a visit to Nirmal Hridaya/ Nirmala Niketan orphonage..

[Note: hmmm... slightly personalized post with "I" - since there was no other way to capture and describe this JGW event/happening]

Wanted to share this story of a bunch of an extremely energized/energizing youngsters. I got to know a little about them within the last few months during the "India Against Corruption" campaign in Jamshedpur… correction: actually, I got to know only the main campaigner – that too through our mails - and invited her for the Unveiling of the JGW: Jamshedpur JoyFest – that’s when we met for the first time in person… and met a couple of them for the first time, only yesterday after their visit to Nirmal Hriday/Nirmala Niketan Orphanage)

They had decided to visit them… spend time with those abandoned kids, take some biscuits/ lectogen, etc., for the Srs to the good work they are doing … and sent me some of these very heart-warming photos of their visit…

Timken gifts for the poor

Timken Ltd, is among many companies who join to celebrate The Joy of Giving Week: Jamshedpur JoyFest.

Yesterday, they contributed about 20 cartons of clothes, ration, and medicines to our central collection point in XLRI - and also donated 200 mosquito nets to Kalamandir. Some of those nets could be immediately given to the beneficiaries (members of the SHG groups), since they had come to attend the training workshop, conducted by the XLRI students.

Some pics:

Mr Indra Kumar (left), General Manager, Timken Ltd, with associates



mosquito nets being gifted by Mr Gouri Shankar Roy (Head-Mfg) and Mr Jagjit Singh (Head-HR)

with Mr Amitava Ghosh, Secy, Kalamandir

Joyfest links pills to the poor

Oct 8th, Jamshedpur (The Telegraph): To mark Joy of Giving Week, hosted by XLRI, a Jamshedpur-based NGO has taken the onus of collecting medicines and distributing them among the underprivileged.

The organisation, Cause for a Change, initiated the innovative community drug take-back programme on Sunday at the East Singhbhum district civil surgeon’s office. It will be collecting unused medicines within their expiry dates and then distribute them to those in need.

This is an addition to Joyfest, based on the premise that most middle class homes have unused medicines lying at home.

Volunteers roped in for this drive showed great imagination by linking Durga Puja festivities with the medicine collection drive. Besides door-to-door collection, medicine drop-boxes were also kept at 15 community Puja pandals of Jamshedpur.

Eleven Baridih High School students and 14 other volunteers have already collected 10 cartons of medicines.

“The cartons will be sent to government hospitals, private nursing homes and primary health centres in rural areas. Prohibitive cost of drugs is often the reason why healthcare is the last priority of the poor,” said NGO member Joydip Paul.

“Volunteers need to be careful. I’ve instructed them not to use opened or used medicines, which may be contaminated,” said district civil surgeon Vibha Sharan.

Registered pharmacists from her office will help the NGO to pick medicines that may be used.

Serving Those Who Serve Us...

XLRI is an institution (and not just as a mere b-school). It survives and thrives on the selfless support of so many “invisible”/unrecognized souls – didis, bhaiyas, bahadurs, secretarial help – who make Life@XL so much more cherishable for all of us, the "floating population" - the faculty and students…

Today was the day to give back to them who give so much to us for the other 364 days a year - with an unmatched care and concern… just as a small token that we value their contribution that they make our lives (from tying sarees for a particular class, appearing to help out just at the right moment, getting the class handouts ready in time to terrorise students, etc., etc.)

So, the XL students planned an afternoon with/for them, served them a lunch… some snapshots…







...and then had a friendly football match (joined by our exchange students from some 4-5 countries) with them...












Needless to say, XLRI won the match!! :)

Children's Day Out

"Children's Day Out"... children from an orphanage in Ghatshila (and from XL :0) had a fun time yesterday... they went to the zoo - where the curator was kind enough to come just for their visit (this was his vacation/holiday time) and gave them guided tour of the zoo.

Later in XLRI, students served lunch to the kids in the XL hostel mess, and then spent time sketching/painting/watchin​g movie in the common room...

The Gift of Time

Like every year, "The Gift of Time" happened... a group of XL students visited and spent time with the abondoned souls at Nirmal Hridaya... talked with them, sang and danced with them, or just gaved them a loving hug...

Musical JoyFest to raise funds for Orissa Flood Relief Operations

The Joy of Giving Week: Jamshedpur JoyFest 2011 will end with an Inter-school Musical Evening on Oct 8th, 2011 (5:30pm -9:30pm) in Tata Auditorium. The proceeds from the show will go to Orissa Flood Relief Operations.



Please also help us to sell passes if you can. Thanks.

Ps: last year the Musical JoyFest had raised Rs 77,000/- for the Leh Floods Relief from XLRI.