Shahina

Fundraising for Bihar flood relief

The fundraising was done for contributing fiscal help for Kosi river flood victims in Bihar. Our group consisted of 5 members namely Triveni, Chinnababu, Suresh, Srikanth and Shahina. The fund raising was done for about a week in Hubli city. Our group opted to raise fund from the public places such as bus stand, temples, petty shops, shopping complexes. The areas covered by us included old and new bus stands, APMC yard, Navnagar, Koppikar Road, Hosur road, Bairadevarakoppa, Unkal cross and Iskon temple. The total fund raised was Rs.7118. In the initial days we struggled to raise the funds as it was only Rs.500 average collection. But during the last three days there was Rs.1000 average collection as different strategies like sub-division of team and approaching passengers travelling in bus.   

Glocal

Glocal stands for Global and Local. This is an monthly newsletter designed and narrated by us [The Deshpande Foundation Fellows, Cohort-I] to highlight the activities of the month. It would be containing two major components, class room teachings and Fellow Lead Activities. Glocal was designed to highlight the skill, talent, capabilities of fellows exposed through Fellow Lead Activities. Every month 3-4 Fellows takes incharge of that particular month’s Glocal.

I took the incharge of preparing Sep ‘08 month’s Glocal. This was a great experience as it was my first newsletter and 2nd edition of Glocal. For the first time I learnt to work with Microsoft Publisher, 2007 version. The following address provides link to the Published Glocal’s till the date.    

www.dfp1india.wordpress.com

 

Flame Orange

Nrupatunga hillock located adjacent to Unkal railway station, around 4kms from Hubli town. It is a visiting place for all age groups primarily for jogging, walking, having fun etc. there is also a temple, darga and park for children.

Present Situation:

The visitors who come here for recreation, sadly litter gutka packets, snacks covers, cigarette packets, chocolate covers, paper plates and used bottles all around the hill. There are 3 dust bins provided by corporation which are used rarely by visitors. According to some of the regular visitors’ corporation workers are least interested in cleaning the place. The watch man too joins youths for booze whenever he has the opportunity. One of the regular visitor, Jaykar Masle, says that “young boys come here during evening, drink and create nuisance”. Dr. Ravi Kalgattagi shared about an accident, occurred because of bike riding craze that caused serious injury to him.  

During weekends the place is a really a happening one and a lovers spot .It was known from the visitors that in the evenings and late night, people cut down trees for domestic purposes, in which the caretakers of the hill are also involved.

There is a registered association for maintenance of the place and Govt. has sanctioned Rs .1crore to development of the hill which has not put under implementation. This is hear say and needs to be verified by an RTI.

Flame Orange intervention:

An Initiative was taken by Deshpande Fellows and ‘Shramadan’ was done at Betta. The garbage spread there was collected and put into waste collection bins. A group discussion with the morning walkers brought certain ideas to improve sanitation condition of the hill.   

Measures discussed:

·        Placing 12 dust bins at shorter distances

·        Painting boards with “use dust bins” and other slogans

·         Making the media people to keep highlighting about the hill, so that concerned care takers get alert

·         Prohibition of alcohol consume on the hill

·         Painting the sheds

·         Prohibition visitors’ vehicle

·         Cleaning the garbage by corporation twice in a week

·         Prohibiting of writing on walls and trees

·         Last but not least, policies for caretakers

Actions Taken:

4 cemented waste collection bins were placed at appropriate places. Sadly, in which one was rolled down from the hillock by a drunkard, 3 still are exist.

Flame Orange team has started painting the shed and writing the sign boards to put the garbage in dust bins.   

The Future

Flame Orange will continue to contribute and take efforts to involve the local people

An intervention by the government is to be taken up at a later stage when deemed necessary

A media release is due soon and public awareness is to be done asap