Bhubaneswar: Amid his studies, Abinas Nayak (20) from Cuttack’s Alisha Bazaar makes sure to take out time for others in need, be it humans or animals. With the help of his friends, he extends assistance to patients coming to SCB Medical College and Hospital and other govt health facilities, donates blood and distributes food among needy people, besides facilitating treatment for stray animals.The undergraduate student at Netaji Subhas Memorial City College, Cuttack, along with his friends, started the social service one-and-a-half years ago. “I always wanted to do something meaningful in life, that’s why I chose this work to help humans, animals and environment,” says Nayak.He adds they donate blood for poor patients coming from different parts of the state and outside. “If any patient or their attendant requests us for blood, we arrange a donor from our group or our friend circle. It is the most important part of our work,” he says.Sometimes, they provide food to needy attendants at SCB, Sishu Bhawan and Acharya Harihar PG Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC). “Many poor people come to SCB, AHPGIC and Sishu Bhawan, and they do not have money to purchase food. When we get requests from these people, we arrange food for them,” says Nayak.Nayak and his informal group, named after Baba Saheb Ambedkar, have rescued at least 50 stray animals, including bulls, from Cuttack and helped them to get treatment. “Nobody thinks about these animals as they do not have any owner. Whenever we get any information regarding a wounded stray animal, we go there and help the animal to get proper care,” he says.In Oct last year, they found a contractual staff member at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishu Bhawan), Cuttack, diverting a patient to a private hospital in lieu of commission. “When the patient went to the private hospital, the latter asked for money from the tribal family belonging to Jajpur district. After we got this information, we convinced the patient to file FIR against the middleman and helped police arrest the person. This became an example for other middlemen,” says Nayak.He adds they will try to protect the interest of poor patients. Besides, they plant trees and make drinking water arrangements for passers by in summer. “Our friends and well-wishers help us get little fund to do such work,” he says.
