Jaago Re: India’s fight against Corruption

Tata Tea launches an extensive campaign against corruption by re-launching jaagore.com, and the 34 day bus journey,Tata Tea Vrath Yatra commemorating Anti-Corruption Day on December 9.

‘Aaj se khilana band Pilana Shuru’ will empower every ordinary Indian citizen to believe he can get his work done without having to pay a bribe. Tata tea launched an integrated campaign- ‘Khilana Band, Pilana Shuru’ in August this year with a promise to come back on Anti-Corruption Day and take the campaign to the next level. In concurrence with that promise, Tata Tea launched a Corruption Index, a three- city study to bring out the perceptions of the citizens, across socio-economic classes, about corruption and its impact on the social and economic fibre of society in the nation. The movement leans towards sensitizing the youth against corruption. Sushant Dash, the Associate President of Marketing at Tata Tea said to the press, “tea is generally conceived as a wake up drink, but now it should be a cause towards social awakening, especially of the youth”.

On Global Anti- Corruption day, which falls on December 9, Tata Tea launched its website www.jaagore.com which was synonymous with voting applications last year. The re launched web portal which facilitates the flow of information and resources and resources between individuals/ groups/ organizations. It aims to bring together, onto a common platform, those who possess information and resources and those who need them. The crux of the campaign was the Tata Tea Jaago Re Vrath Yatra- a 38-day bus journey across the country to connect with the youth and urge them to pledge against corruption. The Vrath Yatra, was flagged off by Justice Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka State and Sangeeta Talwar, Executive Director, Tata Tea.

Speaking on the occasion Hegde joked, “the Lokayukta runs a similar project, though the difference is that our budget sometimes doesn’t allow us to afford a couple of cups of tea”. Speaking on a more serious note, Hegde said that corruption is one of the biggest hindrances to the development of our country. “We have had cases where senior IPS, and IAS officers were caught accepting bribe, and corruption is not contained only to politics, its runs deep in educational institutions as well. US $ 1456 billion was uncovered at Swiss banks, the kind of money can remove India’s international debt three times over. With the kind of work we do, last year alone, I spoke at 127 educational institutions telling them against corruption” added Hegde.

Justice Hegde, and Sangeeta Talwar launching the Rath Yatra

Talwar gave quoted numbers released a three city survey by AC Nielson, called the ‘Jaago Re Corruption Index’. The key findings included that Bangalore ranked corruption slightly higher than Mumbai or Delhi as a challenge. Only 7% of the respondents agreed to have bribed in last one month. Bribing evidence was highest in Bangalore with 11 % of the respondents have agreed to have given bribe in the last one month. In Delhi and Mumbai, the figures were 6% and 5% respectively. A whooping number of 46% of the respondents said that they wouldn’t mind giving bribe if their work is getting done faster and without hassles. Again, Bangalore topped the list with 53% of the respondents willing to give bribe for speedy completion of their work. It was 43% in Mumbai and 41% in New Delhi.

Over the last couple of months the organization has collected over 1.8 lakh pledges against corruption through various routes including the internet, mobile, retail and even schools.

For more details log on to http://www.jaagore.com/

SOS Children in India: Children for Sponsorship in India

ndia is the second most populous country in the world. Acceleration in economic growth has made India among the world's ten fastest growing developing countries. Yet, the country's per capita income remains low and 26 per cent of the population live below the income povertyline. Forty seven per cent of children under three years of age are malnourished. There continues to be high incidence of child labour and out-of-school children, girls remaining particularly disadvantaged. Although the caste system has been officially abolished, religious and social barriers still influence everyday life.

SOS Children began working in India in 1963. Today there are 39 children’s villages, eight of which are for Tibetan refugee children, see here. As well as the communities where over 6,000 once-destitute children now have a permanent family home, over fifty SOS welfare, educational and medical facilities also provide assistance for people in the wider community.

SOS Children in India

Local contacts

SOS Children's Villages of India

A-07 Nizamudin West

New Delhi 110 013

India

Tel: 00 91 11 2435 7299

Email: soscvi@soscvindia.org

Nandita Das's Charity Work, Events and Causes

Nandita Das, one of India’s well known actors, has a string of powerful performances in films like Fire, Earth, Bawander, Before the Rains and many other films. She has acted in over 30 feature films, in ten different languages, with directors of international repute like, Deepa Mehta, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Mani Ratnam, and others.

Nandita’s involvement with charitable work began fairly early in life when she did her Masters in Social Work from the reputed Delhi School of Social Work. Following this formal training in social work she worked in non-governmental organisations in different parts of India. She worked as the project coordinator in ‘Ankur’, a non-governmental organization, working towards of empowerment of women; and as a trainer in ‘Alarippu,’ a voluntary organization where she conducted workshops for children and teachers, in innovative education.

Since then, over the years, while being an internationally successful film actor and director she has also actively campaigned for numerous social causes. She is probably as well known as a social activist as a film person. Even her choice of films have been in line with her commitment to make a difference. Though at times these films have run into numerous controversies, she has continued working in consonance with her convictions. She has chosen to be part of stories that she believes in, and as she says, “that need to be told.”


Causes close to her heart are issues of sectarian violence, which was also the topic of her directorial debut feature film, “Firaaq” in 2008, violence against women, issues of child rights, stigma concerning HIV/ AIDS and disability. She has also directed public service ads on Water Harvesting and Education.

Nandita is passionately involved with various Civil Society organizations and movements, and is often seen at the forefront of voluntary causes and social advocacy.

In a unique combination of her profession and her need to give back to society, in 2003, Nandita supported the International Special Film Festival along with Brotherhood, an organization that works towards bridging the gap between children with physical disabilities and those without.

In January 2005, when the Tsunami hit parts of Asia, she was actively supporting NGO’s working for rehabilitation of affected persons in the Galle area of Sri Lanka, one of the worst affected areas. The same year she also participated in the Mumbai Marathon to raise awareness and funds for ‘Aman Biradri,’ an organization working towards peace, justice and harmony.

She is actively associated with “GiveIndia”, an organization which screens and vets “accountable” and “trustworthy” charities and that makes it easy for persons to donate online via their website. In September 2009, she was a major driving force in the “Joy of Giving Week,” which was a campaign coordinated by GiveIndia to encourage the culture of giving.

Nandita in the past has been nominated as a Spokesperson for (UNDP) United Nations Development Programme. She has been very active in Indo-pak peace initiatives is a Member of the South Asians for Human Rights (SAHAR) that has been active in creating dialogue among the civil society of South Asia.

Nandita has been a speaker in various Universities, NGOs and social forums, both in India and abroad, on issues of social concern. She is also a prolific writer and has expressed her anguish, opinions and concern on numerous social issues through her writings in print media and on her website.

Her inspiration in life comes from the famous quote of Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

YUVA lends a helping hand

Cardiff University’s Youth of India or YUVA society have raised and donated 25,000 rupees for the charity Amitasha, through a number of its events.

Amitasha, is a charity devoted to improving the lives of young poverty stricken girls in India.

Formed by Dr. Amita Chauhan – the chairperson of Amity International schools, a chain of premier educational institutions in India – Amitasha provides education and cultural development to disadvantaged girls; promotes social awareness through nationwide workshops and cultural events.

The money donated by YUVA will be used to buy books, toys and clothes for young girls under the New Delhi chapter of the charity.

While India strives to globally progress at one end, it battles domestically to help the majority of its population plagued by poverty and rampant social evils.

One of the worst of these evils is the notion that girls and women are incompetent burdens on society.

This stigma causes numerous cases of female infanticide, domestic violence and bride trading in many parts of the country.

Women are a major part of every nation’s progress, but as their quality of life and numbers dwindle, India faces tough challenges in achieving its global development.

The educated urban population and the progressive politicians of the country have begun to cause change, with businesses and state governments establishing charities to provide sponsorship, free schooling, advice and shelter to poor and victimized women and children.

Eshan Hemrajani, a member of Cardiff’s YUVA society said: “Cruelty and neglect towards the girl-child in India is a sad reality, and something that the nation must strive to eradicate.

“While we equip ourselves to become more conscious citizens at University, it’s never too soon to lend a helping hand.”

Dr. Amita Chauhan of Amitasha said: “It is enriching to see that students even outside the country are providing beneficial assistance to charities that aim to improve the social state of the nation.

“I want to thank Cardiff University’s YUVA society in helping us improve the lives of neglected children and putting smiles on their faces.”

If you wish to lend a helping hand to Amitasha, visit http://www.amity.edu/amitasha/fortify.htm

Muslim NGO to build 1000 homes for Assam riots victims

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: New Delhi-based Muslim NGO Rehab India Foundation is going to build 1000 homes for the homeless riot victims in Assam’s Bongaigaon district. The NGO has purchased 15 acres of land for the project.

The foundation for the first phase of the project – 200 homes will be built in three months – was laid earlier this month.

Talking to TwoCircles.net Rehab India Foundation (RIF) Chairman E. Abubacker – who also heads Social Democratic Party of India – said: “The foundation stone for the project of 200 homes was laid on 7th November. By March 2010 we will be completing the first phase of the project. Within five years we will build 1000 homes for the riot victims in Assam.”

Giving more details of the project he said: “In our project area we will also build school, hospital and community centre.”

As result of riots in Bongaigaon thousands of families have been compelled to flee their homes in Assam. Now on the banks of rive or sides of highways they are leading precarious life. They live in huts and find it hard to earn their daily bread. Most of them are the victims of the murderous riots engineered by Bodos in 1994.

The RIF has done a survey of the refugees living in 8 camps in different districts of Assam. The survey identified 24,613 people are living in the refugee camps. The NGO has purchased land in the Hapasara Panchayat of Bongaigaon district. Excluding the land, RIF is going to spend Rs 115 million (US$ 2.3 Million) on the project.

Estimates of the project

1000 homes @ Rs. 1,00,000 each = Rs. 100 million (US$ 2 Million)

100 tube wells @ Rs. 10,000 each = Rs. 1 million (US$ 20000)

School Building @ Rs 600 per sq. ft for 5000 sq ft = Rs. 3 million (US$ 60000)

Furniture/computers etc. = Rs 0.5 million (US$ 10000)

Community centre @ Rs 1000 sq. ft for 5000 sq. ft = Rs. 6 million (US$ 1.2 Million)

Mosque @ Rs. 1000 sq. ft for 4500 sq. ft = Rs. 4.5 million (US Dollars 90000)

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