Invited speakers from AID India

Association for India's Development (AID) presents as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series, M Damodharan and Dharmendra Kumar, both noted social workers committed to the cause of sustainable and just development at the grassroots level in different parts of India.

Date : 9th June
Time : 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (ADMISSION FREE)
Venue : 260 Willard Building, Penn State University

M Damodharan comes from the state of Tamil Nadu (TN) in southern India and has been with AID India for the past 9 years. He is the program head for community development, and content head for the language program at AID TN. Damu, as Dhamodaran is popularly known, has been the major driving force behind the widespread implementation of the “Padippum Inikkum” reading program launched by AID TN in 2006. AID India was awarded the Pratham 2006 Achievement Award for this reading program.

Dharmendra Kumar comes from the state of Bihar in eastern India. He was the state coordinator of All India People Science Network's (AIPSN) "Joy of Learning Campaign." Besides his interests in education, between 2004 to 2007, Dharmendraji coordinated public health initiatives such as the Hundred Block Program and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan. Since January 2008 he has been coordinating AID India’s activities in Bihar to promote social equity and development. He was also actively involved with the flood relief activities during the Bihar floods in 2008.

Please join us to hear their experiences of working in these interesting projects.

Providing food with dignity

The calamity times can be really bad on a person's dignity. In these times when one is fighting against the nature to feed his/her family, keeping ones dignity intact is even tougher. How to accept the relief material, the food, clothes and medicines. If it was from govt, there would be a right to ask for it. But if it comes from foreign corners, how would someone feel while taking it. What to do if there is no other alternative available?

Mukti, NGO being supported by AID made the dilemma easier for the people affected by cyclone Aila. The next biggest danger people in these areas were facing was the disaster coming in form of high tide at the full moon night. The embankments to the river need urgent repair to avoid the destruction by high tide. At one hand people are dying of hunger, on the other hand the embankment won't be repaired because of lack of manpower. Since the paycheck from govt comes really late, its hard to motivate people to work while their family is dying of hunger. Mukti volunteers proposed to give food to the people who worked to repair the embankment. "Mukti motivated the villagers by providing snacks (breakfast) in the morning session and 2kg of rice and 200 grams Dal and 250 grams potato 100 grams of onion at the end of the day in addition to wages which they will get in time." This was a good enough motivator to feed their family and save their village while keeping their dignity intact. There were 450 people working on first day and 900 from second day onwards. The model is being appreciated by the govt officials and other NGOs and is being replicated in other villages too.

Link for Mukti report

So end of the story is that even in middle of such devastation there are people working really hard and coming up with intelligent solution to odd problems.

Another news: A supporter have pledged to donate $1500 if AID can generate $5000 for cyclone aila relief fund. So go ahead and donate generously. Every $10 of yours will mean $13 to the needy people.

News reports: TheBigPicture | Telegraph | ToI | ToI | IndianExpress | DeccanHerald

Cyclone Aila updates

Life is still paused in the areas affected by cyclone Aila. However, the relief given by AID is reaching to some parts of these areas. The most satisfying fact is that the money I saved from not eating my meal at a restaurant actually fed almost a whole village in these difficult times. If you are able to contribute even a penny to this effort, please do not think twice. Every dime and a dollar will be used to save human lives.

Here are few updates from the ground. The video has some stats and then pictures from the relief camp being run by Mukti, an NGO working with AID in the affected villages.



Here is a report from M. A. Wohab, Director of SHIS, another NGO conducting clinics everyday in the affected villages besides providing water and food. If you are a doctor, or know a doctor who might want to help these people let me know.

Report

Here is a detailed survey from BTS/Mukti covered areas giving an idea of the damage and the type of relief available.

Link

Budget from BTS/Mukti for the relief work in the villages.

Link

For regular updated on the relief work click here

To donate to the relief fund click here

Cyclone Aila relief work

Cyclone Aila struck the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India killing more than 200 people and destroying 180,000 homes. Over 3 million people have been displaced as per the estimates.

The govt help is as always not adequate. Association for India's Development (AID) is partnering with local NGO partners to provide food, water and shelter. AID has already disbursed $21,000 to one of the partner NGO Baikanthapur Tarun Sangha (BTS) for this work.

If you would like to help the relief work please donate to AID All India Relief Fund.

Click here if you would like to follow the regular updates (from people working right in the middle of it and not from seasoned journalists)

If you would like to go and help in the relief work drop a hint in the comments section.


Cyclone Aila in press : BBC | The Daily Star | CNN | ToI | The Hindu