"SAVE RAYAGADA" CAMPAIGN
"SAVE RAYAGADA" CAMPAIGN was the brainchild of the Seva Team of eOdissa Parivaar, a team of young students and professionals namely, Ms. Rajlaxmi Dash, Mr. Ashok Nayak, Mr. Amaresh Chandra Das, Mr. Subhashish Panigrahi and Ms. Navneeta Dash. We all believe in the tremendous potential of the today’s youth and and materializing our dreams into reality!We campaigned online from 24th Sept, 2010 on our own website www.eodissa.com, our fan page on Facebook and mass mails and raised funds for the poor Adivasis of Rayagada district in Odisha, who have been affected by Cholera and Diarrhoea epidemics. Several other groups on Facebook like "Odias in Delhi" and "Odisha"were also actively involved in the Campaign.
The whole idea of starting this campaign came to our mind when we saw the news articles on the the Cholera epidemic in Rayagada flashing everywhere. According to official figures, more than 150 people have died of Cholera and Diarrhoea in the State as on Sept 15, 2010. Unofficial reports put the toll at more than 250. According to the Govt.'s own statistics, nearly 300 villages have been hit by the outbreak, and more than 1500 people have been affected. The reasons are not far to seek: contaminated water sources, lack of basic health care facilities, acute food-shortage, lack of awareness about sanitation& hygiene. Adding to it, the lack of proper roads and infrastructure makes most of the villages in the Kashipur, Bishamcuttack & Kalyansinghpur blocks of Rayagada inaccessible during rains.
To make matters worse, there is an acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in the government hospitals. In an affidavit filed in response to a PIL seeking the court's intervention in view of Cholera outbreak on Sept 17, 2010, the State Govt. itself stated that at least 1085 out of 4,258 sanctioned posts of allopathic doctors in the State and 47 posts in Rayagada district alone are lying vacant.
Upon hearing such shocking news and seeing the suffering of the victims, we promptly reacted. We were determined to find a way out to serve them by our own small means and thus the whole idea was born. Due to some kind-hearted donors, we managed to collect a total amount of Rs. 54,100 and then Ms. Rajlaxmi Dash, went to Rayagada herself, and sought the help of the Seva-Dal youth members of theSri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Rayagada District. We especially would like to thank Mr. Shiva Ku. Agarwal, the Youth-Coordinator of Seva-Dal, Mr. Murthy and other volunteers with all our heart. They helped us in identification of the affected families. We gathered a team of 15 volunteers of the Sathya Sai Seva Organization and set out to Kalyansinghpur region of Rayagada.
Ms. Rajlaxmi Dash, a team-member shares her experience saying- ‘It hurt a lot seeing people fighting only for a packet of 5 kilo rice and other stuff. They do not get to eat vegetables throughout the year. I saw a whole village; almost every single person was affected in Tala Anchala Badi village… But I’m proud that we could do something at least for them. We distributed 200 food packets in about 10 villages...saw people smiling with pleasure....can't tell u how happy I am.......WE FINALLY DID IT........WE ACTUALLY DID IT!!
Important facts-
Name of the area covered-9 villages of Kalyansinghpur block, Rayagada district, Odisha.
Total No. of food packets distributed-200 Total no. of volunteers-15 Date of the Campaign-13.10.2010 Total amount collected-Rs. 54,100.00
Each food packet contained-Rice5 kilos Dal1 kilo Potato1 kilo Onion1 kilo Cabbage1 unit (800g-1kg) Brinjal500 g (approx.) Salt1 packet- 1 kilo Sugar1 packet- 500 g Cooking Oil1 packet- 500 ml Red Chillies1 small packet each
List of items distributed- ItemQuantity Rice10 quintals Dal2 quintals Sugar 1 quintal Potato2 quintals Onion2 quintals Cabbage 168 kilos Brinjal 112 kilos Cooking Oil 200 packets Salt 200 packets Packing sacks210 units
Name of villages covered,no. of families benefitted out of this Campaign-
Name of the VillageNo. of beneficiaries(families) Tala Anchala Badi1 UparaAnchala Badi29 Upara Rambu2 Lakapai70 Seriguma2 Keskadanga6 Kesingi 31 B Paska15 B.Guda44
Total No. of beneficiaries-200
Our next initiative would be the ‘Project Rajanga Circle’. We will be going to the Rajaanga region of Dhenkanal district, Odisha on 14th Nov, 2010 to donate clothes and toys etc. to the poor tribal women and children there.
Contact Details-
Website- www.eodissa.com/seva/about
Mail us at: save.rayagada@gmail.com
