<Important>Flood Relief: Time for Collective Action from BosF

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Dear Birds,

 

Greetings.

 

This is a sincere request to all of you once again to consider working together. Let us take up one village and work to make a considerable difference there. Let us all pool our resources and work. May be it is very true that everyone loves a good drought. For that matter, any calamity. This is an opportunity for us to learn and do some ground level work. The experience we gain would help us understand how things work. The learning would be unmatched. No text book or a best seller can teach us what we can learn on field.

 

We have been discussing various issues and most of us felt that we haven't come across any higher need to get motivated for a team work. Isn't the current flood situation is one such higher need? Until and unless we work together, we cannot achieve or expect optimal results. Remember, doing things individually would not be much of a challenge. Doing things collectively is definitely a big challenge. The result would be very fruitful. Can we take this up? Are we game for it?

 

As the Founder of TMAD group, I state that TMAD would be part of this activity and I am ready to spend 15 days in any village that we identify for collective work. Many of our TMAD volunteers too would come for short spells --- say two days on a weekend or five days if they can manage leaves. And any other support that we can offer we will do. We also will help in raising some funds from our front. Our volunteers are there in Bangalore and Chennai and they also will participate if we can zero in on any village in Kurnool.

 

Aravind of Swechcha Foundation gave a call to me yesterday and tomorrow we will be meeting Sridevi to discuss the flood relief activity. Their volunteers worked all over AP in the flood affected areas. He expressed his interest to be part of such a collective effort when I discussed the idea with him.

 

With the kind of association that I have with AMMA Social Welfare Association, Lending Hands, RAYS I am pretty sure that I can pledge support on their behalf too. In fact, they supported this idea. I am sure that Dr. Raman Foundation, I & EYE, ASHA, Reddy Charity, Manavata, Vruddhi Foundation and Balarakshaks too would chip in. Other key volunteers who are not members of any group also would support. I haven't yet discussed with Aashayein, but I am quite confident that they too can support. I am sorry if I missed any regular group name. It is not intentional. Frankly to say, I believe and hope that every member (either group or individual) will support this idea and take an active role.

 

I propose to meet on Diwali day to discuss our action plan. Meanwhile we will get latest updates from all the groups. The activities can be the following once we select any village:

a. Cleaning

b. Motivating the families

c. Engaging children - it can be in the little work that they do or teaching, getting them back to studies. I visualize gathering them all in the evenings and teaching them in innovative way through games

 

Long term:

a. Housing

b. Livelihoods

 

For the long term action plan, we need to do a comprehensive survey in the village and we need to request experts to visit and suggest us the measures and all.

 

Call for Meeting:

 

Date: 17th October: Diwali

Timings:10:30 am to 1 pm (This is safer. Evening probably we cannot walk on the roads)

Venue: Krishnakanth Park (have to find out if they keep it open in the mornings). Will confirm.

 

Request you all to suggest any venue, if this does not work out.

--
Thank you.

with regards,
PRASANTHI.
http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers
----
When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

I am very sorry that I missed Saayam Cheddam, FRF, Lead India, Nenunnaanu, AID India and BHUMI. It has been very hectic coordinating various things not just relief activity.

 

Most probably I may take leave from 26th October or first week of November depending on the requirement. At this point of time I decided to spend 15 days. Later depending on the requirement and feasibility, I will take a call if I can extend or spend more time.

 

Requesting you all to discuss in your respective groups and come to the meeting with the list of volunteers who can spare time and/or effort and/or money.

 

Required Info. from each group:

1. Names of villages you worked and interested to propose for the collective action

2. List of volunteers and their area of contribution and tentative schedule

3. Thoughts and suggestions for the actions that we can take up

 

Conclusion should be:

1. Forming a core committee to look after this work.

[Suresh VMRG]

Venue part .. We can meet in our (venkata ramana) colony community hall. 200+ people can sit easily. Have chairs, mats and all.

 

Let me know your opinion. So that I can hold the space.

 

Regards,

 

Suresh

 

 

--
__________________________________
VMRG International,
#  802 (6-3-596/23/1/1),
Venkata Ramana Colony,
Khairatabad, Hyderabad – 500 004 - AP
Phones: (040) 23326620, 65572593
Fax: 040-23326620
Mobile : 98499 70455
Email: vmrgs...@gmail.com
Visit us at www.vmrgmedia.com

This message is confidential and may also be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not copy it or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person. The views and opinions expressed in this e-mail message are the author's own and may not reflect the views and opinions of VMRG.

[gouri shankar]

would you please give a clear address with approach land marks and propose a date? regards gouri shankar --- On Wed, 14/10/09, Suresh VMRG <vmrgs...@gmail.com> wrote:

---

Keep up with people you care about with Yahoo! India Mail. Learn how.

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Sure, Gaurishankar garu. Date and time is fixed. Only venue has to be
decided.

Friends,

Requesting you all to confirm your participation. Your support and
active presence is very crucial.

Please respond with the following data to my id offline by EoD
tomorrow as we have to decide the venue:
Group Name:
Volunteers List with contact details:
Coordinator Name: (who will be acting as an interface between BosF and
the volunteers of the group)

Thank you.

with regards,
Prasanthi.

[chandra]

Hi Prashanthi,

 

This is a fantastic idea. Completely developing a village which is hit by floods will show a considerable change. Sahasra will always support the activities related to rural areas. As our primary concentartion is on them.

 

This saturday we are leaving to a village as part of flood relief. We may not attend the meeting as we will be in village. But please share the MOM. We will try to do our role in this.

 

I wish you all the best and to the groups who are co-ordinating this.

 

Best Wishes,
Harish
SAHASRA
http://sahasraa.webs.com

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 7:00 AM, Prasanthi Uppalapati <prasanthi....@gmail.com> wrote:

--
Thanks,
Harish
Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done,it's always your choice.

[Arepalli, Venkateswara]

Hi All,

 

This is really a very good idea. I do not belong to any group but have been a silent member of BoSF.

 

I'm not available for the slated meeting as I'm going to my native to night, but would like to take part in the proposed program, kindly share MoM.

 

Thank you,

Venkatesh
(Arepalli Venkateswara Reddy)
ES – Canada Hyderabad Team
ADP Pvt. Ltd., India
Work: +91-40-6637 8301
From Canada  (9) - 1 734 352 3000 Ext:68301
Email: venkateswa...@adp.com

For work related tasks, please always copy my team's group e-mail "ES Canada ClientCustoms" or "Hyderabad ES Canada Mainframes".

 

---

From: birdsofsa...@googlegroups.com [mailto:birdsofsa...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of chandra
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 4:57 PM
To: birdsofsa...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: <Important>Flood Relief: Time for Collective Action from BosF

---

This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, notify the sender immediately by return email and delete the message and any attachments from your system.

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Friends,

 

This is the venue. This is very easy to locate on the Saradhi Studios Main Road.

 

Ramesh :9885077144
Ontrack Educational Consultancy,
H.No 8 - 3 - 3 19/8/4
Sree Nilayam,
Plot # S-5, Near Saradhi Studios Main Road
Hyderabad - 500073
Andhrapradesh
India Tel: (040) 66441008/9

 

Date: 17th October: Diwali
Timings:10:30 am to 1 pm

 

Agenda:

0. To discuss the experiences of each group - very briefly

1. To think of ways on how best we can collaborate

2. To set pointers/parameters to select a village

3. List out all the things that can be done in a village

4. List of volunteers from each group - time, effort, money -- which way they can participate in this effort

This meet is to discuss our action plan. The activities can be the following once we select any village:

a. Cleaning

b. Motivating the families

c. Engaging children - it can be in the little work that they do or teaching, getting them back to studies.

Long term:

a. Housing

b. Livelihoods

For the long term action plan, we need to do a comprehensive survey in the village and we need to request experts to visit and suggest us the measures and all.

Requesting you all to discuss in your respective groups and come to the meeting with the list of volunteers who can spare time and/or effort and/or money.

Required Info. from each group:

1. Names of villages you worked and interested to propose for the collective action

2. List of volunteers and their area of contribution and tentative schedule

3. Thoughts and suggestions for the actions that we can take up

Conclusion should be:

1. Forming a core committee to look after this work.

 

[Giri Kolanupaka]

Hi Venkat,

Here is the information about tomorows meeting. I will call you before I leave tomorrow.
Thanks and see you tomorrow.

Giri
9949474871

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Prasanthi Uppalapati <prasanthi....@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: <Important>Flood Relief: Time for Collective Action from BosF

--
http://www.ashanet.org/workanhour/
Help a child go to school by donating at least one hour's worth of your salary

[Giri Kolanupaka]

Sorry birds,

This was meant to be forwarded to a person, who wanted to join me tomorrow's meeting. Anyway, this also confirms my presence, along with Venkat and his friend (most likely) representing Asha Hyderabad and Kiran also I guess will be there.

I would like to seek following information in tomorrow's discussion:

1. How can me motivate villagers to start their own reformation and restructuring their own villages.
2. Same with children and staff for schools (if any)
3. What are the villages which still need relief and what kind of?
4. How is the medical help, sanitation, and hygiene maintained in the villages. How can we make these available with immediate in action
5. How is the govt relief being utilized? Has anything come at all? If so, who and how is it going to be given to the villagers.
6. Is there any political mis-utlization of relief provided NGOs for political greed and factor? If so what can we do? I did hear that this is happening.
7. We plan to make a visit (day after tomorrow, Sunday) along with some material ( we will decide the material after the meeting and after talking to villagers or person coordinating there if any ).

Thanks
 
Giri

[shiv@infosys]

ITMD will be available for voluntary help on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday (October 23rd to 25th). I will confirm the number of members
available. I cant confirm the donation from our side but whatever we
will collect we are ready to buy things. ITMD representative will
attend tomorrow's meeting.

Regards,
Team ITMD.

On Oct 16, 1:59 pm, Giri Kolanupaka <kolanup...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry birds,
>
> This was meant to be forwarded to a person, who wanted to join me tomorrow's
> meeting. Anyway, this also confirms my presence, along with Venkat and his
> friend (most likely) representing Asha Hyderabad and Kiran also I guess will
> be there.
>
> I would like to seek following information in tomorrow's discussion:
>
> 1. How can me motivate villagers to start their own reformation and
> restructuring their own villages.
> 2. Same with children and staff for schools (if any)
> 3. What are the villages which still need relief and what kind of?
> 4. How is the medical help, sanitation, and hygiene maintained in the
> villages. How can we make these available with immediate in action
> 5. How is the govt relief being utilized? Has anything come at all? If so,
> who and how is it going to be given to the villagers.
> 6. Is there any political mis-utlization of relief provided NGOs for
> political greed and factor? If so what can we do? I did hear that this is
> happening.
> 7. We plan to make a visit (day after tomorrow, Sunday) along with some
> material ( we will decide the material after the meeting and after talking
> to villagers or person coordinating there if any ).
>
> Thanks
>
> Giri
>

> --http://www.ashanet.org/workanhour/

> Help a child go to school by donating at least one hour's worth of your

> salary- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Hi Friends,

 

Please find the attached spreadsheet from Svechha Foundation. Please fill the details of your visit and your areas of interest for future activities.

 

This will give us a gist of the villages that we visited, what we have done, what is required and also to seek help and support, if required.

 

Please review this sheet and come up with your ideas to make it more useful and handy. Once the columns are freezed, will ask Suresh to host this file on BosF Web site. Once it is updated by all groups, we can inform to all groups and anyone can host this file anywhere.

 

Sridevi wants to create a common blog for all the relief efforts. She will keep us posted and we can post our updates there.

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Hello Giri garu,

 

Good questions.

 

If we can go through the report from Mehboob Nagar forwarded by Umesh, it can give us a basic idea of the common requirements in all the flood affected villages.

 

To make the most of the meeting tomorrow, I would like to discuss the following before we venture seriously into the questions that you raised.

 

1. What is it each one of us as an individual or a group willing to do?

 

2. Are we interested to take up a village as a whole, even a small hamlet?

 

3. If yes, what should be the parameters to select a village?

 

4. With our status quo, either in the head count or expertise or willingness to spend time or any other parameter, what is it that we can immediately do?

 

My personal choice is to first identify a village may be by these factors:

1. Accessibility from Hyderabad/Bangalore/Chennai etc.,

2. Level of devastation

3. Familiarity with the village

      ---- Friends with bureaucrats or any other official

      ----Any friends from the village

      -----Good rapport with a local NGO

4. Find out the major problem of the village where immediate relief or respite is required.

5. Start working on that problem or else find out the correct source to work on the problem and keep following with them

6. Identify 2 to 3 key areas to work.

    a. Help renovate the school building

    b. Encouraging teachers, parents and students to get back to normalcy

    c. Help organizing medical camps and identify problems, if any

    d. Arogya water filter scheme

    e. Sanitation

    f. Temporary shelters or permanent houses/settlements/colonies

    g. Livelihoods

 

Order need not be in the same manner. I am jotting down my thoughts. Based on the no. of groups willing to take active role, no. of volunteers who can actually spare full time or part time etc., we can form a core committee and define roles and responsibilities for each task. We also should follow a mechanism for free flow of info. and availability of updates to the entire group.

 

We need to work on this rigorously and come to a conclusion asap so that we can plunge into action.

 

Personally I am willing to spare 15 days full time provided I get the leave. I am only waiting for the proper time because once I consume these leaves, I will never get another option/spell in this year. Once we chalk out a plan, I can decide and apply for leave.

[Suhasini]

Hi Prashanthi and All

 

Could not attend the meeting last weekend but, would like to know the MOM, open actions or the plan proposed so that  can check and take part in any open actions/plan of action.

 

Regards,

Suhasini

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Sorry friends for the delay in posting the MoM. This is not a detailed one but a brief update.

 

Participants:

Prasanthi, Santosh, Giri Kolanupaka and four of his friends, Suresh Deepala, Venkat Pulagam, Srihari, Kiran Vissa, Kiran Anumalasetty, Kanthi Kiran Anumalasetty, Prasad garu of AP Sarvodaya Mandal, Krishnan and Pravesh, Bharat Bhushan garu of CARPED.

 

Discussion:

We quickly shared the updates of the visits from different groups. We thought to select a village, from the places where we visited, wherein we can pool all our resources.

 

We discussed the possibilities of taking up a village. We wanted to see if we have enough strength but ultimately we understood that we do not have enough strength to take up a village.

 

Findings:

Any member group can provide 3 to 5 volunteers every weekend or alternate weekends for a period of 3 months or 6 months and also can raise some fund depending on the requirement and activities that we decide.

 

With this strength we cannot think of taking up a village as a whole.

 

Topics of Discussion:

1. Need for an NGO Coordination Cell to which we can send all the information, where the information is compiled and shared.

 

2. Activities in a village:

  Cleaning the school premises

  Motivating villagers

  Understanding the problems of farmers

  etc.,

 

3. Lead India 2020 Education Programme

   Reviving the infrastructure in schools in coordination with the govt.

   Providing school kits to children

 

4. Coming to my 15 day spell and how to use it in the best possible manner, there were two options:

a. Select a village and work

b. Do a comprehensive study of the selected flood affected villages and prepare a comprehensive report which would be of use to take further action.

 

I can only get leave after second week of November. Depending on the situation then, I can take a decision.

 

Actually there is a lot to update about all the discussion but am hardpressed for time.

 

Requesting other volunteers who were present in the meeting to elaborate on the topics that we discussed.

--
Thank you.

with regards,
PRASANTHI.
http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers
----
When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

In a gentle way you can shake the world.  The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.  Believe that you can and will make a difference. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be loud. You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to be elected. You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed. If you're clear on what you want to change and why you want to change it, the how will come.


Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger and we will make not only our own happiness, but that of the world at large.

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Very sorry, Vasu.

 

Friends, it is not Santosh but Srinivas of RAYS.

[ManiKanth - ARROW]

Hi Prasanthi and other friends,

We participated in the flood relief program on 17th October 2009 in
Yaptapur village, Mahboob nagar dist. So, there was no scope to attend
the meet related to flood relief and rehabilitation despite the zeal
to join the team. however, I was waiting for the MoM. Glad to see the
updates and discussed issues. I can't say right now how much
contributions we may raise exactly or how many weeks we can spare, but
we have a desire to be a part of this noble work and do the best
within our capacity. Once the village is finalised and the
requirements are listed out, it would be possible to choose a need
within our range and do that as a part of this group.

I completely agree and understand the idea to completely rehabilitate
a village. however, if we first identify a suitable village, we can
start with small steps. If we wait to launch the whole program with
sufficient strength and complete support/ funds, it may be delayed for
long. Why not choose a village and begin with some issue immediately,
say in a week or two. Say we start by donating books or stationery,
motivating children or cleaning schools etc or some similar task which
can be achieved with the present strength we have. I believe that once
we begin, more and more groups would be eager to join. Moreover, when
the whole task is divided in to small parts, the groups would be
willing to take up one or the other. Sometimes, the enormous size of a
major task may discourage the people from even attempting. This is
just my opinion. correct me If Iam wrong. If we choose a village, we
want to take up some small responsibility initially related to
education suitably and gradually we can go on enlarging our plan. I
may not be aware of some plans or points discussed already, since I
was away for sometime. Let me know ur ideas, opinions or plans in this
issue.

Thanks one and all ....

Regards,
MANI KANTH. P.
A.R.R.O.W. team
Association for Reformation Renovation and Other Welfare activities
( Reg. 14/2007 )
Email : mani...@arrowindia.org ; Website : www.arrowindia.org

"Ability is what you're capable of doing !
Motivation determines what you do !!
Attitude determines how well you do it !!!"

[chandra]

Yes you are right Manikanth garu, i suggest to start to do something to change the situations slowly. If we wait till the funds are mobilised it may be late.
And a question arises in any normal member who wish to donate some money where is this money required. So for them we should show the requirements.

There are many schools in villages where books are washed away in the floods. We can help them. By doing this we can identify the plans to continue the rehabilitation program. Even i suggest working with any well established NGO which is adopting a village. We can take some actions on us and try to do the needful.

Once the details are finalized we will also try to raise the funds. Well these are my suggestions.

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Hi Manikanth, Harish and other friends,

 

Greetings.

 

I completely agree with Manikanth's views and Harish's inputs.

 

Somehow I am not able to express my feelings today after visiting Alampur. This is for many reasons. One for at last finding an answer for my intriguing question of what should I do, how can we find an ideal place where we all can work together and all. Second for being able to visit such a place which is completely devastated. And honestly I cannot express right now on what I am experiencing all the day today.

 

As part of our (DST Worldwide Services, the company where I work) Social Services initiative, some of my colleagues and I visited some remote streets in Alampur (as suggested by the Tahsildar Prem Kumar) and guided by Sri Anjaneya Sarma Dt. Incharge for Relief, Mehboob Nagar.

 

The devastation that we saw there was so pathetic that I cannot explain and pictures can speak for themselves.

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/prasanthi.uppalapati/DSTWorldwideServices_VisitToAlampur(I will post in this URL)

 

Because of time constraint, I cannot say much and you can look at the pictures. I am almost (90%) convinced to take three to four remote streets in Alampur (Chinna Dargah lane, Pakkal street, Kattela Street, Santa street -- I may not spell these names properly but I can take you there.) All together there would be 200 families in these four streets. If we can adopt these four streets where in there are the following: Zilla Parishad School, Temple and other govt. offices.

 

What is the plan!! Let us not take anything initially. They are so accustomed to coupon procedure too that it is too difficult to handle them and we cannot blame for the situation they are in. To stick to our ideal of giving hope and courage to them and also to motivate them to work for themselves, let us go there as a team who are studying the extent of devastation created by the floods and we will TRY to help them in getting their requirements provided they start working for which we can guide them.

 

This way we can visit all the families of the four streets and understand their problems in detail.

 

Immediate Action:

 

1. Let us plan to visit these streets this Sunday, 25th October.

 

2. Just talk to them and as everyone gets an idea, let us finalize if we can take these streets.

 

3. Let us decide on what all we can do to start with (a small term action plan and a long term one).

 

4. Form a core committee and continue to work in this place for another six months.

 

Observations:

 

1. Almost all those families got Rs. 8000 given by govt.

2. They are getting 5 litres of Kerosene

3. They have some provisions to sustain for few days but are not sure of a long term relief

4 No proper water supply other than occasional tankers

5. Intermittant power supply

6. Doctors visited them and did give some medicines

 

Requirements:

 

1. House to stay (it is very hard to even believe or digest the fact that people stay in such houses. Not just dilapidaed but stinking with foul smell and full of silt/slush). Most of them are interested to move to any distant place and some of them want to stay there only as they feel their mother (Goddess Jogulamba) will look after them no matter what. For them life and death is their native.

 

2. Provisions (our only concern is to get proper food for our children)

 

3. Stove (This is our immediate and most helpful requirement)

 

4. Clothes/Blankets/Mats etc.,

 

Friends, literally they lost everything. Why these four streets? According to the officials and the people, these are remote, badly devastated and are very near to the river and so no one are visiting them.

 

Reasons to select this place:

 

1. Utmost loss of property

2. Comparatively near among the worstly affected places

3. An ideal place for all of us to work as a group and bring some positive change

4. Montessary school near by (at a distance of one to two kilometers from these streets) is a good place for us (volunteers) to stay and continue our work. If we plan to be there on weekends, we can start early morning on Saturdays, stay in the school on Saturday night and return on Sunday evening. (We can talk to the Mgmt. and get the required permission)

5. Officials also seem to be cooperative

(Placed the Arogya Water Filter of Wardha in the Mehboob Nagar Collectorate. Also told them about the low cost housing and sanitation provided by CSV. They are very intereted and hopefully things will move.)

 

Please let me know on how many of you are ready to visit Alampur the coming Sunday, 25th October. Some of us, TMAD members, will visit.

[Kirankumar Vissa]

Hi Prasanthi,

Thanks for your report. From this, it seems that some basic material
is needed for their immediate use. You have listed need for stoves,
housing material, clothes, blankets, mats, and provisions. So, why not
take material when you are planning to go on Oct 25th? I understand
that it is a challenge to distribute, but I think that is a challenge
that can be overcome.

What needs to be considered:

(1) Have a reliable contact who will tell us whether the material has
already been distributed by some other group. Since you have Tahsildar
Prem Kumar and Dist Incharge Anjaneya Sharma, you might be able to get
reliable information. Also, this would change from day to day. In
Sangala, we checked one day before going there, that noone distributed
vessels and blankets. But when the team reached there, they were told
that someone else had distributed bedsheets and vessels. So, they
didnt distribute immediately but held them for a day. Then they found
that the vessels that other group distributed were small and one per
family. They still had need for proper vessels, so they were then
distributed.

(2) For distributing material properly, you would need to be there for
2 days (at least from noon on Day1 to 7pm on Day2). In any case, since
we are thinking of sustained action, the team should be there at least
for that much time during the trip. How long does it take to get to
Alampur from Hyd?

(3) Some materials you could take are: tarpaulins, stoves, bedsheets,
candles.

(4) Make sure you get a good count of the number of families, and take
enough numbers so that each family gets at least one of each. That
way, you can distribute coupons to everyone and then distribute the
material.

It does seem that Alampur is one of the worst-off places, and there is
a need for sustained help for these people.

Kiran


On Oct 20, 11:02 pm, Prasanthi Uppalapati

<prasanthi.uppalap...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Manikanth, Harish and other friends,
>
> Greetings.
>
> I completely agree with Manikanth's views and Harish's inputs.
>
> Somehow I am not able to express my feelings today after visiting Alampur.
> This is for many reasons. One for at last finding an answer for my
> intriguing question of what should I do, how can we find an ideal place
> where we all can work together and all. Second for being able to visit such
> a place which is completely devastated. And honestly I cannot express right
> now on what I am experiencing all the day today.
>
> As part of our (DST Worldwide Services, the company where I work) Social
> Services initiative, some of my colleagues and I visited some remote streets
> in Alampur (as suggested by the Tahsildar Prem Kumar) and guided by Sri
> Anjaneya Sarma Dt. Incharge for Relief, Mehboob Nagar.
>
> The devastation that we saw there was so pathetic that I cannot explain and

> pictures can speak for themselves.http://picasaweb.google.co.in/prasanthi.uppalapati/DSTWorldwideServic...

> PRASANTHI.http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

Hello Kiran garu,

 

Thanks for your immediate response.  The reason why I didn't want to take any relief material on our visit is to make the villagers understand that we are not there for one time activity and we are interested for long term rehabilitation. Let us also see how many would be interested to talk to us if we do not take any coupon and relief material. They will not create any disturbance while we gather data. If we take relief material we do not get enough time to talk to them as our time would be consumed in distributing it.

 

If we need to take the relief material and then go in a sumo/safari or a van, it would cost more. We can neither do the survey nor we supply relief material in an organized manner.

 

I have the contact number of one of the residents of Chinna Dargah street in addition to the officials.

 

I haven't planned for a saturday trip this time because there is this documentary screening (Point of View - initiative, which is a once in a month programme) and I have to compensate for today's absence in office. (If anyone of our members are interested to pay a visit on Saturday, I can provide all the contact details)

 

It takes four and half to five hours to reach Alampur (230 kms from Hyd).

 

My personal choice would be to prepare a list of all possible questions to do a comprehensive survey on Saturday and proceed with our visit on Sunday. All of us can gather at MGBS to board a bus to Mehboob Nagar and then proceed to Alampur. If we can start at least by 7 am here, we can reach Alampur around 12 noon.

 

If we can get confirmation by this Friday, I would like somebody to take the responsibility of coordination as I would be working on Saturday (most probably).

[Prasanthi Uppalapati]

This is a more detailed version:

 

This is the update of our visit to Mehboob Nagar Dt. on 20th October.

 

We started at 7 am from Hyderabad and reached Mehboob Nagar at around 9:30 am. We waited for the Dt. Incharge, Anjaneya Sarma garu,  to come and guide us. He and other officer, Mr. Srinivasulu were very cooperative and they spoke with the Tehsildar of Alampur Mr. Prem Kumar. He clearly mentioned that the remote streets of Alampur would be a good choice to distribute the relief material. He also supported the idea of distributing coupons to the residents. They gave us the numbers of RI and MRO to help us identifying the remote streets and to visit the families.

 

We handed over the Arogya Water Filter designed by Tata Institute and Center of Science for Villages, Wardha (please find the attached document for more details about this filter). We also met the Collector of Mehboob Nagar Dt. for 5 minutes and she appreciated our initiative. We left for Alampur which is at a distance of 130 kms and stationed ourselves at Montissory school for lunch. The officials at the Collectorate already requested them to host us. This is a huge campus with lot of trees and we couldn't feel the scorching heat because of the fresh breeze and cool shade of these trees. The local officials had sent a shopkeeper to take us to the remote streets.  

 

It is very hard to express the feelings and the experience out there. The situation was so pathetic and it was very heart-rending to digest the fact that people live under such circumstances. We went around the streets, visited each household, spoke with the people and distributed coupons in a dispassionate and justifiable manner. We tried our level best to address the most devastated families. We were in the respected place for about 45 minutes. 155 kits is no where when compared to the no. of families living in these streets and some of them who didn't get the coupons blocked our van and requested us for the coupons. It was very difficult to deny them.  All members who received the coupons were asked to come to the place beside the school to collect their kits.

 

The distribution started at 3:45 pm and went on till 4:15 pm. We were very successful in organizing the crowd and also in convincing the rest who couldn't get the coupons. We actually distributed 130 coupons as we knew that we need to address more requesting hands. Except for the last ten minutes, everything went very smooth as planned. There was no way to stop the people from climbing our DCM to grab the kits when we decided to distribute to the waiting crowd. However there was not much of a problem and we could successfully distribute the material.  It was so satisfying that we did our level best to complete our job of reaching the deserving people.  We were back in office 8:55 pm.

 

Everyone in the team felt very happy that we could visit the most devastated place where very few visited, conversed with the residents, tried to understand their problems and finally offered help to the genuine people. However we were also equally concerned and bothered about the state of affairs.  Whatever we could do within our permissible limits, we did.  We are very happy to state that every penny that we spent gained more value and we did make a difference with our contribution.