The advent of New Year is associated with merry making and enjoyment. Wishing people via various media, hanging out with friends and family or visiting shrines are a common way to celebrate the occasion. However, there are deviations from this practice too. Sunday POST came across a group of medicos from different medical colleges in the region, who devote their New Year to provide free out-door department (OPD) services to the underprivileged who do not have any access to modern healthcare facilities. Their way to celebrate the New Year may be unique, but they derive immense joy and bliss from the services they offer on this day.
Meet Abhijeet Upadhyaya, who first floated the idea. Talking about their novel way to celebrate the New Year, Abhijeet says, “While everyone wants to start afresh on the New Year Day, our team prefers to celebrate the occasion with rural folks by offering them medicines and other facilities free of cost.”
According to the young medico, the idea struck him three years back. “The first day of the year is not only meant only for enjoyment for oneself, but true celebration lies in contributing to the wellbeing of the society. When people are busy celebrating the Zero Night, our members comprising three teams leave for their pre-determined destinations to ensure they reach their target area before the New Year. Once they reach their destinations, they make arrangements to attend the hapless patients who are unable to bear their medical expenses. Often, we also invite senior doctors to join us in our endeavour,” Abhijeet elaborated.
Talking about their initial days, Abhijeet says, “In 2017, we went to Taramanati village under Nillagiri block in Balasore district. We were surprised to find that students there were forced to study under the open sky. Most students were from poor families and couldn’t afford study materials. Besides, they were suffering from skin disease. Later, we provided them medicines as well as study materials.”
The young medico always desired to live in a Utopian world where everyone can follow their passions and dreams. “I believe in the Mahatma Gandhi’s preaching that says ‘If we are to attain real peace, we have to begin with the children. On the topic of Montessori London, Gandhi said in 1931: ‘My aim is to change the society into a Utopia and it can be achieved through children. In my version of a Utopia society, there would be set of order to everything. Everybody would have a set time for meals, a set time to go to schools and a set time for work. Everybody would follow the same schedule, so there are no conflicting schedules. Everyone should have the same clothes to ensure no one is a subject of fun of at school. They would all have the same haircut so there would be no peer pressure or bullying. The basics of my society would be that all kids are same.’”
Abhijeet’s dreams are simple. He says, “Though I have grown up, I am still a child at heart with the determination to bring about a positive change in the society. I have seen many children with no access to basic amenities. So in my early 20s, I was determined to help children who are deprived of their rights and, thus, set up ‘Being and Becoming’.”
So, why did they choose the New Year for their mission? Abhijeet says, “Every good initiative arises in a fresh mind. And we thought the New Year is the best time to create a good impact that will continue throughout the year. One day it struck in my mind that I should attend ailing persons in the rural areas. Being a doctor, I realised that people in the rural and remote pockets are deprived of basic healthcare services primarily due to lack of awareness. As everybody wants to start their New Year in a good manner, we decided to bring smiles on the pale faces by attending them and providing them medicines at free of cost on this day.”
When Abhijeet launched his mission, there were only 23 volunteers. At present, more than 200 active volunteers work for the cause. Apart from offering healthcare services to rural people, they organise many events based on six novel concepts – Budding India (Child rights education and talent promotion programme), ‘Aayu ek soch’ (community-based health aspects), The Blue Sweater (donation of old clothes/accessories), The Wonder Land (awareness about environmental protection), The Grandpa’s Attic (spreading ancient culture in the modern era) and Bleed Red with Pride (awareness campaign on menstrual hygiene). “I believe a utopian world is possible if each of us tries to achieve what we dream of”, says Abhijit, the founder and managing trustee of ‘Being and Becoming’.
Another medical student and member of ‘Being and Becoming’, Mohammad Afaque Arman says, “We believe that the first day of the year should start with something that can motivate us throughout the year. Instead of partying and outing with our friends, our team believes in spending time with the lesser fortunate. Now we have at least 230 volunteers across the state and throughout the year we organise several programmes in the rural areas. Some are related to health issues, while others are aimed at encouraging the children to have thirst for knowledge and explore their talent. We believe that our efforts will definitely help them to lead a better life.”
Recalling a heart-rending incident, Arman says, “Initially, we used to undertake health camps at Chandaka area. There was a five-year-old girl who was very playful and used to win different prizes in the competitions conducted by us. She used to tell me that she wanted to become a doctor like us. When I asked her the reason behind her desire, she said she wanted to take care of the needy people by providing free healthcare to them. I was astonished to hear that from a tiny tot. Such thoughts don’t even register with 35-year-olds, let alone a five-year-old. I told her mother that she was very lucky to have her as a daughter. Her mother, with tears rolling down her cheeks, said it was not possible as the kid was suffering from blood cancer.”
The tragedy did not end here, as Arman said, “The family had no money to bear the treatment expenses of the girl. I felt so helpless. I returned to my college. When the next health camp was organised there, I searched for her but she wasn’t there. That day I decided to carry the dream of that girl so that it always motivates me to do something for the society.”
Air his views, Arman said, “I believe that it is not necessary to be a doctor to save someone’s life. It can be done by any one. And to spread this message, we conduct annual conferences for medical youth titled ‘COGNATION METCON’. This is apart from providing free health services to people living in the countryside. It’s an approach to tackle the two most common hemoglobinopathies prevailing in Odisha.”
“According to the census 2011, there are 444 million children in India under 18 years contributing to 37% of total population. Approximately 30% of children with hemoglobinopathies don’t live to see their fifth birthday. We are working on this statistics to help the common people tackle this disease. We discuss various diagnostic methods in the conference to help people help themselves.”
Anurag Singh, another doctor, said, “Being posted in a rural area, I have developed a passion to work for the rural population. It has motivated me to execute my plans in a structured manner. I joined hands with Swasthya Gram to work for promotion of rural health and education. We have already started work and soon we are planning to reach areas where the health services are in a shambles. When it comes to providing health services on the New Year Day, I would like to say that a doctor is never off duty. A doctor should always be ready to treat his patients even during the celebrations. If we can bring smiles on their face, it would be a great start to the year.”
“Through our various initiatives we are trying to be a part of the change we want to see in the world. Since the last three years, we have been involved in various health-related activities under different projects. We have started Mission Bharat Project (Healthy Villages) so that every villager can lead a healthy life. For doctors, there are no celebrations on the New Year or any other occasion as our main job is to serve the patients”, says Yogesh Sharma, another medico attached to Being and Becoming.
Echoing Yogesh’s views, Tanveer Singh Dahiya says, “For us, the New Year does not matter, but change matters. Thoughts like these have made me a part of Being and Becoming. We have organised various activities in association with the Indian Medical Association Medical Students’ Network. The main objective behind organising activities and events was to sensitise the students about health problems in the state through a more hands on approach. Various activities were undertaken to educate people from rural areas about the benefits of proper nutrition of newborns and children. Also people were made aware of the government facilities to treat malnourishment.”
Nibedita Upadyaya says, “Apart from providing free health services to rural households, we sensitise people on female reproductive system, menstruation and disorders related with it, the importance of maintaining menstrual hygiene, safe disposal of sanitary napkins, maintaining healthy practices during menstruation and healthy diet for prevention of anaemia among the women. We perform street plays on the subject “Women during Menstruation & Sanitary napkins” to spread the message of necessity of using sanitary napkins along with maintaining menstrual hygiene as well as breaking the taboos revolving around it. Besides, we distribute free sanitary napkins among poor women on the New Year Day.”
These Good Samaritans are determined to bring smiles on the faces of the lesser fortunate and usher in a world – hopefully a Utopian world, where everyone can dream to live a better life. And to achieve their goal, these young enthusiasts are always ready to sacrifice their personal pleasures for a more liveable world.