance will be positive. We are sitting for justice and are confident that we will get it.

It may be noted that the government has taken over the premises of the prestigious Gandhian institution Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan located at Rajghat, Varanasi since 1955, terming it as illegal occupation and Gandhian organizations are peacefully protesting against it.

A Month of Nutritious Meals at Amoli Apurva Middle School with Feeding India

01 October 2024, Bahera (Hazaribagh): The children of NBJK run Amoli Apurva Middle School, Bahera (Chouparan, Hazaribagh) get breakfast and lunch with support of Feeding India, a Zomato Giveback initiative.

On every school day, as on average 220 children from weaker sections receive nutritious meals as sprouted gram or moong with 100g of milk for breakfast and a wholesome lunch consisting of rice, pulses, and green vegetables free of cost.

Feeding India will complete one month of its operation at AAMS tomorrow. All children, teachers of Amoli Apurva Middle School and NBJK family extend their heartfelt thanks to this Zomato Giveback initiative!

Empowering Women through Usha Silai School Training by NBJK

30 September 2024, Saraikela Kharsawan: A 9-day residential training under the Usha Classical Silai School segment is underway, organized by NBJK in collaboration with Usha International. This empowering initiative began on September 25, 2024, at Lokhit Sanstha, Simla in Saraikela block, Saraikela Kharsawan district, with 15 women participants. These women are receiving specialized training in tailoring to create garments, bags, and other cloth utilities.

The program was inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Felix Tirkey (State Program Manager, Usha International), Mr. Angura Mahto (Secretary, Lokhit Sanstha), Mrs. Kunti Lohar, and Mr. Shailesh Kumar (Program Manager, NBJK). During the first two days, Mr. Gopal Kumar Mishra (Service Engineer, Usha International) focused on sewing machine repair and assembly, followed by Mrs. Renu Devi (Master Trainer, Usha International), who guided participants through tailoring techniques.

Set to conclude on October 3, 2024, each participant will receive a certificate, a Usha sewing machine, a guidebook, and a signage board for their new Usha Silai School. This initiative enables these women to establish their own schools, impart tailoring skills, and generate income.

Training & Orientation on Eye Health and Inclusion at Keredari Block

26 September 2024, Keredari (Hazaribagh): Under the NBJK’s Inclusive Eye Health Program, a training session for Panchayati Raj cadres and functionaries was successfully conducted at the Keredari Block Office. The event, supported by Sightsavers India, the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB), and the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), focused on enhancing eye health and inclusion efforts in rural areas.

Additionally, an orientation session for Panchayat Mukhiyas, ASHA workers (Sahiya Didis), and other health workers was held under the Netra Vasant-Rural Eye Health Program. A total of 51 participants including members of Panchayat Samiti took part.

Speakers included Mr. Vipin Kumar (JSLPS), Mr. Rajeev Ranjan (CHC), and Mr. Raman Kumar (Sightsavers India), who emphasized the importance of these initiatives. Mr. Kiriti Rawat (DPM-REH) announced upcoming eye screening camps aimed at making Keredari block free from cataract.

Child Reporters Present Children’s Manifesto to Hon’ble Speaker of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly

25 September 2024, Ranchi: As part of the Child Reporters Program, run by Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) in collaboration with UNICEF Jharkhand, young reporters handed over the Children’s Manifesto to Hon’ble Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, Mr. Ravindra Nath Mahto on 23rd Sep. The manifesto, based on consultations with over 700 children across the state, was jointly prepared by UNICEF and NINEISMINE. It highlights 45 key points, calling for equal access to quality education, improved healthcare services in rural areas, stronger child protection measures, and greater participation of children in decision-making.

The Hon’ble Speaker praised the initiative, emphasizing that these demands represent the aspirations of children for a better future. He called upon political parties to incorporate these issues into their election manifestos, asserting that it is the collective responsibility of legislators to address children’s concerns.

UNICEF Jharkhand Chief, Dr. Kaninika Mitra, commended the children for actively contributing to the state’s future. She urged political leaders to prioritize children’s needs. Communications specialist Mrs. Aastha Alang emphasized that, despite not voting, children’s rights must be recognized.

NBJK representatives Mrs. Sushmita Bhattachaji and Mr. Vivek Kumar Singh were also present during this significant occasion.

Building Careers and Curing Blindness: LNJP Paramedical Institute’s Path to Success

24 Septemer 2024, Hazaribagh: India, with 15 million people living in blindness, accounts for a quarter of the global blind population. The surprising fact is that 85% of blindness cases are treatable if diagnosed early. However, rural India faces a significant shortage of eye doctors, with only 20,000 ophthalmologists in the country, 75% of whom reside in urban areas. Diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, which are the main causes of blindness, go untreated in rural areas due to a lack of accessible care.

Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) established Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Eye Hospital in 2005, addressing this critical need. Operating in Jharkhand and Bihar, the hospital treats around 2.5 lakh patients annually and performs 25,000–30,000 cataract surgeries each year, offering hope to those in need.

Recognizing the increasing demand for eye care, NBJK launched the LNJP Paramedical Institute in 2019. This institute, affiliated with the Jharkhand State Paramedical Association-Govt. of Jharkhand, provides a two-year Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant course. Each year, 40 students, including 20 sponsored by CMPDI, Ranchi (A Mini Ratna Company of Govt. of India), are trained in eye care, with a focus on girls from poor and backward communities.

The comprehensive course covers theoretical knowledge, hands-on training with advanced ophthalmic equipment, and patient care skills. The students gain the expertise by working in LNJP Eye Hospital and dealing with patients in eye screening camps in villages. Their placement rate is 100%. They find employment with well-known companies like Lenskart, Titan Eyeplus, Eye Hospitals, Nursing Homes or start their own ventures, earning Rs. 20-25,000 monthly.

This initiative not only offers respectable employment opportunities for youth but also significantly improves eye care accessibility in rural areas. Through LNJP Paramedical Institute, young individuals are transforming communities by bringing essential eye health services to the doorstep.

Free Cataract Surgeries & Eye Care at Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital!

18 September 2024, Deoghar: During the period of 9th August to 16th September 2024, NBJK’s Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital, Deoghar has organized 42 screening camps in the remote villages of 12 blocks including Deoghar Sadar, Mohanpur, Karon, Madhupur, Giridih Sadar, Jamua, Dhanwar, Sono, Khaira, Chakai, Katoria and Chadan under Deoghar, Giridih, Jamui and Banka districts of Jharkhand-Bihar.

These screening camps have ensured 925 OPD, identified 367 patients of Cataract, 216 patients of Refractive Error, 17 patients of Pterygium and 30 cases of other ophthalmic problems. Besides this, 171 patients have been referred to the base hospital for better treatment and 114 eye patients have got medicines during these camps. Most importantly all Cataract patients have received their surgery free of cost with transportation, food, stay and a comprehensive eye care before and after their surgery.

This initiative of Vimla Ramkrishna Bajaj Eye Hospital was supported by Sightsavers India, Vision Foundation of India, Nippon LifeIndia Asset Management Ltd., Westbridge Capital, Herbalife International India Ltd.and Netram Eye Foundation. We are thankful to these institutions for their kind support and trust.

Zomato Supports Breakfast & Lunch for Children at Amoli Apurva Middle School

06 September 2024, Bahera (Hazaribagh): Feeding India, a Zomato Giveback initiative, is now supporting the children of NBJK’s Amoli Apurva Middle School in Bahera (Chouparan, Hazaribagh) with nutritious meals. This initiative ensures that 235 students, who come from economically weaker sections, receive sprouted gram or moong with 100g of milk for breakfast and a wholesome lunch consisting of rice, pulses, and green vegetables—free of cost on all school days.

The school, which enrolls children from Class I to VIII across six nearby villages, offers education to 80 children under a freeship program, with school fees as low as ₹20-₹30. This initiative, with CSR support from Zomato, aims to improve nutrition and education for these children.

The program’s opening ceremony took place on September 2, 2024, with NBJK-Bahera’s Manager, Mr. Virendra Sinha, and Principal Mr. Premchand Ram, along with teachers, expressing joy for this much-needed support.

NBJK’s Program Manager, Mr. Gandharv Gaurav, extended heartfelt thanks to Zomato for their financial assistance, helping to make a difference in the lives of these children.

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