About DNGM Research Foundation
DNGM Research Foundation is a charitable Trust, established on 20th September 1999, registered under Indian Trust Act 1882. The foundation has undertaken various kinds of social activities, clinical and biomedical research. The social activities include
1. Mitigation activity on Arsenic contamination in ground water in affected districts in West Bengal
2. Water Sanit
ation and Health (WASH) activity in schools of Sunderbans, West Bengal
3. Conducting health camps on Sundays in Sunderbans.
4. Conducting health services to the victims of natural calamity, such as ‘Aila’ and ‘Amphan’
1. Activity on hazards of Chronic Arsenics toxicity
Health effect of chronic Arsenic toxicity during last 25 years is causing a great environmental calamity in Eastern India including West Bengal. A large number people, mostly poor villagers, are suffering and dying due to arsenical skin lesion, lung & liver disease & cancer. Mass awareness among citizens as well as doctors, for this crisis is not there. Very few organizations are working on this subject. 8 districts in West Bengal are affected with these problems. Background: Arsenic, a metalloid, occurs naturally, being the twentieth most abundant element in the earth's crust. Contamination of high level of arsenic in underground water has been recognized as health hazard for many decades. It is now known that such arsenic exposure is causing great health hazard by affecting millions of people in the Ganga-Meghna-Bramhaputra plains of Indo Bangladesh subcontinent. There is no consensus regarding the origin of arsenic in ground water. The main mitigation strategy for arsenicosis is to take arsenic free water for both drinking and cooking purpose. High protein diet and vitamins and antioxidants were recommended for supportive management. People were further told that in addition to consumption of arsenic free safe water, it is important to take the treatment offered by doctors to reduce their symptoms. Moreover, people were informed about the safe source of water like Govt. supplied safe water through pipelines or Govt. tube wells which may be used as safe source for drinking and cooking purposes. They should test their home tube well water for arsenic concentration. It is a great challenge to mitigate the calamity of Arsenic in groundwater due to lack of awareness among the arsenic exposed people regarding the need of taking arsenic free safe water and nutritious diet. Also lack of knowledge regarding the health effect of Arsenicosis among the doctors and paramedics add to the challenges. Moreover, the number of patients is not ascertained scientifically in any affected states in India. Mitigation activities of Arsenicosis by DNGM Research Foundation in west Bengal since 2005
1. Arsenicosis case detection by door-to-door household visits and conducting health camps where the Arsenic concentration in ground water is higher than 0.01mg per liter. Concentration above this limit is found to be toxic for drinking and cooking purposes.
2. Awareness generation among villagers and training of paramedics of arsenic affected areas are conducted to aware them regarding health effect caused by chronic arsenic toxicity and its mitigation strategy.
3. Training of Block Medical officers and medical officers doctors in rural health centers.
4. Research on arsenic toxicity
The project areas covered in West Bengal, India by DNGM Research Foundation is:
Districts in West Bengal Year of Activity
North 24 Parganas 2005, 2013-14
Burdwan 2005
Nadia 2007, 2017-2020
South 24 Parganas 2010-2011, 2013-2014
Malda 2015-17, 2021 till date
2. Organizing health camps for offering relief to cyclone (Aila,Amphan etc) affected villages of the delta region of Sundarbans, West Bengal
The Foundation carried out social service activity by organizing health camps for offering free treatment and medicine to the people in the affected villages.
3. Regular health camp at Ramchandrakhali village and Masjidbati village of Basanti Block of South 24 Parganas in the Sunderban Area since 2010
The Foundation had been organizing regular free medical camps on Sundays at two village in Basanti Block of Sundarban area of South 24 Parganas since 2010. This Camp is organized on Sundays every month.
4. School Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program, Basanti Block, South 24 Parganas
Every child around the world deserves an opportunity to learn in a safe and healthy environment. Safe drinking water and a safe place to use the bathroom are as important at teachers, classrooms, and books. One way of achieving this is by providing schools with safe drinking water, improved sanitation facilities and hygiene education that encourages the development of healthy behaviors for life. As a part of program for awareness of safe water use, proper sanitation and hygienic environment in the school premises in Sunderbans area, Social workers of the Foundation carried out awareness generation among school students at Schools in the Basanti Block of South 24 Parganas during 2017-18. All donations made to the Foundation shall qualify for tax exemptions U/S 80G (5) (VI) of India Income Tax Act 1961.Donations are accepted only through Bank Cheque or Draft or may be paid directly to the bank account of the foundation. The Bank details are as under: -
For donation from within India
Bank Name : State Bank of India
Bank Branch: New Alipore Branch
Savings Bank Account Number: 10958875458
IFSC Code : SBIN0000205
For Donations from Outside India
Bank Name : State Bank of India
Bank Branch: New Delhi Main Branch (Branch Code : 00691)
Savings Bank Account Number: 40102644523
IFSC Code : SBIN0000691
Swift Code : SBININBB104
The foreign remittance should contain following details:
• Name of Donor/Remitter:
• Account no. of Donor/Remitter
• Donor/Remitter’s Address
Dr. D.N .Guha Mazumder, Director, DNGM Research Foundation 37/C Block B, New Alipore,Kolkata,700035;
