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Regular-article-logo Friday, 26 April 2024

Cash lifeline for ailing social worker

He is waiting for organ donation from a brain dead person

Antara Bose Jamshedpur Published 18.08.19, 07:58 PM
Souvik Saha (right) with a friend.

Souvik Saha (right) with a friend. Telegraph picture

A 32-year-old man, who quit his bank job with a handsome pay to dedicate his life to social work, is getting back all the love and support as he lies on a hospital bed waiting for a liver transplant involving a cost of around Rs 40 lakh.

Steel city schools, social outfits and individuals have come together to help Souvik Saha (32), the founder of People for Change, who is suffering from liver cirrhosis and is currently admitted to Apollo Hospital in Bangalore.

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He is waiting for organ donation from a brain dead person.

About 20 schools in the city with whom Souvik have worked in the past have decided to organise children’s fair and other events to raise money and contribute to the exorbitant cost of his treatment.

Schools like Motilal Nehru Public School, Little Flower School, Jusco School South Park and Jusco School (Kadma), Kerala Public School (Kadma), Kerala Samajam Model School, Hill Top School, Gulmohur High School, J.H. Tarapore School, Tarapore School, Agrico are among the educational institutions that have decided to conduct fundraisers.

“Souvik always introduces innovative elements during his interactions with students. He is a person who never hesitates in sharing ideas. He is a social entrepreneur who have helped so many children,” principal of Motilal Nehru Public School Ashu Tiwary said, adding that an alumnus of the school has already contributed Rs 1 lakh for Souvik’s treatment.

Souvik has also been involved in rural development by empowering women through skill programmes and children and youths through educational programmes.

Apart from schools, Rotary Club of Jamshedpur has requested its members to make generous donations for the cause.

Souvik’s friends have created a donation account in Milaap — the country’s largest crowd-funding site — that has attracted over Rs 14 lakh so far.

Schools and Rotary Club members have already started circulating the Milaap account to get more philanthropists involved in this drive.

Some individuals have also transferred around Rs 4 lakh to Souvik’s personal bank account.

“I have a non-alcoholic fatty liver and it needs an urgent transplant. I am so thankful to the people of Jamshedpur who are trying so hard to raise the money,” Souvik said from his hospital bed in Bangalore.

Before Apollo, he had been admitted to AIG Hospital in Hyderabad and R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta both of which only consider organ donations from first blood relatives.

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