Since 2024, Debranjan, a 70-year-old native of Jharkhand, receives support from Karuna-Shechen to improve their living conditions. Between tending his vegetable garden and undergoing physical rehabilitation, his story illustrates the impact of hands-on support that benefits both nutrition and health.
A Bountiful Vegetable Garden
For Debranjan, it all started with the soil. When he joined the Kitchen Garden program, he received seeds and seedlings from local nurseries, while also learning new farming methods.
“It has been a game changer for my farming practice”, he smiled, “Ever since I started using vermicompost, I have noticed a big difference; the soil feels richer, the plants look healthier, and the fruits are bigger and more succulent.”
Today, her vegetable garden is particularly lush : “I have planted lemon, coconut, guava, pomegranate, sapota, mango, and jackfruit in my kitchen garden. The jackfruit trees gave so many fruits last season, he says, before adding:
“ It is amazing to see how nature responds when nurtured properly.”
Beyond the harvest, it means restored food security for his family.
Medical Support in the Heart of Villages
The support offered to Debranjan and his wife also extends to healthcare. In these remote regions, access to care is often limited by distance. Karuna-Shechen’s mobile clinics therefore go directly into the villages to provide diagnoses, preventive consultations, and long-term follow-up to sustainably improve the health of rural communities.
Facing paralysis on his right side, Debranjan had undergone treatment in Jamshedpur and Cuttack, but saw no significant improvement. It was after speaking with Sonamani, a social worker with the organization, that he decided to seek treatment at the physical therapy clinic in Pawru, which specializes in rehabilitating motor disorders and relieving pain.
“I knew physiotherapy would help me, but I never imagined it would help me to recover almost 90%. Karuna-Shechen has helped us far beyond what we had hoped for.”
Debranjan’s story illustrates the impact of these diverse initiatives in the fields of agriculture and health, which are helping to bring about lasting improvements in the daily lives of communities in Jharkhand.