Patna, May 05: Move over corporate houses, here comes the Bihar government! A state government undertaking has adopted seven orphaned girls living in a child care home in Patna to provide them education and better life as part of its corporate social responsibility ( CSR).
The Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd ( BSRDCL) will bear the entire cost of their education till they pass their Class XII examinations. A sum of Rs 1,500 per month for each child has been earmarked for the purpose.
Pratyay Amrit, principal secretary of the road construction department, said the BSRDCL had adopted the girls staying at Nishant Balika Griha, a care home for girls in Patna as part of its CSR towards society.
“ I think this is the first government undertaking in the state to have taken this step,” he said.
The seven girls who have been adopted by the corporation are Shivani, Sunita Das, Radha ( all 12 years old), Asha Kumari, Pooja Kumari ( both 11), Anita Das and Sumita ( both 10).
Amrit said all other profit- making state government undertakings should follow suit. BSRDCL, which had a net profit of Rs 24 crore in the last fiscal, adopted those girls who have no relatives to turn to.
“ We checked their records and found out they have nobody left in this world,” Amrit said.
The department has already initiated steps for their admission to St Paul’s School in Patna. Amrit held talks with the local sub- divisional officer on Monday during his visit to the care home to facilitate the admission of all the girls to the school.
“ We have decided to put aside Rs 500 per month for each girl to bear the expenses on their transportation to and from the school,” he said.
The corporation has decided to open a joint bank account for each beneficiary with the superintendent of Nishant Balika Griha in which the money will be transferred for the purpose. “ We have appointed Ranjita Prasad, an executive engineer of our department, as the nodal officer to monitor the progress of the project,” Amrit added. He also said the corporation would seek a progress report every three months.
Amrit, who is credited with having brought about a turnaround in the fortunes of the sick Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited during his earlier tenure, said if given proper opportunities, these girls might well contribute to the progress of the society.
The corporation has plans of other philanthropic projects in future, he said.
“ We are contemplating taking all personnel — including engineers and professionals — to colonies housing the underprivileged to teach children at least once a week,” he said. “ This will go a long way in creating a difference in their lives.” Amrit said the social welfare department of the government had written to the corporation as well as other government undertakings to come forward to help the needy.
“ The corporation has simply a made a beginning by adopting seven orphan girls and we will continue our mission in future as well,” he said.
—Agencies