Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
On the second day of the 27th three-day ‘Sawan Mahotsav’ fair—organized jointly by the Women’s Wing of the Agarwal Sabha, Ranchi, and the Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank at Maharaja Agrasen Bhawan—a grand ‘Sawan Sindhara’ and ‘Jhoolotsav’ (swing festival) celebration took place alongside an eye donation awareness campaign.
Mayor Roshni Khalkho attended the event as the chief guest, while Deputy Mayor Neeraj Kumar was present as the guest of honour. On this occasion, Mayor Roshni Khalkho, Deputy Mayor Neeraj Kumar, the President and Secretary of the Agarwal Sabha, and other office-bearers pledged their support to this noble cause by filling out eye donation pledge forms.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Roshni Khalkho and Deputy Mayor Neeraj Kumar urged Chairperson of IMA Jharkhand Women Doctors Wing, Dr. Bharti Kashyap, to organize awareness camps across all 53 wards of the city to educate people about eye donation. The Mayor assured that both the Ranchi Municipal Corporation and she personally would extend all possible cooperation for this campaign. She emphasized the need to reach out to the masses to spread awareness.
Dr. Bharti Kashyap, who is also the Medical Director of Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank, stated that the eye bank has successfully performed 1,089 eye transplants since 1996; however, many patients in the state remain on the waiting list. Due to a shortage of corneas, they often have to be procured from outside the state, placing a financial burden on poor and middle-class families. She appealed for the implementation of a ‘Cornea Retrieval Program Model’ in major hospitals across the state to realize the goal of a “Jharkhand free from corneal blindness.”
During the event, women celebrated ‘Sawan Sindhara’ and ‘Jhoolotsav’ with great enthusiasm. Women, daughters-in-law, and daughters danced to Sawan songs, enjoyed the swings, and participated in Antakshari and fun games, with prizes awarded to the winners. More than 100 stalls were set up at the Sawan Mahotsav fair, featuring items such as Jaipuria jewelry; designer sarees from Kolkata, Banaras, and Bhagalpur; wedding lehengas; exclusive suits; handicrafts; colorful Rakhis; outfits for Laddu Gopal; decorative items; and pickles and papads. Women enthusiastically enjoyed the event and indulged in shopping.
Office bearers of the Agarwal Sabha and members of the women’s committee made commendable contributions to the success of this event.
