COVA Peace Network
Birla Open Minds International School- Kollur
Summer Activism Program
20th May 2022 to 2nd June 2022
Report
Summer Activism Inspires Students of an International School to Start a Computer Center
and Spread Awareness about Government Schemes in the Neighbourhood Village
Times of India Report
Indrareddy Nagar in Shankarpally Mandal of Telangana was alive with activity when COVA Peace Network organized a Summer Activism Program for students of Birla Open Minds International School. Though the school is barely 500 meters away from the village, it did not register in the minds of the students that it is indeed a village and that it could have developmental needs. When COVA Peace Network walked the students from their school to the village to look around and interact with the villagers, realization dawned on them of reality of village life and the deprivations faced by people.
After getting an idea of the conditions in the village and the situation of the villagers, the students decided to study Development Interventions for Addressing Challenges of Rural Life and Impact of Rising Prices on different Sections of Society including comparison of urban and rural populations. The Internship, part of the Compassionate Citizenship and Responsible Activism Program of COVA, was for a period of 15 days from 20th May to 2nd June 2022. By its conclusion, the students decided to work for starting a Computer Training Center in the village to help youth for employment and an Awareness Campaign to spread information about government schemes and programs that was found lacking among the villagers.
A Student Activist Interviewing a Family
A Road in Indra Reddy Nagar, R.R. District
Both the proposals of the students received instant support and their school offered to sponsor the Campaign for awareness for government schemes and Mr. Ravinder Goud, Sarpanch of the village came forward to make available space for the Computer Training Center. Now the students are planning to seek computers in donation and funds to run the Center from their fellow students when the schools reopen in the second week of June 2022.
Aagam Mehta stated that the study undertaken by him with fellow students on the challenges of village life clearly showed that there are serious problems with water supply, drainage, roads, employment, no government school beyond primary and no hospital or Urban Health Post. He admitted that during the course of the Study he developed empathy and compassion for the villagers and decided to engage in social activism to help improve conditions in the village and mitigate the hardships in the life of the villagers.
Student Activists Giving Representation to Mr. Vishweshwar Reddy,
Former Member of Parliament
Mr. Kale Yadaiah, MLA, Chevella receiving Representation
from Student Activists
Delivering the Valedictory Address, Mr. K. Vishweshwar Reddy, former Member of Parliament, appreciated the systematic studies undertaken by the students and the valuable findings. He lamented that though politicians engage with the poor routinely, enough empathy and compassion is not seen in many. On the other hand, the students have imbibed a high level of compassion in such a short time and planning to work for improving the conditions in the village and life of the villagers is laudable.
The Training
Mr. Harinder and Ms. Niveditha of Roda Mistry College of Social Work provided training in how to undertake social sciences research, interview people and make systematic observations in the field. Ms. Sudha Goparaju, development Consultant made a presentation on Rising Prices: Reasons and Consequences. Dr. Satyam Sunkari and Mr. Sunder of CSD (Council for Social Development) oriented the Student Activists to Development Interventions for Addressing Challenges of Rural Life. Mr. Moinuddin Ali Khan trained them in using web for research on social issues and Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of COVA Peace Network coached them in developing solutions for social problems and giving representations to elected representatives and officials for redress of these problems.
Findings for Impact of Rising Prices
Keertana Murthy Bhavaraju shared the findings of her fellow students about the comparative impact of Rising Prices in rural and urban areas and on different sections of society viz. poor, lower middle class, middle class and high income group through a comprehensive graphic. Similar Study was done by students of different schools for South City areas of Hyderabad in mid May 2022 and the findings match.
The Study showed that while there was not much difference between rural and urban areas with respect to impact of Rising Prices, the poor and lower middle classes showed similar levels of distress in terms of cutting down on food items and reductions in outings, entertainment and saving. Many were also forced to take loans or sell or pawn assets to meet daily needs. On the other hand, the middle classes did not have to compromise much on basic food and grocery but were impacted by reduction in salaries, savings and entertainment and increase in rent and fuel prices. The high income group was least impacted with affects limited to decrease in entertainment and vacations.
Advocacy
After conclusion of their orientation and field study, Student Activists met and submitted representations to Dr. Ranjith Reddy, Member of Parliament from Chevella, Mr. Kale Yadiah, MLA of Chevella, Mr. Ravinder Goud, Sarpanch, Indra Reddy Nagar and Mr. Venu Madhav, Revenue Divisional Officer, Chevella. All the elected representatives and officials appreciated their efforts and recommendations of the Student Activists and assured to take up the matters on priority.
Student Activists with Dr. Ranjith Reddy Member Parliament, Chevella
Sarpanch of Mirzaguda Mr. Ravinder Goud meeting Student Activists
Ms. Pratima Sinha, CEO, DSR Education Society appreciated the remarkable learning and transformation of perceptions shown by the students and expressed confidence that their empathy and compassion will make them caring and responsible citizens. Ms. Fauzia Siddiqui, a parent and Mr. Naveen, Career Coordinator, Birla Open Minds School also spoke.
Anjika Kumar, Ishika Kolla, Hammad Irfan Ghazi and Kriti Rudraraju made presentations on different topics and Nida Rummaana welcomed the gathering and moderated the Valedictory Session. Akshay Danekar, Siddiq Azam, Sai Roopak and Suven Yerramsetti also participated in the Internship Program.
Adhya Ganapathiraju said we thought social service was just about giving old clothes and food to the poor but this internship helped change our perspective, broadened our approach and showed us the possibility that through systematic study, empowerment of individuals and communities, informed advocacy with elected representatives and officials, it is possible to get solutions for different social problems and issues- Now we are ready to make this world a better place to live in!
Prepared by:
Dr. Mazher Hussain
Executive Director
COVA Peace Network
Mob: 9394544244
Email: mazher@covanetwork.org