Octet in aid of city destitute!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 8: Those who walk the walk seldom talk the talk! Here is an octet that means only business.

Sharp at 5 am on every Sunday these eight youths go out of their houses to feed starving and homeless people on the streets. Sometimes they themselves have to make stuff for street dwellers. However, often they have to buy stuffs like bone bread and feed starving people on the city streets - right from Beltola Tiniali to Khapara bus terminus. From there they turn left and move up to Ganesh Mandir at Ganeshguri. They take such a drive in the afternoon as well.        

These eight youths do accumulate cash whatever they can for the rainy days, for they have to supply such people with blankets during the winter.

The leader of the octet, Gitartha Barthakur, said: "We don't want any publicity. However, it's not possible for a group of eight to shoulder such a staggering burden. The job needs supports from others, especially those who are well off. We uploaded some pictures on the social media so as to make people come forward generously for the cause. The response is very positive. Many people want to join us for the cause. Even some NGOs from abroad evinced their interest to encourage us. They also want to extend fincial support for the cause. They're also ready to support in kinds in the form of food and clothing."

Barthakur further said: "We first came out with an NGO, Justice for Society (JFS), that's no longer functiol. The NGO failed to survive as some of our colleagues had to join professiol services. However, without any me also we can render our service to the downtrodden. The JFS had a role in the emergence of Biranga in Guwahati."

Barthakur said that Guwahati has a tag attached to it - a city of homeless. "If supports do come from different corners, we can get this tag erased," an emphatic Barthakur said.