Appeal for Contributions for Relief Camps in Assam

                            Appeal for Contributions for Relief Camps in Assam

Over two lakh persons are still housed in relief camps in Dhubri, Chirang and Kokrajhar districts of Lower Assam, in the wake of a series of violent clashes. This is down to about half the peak of nearly five lakh people in camps, making it one of the largest humanitarian emergencies in independent India. All these internally displaced persons fled from their villages in fear of violence, and many because their homes were torched and belongings looted. There is little hope that everyone will be able to return home in the immediate future.

The camps are lodged mostly in schools and college buildings; sometimes a few classrooms and a courtyard house a few thousand people. The Assam state government assumed full responsibility for the camps, and its officials coped with the sudden explosion of the refugees. The state supplied food, some money for utensils and clothes, and ensured primary health protection.

So far the camp residents are only surviving on bare rice and dal everyday. They need at least a plastic sheet to sleep on and mosquito nets. The camps desperately require many more toilets and clean drinking water, the lack of which threatens epidemic outbreaks of cholera, gastro-enteritis and malaria.

Children suffer in many ways. There are no arrangements to study in the camps, and most students lost their books to the fires that consumed their homes. Since most camps are housed in schools and colleges, local students also cannot study.

The state and humanitarian agencies — the latter regrettably substantially absent so far — must help people return and rebuild their homes, schools and livelihoods. Children and young people must be assisted to resume their studies and normal life, without fear and dislocation.

The major duty for relief and rehabilitation lies with the central and state governments. But in a humanitarian emergency of this magnitude, it is important for people of goodwill everywhere to reach out to help and heal, to assist in relieving immediate suffering, but also as a gesture of solidarity and caring with the suffering people of both affected communities, the Bodos and Bengali Muslims.

In a very small initiative, humanist young people have decided to work together for relief and reconciliation. This initiative would be in collaboration with TISS Guwahati. Initially joint teams of young Bodo and Bengali Muslims will supply relief materials and services in the camps together. The initial focus is to support children and youth in these camps with textbooks, play things, clothes, etc, and women with clothes, sanitary napkins etc; and also utensils, treated mosquito nets etc.

We reiterate that this is a very small modest effort, and is not suggesting that this is contributing to any solution of a very complex and old problem. It is just intended as a very small gesture of collective caring. We have set a target to raise at least around 20 lakh rupees initially, to make a small tangible contribution.

We appeal to people of goodwill everywhere to contribute to this small effort. The entire money would be transferred to the joint youth group in Assam, to use entirely for purchase and distribution of relief material in both the Bodo and Bengali Muslim camps. The accounts will be managed by the Centre for Equity Studies, which will get these independently audited, and the audited accounts will be placed in the public domain.

We would also like to request you to widely circulate this appeal amongst your friends and family.

With best wishes,

Amita Joseph, Amitav Ghosh, Anu Aga, Aruna Roy, Avi Singh, Bela Bhatia, Biraj Patnaik, Dipa Sinha, Harsh Mander, Jean Drèze, Karuna Nundy, Kavita Srivastava, Mathew Cherian, Nandita Das, Nikhil Dey, Pervin Varma, Rahul Bose, Ram Punyani, Reeta Dev Barman, Ritu Priya, Sajjad Hassan, Sejal Dand, Sharmila Tagore, Vandana Prasad, Vijay Pratap and Warisha Farasat

For Aman Biradari

For further details, please contact
Jeevika Shiv (9899572770, jeevikas@gmail.com) or Ankita Aggarwal (9818603009, aggarwal.ankita87@gmail.com)

Details for donations

For Indian citizens

(Please mention the purpose of the donation while making the contribution and e mail your PAN card number and postal address at anoop_wdk@yahoo.com)

Name of A/c: Aman Biradari Trust
Bank Name: IDBI Bank Limited  
Branch: 1/6, Siri Fort Institution Area, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi 110049, India
A/c No: 010104000156950, IFSC Code: IBKL0000010, BSR Code: 110259002

For foreign citizens

(Please mention the purpose of the donation while making the contribution and e mail a scanned copy of your passport and postal address to anoop_wdk@yahoo.com)

Name of Organization: Centre for Equity Studies
A/c Number: 4114000100539095, Swift Code: PUNBINBBISB, IFS Code: PUNB0411400
Name of Bank: Punjab National Bank  
Branch Address:  Plot No.7, C-1, Nelson Mandella Road, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070

Cheques can be mailed at:

Office of the Commissioners for Supreme Court
B 68, 2nd floor, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi 110017, India

For any financial queries, please contact Sunil Snehi (9811190160, sunilsnehi@yahoo.com)

All donations exempted u/s 80G of the I. T. Act, 1961 vide Letter No. DIT(E)/2011-12/C-693/3069 Dated 17 Oct 20122 issued by the Directorate of Income Tax Act (Exemption), Delhi for the period 1 April 2011 onwards

Aman Biradari Volunteer Protocol

Aman Biradari Volunteer Protocol

Need for Volunteers in Aman Biradari

During the first week of the month, Aman Biradari will post the details of the volunteer requirements on its website, blog and will advertise the positions in colleges and institutions.

Date: 1^st – 7^th of every month

Application

Candidates who are interested can apply for the open positions throughout the month.

Application would be accepted only in the format as suggested by Aman Biradari. The template of the application can be downloaded from the following URL:

 

Date: Throughout the month

Group Discussion/Personal Interview

Shortlisted candidate would be asked to appear for a round of group discussion/Personal Interview (depending on the volume of shortlisted applicants). The schedule for this discussion/Personal Interview would be on every 2^nd Monday of the month after 2 PM.

The details of the interview schedule would be communicated to the candidate over phone or /and email.

Date: 2^nd Monday and 2^nd Tuesday of every month.

Selection Procedure

·        Candidate should show significant level of commitment and dedication for the cause of Aman Biradari in the GD/PI

·        Candidate should be aligned with the values of Aman Biradari

·        Candidates would not be preferred on the basis of cast, creed, religion and gender.

Orientation/Induction

·        Candidates selected for the volunteer program at Aman Biradari would be notified within two working days after the candidate had appeared for the GD/PI.

·        Candidate selected would be joining the program on 3^rd Monday of the month.

·        Candidates joining would undergo a Orientation/Induction process for two days

                                                                                                               

Supervisor

·        Volunteers would be paired with a supervisor to whom the volunteer would report.

·        Volunteer would escalate any problems that they face to the supervisors

·        Supervisor will provide with all the necessary arrangements to the volunteers for their work

·        Supervisor will also give monthly feedback to the volunteer about his areas of strength and areas of improvement.

·        Supervisors would  be always approachable by the volunteers

Evaluation

·        Volunteer would be evaluated monthly on the basis of work he has done and the amount of commitment he has shown.

·        Volunteers would be also evaluated on the basis of completion of task within schedule.

·        Feedback from supervisors would be considered during  evaluation

Final Feedback/Exit Interview

·        

Final feedback would be provided to the volunteer at the time of completion of the volunteer program.

·     Volunteer would be required to fill an exit feedback document

·  Certificate of appreciation would be awarded to the volunteers who have successfully completed the program.

Volunteer Package

Volunteer will receive the following documents at the time of orientation:

·        Brochure

·        Latest Newsletter

·        Code of Conduct

·        Contact details of management team

·        Identity Card

Note: Volunteers who are working has to commit for 4 hours weekly for minimum duration of one year and non working volunteers has to commit 8 hours weekly for a minimum duration of one year.

Trip to Manali, by Ramzan

As we departed on Monday evening by bus, the excitement was palpable. Despite being a 23 hour trip, I enjoyed the ride due to the amazing scenery and constant impression that the bus might fall from the road at any minute. After 23 hours, little sleep and multiple minor dramas, we finally reached the camp.

 

 

We all needed a good rest after the trip but for some of us, me included, the urge to explore the surrounding area was greater than the desire to sleep. However, after dinner we did eventually go to sleep, but, to our surprise, not in bedrooms but tents! Spending the night in a tent amongst the mountains was truly a great experience.

The next day's activities involved climbing the hills surrounding Manali. We all enjoyed the exploration and learning about the local hydro-electricity project. Rather than going straight to sleep after dinner, this time we made a huge fire around which both the children and the staff sat, sang and danced until late into the night.

On our fourth day we travelled to a river crossing and went swimming in the water. While enjoyable, the water temperature was so low that many of us found it rather difficult! Next, we took a ropeway to the top of a mountain. From the top of the mountain the view was fantastic, and we stayed there for far too long, without realising it was about to get dark! Having reached the campsite, we repeated the previous night's fire, complete with singing and dancing, of course!

Sadly this was our last day, and we were all rather regretful to head back to the daily life of Delhi. We had all loved the trip, and had such great experiences that I know we will never forget it.

I also want to say that I'm very thankful to the staff and Aman Biradari for giving us the chance to have such a wonderful time. I can hardly wait until the next year's trip!

Ramzan

Name: Varun Goel
Nationality: Indian
Email: varungoel388@gmail.com
Job Title: Volunteer and Mentor at Ummeed Aman Ghar under "Project Leap"
Job Description: Managing and Organizing TEDxYouth@Ummeed. My work included mentoring my kid, Ramzan over a period of four months.
Introduction: For me, it started when a friend of mine asked me to join "Project Leap" (a collaboration between Teach for India and Becoming I Foundation) with her. As she was a year senior to me in Becoming I, she was allotted a revolving structure class, while I chose Shahsank's TEDx class. I had a hunch that this project would turn out to be really amazing, as I was really inspired by Shashank's passion and his great vision. A couple of days later, my friend came up to me and said that she wished she had been a part of the TEDx class instead! Since the first session with the Ummeed kids about four months ago, till today actually being able to put up an event of such scale, it has been a roller coaster ride! It has truly been one of the best experiences ever for me and I can definitely say, I have become a better human being

For me, the past four months have gone by in a flash. I remember introducing myself to the kids during
our first session with them. And there I saw a kid, just about my age. Smart, responsible, mature.
Ramzan. I kind of felt an instant connection with him. I was a little nervous as "the kids" were going to
choose a mentor each that day. Incredibly, Ramzan chose me and quite frankly I could not have asked
for anyone better.

The relation that we managed to develop over the next four months is inexplicable. We grew a sense of
mutual understanding and closeness that soon made me his "BRO".i remember he won two awards at his
annual day event at Ummeed. The first person he decided to call straight after that was me!! I can never
forget that moment. He has been an amazing ward, and an even greater friend. Getting to know him and
his stories has been one of the most enriching experiences for me at Ummeed. I truly have learnt a lot
from them. I would be lying if I said that we haven’t had our share of ups and downs, but I am glad that
we did. It has only made our bond stronger.

Ramzan is a fun-loving person who feels strongly about street children, vendors and rag-pickers. He
considers himself very lucky to have been rescued and gotten a chance to gain education. But what I
love about him is that he doesn’t stop there. He works as a caretaker in a nightshelter and goes out to
rescue others just like him. I greatly respect this thinking of his and sincerely hope that one day change
will come. With a small step, for a far greater cause - I believe in TEDxYouth@Ummeed. "I believe i can!"