It is surprising to say the least, that Citizen?s Foundation, a well-known NGO working in the capital and in a couple of districts in the state, is a result of an initiative taken by a group of boys.

What started as a small club has now developed into a full scale organisation, working in the field of education, health and environment with an objective to improve the condition of life of the downtrodden.

A group of college students formed the club in 1997 in Patratu with an aim to serve the society. The group slowly transformed into an organisation and participated in the pulse polio programme initiated by the government. Members of the NGO went around the districts on cycles, administrating polio drops to children in distant villages, where even the government workers had no access.

It has also engaged itself in other projects involving AIDS awareness campaigns in the society, particularly in the schools. The foundation has also earned a name in carrying out various health-projects in the state, especially involved in heart camps.

The fund for the NGO mainly comes from the welfare department of the state government, Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra, and the Jharkhand State AIDS Control Society (JSACS). JSACS that helps Citizen?s Foundation which in turn is the field operator for the organisation.

Citizen?s Foundation secretary Ganesh Reddy outlines the organisation?s objective as to act as a facilitator for change and bring about social transformation along with capacity building of the community and formation of the self-help groups at the lower levels, for the sustainable development of the villages. Reddy feels, ?We try to involve the community in various government programmes and schemes so that they actively participate in them,? he said.

?Empowerment of every individual is necessary for development of the village as a whole.

?The current practices of the villagers will have to be changed and priority has to be given on important aspects like health and education,? Reddy added.

Milestone Projects

The NGO has done active work in the field of environment protection and has also been an active partner in the Damodar Bachao Andolan launched in 2004.

The members of the NGO had trudged up to Chulha Panithe, the origin of the river. Though at its origin Domodar had clear water, the same water became muddied and filthier as it came down.

The NGO members had collected samples of the water from different places in the line of the river and had it tested by a specialised team of scientists. According to the scientists and experts, the water of the river is unfit for human consumption and supports very little aquatic life due to its level of pollution.

The NGO had also tied up with JSACS to fight against the spread of AIDS in the state. It has participated in different workshops along with JSACS to deliberate on the issue and has worked out modules and packages to tackle the spread of the killer virus.

Foundation at present, is working to train volunteers to teach and disseminate information on AIDS awareness in 30 schools in the Hazaribagh district.

The teachers of several schools will be given a special-training by the resource persons of the NGO. It will also develop teachers into ?master trainers? who in turn will sustain the project in the schools.

The NGO has also worked in the field of health and has regularly conducted immunisation camps in distant villages lile Tala Tand, Hariharpur, Osam, Gegda, Rasda, Katia and Koto under the Patratru block.

Without their efforts these villages that are miles away from the block offices would have hardly received any help. The NGO conducts regular awareness camps.

The effort of the NGO has created a big difference in the lives of the local people. Many have now learnt the significance of health and hygiene.

Also the volunteers of the NGO accompanied by professional doctors conduct routine check up in the villages

The NGO also distributes free medicine for pregnant ladies and children.

The NGO in association with different organisation had organised a heart camp for check-up last year, which was great success. The free heart check-up camp was conducted by a team of cardiologist from the Escorts Hospital Delhi. The medical team had come with thier own gadgets and apparatus to conduct the camp in Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Ranchi.

One of the other projects of the NGO includes the rehabilitation of scavengers in the Jamtara district. The project has been funded by the Jharkhand State Tribal Cooperative Development Corporation under the welfare department of the state government.

The NGO has rehabilitated about 150 men and women who used to carry dirton thier heads by giving them vocational training. The beneficiaries have been imparted training in electrical motor winding, garments and stuffed toys. The beneficiaries have also been given tool kits and sewing machines as part of the rehabilitation package.