DAV Hehal Alumni's Manav Foundation: Social Work for Elderly, Underprivileged, and Environment in Ranchi

Ranchi: A group of alumni from DAV Hehal is actively engaged in social work, extending support to the elderly and underprivileged sections of society through various charitable initiatives. The alumni collective, operating as a social society named Manav Foundation, regularly visits old age homes, where members spend quality time with senior citizens while also providing emotional support and essential daily-use items. Beyond elderly care, the group identifies need-based issues across the city and nearby areas and designs small, targeted interventions to address them.

According to members, the initiative works for people, animals and the environment, with a focus on underserved rural areas. Guided by the motto “Ek Kadam Manavata Ki Aur,” it supports health, education, cleanliness, plantation, women empowerment, animal care and blood donation through voluntary participation and community support.

Founder and president Pallavi Pandey said, “Our group primarily consists of DAV alumni, though a few like-minded individuals from outside are also associated with us. Whenever we take up an initiative, we first identify a genuine problem, be it seasonal hardship or a lack of basic resources, and then decide the budget and target beneficiaries collectively.”

She added that during the rainy season, the group noticed difficulties faced by rickshaw pullers and street workers. “We realised that many people struggled to work in the rain. We calculated the cost of raincoats, decided how many people we could support, and then circulated the plan within our group. Members contributed voluntarily, and we executed the project accordingly,” Pandey said.

The group also stepped in to help vendors facing extreme poverty.