Hazaribag: For the Hazaribag Youth Wing, service is not a one-day affair or limited to blood donation camps. With a calendar that runs through the year, the group of over 50 young volunteers has quietly emerged as a community support network, reaching out to people across the district through humanitarian, social and religious initiatives.Over the past five years, the organisation has widened its work to match the changing needs of the community. During harsh winters, volunteers distribute blankets and organise community bonfires. In the summer months, they set up sharbat distribution points. During religious events, they assist devotees and provide them with essential items.Blood donation, however, remains one of the wing’s key activities. Patron C P Jain said the latest camp, held on April 13 in association with the district administration, collected 326 units of blood. “Apart from organising camps, our volunteers regularly help patients and their families arrange blood during medical emergencies,” he said.The group’s outreach extends beyond healthcare. During Shravan, volunteers distribute milk, bel leaves and other puja materials among devotees. Raincoats are provided to pilgrims travelling to Deoghar. Recently, the organisation distributed raincoats among 130 traffic police personnel. Hazaribag SP Aman Kumar appreciated the initiative and lauded the wing’s contribution to society.Among its more unusual initiatives is a free autorickshaw service on Raksha Bandhan. The programme enables underprivileged women to travel across the city and tie rakhi to their brothers without having to worry about transportation costs. During Chhath, the wing makes puja materials available to devotees at a nominal price of Rs 11.The volunteers also make regular visits to old age homes, Birhor settlements and neighbouring villages. Festivals and special occasions are marked with the distribution of fruits, milk, biscuits and other essential items. The group also stepped in during the Covid-19 pandemic, distributing ration and emergency supplies and helping people access medical assistance.Secretary Ritesh Khandelwal said the organisation was now working towards expanding its activities and reaching out to more beneficiaries across the district. “Our aim is to ensure that help is available to people whenever they need it,” he said.
