THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Oct 8: In a major development aimed at improving healthcare access in rural Jharkhand, Vikas Bharti today signed a landmark contract with REC CSR at a ceremony in Gurgaon. The agreement, witnessed by Jitendra Srivastava (IAS), Chairman & CMD, REC (Govt. of India), and Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director, REC CSR, paves the way for mobile medical units (MMUs) in three underserved districts: Gumla, Lohardaga, and Latehar.
Mobile Clinics for Jharkhand’s Remote Villages
Each district will be allocated one bus fully fitted with modern medical equipment and staffed by a qualified doctor. These mobile units are designed to traverse to remote and hard-to-reach villages, delivering essential healthcare services such as diagnostic checks, primary treatment, preventive care, maternal and child health, and vaccinations. The project reinforces prior successful efforts by Vikas Bharti Bishunpur, which has already run MMU projects across all districts of Jharkhand in partnership with the state government.
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Vikas Bharti: Continuing Ashok Bhagat’s Vision for Rural Development
Vikas Bharti, under the leadership initiated by Ashok Bhagat, has long been at the forefront of holistic rural development in Jharkhand. Over the past years, Bharti’s initiatives have included:
Education programmes in remote hamlets, ensuring children who previously dropped out are re-enrolled;
Livelihood schemes such as skill training for women and youth, agricultural support, and micro-enterprise development;
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects, bringing clean drinking water and better sanitation infrastructure to villages;
Community health outreach, including vaccination drives, health camps, and awareness programmes around maternal health and nutrition.
These cumulative efforts have significantly improved the quality of life for thousands in Jharkhand’s rural belt, helping reduce child mortality, boosting education outcomes, and empowering women economically.
Why This New Contract Matters
Improved Healthcare Access: Remote districts often lack easy access to hospitals; mobile units will bridge that gap.
Reduced Health Disparities: By bringing services directly to the doorstep of marginalized communities, it aims to reduce inequities in health outcomes.
Sustainable Partnerships: The collaboration with REC CSR furthers public–private partnership models that combine government support with local organisational expertise.
Building on Proven Track Record: With Vikas Bharti’s prior success in rolling out mobile health services across all districts, this initiative is built on strong foundations.
This initiative is expected to roll out in the coming months, with schedules for the mobile units being communicated at the district level. Local community groups and panchayats are likely to be involved in route planning to ensure maximum coverage.
