Sei sulla pagina 1di 15

Association for India’s Development July 2007

Delhi Chapter Newsletter

Table of Contents From the Editor’s Desk

From the editors desk 1 My calendar of July has been filled with AID
activities. This month has been so productive in all our
Project Updates initiatives. The translation of Eureka kits to Hindi is
Aashayen 2 over and it’s now ready for print. We will soon be
AID Gurgaon 2 circulating the copy of printed Hindi kits in schools.
AID Prayas 3 During my recent discussions with Balaji at AID
Khoj 3 Chennai, he gave me a valuable suggestion of
Parichay 4 approaching private schools with our Eureka kits. We
Youth Task Force 4 will soon be having the science experiments kits from
Nai Disha 5 AID Chennai. Probably by the time you will read this
article, it might have reached us.
Volunteer Speak – Shikha Chunkee 5 Youth Task Force web team has done a
commendable job and they have been constantly
Reaching Out to Urban updating the website every now and then. There have
Marginalized in Slums – Samreet Kaur 5 been forums, discussion, and more RTIs this month. A
new team of volunteers has committed themselves to
Coomon wealth games village and raise RTIs on PWD roads, MCD schools, and
Yamuna – Siddharth Goyal 7 transport-related issues. They have already files
applications on the issues related to PWD roads and
A Story Untold – Shalini Sharma 8 MCD schools. The transport-related issues would also
be pursued soon enough. Later in the month, our
Volunteering…take a volunteers paired with experts to inspect road. YTF is
Plunge now - Riputapan Singh 9 also planning to be a part of Yamuna Jiye Abhigyan.
They also plan to start their own publication team.
My Experience with AID – Ritika Subhash 10 AID Prayas reached a new milestone during this
month. On 10th of July 17, many children from AID
Intern’s Corner Prayas got enrolled at the local government school. We
Eureka Kits and its implementation have also been able to convince the school principal and
- Arpana Prajapati 10 Basic Siksha Adhikari of Noida Authority to get a room
Internship for a month…..Experience for us to take classes. Two regular teachers have also
of a Lifetime – Taruna & Shweta 11 been hired for the children.
AID Delhi has successfully created a new
Report from AID Delhi Treasury 12 association with the DFC people to print AID Delhi
calendars for 2008. Thanks to the people who have
Toon of the month been extremely committed throughout and have taken
A Reason to Smile – Kalindi 13 the complete responsibility of this activity. It has been
Blueline Vs DTC – Roshan Jha 13 decided to print a minimum of 1000 calendars in which
already 400 copies have been booked by DFC
Photo of the Month - Selva 14 themselves. AID Delhi is targeting its CSR cell to sell
the rest of the calendars. We also request our volunteers
Volunteer Profile who are working in corporate to come forward. They
Siddharth Goyal - YTF 15 can do a meaningful lot by initiating a talk with their HR
regarding this. The calendar would be a desktop one.
Information Corner – Selva 15

Contact us 15
We will also customize the calendars, that is, Project Updates: Aashayen
the company name can also be printed on the
calendar. Both the theme and the price of the calendar The project got the much needed push in the last few
will be circulated shortly through an e-mail. days of this month. The classes at Timarpur have started
Our new collaboration this month includes on a regular basis though the space still remains an issue
joining hands with Jaihind Camp at Bengali colony, of concern for us. Two new volunteers have joined -
Vasant Kunj where a few individuals are running a Dolly and Preeti. Regular craft classes have also started
non-formal school. We have also teamed up with IBM which would be aimed at knowing the acumen of the
folks at Vasant Kunj, in their teaching initiative for the kids in various vocational streams. We plan to talk to
community, which resides near by their office as the principal of the MCD School nearby to resolve the
construction labors. We are also working on a project space matter. The classes have been on hygiene
to analyze the standards of Indian dailies. The result of particularly as the kids seem to be facing minor health
the survey will be circulated soon. hazards .We have decided upon putting up AID posters
On 20th of this month we had a health camp in the Delhi University campus for greater intake of
for Khoj children from Bhikaji Center. They were volunteers in the coming days.
taken to Mrs. Sangeeta’s house where there was Dr. -Nitin Gupta
Zakir, who conducted the camp. On 21st of this Aashayen Coordinator.
month we had a health camp at AID Prayas and
received an overwhelming response from the children, Project Updates: AID Gurgaon
as well as from the community. Corporate Executive
Board, a company based in Gurgaon, took up the
responsibility of conducting the camp. Dr. Megha, The preceding month for AID Gurgaon was
who conducted the camp, was so impressed by our filled with a lot of activities. Since the last three months,
work with the community that she has shown a keen we have been conducting regular classes at Unnati.
interest in conducting regular health camps, once in Sumanji, the teacher at Unnati, is working really hard
every two months. She also added that we can charge with the children. In fact, progress of some children is
them Rs.1 or Rs.2 for the camp since we had such a especially commendable. On July 28th, we were able to
response. The same company also conducted a health secure admissions for five children in government
camp at Parichay on 28th of this month. Khoj schools of Jharsa. Durga and Tara were enrolled in first
children were also taken for an educational trip to doll standard in the Government School for Girls. Narayan
museum and to national museum on 22nd of this was enrolled in third standard and Shiv and Sombeer
month. Children enjoyed being there along with our were enrolled in second standard in the Government
volunteers and it was a good learning experience and a School for Boys. Further, we will keep endeavoring to
lot of fun for all. enroll more and more students in these schools so that
A special thanks to the interns who did a they can receive formal main stream education. Apart
splendid job on analyzing the nutritious values of the from conducting regular classes, we also organized
food served at Parichay in our nutrition program. some fun activities for these children during our
They will also continue working on the five-color weekend visits. These activities included playing indoor
meals, after they leave us. Thanks to the interns, who games, conducting drawing sessions and arranging
worked on building up on arts and crafts curriculum dance sessions for the children. Such activities help
for us, which we now plan to use for several other infuse interest among children and motivate them to
projects as well. My hear-felt thanks to the interns, attend school more regularly. Moreover, such non-
who have shown a keen dedication for their work on academic excursions help children develop their creative
Eureka kits and its translation! faculties and develop their personalities as a
On an ending note, I wish to thank all the whole.Further, in the preceding month, the number of
volunteers who have spent a lot of time and efforts in active AID Gurgaon volunteers increased and we are
driving our family and making each day a better one. I getting a good response from them. If this continues,
will also like to welcome the new joinees to our AID we can definitely arrange more activities and projects in
Delhi family. Happy Volunteering! the future. For the next month, we intend to arrange a
-Selva medical check-up for children in Unnati. We also plan
AID Delhi to arrange a handicraft exhibition on the eve of
Independence Day with help from Literacy India.

-Sachin Tiwale and Pallavi Tyagi, AID Gurgaon.


Project Updates: AID Prayas Project Updates: Khoj

In terms of achievement, this July was the most Moti Bagh: No proper classes are held. Only interaction
successful month for all of us. through games, story telling and rhymes are done with
There are three areas where Prayas team has done children for relation building purpose. This is likely to
splendid job. be continued for couple of more weeks in order to gain
trust of children and for building a more friendlier
1. The most significant achievement for PRAYAS was relation with them. On 20th of July the children from
the admission of 19 kids in government school sec-15 this center were taken to Mrs. Sangeeta’s house for a
Noida. We had to convince the parents of the kids and fun visit and also for a general medical check up. Dr.
we faced no problem in that since their own kids were Zakir Hussain has done the check up for us and has
so much interested in going to school. And the credit given a report card for all the children. Their health will
goes for it to Anuradha; she is regularly meeting with be followed up with time and necessary steps are being
school authorities regarding admission of kids in school taken.
& for getting a class room for regular evening class. The
teachers have informed that while some kids have Ber Sarai: Change of education centre since RWA seems
already adjusted, there are still some kids who find it to be having a problem with the kids being around..so
difficult to adjust themselves in school and we have to kids are trying to adjust with the new place. Some kids
work hard on them if we want them to perform better refrain from going to the new place due to the distance
in school. so efforts are being made to get back the old place(park
In fact this initiative can be taken in other AID projects in front of water tank in Sector 3).
too, as Govt. is providing free primary education and
after assessing kids we can work on every individual kid Bhikaji Cama Place: The dedication level of the kids has
for his/ her weaker subjects. increased and they seem to grasp things taught to them
very well. Asha and family are back. Soon craft
2. Second achievement for PRAYAS is arrangement of workshop and classes are to be introduced.
regular classes at Govt. school Jor Bagh: Number of children who are coming for
from Monday to Friday with the help three teachers classes has increased. There is an improvement in their
who are paid. Although Saturday &Sunday classes will skills in the reading and writing part. Plan for an
still be taken by volunteers at Government School, and Adolecent workshop is on the cards and the workshop
if needed these classes can be used for extra curricular would be held on 01st of August.
activities i.e. Moral, Health, General Awareness, Crafts
and Music classes in future. Arranging classes at Govt. Dilli Haat : Pooja and Arjun are regularly attending
School will save Rs.1000 /month from rent as well. Schools. Interactions with parents is going on a regular
basis and it is being told to their parents to take care of
3. Third point to mention is Health Camp .With the the educational expenses of Pooja and Arjun . Sandeep
assistance of a Gurgaon based Corporate Company; at this center is also doing well and have shown interest
we had organized Health Camp for kids and their in joining school along with Pooja and Arjun.
mothers. Response of this camp was overwhelming and
we hope we will be able to do this on a 2-3 months Apart from all the above mentioned events Khoj also
frequency basis. had a fun picnic with the childrens to Rail Museum and
Doll Museum on 22nd of July. It was really wonderful
Besides this we are facing a problem for Night experience whoever attended it. (I missed the trip).
classes (9 to 10:30 PM on Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday ), as it is totally dependent on Pratyush and -Selva
Dharmendra, so we require few more volunteer AID Delhi
who can assist them for night classes .
Khoj is also looking for an office at South Delhi locality
- Anuradha for its functioning. Anyone who can come forward and
Dharshan find a room for its office can call up Mr. Pawan at
Coordinator, AID Prayas 9810406998 and discuss in detail.
Project Updates: Parichay Project
Project
Updates:
Updates:
Youth
Parichay
Task Force

Parichay had a lot of events during the month of July. • Presentation by Mr. Manoj Kumar Mishra on
Parichay’s newsletter was released at the end of May and YJA (Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan) for YTF
was widely circulated. We are also planning to introduce volunteers. YTF volunteers decided to take part
music classes to the children of NF-III (who are at in mini-marathon to be held in August.
school going level and children who are already going to
school) children. A volunteer have come forward to
• A marathon vision meet held to clearly define
take care of the expenses of the instruments which is
the mission, vision, objectives & organization of
required for it. Soon Parichay will have music in its
YTF.
curriculum.
• YTF clearly recognizes its ultimate mission as
Selva has started to take H.E.L.P (Health Education
ensuring transparent & corruption free
Learning Program) and the first topic which was
governance & agrees to address that in short
discussed was on “Dengue”. The class was for NF-III
term by acting as an RTI support group,
children and after the classes the children were ready to
providing RTI expertise while actively taking up
clean up their surroundings wherever they see a pool of
key governance related projects directly affecting
water. He will be discussing about “Malaria” in his next
society itself.
session with the children.
• PWD, MCD & Transport identified as primary
Taruna and Shweta’s internship has helped Parichay in
projects YTF will directly work in. Website,
introducing a lot of new recipes in its Nutrition
fund raising, networking, creative identified as
Program. A few interesting recipes are Sabhudhan
secondary tasks. Roles defined for most of
Kheer, Dry seeds Matthi., etc.,. They also conducted a
volunteers. Swati, Aheli & Selva to act as
cooking competition among the women, in which there
coordinates for PWD, MCD & Transport
were three teams who were working on the Nutrition
respectively.
Program. Prizes were distributed to the winning during
• All YTF activities divided between primary
their farewell. They have submitted a report which will
(directly pertaining to projects) & secondary
be circulated shortly and have given us a presentation
(housekeeping).
which is already available at AID Delhi’s website on the
• All project coordinators presented write-ups on
research they’ve done. They analyzed the Nutrition
their respective projects for volunteers.
values of the food which we are giving in our Nutrition
• Design finalized for first 100 T-shirts.
program.
• Suchi from NCPRI joined YTF & gave a
During this summer there were lot of activity classes for
presentation on Section 4 of RTI. All
the children and one such class was introducing all the
coordinators agreed to ensure Section 4
states of India to the children. That includes the
compliance in their respective projects.
discussion of culture, resources, food, capital and
• Saurabh presented an RTI presentation from
monuments of the state. Children have decided to cook
JOSH for general benefit of volunteers.
every state’s food on a Sunday in every month. First
• PWD team is gathering technical expertise in
such cooking event stated with Punjabi food which was
reading PWD files by meeting various road
prepared by the children themselves. Selva have
experts.
promised them to cook South Indian Dosa‘s.
• Three volunteers were called for their first
Finally we also had a health camp on 28th of July
document inspection in PWD. After inspection,
organized by a company “Corporate Executive Board”.
inspection reports were provided demanding
The camp was attended by all the children of NF-I, NF-
copies of select documents.
II and NF-III children and a few parents too. There
• MCD & Transport projects still on drawing
were a lot of volunteers from CEB and they were
board, transport projects hopefully will start in
interacting with the children and the parents. Children
full vigor by August beginning.
have performed a few plays and sang a song to entertain
them.

-Selva,
-Subodh Prabhu, YTF, AID Delhi
Parichay.
AID Delhi.
These kids are like any other kids, bubbling with energy
Project Update : Nai Disha
and just waiting to get their fair share in society. As a
novice volunteer, I realized that these kids just need a
little motivation to overcome their inhibitions and fears
The following activities were the main highlights of this about their acceptance in society and to hold on to their
month: ambitions and desires.
Therefore, we as the better-off citizens of the country
1.) English/Grammar classes are going on for class 4th should try to devote at least 6-7 hours per week to these
and 5th. kids for their development or indirectly for our society's
development and for our inner contentment. We should
2.) Computers are not working (Need repairing) volunteer for this cause and help these kids fulfill their
aspirations. This will help bridge the gap between the
3.) Computer theory classes are going. two Indias that exist today. We as the citizens of free
India are morally bound to maintain and further
4.) Games playing like antakshari etc. progress our country’s development with compassion
and an ever-improving attitude.
5.) Preparation for 15th august function is going on. As it is rightly said - BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT
We are searching somebody who can help the TO SEE IN THIS WORLD.
children in dance preparation.
-Shikha Chunkee,
-Rajat Maheshwari, Khoj, AID Delhi
Coordinator, Nai Disha.

Volunteer Speak : Shikha Chunkee Article : Samreet Kaur


Try and you can make a difference Reaching out to Urban Marginalized in
slums
Slums have always been and still remain a
Everyday while commuting on roads, we see children bane of any governance or administrative body either
working, begging and playing on the streets. At traffic at a local or a national level. Regular surveys indicate
signals, you must have seen children thrusting their the deplorable state of living conditions in the urban
wares in your faces and begging for money with a look slums of our country. According to the 2001 census,
which would melt anyone's heart. there are 40.6 million people living in slums in 607
towns/cities and they together account for 22.8% of
India has the largest population of street children in the the urban population. Although these are the official
world. Figures reveal that at least 18 million children live figures, the non-official bodies place the figures at
or work on the streets of urban India. These children close to half of the total urban population. The
can be found working as porters at bus or railway problems faced by such a large number of population
terminals, as mechanics, as street vendors and even as increase exponentially and gain critical dimensions.
rag pickers.
For example, a study by Delhi-based NGO
Ironically, with such an astonishingly huge figure of WaterAid states that only 50% of the slum population
street kids we are envisaging a developed country and has adequate access to safe water. Its estimate is that
are hankering to be the next world power. Today, the 155 million out of the 280 million urban population,
India we live in is divided into two parts – a fast or 55%, enjoyed access in 1990, against the official
developing India and an underdeveloped India. This gap
estimate of 88%. According to a World Bank report
seems to be increasing and the only reason being our
on 27 metropolitan cities in all of Asia, Chennai and
reluctance to participate in our country's development.
Delhi are at par with the worst-performing cities in
So no matter how successful a person you are, in the
terms of hours of availability per day.
end you should contribute towards your country’s
development and society’s betterment. Society is an
integral part of our life so why not start today by ‘Water-Wars’ are a reality in Indian slums already
contributing to our society by empowering these kids - with long queues and heated arguments at the water
taps norm of the day.
the future of our country.
Serious though the problem of potable This has been widely criticized by the activists who feel
water in the slums, it doesn’t even begin to cover the that such laws have worsened the situation by driving
wide scope of problems an average slum-dweller in an the child labour industry underground. And there’s no
Indian Metro has to live with on a daily basis. Most of way to monitor such children away from the public eye.
the slum population in Delhi comprises migrants and
labourers who live in large slums where the quality of Heeding these concerns, India’s Minister for Women
housing is poor, sanitation facilities are basic or non- and Child Development Renuka Choudhary wants an
existent, and the settlements are over-crowded. Another easing of the child labour ban in non-hazardous
survey by National Sample Survey Organization in 2002 industries like carpet-weaving. She contends that the
revealed that only 15% of dwellings in urban slums have blanket ban denies children the right to a profession or
drinking water, toilet and electricity within their livelihood by preventing them from picking up vital
premises. A majority of the population lives in rented skills passed on by master craftsmen.
rooms of 10x10 feet, which is pathetic given the average
number of 5 persons per family. Thus, it is fairly easy to see the inter-connectivity of the
troubles in the lives of the slum dwellers. A number of
Moreover, these people hardly ever possess schemes have been launched by the Central
voter cards. Hence, they do not vote and the Government to tackle the situation – National Slum
government has no official records of these people. In Development Programme (NSDP), Swaran Jayanti
the absence of a voter-id card, they can’t access the Shahri Rozgar Yojna (SJSRY), Night Shelters,
basic welfare schemes initiated by the government such Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP)
as the food-rationing, bank accounts and the other which provide a wide range of services to urban poor
financial schemes such as the micro-credit and the and slum dwellers.
‘Alpa-Bachat Yojna’. To make matters worse, even the
government schools do not readily accept the slum- It includes identification of urban poor, formation of
children and make demands for the residential proof community groups, involvement of NGOs, self-help
which is not a condition as per the law. Nevertheless, and credit agencies, housing and sanitation, community
the people aren’t able to say as much on account of assets, wage employment etc. The National Slum
their ignorance or general indifference towards Development Policy drawn in April 1999 should be
education. reviewed and finalized. Stress should be laid on
Thus, most of the slum children end up working attitudinal changes among the authorities and the
at a tender age when they should have been studying, general public. General misconceptions about slums
given the poverty of their homes and the apathy of the being the breeding-ground of crimes in the society need
government. Most others fall victims to physical, mental to be removed. Slum dwellers need not always be at the
and sexual abuse and an easy prey at the hands of receiving end of doles but need to be made active
pedophiles and such-like criminals. participants in the urban economic and social processes.
A first-ever study by the Indian government along with A constructive approach towards upgradation of living
two civil society organisations -- Prayas and Save the conditions and rehabilitation needs to be adopted. Most
Children -- and backed by the United Nations importantly, the stigma attached to being a slum dweller
Children’s Fund admitted on April 9, 2007 that two- needs to be tackled with care. And this is where the role
thirds of children in India are physically abused while played by NGOs in
more than half have faced some form of sexual abuse. Re-aligning the slum dwellers into the mainstream
society comes into play.
According to a recent statement by the labour
ministry, India has 12.6 million working children ‘Parichay’ is one such example of how far concentrated
between the ages of five and 14 -- the largest number of and dedicated effort could go towards changing the lives
child labourers in the world. These children work in of thousands of people when they are provided with a
hazardous industries like construction, manufacture of little guidance and direction in the path of living. Started
‘beedis’ and fireworks. Delhi alone has 41,899 child 7 years ago by Mr. Vijay Bajpai in the Delhi suburb of
labourers. Tukmirpur near Bhajanpura, the population of the area
Two decades after a nationwide ban on child is a mix of migrant labourers, rickshaw pullers and self-
labour in hazardous industries was introduced, the employed people with no regular source of income. Mr.
government has now introduced a ban on child labour Bajpai talks of the guiding mantra in his endeavour.
in hospitality sector and as domestic help.
“The NGO works with the belief that Sustainable The idea is to bring forth leaders from within
Development can be brought about without any the people and then hand over the management to the
government support with the help of community and community itself. Given the success ‘Parichay’ has been,
society.” the NGO is planning another initiative soon wherein
the mentally challenged and physically-handicapped
The primary objective of ‘Parichay’ is the education of people would be taken in its folds.
children and instilling of right values in them and to
provide them a chance of living in a healthy Rani is a girl ‘Parichay’ considers its very own success
environment. Till date, the NGO has benefited about story. She was a girl like any other with no dreams in her
250 kids. Besides providing the kids with formal eyes and no plans for the future. At the age of 11, she
education, stress is laid on vocational training. Kids got involved with the NGO, learnt stitching and also
make products like notebooks, file folders, and carry works at the ‘masala’ unit. Besides getting 50% profit –
bags and mobile covers etc. which are then marketed by sharing off the sales, she gets to go out and meet people
putting up stalls in corporate houses, college fests. in connection with the marketing of the handicraft
Besides, the NGO has also involved the ladies of the products. She’d also be getting her diploma in stitching
slum in a ‘masala’-making unit. The buying of spices, from the government centre and hopefully, would be
grinding, packaging and selling of the final products is able to find a job with an export house. She says of her
all done by the ladies themselves. The NGO has tryst with ‘Parichay’,
successfully managed to secure the support of “I used to sit idle the whole day. Now, I have a purpose
companies like HCL, TCS, ST Microelectronics etc. to my life.”

And the business has been doing exceptionally well No doubt, ‘Parichay’ has been able to change lives in
right from the start. Says Mr. Vijay, this sleepy community of 5000 people. They have been
“The turnover in the First year was Rs. 5000 and now in able to mobilize a hitherto idle community surviving at
the Seventh year, we have set ourselves a target of 2.5 the fringes of the society and transform it into a
Lakhs that we expect to cross.” responsible group which contributes positively to the
society. Mr. Vijay Bajpai sums up the role of ‘Parichay’
The aim of ‘Parichay’ is to make the people aware of in the entire process beautifully when he says,
their rights, to build up their self-esteem and to have “We have been able to sell dreams to them.”
them understand their potentials. This is exemplified by -Samreet Kaur,
the AID Pune.
‘Self-Help Box’ which has been installed in the NGO Samreet have been interning with us in the summer for
office. Mr. Vijay explains, “Whenever the kids take a couple of days and have been actively involved in AID
something from the NGO, they pay a nominal price for Prayas. She is right now at Pune and she is willing to
it. The idea is to instill a sense of responsibility in the start some projects there and she have identified one.
kids. Community Contribution overrides the problem of
begging.”
Article : Siddharth Goyal
All the beneficiaries of the NGO are considered its
assets and they share an equal responsibility as well as Commonwealth games village and
returns from the NGO. 75% of the share from the sales Yamuna
of spices goes to the women workers and 50% of the
proceeds from the handicraft sales is shared by the The Commonwealth Games are going to be held in
children. Delhi in 2010. The games may not be as prestigious as
the Olympics, yet the competition and the zest to
And it has paid off too. Mr. Vijay asserts that he cases succeed is of grand magnitude (Australia is one of the
of Alcoholism, Drugs, Violence and Eve-Teasing in the participating countries. Need I say anything more?). In
community have reduced sharply since ‘Parichay’ started spite of being just a 10 day athletic fiesta, the impact
its operation here seven years ago. The NGO firmly these games leave on the host city is long lasting. They
believes in finding its resources and ideas from amongst also catalyse the process of development of the
the community its working. The plan is to involve the infrastructure of the host city by several factors. This
local people at each step and to maintain absolute will become more obvious to you in the coming three
transparency in the workings of ‘Parichay’. years when you will see dramatic developments in our
city at a pace faster than Ram Gopal Verma
manufacture films in his factory.
With one smooth gush it comes down to a still while
Sounds like a dream news for Delhites. Isn’t it? With all the station is taken by a whirlwind. Coolies buzzing the
the infrastructure in and roads in place, imagine how station, sliding past me, even as I wave my hand in a
much better life might become one day!!! Thanks to gesture of ‘No No I can take care of myself’. On my
innumerable roads and flyovers you could tell your way to the Sambhavna Clinic I am perplexed, ‘…there is
mom that you are going just a few miles away and nothing wrong with the city’. No mind boggling poverty
would come back in a few hours and could actually comes raw to me and the usual city pollution that by any
stretch your peregrination to that shady cinema hall comparison to Delhi and Mumbai appears less and I
several miles away to catch the morning show of Payal ask, “Isn’t the city facing one of the starkest
Rohatgi’s latest without your mom getting suspicious at environmental hazards?”
all!!! I reach the Clinic. It stands tall and poised
If only it were true! For, if indeed the ecological amidst the urban slum- presenting the brilliant contrast
ramifications at the proposed site for developing various between the distorted development and the sustainable
facilities for the event ma literally drown the city one effort at restoring lives. One can’t help but take pride in
day into such a morass it might actually take decades for its spirit. As Nishant gives me a brief background of
us to recover from it. The proposed site is very close to how the clinic was made I look around. Patients are
the banks of river Yamuna and the most appalling fact sitting in calm frenzy. Children are busy playing near the
of this whole business is the argument given by Delhi small pond, counting the turtles and fish. Air and light
Development Authority (DDA), which will develop the are stirring the space in abundance. And I think- this
site, for ignoring all warnings and remonstrations by doesn’t look like a clinic at all. It is so fresh and so
various government (yes government) and non beautiful as if it were a tourist resort. Yet, all notions of
governmental organisations: Akshardham Temple is its being touristy get dispelled as you see the old and the
also built at the same site and has been there without budding alike waiting for their turn to meet the doctor.
any hassles for a long period of time and hence the site I move to the canteen where I wait for the
ought to be developed as it is “Desirable” [Source: Mr. survivor leaders to come. Rasheeda Aapa and Champa
Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan’s presentation]. di rush in as they continue to smile at me. And I
To set the record straight, we very much want the question myself- are leaders ever so accessible (well yes
Commonwealth Games to be held in our city, but the in theory but in practice???) Aapa gives me an account
proposed site should be shifted to some safer place. If of the things she would like me to do as I keep looking
the DDA goes ahead with its plans, it might spell doom at her in barefaced awe. She is so beautiful. And I wish I
for Yamuna (the lifeline of Delhi), which is already in a could look like her some years past my prime. Champa
cadaverous state due to pollution. Just give a thought, di is holding a girl of about six-seven years. Nishant tells
what might happen to the people shopping in the mall me she is her granddaughter. I can’t help but notice the
one fine day in the summer of 2015, that was built at the bubbly girl, so full of life and spirit. And as I smile she
site after the end of the games, when the incessant rains reciprocates with some vague change in her face. My
set off a deluge in the other lifeline of our beloved city. heart reached out to her in deep anguish. She can’t
- Siddharth Goyal smile. Yet she is smiling. But I can’t see that. She has a
YTF, AID Delhi cleft lip. She was born with it. I feel guilty as I smile at
her. I am confused what should I do with my smile.
Article : Shalini Sharma Smile is the first expression instantly connecting you
with anyone. A childhood without this most innocent
A story untold…. gesture is unbelievable. But she had no choice. As she
continues to smile at me I get buried in the burden of
The story as yet to be said is the story of my my own conscience and feel utterly helpless. Sapna’s
encounter with Bhopal. Bhopal transcends beyond the mother was exposed to the Carbide gas twenty two
topographical bounds and gallops into our very own years ago.
soul. It does not put you in any dilemma about what it Working with Bhopalis is like sitting on
stands for. It makes no pretension. It does not hesitate the tide wave, you never know which way it would
in reaching you. It does not wait before it shows what it surprise you. And they make some of the craziest ideas
was and what it has come to be. doable. There is never a question Can we? But always,
Getting to Bhopal is a myriad of memories for How to? So I find myself discussing how to make the
me. I peek out from the window, taking in the rising dog piss on Tata products. Preferably Tata salt. The
sun, the chirping birds, the hustle of the wind all in me reason- Tata makes an audacious offer to clean up
even as Bhopal express slows down for its final stop. Bhopal so as to get Dow invest more in the country.
Survivors are stunned. Survivors are angry. After almost It calls for someone to pay for the treatment. It involves
a decade it is still fake charity and not Justice. Next, I someone to do these operations wholeheartedly. But, it
find myself marching the streets of Old Bhopal with is possible. For many other effects which are not
survivors asking shopkeepers to say loud and clear-Tata curable for instance, cerebral palsy one can create a fund
bye bye!! As I am waiting for Hajira Aapa to catch up to pay for child’s medical and other needs. But, it calls
with the rest of us I see two women walk past me. One for someone to pay for this fund. It involves someone
of them is carrying a little girl whose face is covered with a will to help. Most of all, it asks for a collective
with the dupatta. Bhopal is still unbearably hot in voice against such gross neglect as rendered to Bhopalis
summers and a veil is a normal sight. Just as I turn back both by the Company as well as the government and a
to call Hajira Aapa I see the wind blowing the dupatta collective conscience for justice to be ensured.
off the girl’s face. Her eyeboll is almost hanging out. I The story is yet to be said. It is still unsaid because we
had never seen anyone like this before. I tell this to are to write it together. Our story of the change making
Champa di and both of us run back toward the two or our story of us as the change in the making! As I see
women. Champa di makes them sit in a nearby shop Aamir showing his fingers after his surgery, celebrating
and ask them about the girl. I can’t help staring at the a new beginning to life I know change is possible.
girl. And she stares back deep into my flesh and soul. Absolutely possible! What do you think?
She is nine but looks no more than a six months old. - Shalini Sharma,Students for Bhopal.
They live in the lane next to Champa di. Champa di
didn’t have a clue to the existence of this girl till this
Volunteering...take a plunge now: Ripu
very moment. Her mother tells us, “If people get to
know about her, it will be difficult for her elder sisters
to get married.” Her name is Shanu. Shanu’s parents Great job, good salary, loving family – isn’t it all
were exposed to the Carbide gas twenty years ago. that we ask for? Underlying all these wishes is the
How would it be to open your palm and not be pursuit of happiness. Some things make us feel euphoric
able to move your fingers? To have other children call but sustained peace of mind can only be attained when
you the devil child because you have two fingers joint we come a full circle – ending where we started. We all
permanently by birth. You want to accuse them. You start our lives with nothing and will end with nothing
want to point a finger at them. You can’t. Aamir told too. All that we gain is through our surroundings, our
me how much he wants to play cricket with other boys community. And it is imperative that we give back to
who won’t believe he can catch a ball. I come back and our communities. To win a rat race only to realize what
try opening the lock with my fingers held tight. The key we needed was not the winner’s prize, is a disappointing
fell. Try flipping through the alchemist. The page experience people go through in their middle ages. Why
crumbles in the process. Try writing my daily diary not work on it now? Why not break the rat race? Why
holding the pen. The pen moves only to produce some not do something that sows the seeds for future
incomprehensible marks. I have an overwhelming desire happiness? How to do it? Volunteering - one word that
to slap Warren Anderson. A slap is the best I could encompasses a whole new world. When I started
muster with a flat palm. volunteering actively, I realized it is not a separate
Champa di tells me they thought of Chingari activity but a way of life. Depending on the time we
because they had Sapna. They dreamt how it would be have and within our constraints and responsibilities,
to see Sapna smiling. Chingari- an organization that there’s a huge realm of activities that we can take up
would work towards the treatment and relief for the voluntarily. It only requires a will to do something
second generation affected. Months later, in St’ beyond the usual list of things we do everyday. A
Stephens hospital I see some men and women giggling. commitment - not to others but to oneself. A promise
Free surgeries for their children had brought them to to change the world and make it better. It may seem
pearls of laughter. One of them tells me, “We never burgeoning to begin with but it becomes so simple once
thought a simple operation could do this. Our son will we take the plunge. I have seen many lives being
no longer have that sad expression. He would have a transformed after they started volunteering with AID,
complete face.” As I open the door to the second floor including my own. There’s a spark in every activist and
general ward a smiling Sapna opens her arms to me. it is contagious enough to hold you forever! Just do it,
Yes, a smile for real! do not wait for the right time. The good time is now –
Till then I had only Rashida Aapa and others tell me so just look around and take the initiative. Let’s leave
that many of the effects found in second generation can behind a legacy that coming generations can cherish!
be treated or at least corrected. For instance cleft lips
can be actually corrected. Missing palate can be created. - Riputapan Singh, AID Delhi
My Experience with AID : Ritika Interns Corner

I have been with AID for the past two years. I Eureka Kits and Implementation : Arpana
was introduced to the various projects going on in Delhi
by Mr. Anirban (the then volunteer coordinator). I Hi All,
started working with All India Confederation of the On my last busy and sweaty Saturday afternoon, I tried
Blind. AICB was founded in 1980 and started as a one- refreshment. I happened to be in Hauz Khas and was
room venture in Model Town, New Delhi with a capital approached by 2 children selling books. An idea came to
of Rs. 300 only. It began with just two departments, i.e. me and I was quickly ready with pen and notebook for a
the English and Hindi Stenography Departments. The field study. Here goes my on-the-fly report:
Rohini center was established later in 1988 where many Government of India has taken corrective measures and
new departments were introduced like the computer declared Child Labour as illegal. When I asked Dinanath
center for converting textbooks to Braille books, Braille Yadav whether he was aware of the same, the stark
printing machine department, recording studio etc. reply came as, “the Government does lots of things,
The entire executive committee of AICB (President, how many you see followed?” He is the so-called ‘care-
Vice President, Secretary General and two Secretaries) is taker’ of all the street children whom I interviewed and
comprised of visually impaired members. Mr. Kaul is to whom all the children report to. During my short
the Founder Secretary General of AICB. He is also the course, I interviewed some odd-21 children selling
Secretary General for Asian Blind Union, which is books, magazines and toys to people whose vehicles
affiliated to the World Blind Union. The Confederation stopped at the red-light.
also has a special school for blind children in Gurgaon According to the survey statistics, I categorize them
that was started in 1992. based on several parameters as follows:
Every year, the Confederation organizes intensive (i)Age Group:
training workshops for the visually impaired, which is
attended by international delegates as well. Last year, the 7-10 yrs 11-15 yrs >15 yrs
workshop saw participation from four Pakistani 5 12 4
delegates. The participants are trained in mobility,
computer education, cooking, basic daily living skills
along with lectures on various topics including sex (ii)Educational Background:
education, advocacy in legal matters etc.
My association with AICB began in September 2005. Uneducated Educated till class 5th
There I met Mr. Vikas, who is the recording studio in- 17 4
charge, and he showed me around the entire campus
that includes hostel for girls, a mess, reading room etc. (iii)Occupation of parents (Father):
They had a requirement for recording textbooks so I
volunteered to help. Though the going was a little tough No other Earning member 2 brothers
in the beginning, I gradually started enjoying the work, (Average Income* : 0)
especially when I realized how important this was for Vendor Fruits/Vegetables 2
the numerous dedicated students there. I have had the (Average Income : 50/-)
good fortune to be in company of such motivated Farmer 14
children at AICB who’ve made me lot more patient and (Average Income : 40/-)
confident as a person and that has certainly made an Rickshaw Puller 3
impact on my personal and professional life. And I can (Average Income : 70/-)
confidently say that for AID as well. Through my
association with AID- Delhi, I’ve been fortunate to *Daily average income
have met so many driven and committed people, Note: Nearly all of the children were from villages
working for the sole aim of serving the society. I will of state of Bihar.
always cherish the time I spent with AID-Delhi and I’ll (iv)Occupation
certainly contribute as much as I can, from wherever I All children sold books, magazines, toys and
am. newspapers year-round switching one to other randomly
- Ritika Subash, but limiting to these options only.
AID Delhi
There are several measure already being taken by
(v)Total Family Size (including parents, brothers, sisters Government and NGOs to rehabilitate street children
and grand-parents): and provide them proper education, food, clothing and
shelter. The two reasons which surface as prime causes
0-2 2-4 4-6 >6 for this grim situation are:
0 4 5 7 1. Extreme Poverty
2. Shrewd Industry Employers.
These street children carried out the work of selling Now the question arises how to prevent this dirty game?
books, magazines and toys during the time from 9:00 What can be done? Is a People’s Movement required?
am to 6:00 pm. Some told that they also sell newspapers Its time when we start to think seriously about long
to at 8:00 am and work as help-boys with certain nearby term contributions in forms of research works. I
vendors in evening. These children strictly confine their researched a bit on search engines and and came across
occupation in nearby areas of the red-light stoppage a unique idea of funding children rather than schools.
near Hauz Khas post office. During the course of This is currently being incorporated in form of
survey, it was revealed that all of them had been Education Vouchers. Can the system work in India have
working since 1-3 years and were reporting to a man to be discovered.
name ‘Dinanath Yadav’ who had actually allured most Over with my traveler’s account. Time for updates. My
of them from villages in Bihar to Delhi, by the spree with Prayaas went best in first two weeks but was
prospects of a good job. These children were entitled to jerked in last two weeks due to work personal front.
25 percent share of the price of the item they sold, the The Eureka kits have in Hindi has proved useful for the
rest being taken by their ‘care-taker’. For average of 10 kids. They are a enthusiastic bunch of smart students to
magazines costing Rs 15/- sold per day, the average be delat in special way to get maximum of their
income of these children comes at Rs. 30. On meeting energy.Good news was that Prayaas volunteers were
this man, he proudly claimed that he was training such successful in enrolling near-about dozen students to
groups of street children at several red-light stoppages Government School. Kudos to everyone out there!!
of Delhi. It is worthwhile to note that the total number Hoping for a wonderful journey ahead!
of children under him was reported to be approximately - Arpana Prajapati,
350.Many of these children are actually staying without Intern, AID Prayas, AID Delhi
their parents in Delhi slums. Of the group I interviewed,
only few actually visit their villages atleast once a month.
That children are working in a profession totally distinct Internship for a month…. A lifetime
from what their background suggests or parents do in experience : Taruna & Shweta
addition to staying away from family for long durations,
is indicative of a closely-knit circuit of child-abductors
and corrupt government officials. It comes as a surprise We knew that the best helping hand lies at the
that neither children nor the ‘care-taker’ claim that they end of your own wrist but got a chance to see the larger
are pestered by policemen. Unwillingness on their part meaning of this well-said quote during my month long
to talk on this topic makes me inquisitive to enquire internship at Parichay. As interns my we were assigned
about it in different way. the task to evaluate and modify the Nutrition Program
Though Government has several measures in place to of Parichay that is supported by AID, Delhi. There is
do away with the problems of street children, it seems only one word that can precisely express the experience
the business is flourishing in a clandestine manner at a of working at Parichay and AID----DIFFERENT!!!
fast pace. The poor parents who are generally
agricultural laborers are forced to send their children at An organization working for many different
very low age to urban areas like Delhi to earn money causes with a very different approach in a very different way
and support the family to meet the bare necessity. The from the rest in this field. The ideology of AID and the
employer derives the advantage of these children in un- principles on which Parichay works are different from
organized as well as organized sector by paying them other NGOs because unlike them this organization does
extremely low wages and extracting extra working not believe in commercialization, pomp and show.
hours. The labour law for provident fund and gratuity is Instead there is simplicity, sincerity, genuine hard work
not applicable for these children, which would and selfless endeavor that fuel all the activities of this
otherwise have to be paid for adult workers. These organization giving it an edge above the rest!!!
children have no association to put forward their
demands.
The belief they harbor in their volunteers is expressed CSR committee, STMicroelectronics,
from the fact that as interns we were given full freedom France
to experiment new things to achieve the desired goals. D. K. Publishers
The constant support, guidance and appreciation that Darshan Mehra
we received at Parichay and AID were the greatest Deepika Pant
motivating forces to work harder and better. It was a Divisha Saxena
pleasure to work for the betterment of the children of Gandhi Mathi
Parichay – children who are extremely humble, Giri
innocent, loving, well mannered and untouched by the Gunjan Sharma
ill feelings of violence, jealousy, dishonesty and Hiroo Moorjaani
corruption. There is an easily identifiable sense of self- Kali Charanaya
respect and self-reliance among these children that Kallol Chatterjee
makes them stand out in the crowd of contemporaries Malathi Kar
from the same area and this makes them different. Manish Agarwal
Working at Parichay was truly a parichay to a completely Manisha Sharma
different world that is seemingly different from ours but Manisha Verma
very much like ours. It has a lot to offer and we have a Mata Jai Kaur Public School, Ashok
lot to learn from the people of this world. All that is Vihar
required is the willingness and effort to bring the two Meera Vaswani
worlds together and that is exactly what Parichay and Monica Sharma
AID are attempting to do. We are grateful to have Mukta Goel
received an opportunity to be a part of this endeavor Naval Saini
and would love to continue to offer our services. Nirmallya Kar
It is because of these experiences that were different from Nishant Jain
what we had expected to receive before coming here Nitin Gupta
that we call it an internship for a month but an Nitin Mahajan
experience of a lifetime. Peeyush Kulshreshtha
- Taruna Sanghi Pratyush
Shweta Sharma, Priyanka Khare
Interns, Parihay, AID Delhi Raj
Rajat Maheshwari
Riputapan Singh
Report from AID Delhi Treasury : Anuj Sahil Sethi
Samira Dash
From this month onwards we have planned to circulate Sasmita Basu
our donors name in the newsletter who regularly Selva Ganapathy
contribute Meal a Month as well as one time donors. Senthil Raj
We will be releasing the expenditure details once in a Shweta Mall
quarter. Smita Gupta
Ajay Grover Soumya Roy
Amit Gupta Subhashini Ghorai
Amitabh Mishra Subodh Prabhu
Anoop Saha Sudip Basu
Anuj Grover Surya Malik Grover
Anuradha Tina Goyal
Aparna Bhatia Trapti Jain
Arpana Prajapati Tulika Gupta
Arti Khera Vaishali Suryawanshi
Arun Raj Please feel free to ring us up if you have contributed to
Bhanu Prakash Meal a Month and find your name missing in the list.
Bhuvan Gupta - Anuj Grover,
C. Venkatesh Treasurer, AID Delhi
Chirag Kapoor
Toon of the Month

News : 17 of Prayas Children get admission to Government School…..

- Sketch - Kalindi,
Intern, Aashayen
- Thoughts - Selva
AID Delhi

News: Government of Delhi Vs Blue line buses… bule line buses should
maintain self discipline….. Govt. of Delhi

- Image- Roshan Jha,


YTF, AID Delhi
-Thought – Selva,
AID Delhi
Photo of the Month : Selva - Adding colors to our life

Project: Parichay
Photographer: Selva
Date: 20th July 2007
Event: Prize distribution ceremony of the cooking competition and farewell to the interns from S.N.D.T,
Mumbai
Description: It was huge fun and just the prize distribution ceremony got over and the interns were about to
leave parichay to get back to their college. Children were so much happy that their Nutrition Program has got so
much of variety of new dishes as suggested by the didi’s and they were keen to take photograph with them. It
was really a hot sunny day and the children along with their mother and the didi went on to the shadow and me
at the Sun… Just was focusing them and got the rainbow in the image☺. The rainbow itself has known that
their life is getting more and more colorful and it wanted to pose for the image along with the Parichay family.
Soon the five color meal program will be worked out and really more color will be added not only to their life
but also to their food.
Volunteer Profile Information Corner: Selva

Siddharth Goyal
Youth Task Force, Do you want to travel in Auto and the Auto driver
AID Delhi. denies to take you by the meter? . Please register a
Siddharth Goyal is doing his third year computer complaint immediately at the TSR complaint number
science from Netaji Subash Institute of Technology. He 011-42400400 and file a complaint with the auto
has been with AID Delhi for about 3 months by now. number. You can file a complaint as (i). Over charging
and (ii) not abiding with the rules.
He is an inspiration in himself, having lots of passion
The same number can be used for filing complaints on
towards volunteering and social service, he has been
blue line buses if they fail to stop at a bus stop,
associated with Khoj which is a teaching project and overspeeding, driver / conductor smoking inside the
Youth Task Force which deals with RTI. He has always bus or drinking in the bus. File a complaint immediately.
made his visions clear and choosed the way of If you need more assistance on it feel free to ask any of
volunteering and he has his own style which is one our Youth Task Force volunteer and they will guide
unique thing I found in him. He is the first guy who you.
talked about brining discipline during the classes he held More information of traffic rules and regulations can be
at Khoj and some how he was able to be successful in read at http://www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/
doing so. Being a computer engineer he can be more
handy with time when he grows along with AID Delhi
in developing VMS (Volunteer Management System).
AID India Chapters
With Youth Task Force this guy have filed RTI on There are more AID India Chapters blossoming these
roads and will be filing more and have been actively days and the following are in the budding stage and
involved in lot of net searches of the documents which need our help for growing more.
we require before filing RTI’s. I wish he will be a great AID Chandigarg
asset for AID Delhi and our association will remain AID Jaipur
forever. He is also a good writer and some of his AID Pune (already have some experienced volunteers)
thoughts can be read in his blog AID Kanpur
http://crazyideashere.blogspot.com/ AID Guwahati
AID Bihar (yet to be started).
Please get back to us if you can help in any way in any
of the above chapter by referring to your friend /
colleague / neighbor etc. that will help us in building
more volunteer base there which would help us in
initiating more projects at the ground level.

- Selva,
AID Delhi

Feedback: aid.delhi@gmail.com Web: http://delhi.aidindia.org Phone: +91-9213797167


Send your Cheques to Publications Team
Selva Ganapathy.R Coordinator: Selva
Department of Chemical Engineering, Editors: Selva, Puneeta, Gauri, Pallavi, Charu, Kunal
Indian Institute of Technology, Designers: Selva, Arvinder, Saurabh
Delhi - 110016
Hauz Khas
Phone: +91-9891358457, +91-9211467341

Potrebbero piacerti anche