Motivated by a news published in Times of India on a Visually Challenged folk singers – Sant Ram and his wife Anandi Devi, a new age NGO – SELF HELP initiated a movement to support this couple. A message was sent to the members and friends using social media – Facebook and Whatsapp. About 24 people responded to the request and donated some amount ranging from Rs.500 to Rs. 10000. This is a new trend started to link the benevolent persons with the needy people like Sant Ram and his wife through an NGO.

In order to provide the donation amount collected for the couple, a small function was organized by SELF HELP on 17th September (Vishwakarma Day) in Dhaulchheina. Dr. Navin Anand, General Secretary of SELF HELP informed that our organization has collected Rs. 60,000 from their members and well-wishers not only from India and abroad for supporting the visually challenged couple. In all, 24 people have donated for the cause. On behalf of SELF HELP, Devendra Bahuguna Director – Management Committee handed over the cheque of Rs 60,000 to Nitin Singh Bhadauria, District Magistrate, Almora. Shri. Bhadauria District Magistrate, Almora proposed to create a separate fund for the Visually Challenged persons. He also proposed for a three member committee to manage the fund created to help the couple and also for supporting other visually challenged people in future. This committee will include Dr. Arvind Tiwari- District drug De-addiction Center, Deep Chandra Bisht, CEO – SPARDHA and Darban Singh Rawat- President Vyapar Mandal, Dhaulchheina. DM handed over the cheque to the newly formed committee for the purpose of utilizing it for the elderly couple. Dr. Navin Anand assured that SELF HELP will continue working for visually challenged people including youth and mobilized more funds from NRIs.

Devendra Bahuguna, Manoj Singh Rawat, Satya Rawat, Manish Rawat from SELF HELP, Deep Chandra Bisht from SPARDHA, Rakesh Joshi, DDO Almora, Ajnesh Rana, District Information officer, Chandra Singh Mehra, Gram Pradhan, Yashpal Rudiyal and local people of Dhaulchheina participated in the programme.

Sant Ram and his wife Anandi Devi also sung few folk songs on request of the District Magistrate and SELF HELP team. The District Magistrate, Almora instructed Shri. Rakesh Joshi, District Disaster Management Officer, Almora to get renovated not only the house of the couple but also whole building under disaster management fund. He further proposed to utilize the building for the purpose of running a Singer Training School. This is proposed by DM so that there is a promotion of Folk songs in Uttarakhand especially amongst Youths. This will also help the couple in getting some employment. SELF HELP taking forward its mission of distributing Homeopathy preventive for CORONA, SELF HELP also distributed Arsenic Album 30 to the people of Daulcheena.

News Link – डीएम भदौरिया दिव्यांग लोक कलाकार दंपत्ति के घर पहुंचे, आर्थिक सहायता दी, घर का पुर्ननिर्माण कराएंगे