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Jorhat, Jan. 14: The inmates of Da-gaon Anath Ashram (orphanage) in northwest Jorhat are planning to celebrate Bhogali Bihu in a grand a manner like the rest of the state, courtesy donors and well-wishers.
Twenty-three children of the orphanage spent the day today putting up the traditional bhelaghar.
Minu Sharma, the woman who looks after the children said usually two or three persons donated something for the feast. “Tonight the gates will remain open till 11 or 12 and members of the committee and people of the Da-gaon village will drop by and share some time with the children inside the bhelaghar,” she said.
Tomorrow’s breakfast will comprise the traditional jalpaan of chira, cream, doi, pithas and kath alu, all donated by individuals.
“The children may not be living with their parents or even relatives, but they want for nothing. Many generous businessmen, most of whom are members of the committee, try to fulfil their wishes by giving something including clothes,” she said.
The secretary of the 28-member management committee of the orphanage Makhan Goswami, said when the government had withdrawn aid in 1994, the orphanage had passed through very bad days.
Jorhat businessman Rituraj (Babloo) Goswami has sponsored tonight’s Bihu feast. He has been a regular donor for the past few years.
“The public has also pitched in and each month an individual pays for the food and other needs of the destitute children and 12 individuals take this responsibility every year on a rotational basis,” he said.
Goswami said the generosity of the Jorhat Rotary Club and Jorhat branch of the Purbottar Pradeshiya Marwari Sanmelan had helped in taking care of the needs of the boarders since 1994.
Besides food, donors like the Dissoi Valley Lions Club have furnished a library and the State Bank of India has given a set of steel almirahs.
Private organisations and the people have donated generously to the institution — reading tables, dining tables, chairs, pressure cookers, gas connections, beds, curtains, mosquito nets, bedsheets and covers, uniforms, books, medicines, indoor games and even the plants on the compound.
Almost every other week the children get a treat, as someone or the other celebrates their birthday or parents celebrate their child’s birthday at the orphanage.
Earlier known as the Nirashray Sishu Bhawan, the orphanage was first set up in a rented house under the Centre’s Child Welfare and Protection Scheme, 1975. It shifted to the present location in 1977.
“In the beginning, the Centre used to sanction something between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 annually, and this was sufficient to take care of the needs of the 35 children of the home at that time,” Goswami said.
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