The Newz Radar
MANDI: The Panna Lal Raksha Memorial Charitable Trust, led by prominent businessman Rajesh Kapoor, has been undertaking commendable social work in Mandi since June 2023.
The trust has supported over 600 families affected by floods in the district, encompassing those who have lost loved ones, had their homes swept away, damaged or developed cracks, suffered injuries, or experienced any form of loss.
Rajesh Kapoor, in his conversation with TNR, shared that the trust has distributed 2,500 tarpaulins, over 700 ration and karyana kits, 1,000 food packets, 600 pairs of shoes, dozens of mattresses, general grocery kits and clothes. Additionally, the trust has provided cash ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 per person, depending on the severity of the calamity in the family.
Kapoor revealed that the trust has aided self-help groups in the Mandi district by constructing rooms for their “Mahila Mandal groups” and providing sewing machines, floor matting, dresses, and tarpaulins.
He emphasised that the trust has been serving the impoverished, ailing, and downtrodden sections of society by offering wheelchairs, clothes, blankets, crutches, medicines, and meals. Furthermore, the trust has repaired and renovated several houses for financially weak individuals in various villages around Mandi. Special aid has been provided to women bedridden due to illness or accidents while fetching grass for cattle.
Kapoor stated that the trust has adopted eight orphans from three families, providing them with food, clothing and education expenses.
“So far, the trust has assisted over 150 patients by providing free medical treatment and facilitating the best treatment through our sources,” he said.
Rajesh mentioned that the trust supported a local girl by spending Rs 75,000 on her admission to NIT-Hamirpur. Additionally, they help financially challenged students by covering their fees for pursuing professional courses. “We invest in their education so they can stand on their feet after completing ITI or similar institutes,” he explained.
“We have facilitated the marriages of 10 underprivileged girls and one boy, covering all expenses through our trust,” Kapoor revealed.
He highlighted collaboration with the local administration, assisting people in obtaining their dues through the “Sahara Yojana”, a scheme providing Rs 3,000 in financial assistance to weaker sections of society suffering from specific diseases.
The trust played a significant role in providing a compensation of Rs 200,000 to a bedridden lady through Himachal Gramin Bank.
Kapoor shared that the trust is actively involved in settling family disputes, particularly cases where children are affected by the separation of their parents.
Recently, the trust initiated aggressive drug awareness drives across the district under the campaign “Drugs ko harana hai nasha-mukt Himachal banana hai.”
