Bargarh : Eminent philanthropist and social worker Rajesh Agrawal was bestowed with the Manch Ratna award by the Utkal Prantiya Marwari Yuva Manch for his humanitarian work. Agrawal, a former vice president of the Manch, had rendered yeoman service in remote areas. He has always been at the forefront for rendering relief during natural calamities.
The Manch is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the State, having 6000 members and 125 branches in different cities and villages. Even though the membership of Manch is limited to youth of the Marwari community, the services are provided to people without any bias in religion or community. The main aim of the Manch is to organize the youth force and prepare them to contribute to the progress of the community as well as of the nation.
The Manch runs two dozen ambulances and hearses all over the State. Besides installing 150 Amrit Dhara points (Cold Water Project), it also provides 500 oxygen cylinders in vulnerable areas. The medical wing of the Manch had conducted 1550 polio surgeries, 1000 eye camps and distributed nearly 20,000 artificial limbs all over the State. A State of the art Mobile Early Cancer Detection Van too was requisitioned for organizing camps all over the State.
