Fatehgarh Sahib launches ‘Saath’ Time-bank to promote voluntary community service

‘Saath’ Time-bank: A unique initiative by District Administration Fatehgarh Sahib ‘Saath’ Time-bank was launched today.  

This forum envisages providing a platform to the younger generation to contribute and provide support in the social sector through voluntary community service. 

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Notably, on the first day, number of volunteers registered for the program. Most of these volunteers are in the age group of 16 to 22 and are students of various Senior Secondary Schools of the District and Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib. 

In the first phase, the registered volunteers from Psychology department of Mata Gujri College will provide psychological counseling to the elders residing in Old Age Home Bassi Pathana. This will also help the students to develop case-studies for their academic growth. 

The volunteers from school will be sent to the District Hospital and Community Health Centers to assist patients and help them in the registration process and also guide them around the premises, with a special focus on senior citizens. They can also assist hospital staff in the registration work, to help easy and quick movement of waiting queues. This will help the students get first-hand exposure to the functioning of a Government hospital as also hone their soft skills. 

The volunteers to also visit the Old Age Home at Bassi Pathana to interact with the elderly and spend quality time with them. Endeavour is also being made to register volunteers from the Physiotherapy department of Guru Granth Sahib World University to help the elders residing in Old Age Home. 

At the launch, all participating volunteers were given “Saath” badges and issued Time-Bank Passbooks to record the number of hours volunteered by them. All participants will be issued certificates by District Administration on successful completion of 15 hours volunteering. This forum besides imbibing the “spirit of giving” shall also help the students while applying for higher education and give them an edge in job interviews also. 

The response to the program shall be assessed after a month and various activities shall be added to widen the scope of this project. In the second phase, counseling sessions for inmates of Rehabilitation centre; different learning activities for children with special needs and their parents will be planned and organised. Volunteers can also be sign up for Cleanliness drives and Beautification drives in the Municipal towns as well as Villages of the District. 

Meanwhile, DC of Fatehgarh Sahib Ms. Preneet K Shergill said that seven "Saath" time-banks have been launched and students are registering voluntary from different colleges and schools. 

Keeping in view the growth of students, Ms. Preneet K Shergill said District has issued Time-Bank Passbooks to record the number of hours volunteered by them. All participants will be issued certificates by District Administration on successful completion of 15 hours volunteering. The certificates which will help them to develop case-studies for their academic growth. 

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Appeal was made to students across the District to register for the program. Registration form has been made available on the District website.

(Inputs by Gagandeep Ahuja)