Jamshedpur, Aug. 3: Taking an initiative to provide clothes to all the needy people in the state, an NGO and a B-school have joined hands.

Anshu Gupta, the founder and CEO of Goonj, a Delhi-based NGO, would address XLRI students on August 5 — the inaugural day of the “clothes bank” and the first CEO forum of the current academic year.

In fact, SIGMA (social initiative group for managerial studies), a students’ body of XLRI, has recently collaborated with Goonj to form the first clothes bank of the state. It would not only collect clothes but also distribute and track clothes to ensure it reaches the right people.

The clothes bank would provide bare minimum clothes to those in need. The idea is to collect rejected clothes from people and distribute it to the poor through NGOs.

The first drive to collect clothes was conducted on July 31 on the campus. It received a tremendous response from students, faculty and staff members.

“At most times, B-school students learn about finance, economics and positive growth and usually see the rosy picture. However, future leaders of the country should be aware of facts and realities, which are not so pleasant. I will try to talk about the most ignored issues, especially on clothing, and stress that a special emphasis should be given to women,” Gupta told The Telegraph over the phone from New Delhi.

Before SIGMA, the Naya Savera Vikas Kendra of Giridih collaborated with the NGO.

“I learnt about Goonj when I went to Delhi and had spent a day with the organisation. I thought it would be good for us and would also motivate students morally. We have started in a small way but we plan to expand it to school clubs,” said professor Madhukar Shukla of XLRI.

The clothes bank would be good for donors as well. They could now dispose clothes and ensure it goes to right people.

“It will also be something more than charity because people will not get it free of cost. The people who need clothes will have to do some kind of development work in the locality. Also, it would generate a certain amount of dignity in them,” said Gupta.