For these Jabalpur residents charity is reuniting families

ALLAHABAD: Every year, Magh Mela officials receive hundreds of complaints from people who have lost a family member during their visit. Helping them with their efforts are the volunteers of 'Bhoole Bhatke Shivir'.
Raja Ram Tiwari started the Bhoole Bhatke Shivir in 1946. Helped by volunteers from various states, Tiwari served the society till his death in August 2016.However, locals from Barela Padwar village in Jabalpur have been visiting the Magh Mela every year to pitch int with the initiative andcontinue to do so even after Tiwari passed away and his son Umesh took over.
About 30 volunteers from Barela Padwar arrive two days before the Magh Mela every year to pitch in with their efforts.
Umesh, son of Raja Ram Tiwari, said “People of Barela Padwar village work with the volunteers every Magh Mela, Kumbh and Mahakumbh. Generations of families have been volunteering at the camp, ever since my father started the Bhoole Bhatke Shivir for reuniting the families at Magh Mela.” Tiwari added “We have over 150 volunteers helping us, who belong to different states like Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh and Bihar. However, even as more people join us every year, the contribution of Barela Padwar locals cannot be forgotten.”
Umesh said that these villagers are being trained and they have formed special teams of 30-40 volunteers. “Two schedules have been chalked out for these teams—from January 13 to 17 and January 18 to 22, 2018.”
"We have already apprised our volunteers about the plan and duties of trained volunteers. The details of people lost and found by us are also being uploaded on www.bharatsewadal.com." he added. The Magh Mela administration has planned to equip the volunteers of Bhoole Bhatke Shivir with hi-tech gadgets and a team of experts to assist volunteers January 13 onwards. Within the first two days of the Magh Mela, volunteers of the camp have reunited 76 people including two children with their families.
"Since 1946, the Bhoole Bhatke Shivir has reunited over 13 lakh people with their families during every Maha Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh and Magh Mela," said a Mela official, on condition of anonymity.