Frds, you did an amazing job... Its really tuff job.. 70% success is too good...
Congratulations for Distinction :) Regards, Pullarao On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 11:44 AM, Chaitanya Ganesh <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Hi Prasanthi, > > It was a great job by all those who have worked including the donors, for > the relief effort. It is not easy to manage such kind of efforts when there > is so much of devastation that happened. > > In such a scenario 70% is a huge success, i know that we aim for the > highest 100% but practically in these situations achieving 70% is tremendous > effort. Without so much of ground work and planning it wouldnt have reached > even 50%. > > Great job guys, that was terrific. There is nothing to be sad about not > making it 100%, at the end of the day the material reached the distressed, > may be some of them are well off.. thats ok. We need to give ourselves a bit > of leverage here :). > > Its good that we have certain lessons learnt and also we made impression in > the people over there. They would recognize those who were their on the > ground and associate certain credibility for our efforts. > > Now that we have made this much of effort, we need to see how to elevate > these people from being dependent to self sustained. > You said most of them were farmers and now do not have anything to do, we > need to check what resources are available nearby to this village and how > can we create opportunities out of it.. > > So lets focus our energies in such a kind of thought process and may be > collaborate with some of the small scale industries if required and create > revenue options, so that they can work from their homes and earn some > income. > > I will start my research from mid december on this, for those who cannot > involve directly on ground we can support the members on the field by > researching on such options and digging our contacts and see how we can make > this a reality. > > Success stories are not made by just dreaming, we need to make that extra > effort to make the dream a reality. > > Hope to listen from you all on what options can we provide for these people > to be self sustained. Remember that we dont have to provide a solution for > all the villagers... we put forth all our ideas and see how best we can > utilise each of those. Definitely there would be a lot of counseling > required for these people to come out of their comfort zone start something > afresh. > > We can make a huge difference in their lives, this is a great opportunity > for every one of us to make that difference. Especially with such a great > team on-field, we need to utilize all the efforts they have made. > > Best wishes, > Chaitanya :) > > > > On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Prasanthi Uppalapati < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> Friends, >> >> This is about our visit to Alampur: Though it seems a very big mail to >> you, I didn't pen what all I wanted to share about my experience and >> thoughts. It happens. If we do not share immediately, we end up losing track >> and we get busy and will not have enough strength and time to share. (This >> is true in my case). As it is getting delayed to give an update, I decided >> to close this today at any cost. >> >> In a nut shell, I can say that Relief (monetary or material support) does >> not serve any purpose. It neither offers any hope nor serves their needs. >> >> Lessons Learnt >> >> 1. If you want to offer any help, offer to the entire village (place) but >> not to few families. Even if it is just a spoon or mug, that is fine. Never >> think of offering enough help only to selected families. >> >> 2. The place from where you distribute should be completely enclosed, >> there should not be any way open for others to throng. >> >> We could distribute only 450 to 475 kits as planned. Remaining 225 were >> grabbed. So everyone of us were completely disappointed. We know that 100% >> perfection can never be achieved but still we were very much depressed for >> various reasons. >> >> Execution >> >> The reason why we decided on Alampur was that it was completely devastated >> and we thought we could do something there and to them. Why we thought of >> extending help to so many families was that we visited and spoken to them >> and it created some hope. We want to offer our help and there by gain their >> confidence and then work on providing livelihood opportunities and other >> stuff. >> >> As distributing coupons going to each house would take time, we got the >> details through mail (ration card list) and then prepared coupons for each >> street. We gave a call to the representative of each street, asked them to >> distribute to the dwellers of their street and also suggested them to come >> in specified time. >> >> Meanwhile we requested the Montessory school Headmaster to provide us an >> enclosure so that people cannot encircle us. We got a very good place >> wherein there are two gates and we have our volunteers at both the gates. >> Based on the Headmaster's suggestion, we even requested police to come in >> (was not interested though personally). Two to three constables came. >> Everything was going on as planned though the Brahmana veedhi dwellers were >> late and the delay did impact to a certain extent. >> >> The only loophole was that there was no gate on the third side and people >> (specially of Akbarpet) came and began to make noise. These people blocked >> the place and there was no option for the actual coupon holders to come and >> collect the kits. The Akbarpet dwellers did not budge no matter how well we >> convinced them. Even the Principal/Correspondent came and tried to control >> to some extent. I tried Gandhigiri also (many of our volunteers didn't like >> it and were angry on me). I wanted to see if this works. It was like 50-50. >> They listened to only one statement of my request but not the other one >> which was crucial. >> >> At last people boarded the van and grabbed the material. We could save >> some material that was there in another van. >> >> Observations >> >> 1. Literally everyone requested for help saying that they too lost >> everything and are not getting any help. >> >> a. School workers (even the Headmaster asked if we are interested to help >> them. Around 23 workers are there) and watchman >> >> b. Police constables who came to help us in distribution >> >> c. The doctor who works in the govt. hospital also sent a person to ask >> for help for her staff. I spoke to her over phone and she said that even she >> too has lost her property. >> >> 2. I was shocked by the nature of the people as I really didn't expect it >> from them. >> >> a. They are fine even if we go back without distributing to anyone. Give >> to all of us or go. We do not mind. Even if it is a spoon, give to everyone. >> >> 3. Not every person was so.......!! >> >> a. Many people heeded to my request and they understood when I explained. >> I told them we are not from government nor we from any big trust. Within our >> limits we are doing and we will keep coming to Alampur regularly and visit >> them too. >> >> 4. Miscreants >> >> I feel the people who did the mischief came there for mischief only. They >> also would have suffered no doubt in that. Almost every person and family in >> that village got affected but not everyone behaves so. >> >> 5. Greediness >> >> After the exercise, some of us went to meet the Correspondent to thank him >> for the support. He reiterated that we have to give to everyone otherwise >> give to PDS (Public Distribution System). When it comes to greediness he >> stated that the people who are rich grab lands and yearn to earn more and >> more and when compared to them these people who have lost everything were >> not greedy at all. >> >> 6. Less scope for livelihood >> >> According to the correspondent, the people here have very less scope for >> livelihood. Most of them are agricultural labourers and petty shop owners. >> >> What Next? >> >> To be frank, I have no clue. Being discouraged and depressed enough by the >> fact that Rs. 4,50,000 and the entire effort has gone waste, I do not have a >> clear cut idea as of now on what to do next. I want to do something concrete >> to them directly or proxy as I promised help. (I also want to express my >> thanks to all the volunteers who supported. In fact, I feel very proud of >> their attitude. Everyone wanted to keep their promise. Though I know Kiran >> Anumalasetty since May this year, never get an opportunity to discuss with >> him. The discussion we had while writing coupons made me understand what he >> is. Till then I didn't know that he has such a depth and authority on life, >> philosophy, education etc., I felt very happy for the interaction. We have >> such wonderful people around and if we do not optimally utilize our >> strengths, we would definitely be culprits. We are not exploring and >> utilizing our collective strength in required manner.) >> >> (This is not to boast but only to weigh the return of investment, Satya >> and I kept leave on Thursday to purchase the items. Giri garu joined us in >> the evening. On Friday, Satya and Giri garu purchased the items. Eleven of >> us were awake all through the night to pack, to write coupons etc., We >> planned very well and executed well too. Only thing is we didn't care about >> the worst case scenario though being warned by some of the localites and >> volunteers. I had so much of trust that I want to see it for myself if they >> really grab when we go with such a good plan and convince them of our >> motive.) >> >> Anyway, if this exercise goes well probably I would never learn the lesson >> that I learnt now. I am never going to participate in any relief effort with >> monetary support. All the effort should go into rehabilitation and >> motivating the people there and if possible, offer enough guidance. We >> didn't aim this exercise for relief but as the first step of rehabilitation. >> >> >> Advantages >> >> 1. The support from Montessory school Principal and Headmaster. They >> mentioned that if we inform them before hand they are ready to give their >> place to us for any livelihood initiative. >> >> (As I understand if not on Sunday, other days it would disturb the >> children) >> >> 2. Members of many streets know about us now and it would not be like >> starting from scratch. They very well know that what they did was wrong. >> >> (Kiran Anumalasetty spoke with some of the villagers there. I felt very >> amused (as I didn't know what to feel also) by their response. We hate our >> attitude but can't help. We only look for external help. Though we know that >> what we are doing is wrong, we wish to do. If we do not come and pick, it is >> only that we do not have enough strength to grab. We cannot sit idle if >> someone comes and distribute the kits) >> >> 3. Good rapport with authorities >> >> One senior journalist, Usha, volunteered to introduce us to Damayanti >> garu, collector of Mehboob Nagar, as she has good rapport with her. Once we >> chalk out a plan or come up with any ideas, may be we can meet her and take >> her advice and support. Anjaneya Sarma garu is also cooperative. >> >> Challenges >> >> 1. Gaining their confidence and convincing them to stand on their own. >> 2. The place being far and we could go only on alternate weekends. We do >> not have enough volunteers to distribute the task and see to that some of us >> visit Alampur every weekend. >> >> -- >> 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. >> > > >
