Though the write-up below does not allude to shooting sports in any way, I have posted so that folks are aware of the critical situation and how a rag-tag group is trying to help some fellow humans out in its own way. Please note that I am *NOT* asking for any monetary help, but request some extra thoughts that could go a long way in helping people. The same model could be adapted and replicated for similar crisis situation across India by the fellow IFGian.
Worst ever famine situation in Marathwada region of Maharashtra has appealed to the good in civilians. Not only have rains failed last year but the water tables keep falling. This has resulted in devastated crops, cracked up fields and death toll on cattle and humans. Many families have started migrating elsewhere as this is just the beginning. Things are only going to get worse from now on. At least three months await the rains.
None but the people and their government are to be blamed for mismanagement and corruption that has forced such hardship on the people of Marathwada. While famines were a common occurrence, the sheer proportion of tragedy this year has been the first since India's Independence. So not waiting for any governing body to do anything substantial, a group of friends decided to
"adopt" a village of 150 families through an NGO. The idea and initiative was taken by my friend, Shri. Swapnil Pawar of Ashirwad Decorators, Mumbai.
He got in touch with the secretary of an NGO, "Marathwada Gramim Vikas Sanstha", registered at Vaijapur taluka, Aurangbad. They are ready to supervise water distribution in the interior vilages which have been specifically ear-marked as heavily draught-striken.
So our school-mates batch got together and have decided to supply water through tanker to the adopted village of about 150 families, daily, for three critical months - March 1st through May 31st. The cost of doing so would only be Rs. 63000. It was first decided that out of 100+ batchmates that get together for Reunion every year, even if 63 contribute Rs. 1000 each the issue would be addressed. Some of us have volunteered to visit the locale periodically to ensure that the work is indeed getting carried out and the NGO is doing what it has assured us.
I proposed a few more points as pasted below. I would greatly appreciate if you could revert with any additional pointers so I could take it to our group for due consideration.
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Carrying forward your idea, is it possible to ponder over the following suggestions:
1. Instead of water supply from tanker is it possible to supply bottled water,say in terms of 20lt bottles. We will not know where the tanker sources its water from and quite possible that the water table would be contaminated. Alternately, can we ensure that the families are also supplied water purification kits ?
2. Is it possible to ENFORCE (i.e. insist on) community kitchen in the village that we adopt ? Thus water for cooking gets saved and the utilization period extended ?
3. When are you planning to go to Aurangbad ? Is the secretary of that NGO located in Aurangbad city ? If it works out for me, I shall try to travel to Aurangbad city and meet you there.
4. Since you know the NGO quite well, hope you can recee its background and ensure that they do not have relations to any sinister bodies. We would not want the funds misused or the poor people subjected to errant conditions.
5. Now the target of Rs. 63000 is quite achievable between 100 Brats. What I propose is that we double it to Rs. 126000 and each Brat contributes Rs. 2000. So even at 60% contribution participation, the objective is achieved.
6. Since we are not ruling politicians to spend lavish sums in terms of crores on weddings or birthdays or siphon off 10K crores from irrigation projects, let us observe some austerity measures in support of the suffering suffrage that will continue to return these leeches to state legislature every time. Let us forgo our Reunion for 2013 if we have to and use the proceeds for not 150 families, but 300.
7. And now that we automatically become stake-holders in the common man's problems of famine, we better start brain-storming session on long term solution. We need to know (not just general knowledge that can be had from google) everyone in the administration from ZP to MP and try to seek out contacts with them and see if we can contribute from our pool of expertise to give a long term solution. There are jokers termed as Palak Mantris and Palak Netas in almost all major political parties for every district.
8. If possible we have to check out, may be through RTIs, if water sources and supplies have been altered in any way or in any particular region in favor of say sugarcane crop in a particular belt, thus depriving certain other people of water resulting in ceaseless cycles of famine. We have to see if deforestation and stone-sand quarrying has been carried out that has resulted in depleting water-tables thus leading to famine. If so, the massive problem is going to be eternal in nature - the best being every alternate year and the worst being every year.
Though I would have loved to work on last two points, unfortunately I face a famine when it comes to politicians/ administrators.
So I can only mail in my share of contribution and e-mail 2 cents worth of thoughts.========================================
Just imagine if 150 families can be helped out for three months for a mere Rs. 63000, what all the central and state governments with their massive resources can achieve.
regs
AGN
It had some time coming, but finally it did !