Hi Chaitanya,
Thank you for sending the report so soon. It is very well articulated.
Group,
Old Clothes Distribution
Regarding old clothes distribution, it would be helpful if any US
members can write about how salvation army works
FDP:
I fail to understand why FDP is such a big no-no here? I understand that
cooking and packaging is a very tedious task ... so, if the group wants to
avoid it, that's fine ... in fact, I suggest that the group avoid getting
into cooking/packaging.
However, is any of the following difficult? To help understand easily,
I've drawn up medical case analogy in red color.
1. Identify needful institutions such as orphanages/old age homes
(Similar
to looking at needful medical cases)
2. Identify grocery suppliers. If I am not wrong Ms. Radhika has already
suggested a suitable supplier (Similar to identifying a hospital and
medicine provider)
3. Setup transport for groceries to institution periodically ... once a
week or once in two weeks. (Similar to us setting up initial doctor
discussions and patient setup in hospital)
4. Pay money regularly to supplier and transport agent (Similar to
medical, food and operation expenses in medical case)
5. Check with institution, supplier and transporter if everything is
going on smoothly. This can be done over the phone too. (Similar to
interactions with patient, patient's family and doctors/hospital).
So our group is essentially involved in
1. Identification of needful institution
2. Paying for groceries/transportation
3. Ensuring everything is going on smooth.
BTW, the other critical thing has been about whether this can be done
continuously on a daily basis or is this only on special occassions? This
can be done daily ... won't orphanages and old age homes give food to their
residents daily? All that we are offering is a regular supply of groceries.
Regarding identifying needful groups of people, so that people don't
become lazy ... what better place than orphanages and old age homes. If we
are interested in identifying people in much more dire need then we can do
some research on people who prepare food for the poorest of the poor and get
in touch with such groups.
The group can pay for this from their funds ... also, members can
contribute, as discussed in the hyderabad meeting, on special occassions
like wedding anniversaries, birthdays and festivals.
Please let me know your thoughts. Please don't let a critical cause
like this die so easily.
Cheers!
Karthik
On 15 Apr 2007 08:49:47 -0700, Chaitanya Ganesh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi All,
Today 15th April 2007 the Hyderabad chapter had the monthly meeting at
Ratan's house. Suresh Adina, Kasyap, Ravi Shankar, Ratan and I attended the
meeting.
The following are the minutes of meeting:
1. *FDP* - the current way of cooking and distributing is a lot of effort
and having it every week is a hectic task, also providing food for one part
of the day per week doesnt actually serve the cause of hunger. So it is felt
that having it as a group cause is not ideal.
An option that could be worked on could be - Identify the areas where we
would distribute the food like L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital, NIMS, Gandhi
Hospital, Niloufer, etc., and contact swagruha foods nearby that area give
them the order for cooking and packing and from them we will be collecting
the packets and distribute.
Even for the above option members felt that lets keep it as an individual
interest and whoever feels like distributing can go ahead and do it, like on
some festivals, or occassions like birthdays instead of having it on a
regular basis.
2. *Water Distribution Program (WDP) *- Since its summer, Suresh suggested
that we can arrange for some water pots at certain locations which are rush
and can have someone near to that location maintaining as a daily wage for
the summer. In this we felt we require some initial effort to be made and
this seems very feasible. Kasyap would be contacting MCH for the water
supply and talk to them on the logistics and based on it we will be deciding
the locations and the other things that need to be taken care of.
3. *Clothes Distribution:* Suresh has lots of clothes of his child, so
said we can collect some more clothes and then go about distributing them.
Right now we thought we would first stat with clothes for children less than
or around 2 years age and will be distributing them at Niloufer.
The reason why we dont want to collect all ages at a time is we need to
identify the places where we will be distributing that groups clothes, then
also we need to segregate the clothes to each group which might take a huge
effort and also we need a place to keep the collected clothes, since we have
a certain age groups clothes already and also identified Niloufer right now
so we will make the start with this and then move ahead. Ratan also said he
can get his child's clothes which are not being used.
4. *Medical Cases*: This is one which is right now taking the highest
priority as we feel mobilised with every case and are going ahead with them
but the other areas like education is not taking up any shape. The idea of
fund allocation to each area by Divya was felt appropriate to maintain our
concerns in all the areas that we planned to take up. There is actually no
visibility of the efforts on the other areas, so it is felt that we need to
concentrate on the other things as well and dont get overwhelmed with just
the medical cases.
And also the role that we have played till now was, we getting involved in
raising the funds, but now we need to focus on helping them in approaching
the CM Relief Fund, PM Relief Fund and similar funds rather than we raising
the funds.
5. *Monthly Meeting:* We decided that we will be having the monthly
meetings at the members places itself rather than parks and take turns for
the venue. And the date and venue of the next month meeting will be decide
in the current month meeting and will be mailed in the MOM, irrespective of
the number of people attending the meetings will continue without any
postponement.
*So we have decided the next meeting will be at Suresh Adina's place -
near Khairatabad Junction on May 6th 2007, from 10:00AM to 12:00PM. *
*Action Items:*
**
1. WDP - Kasyap will be finding out the information from MCH and based on
it we will put in our efforts in getting it set up at the locations
identified.
2. Clothes Distribution: Ratan and Suresh will be going to Niloufer once
and see if we can distribute the clothes over there for kids.
If I had missed out anything please do add and if I have made any mistakes
please do correct them.
Regards
Chaitanya
