Positive Stories during COVID-19 at Dhanbad

This blog is not for readers to read my words but give this blog (link provided) a patient reading Helping those who had stopped even hoping The emotions have been beautifully captured by the blogger, a 14 year old sweet girl Deborah, whose father Daniel, founder of Shubh Sandesh Foundation (NGO) has joined hands with Dhanbad district administration for some crucial interventions during COVID.


The organization has worked with district administration on several aspects in this unprecedented crisis of COVID that necessitated collaboration and innovation much more than ever. Some of them include-


1. Mental health counselling - Dhanbad can be said to be one of the first districts of India that realized need for a mental health counselling platform. This was felt important due to increase in anxiety, depression and trauma of people especially students, parents, migrants etc. amidst COVID-19 and lockdown. In this background, the district administration partnered with Shubh Sandesh Foundation for a telephonic mental health counselling initiative. Till date, it has received 750+ counselling calls, weakening the taboo surrounded around such counselling help. The above blog of Deborah captures the story of the sister who was counselled by a certified counsellor of the organization.

2. "No Migrant Walks" initiative - This has its genesis from the news stories that captured thousands of migrants walking on roads all over the country. In this background, Shubh Sandesh Foundation came forward to ensure needed bus services to more than 300 migrants of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal etc. till date.


3. Model Quarantine centres- Building upon these interventions, the district administration collaborated with Shubh Sandesh Foundation for making the Quarantine Centres model and excellent dwelling places for these people staying at QCs. Physical-mental wellbeing sessions, group and individual counselling or therapy etc. were conducted by the organization in these centres. This has transformed the somewhat gloomy and negative environment of QCs (earlier) into positive and happy residential institutions (presently).

Following aspects of QCs at Dhanbad have been worked upon by the organization to make them model quarantine centres:

a. Distribution of dry food items and medical kits – In order to supplement the food provided by the government at QCs, the organization provided biscuits, snacks and other food materials to these people. Also, along with dry ration, two three-layer cotton masks along with detergent and soap were also provided so that they can wash these cotton masks at regular intervals and safely use them alternately as well.

b. Arranging railway tickets for stranded people from other states – Abdul Malik (man standing below on gate of the train) and Aman (boy sitting on his berth in train) were stuck in QC for more than 40 days because they could not find avenues to return back to their homes in Kerala and UP respectively. In this regard, the organization arranged railway tickets for them and also provided necessary food and other arrangements for their smooth journey.

c. Special focus on women and children – Special attention and care has been provided to women and children. Children are being provided with Kid Kits which include cerelac, other nutritious food, drawing materials, poem book, baby mask and other necessary items. Similarly, women were provided with sanitary napkins.






d. Capturing the imagination and emotions of residents through art and poem – Painting and poem competitions are being organized at QCs. They are awarded for their active participation and many have come up with very meaningful drawings and poems to instill confidence and motivation amongst all residents and district administration. .


To conclude, what I can definitely say with confidence is that amidst all negative stories and news stories we are coming across these days especially related to COVID, there are great positive stories too. We need to find them with some effort. As negative news capture our minds more easily and thus offer media companies higher TRPs as compared to positive ones, the latter seem to be rare. But in the coming months, the former will shrink and the latter will re-emerge in the same manner as full moon replaces the darkness of new moon. The need for collaboration and empathy in society and governance have been re-established during this crisis and we shall look forward to many such associations in future as well.