An NGO founded by chief minister Raghubar Das's son will try to reach free basic health care services to the needy residing in urban slums of Jamshedpur.
NGO Samarpan, which was formed in July by 28-year-old Lalit Das, an HR manager with Tata Steel, launched its mission on Wednesday with a daylong free health check-up camp at CP Club in Bagunhatu.
Bagunhatu, an urban slum situated near the Tata Steel residential areas of Agrico, Sidhgora and Baridih and close to industrial units like Tata Steel subsidiary like Tata Steel Processing and Distribution Limited, Timken India and Tata Bluescope, has a population of nearly 10,000. It also falls under Jamshedpur East, the home constituency of chief minister Raghubar Das.
"I have heard a lot about Bagunhatu from my father but this is the first time I have come here. I interacted with several residents who were suffering from hypertension, diabetes, fever, malaria and even malnutrition but did not venture to go to doctors or state hospital for the want of money. So we have decided to organise free health camps at all urban slums (read bastis) in the city every month from now," said Lalit Das, an alumnus of Loyola School and BIT Mesra.
The slum residents have also welcomed the step taken by the NGO.
" Bahut acha hoga agar basti main hi swasthya seva milega. Nahin to tempo lekar hospital jana padhta hai aur waha bahut bheed rahta hai (It will be good to have health facility at our doorstep. Otherwise we have to hire autorickshaw for going to hospital, which is almost four kilometres from here and also had to face problem due to rush at the hospital)," said Sheo Prasad (65), a resident of Bagunhatu.
Around 250 slum residents have availed the free health service at the camp by a team of four doctors - Dr D. Murmu, Dr Subodh Kumar and Dr T.K. Mishra (all from MGM hospital), Dr J.P. Lal (Jugsalai health centre) and a lab technician Kartik Kumar Mahto. Pharmacists also gave medicines to those who were examined at the camps for various ailments.
"We will be holding talks with Basti Vikash Samiti (an outfit adopting cause of urban slums) and organise monthly health camps at various parts of the city," said Lalit Das.
