Kathmandu

Anamnagar cloth-bank: A humanitarian initiative

Anamnagar cloth-bank: A humanitarian initiative

By Ankit Khadgi

KATHMANDU: Fifty metres away from Singha Durbar's East gate, spectators and pedestrians are seen gazing at a donation rack. The brainchild of 100's group, this recently opened 'bank' is gradually attracting people willing to deposit their used clothes and also those who can pick up items as per their needs. The rack is filled with all type of clothes, and other reusable items, catering to whoever wants to make use of them. A bunch of YouTubers were interviewing Bir Bahadur Bista, who manages the cloth bank located in Anamnagar, that has recently gained media coverage. Saugat Gautam, a core member of 100's group expressed his satisfaction regarding how their social venture is helping the people in need. 'We did collect old-worn clothes in the past too. However, it wasn't practical for us to go from door-to-door asking for voluntary donations' says Gautam, who reasons that the cloth bank was set in the busy streets of the city so it can be a hub to donate as well as receive clothes giving easy access to every people who are in need of the same. Gautam reported that an underprivileged individual had come some days ago walking all the way from Jorpati to take some clothes as that individual was recommended about the bank. 'We are also sending the collected clothes to the flood victims of Province 2,' says Gautam who also informed that similar kinds of cloth banks have recently opened in Gongabu, Jawlakhel and Bhaktapur area.

When asked about further plans of the organization, Saugat elaborated that they are also planning to open a small food counter for economically underprivileged people if they receive enough funds for it.

This week, Bista, who manages the Anamnagar based donation-rack, spent most of his time in collecting and arranging the clothes while explaining about the initiative to curious passersby and giving interviews to the media. Bista who runs a shop beside the cloth bank collaborated with the 100's group to manage this initiative. 'There are many unused decent clothes that we keep untouched in the cupboard. We are helping people to reuse the clothes for a good purpose' says Bista who also requested the people to only donate the clothes that are in a proper condition rather than the torn clothes.