Srijan Foundation

She fought with her younger brother over a small bowl of rice. The brother managed to snatch away the rice and the distraught sister – unable to bear the pangs of hunger committed suicide.

When the family returned from work on Friday night, they found the 18-year-old Gyanwati’s body hanging from the roof.

An empty bowl of rice lay nearby and the son, Chhatrapal, 12, sat close by, filled with remorse and guilt. “I killed her.

If I had given her the rice, she would not have died,” he muttered as the neighbours gathered around the house. This tragic incident took place on Friday night in Detikar village in Gosainganj area on the outskirts of Lucknow.

“I had sold all my land to marry off my two elder daughters and I worked in the fields along with my wife Bhagwandei to earn a living but we could never manage a square meal for ourselves and my daughter and son. My daughter Gyanwati used to help me in my work sometimes. On Friday, we had no food in the house except a small bowl of rice. My wife and I left for work without eating and it seems that my daughter and son fought over the bowl of rice. My son ate the rice and left to play with his friends while Gyanwati committed suicide,” Ram Bharose, the head of the family told this correspondent on Saturday.

According to sources, the local shopkeepers had stopped giving food and other provisions to the family on credit since they had been unable to repay the earlier debt. “But had I known that things would go this way, I would have definitely given some food to the children,” said Prem Tiwari, who runs a tea stall nearby.

His wife Bhagwandei is still too shocked to react while the youngest son Chhatrapal is overcome with guilt.

The father looked sombre as he said, “Accha hua chali gayi.

Ek moonh to kam hua (It is good she died. There is one mouth less to feed).” It is then that the reality of this household hits you in the face.

Excerpt fro Asian Age 30 Sept 07

THE MID-DAY meal scheme, which provides much-needed nutrition to lakhs of children all over the country, faces an acute crisis. 12 crore children in 9.5 lakh schools have mid-day meals.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has told the HRD ministry that from now on wheat and rice for the scheme will cost almost double. Also, it would not be possible to provide food grains for any future expansion of the scheme, the ministry was told.

Only last Thursday the Cabinet approved the proposal to expand the mid-day meal scheme to the upper primary level in schools.

The HRD ministry will now have to buy grains at what is called the ‘economic rate’ which is about Rs 12,000 per metric tonne, compared to Rs 5,650 per metric tonne.

PS: Children will be penalised for Bad Governance.

Do You know that : In the last three years, Rs 31,585.98 crore worth of wheat and rice meant for the poorest of the poor was siphoned off from the public distribution system. Last year alone, Rs 11,336.98 crore worth of food grain that the government is supposed to distribute to the needy at subsidised prices found its way into the market illegally.

This Blog of July from Rahul should have preceded. However am putting this up now to complete the gaps in the history of Tree Plantation.

Colrama

I’ve resolved on Srijan Foundation’s behalf to plant 500 fruit andlocal variety trees this Monsoons in Delhi, to help compensate for the thousands of grand old trees being cut down for Metro and the the HSBS now.

We need to identify areas where such plantation can take place. I’m talking to some unemployed or partially employed people in the Vasant Kunj area, earning low remuneration per month, and offering them a fixed monthly fee for planting trees and watering them for the next
4-5 months till winters to ensure that they take root.

Some areas identified are:
- Aruna Asaf Ali marg: there is an ancient water body which is getting exposed to the road; and in general along the road wherever possible – plan to distribute 2-3 trees to each of the school student in the Vasant Kunj school we financially support; this would make the children aware, as well as, ensure their buy-in in planting and protecting those trees

Could you help identify land near your homes, which is lying idle or as waste under heaps of malba?

Could you help take the resolve of 500 to 1000 trees?

Regards,
Rahul

Every month a summary of donations received and expenses in connection with the classes is sent by email to all the donors and the RWA. Am placing the comments that have been placed along with account statement for the month of Aug 07. These would (hopefully) give you an idea of the actual state of affairs on the ground.

• Shortage of space resulted in over crowding.
• To reduce crowding Classes are now being conducted in flat 1263 also
• Have included the names of new children in the attendance roll
• Total number of children has gone up to 65 +.Mr. Nareshwar Prasad has taken up coaching of children in 1263 from 4: PM to 5:30 PM. (Hats off to Mr. Prasad. How he manages 30 odd children all by himself, I do not know, something I would love to emulate)
• Independence day celebrated with painting, songs and dances. Over 60 children attended it. RWA members and well-wishers
• Have included the names of new children in the attendance roll.Program on Road Safety: conducted on 25 Aug by Traffic Police Personnel
• Stationary and nourishment to 7 children in Nehru Place class also.

Colrama

06 Sept 07

PS:Rahul Dewan in his inimitable way has managed to get hold of a teacher to start a class in Nehru Place for under privileged children. I have been going there once a week or so.

A week back the teacher spoke to me and said that the number of children is now nearly 25.

I have told Mishra ji, (the teacher) that I shall be visiting the class next week.

Colrama

06 Sept 07

A Road Safety Program for under privilaged children was organised in Sector A Pkt C, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi on 25 Aug 07.

CAPRG and Srijan Foundation had arranged the program with the co operation of the Road Safety Cell of Delhi Traffic Police.

RWA of Sector A Pkt C had provided the Community Center and the grounds.

Children were shown documentries and various aspects of road saftey were explained by a team from Delhi Trafic Police who had brought their Mobile Exhibition Van.

Inspector Radhey Shyam who took the the class was a great hit with the children.

Over 60 children from the villages of Kishan Garh and Mehrauli were present.

Srijan Foundation has borne all the expenses connected with the program.

Colrama

02 Sept 07

After much delay from my end, and several reminder SMSs and calls from Col Rama, I’m finally uploading some pictures from the Independence Day celebrations at the Community Hall in Sector A, Vasant Kunj.