A big thank you...

To Parul Sharma, Shivani Kagti, Gunjan Parulkar, Pravin Nair and all those who have helped out with funds for Poonam Singh's rent.
If anyone has made a direct transfer we dont know about, do mail us at indiahelps@gmail.com, to let us keep our records updated.

Children's Day at our Pavement Schools

The Computer Science department (headed by Prof Vinita N Gaikwad and her students) of Thakur College, Kandivali East, visited our pavement school on Childrens Day and distributed snacks and gifts to the children. Here are the pictures...

A big thank you from team India Helps!

Christmas Party for our Street Children

We at India Helps are planning a Christmas Party for the children of
our street schools. We invite kind souls to pitch in with gifts, goody
bags and anything they would like to distribute to make the children
smile.
Gifts should be giftwrapped and labelled with the name of the person
who has given them. You could hand them across personally on the day of the party (which will be announced soon, once we finalise it), between 8 to 10am at our pavement schools in Goregaon West, or
you could drop them off at our office:
India Helps
1/7 Nityanand CHS,
SN Marg, Andheri East,
Mumbai 69.

Thank you.

For Mumbaikars

Mumbai city will soon get a new Municipal Commissioner, who heads the the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).
 
The MCGM was established in 1882, and is one of the largest local governments in the world; it serves a population of 18 million people over an area of 500 sq. km. with an Annual Budget of Rs. 19,000 crores. The functioning of MCGM affects the daily lives of every citizen, as it is the policy-making and implementing agency for a wide range of services that include Public Health, Water and Sanitation, Building Proposals, Roads and Footpaths, Trees and Gardens, Zoo, Stray Dogs, Solid Waste Management, Education, Hawkers, Sewage, etc. (See www.mcgm.gov.in for details)
 
a) What are the 3 targets to improve Mumbai that you would like to suggest to the new Municipal Commissioner for the next 3 years.
e.g.: ensuring rain water harvesting to meet 20% of Mumbai's water needs.
 
b) What are the guiding principles that an organisation such as MCGM should adopt: e.g. to tackle corruption or to increase effeciency?
 
Responses shall be compiled and forwarded to the new Municipal Commissioner.
 
Inputs and suggestions from individual citizens are essential to help government perform better. It is only when we all think of what we would like our city and country (and therefore society) to be, and start participating in the process to make this change, that we will achieve change at a faster rate.
 
Regards,
 
Vinay
www.karmayog.org - creating cities for citizens

Take a look at this..

Sent in by kbpm, I thought this was a wonderful way to inculcate social consciousness amongst children.

 

http://www.sharemycake.org/

 

From Kolkata

This came in over the weekend from Mamma Mia, Me a Mamma?

 

I finally met Santanu Ghose, the man who got in touch with us regarding the dhobi's son, whose name is Ankit, by the way. I have Ankit's medical reports as well as X-rays with me. I have spoken to my friend whose brother is an orthopaedic surgeon and she'll be taking me to meet him sometime next week so that I can get his opinion.
 
As for Aahana, I'm afraid we need to move the appeals to a bigger level...

Help needed with rent for a 26/11 victim

This report in from Sangeeta:

Sachin Singh, Poonam Singh's son, who received hand injuries during 26/11.

I went with Santosh Singh (Poonam Singh's husband) and Sachin (son) to Dr Panchal at Mahim. Dr Panchal made us take an x-ray and felt that there perhaps no chance. The ring finger on Sachins left hand, one joint is not there. It has fused to become one stiff bone with no mobility. He said that plastic surgery could take care of the bump.
He has guided us to another doctor at Chembur, called Dr Hemant Pathankar who specialises in hand surgery. I called him, he has asked me to call him next Wednesday night at 9 pm for next Thursday appt. I may not manage to go next Thursday.

Santosh Singh needs help - Rs 1500/- pm towards rent. He came down to the base of the slum and got a home with an attached toilet as Poonam lacks mobility (She was injured on her legs and is currently undergoing physiotherapy to regain mobility). I had promised to help if he moved down. The rent is Rs 3000/- pm. We need to pitch in with Rs 1500/- pm.

As I had asked for proof, he has given me a copy of the rent agreement. He also gave me bills worth Rs 1500/- for Poonam's treatment.

Edited to add: If you would like to help Poonam Singh with Rs 1500/- pm, please do write in to us and we will forward you the bank account details for Santosh and Poonam Singh. We need only 10 kind souls to chip in with Rs 1500/- to enable this lady live a life of dignity.

An appeal for Project Kodaikanal

Got this as a forward:

 

 

Hey guys,

I'm off to Kodaikanal in about 10 days and no, this won't be one of the usual trips. I will volunteer briefly at my friend Zainab Ghadiyali's project--the Indian chapter of the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC).

Zainab is the Field Operations Manager for Project Kodaikanal and is responsible for managing the logistics of FIMRC's work in India. As part of her duties, she works closely with hospital and creche staff to coordinate volunteering and public health activities for the welfare of the underprivileged children in the area.

Zainab & I would appreciate it if you can do your bit for the children by donating some things. Mainly, they seek:
- children's multivitamin and calcium supplements (these are most important)
- toothpaste and toothbrushes
- clothes
- shoes
- blankets

While their needs may be plenty, every little bit given makes a difference. I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.

If you would like to know more about FIMRC, please visit: www.fimrc.org
You can view pictures of Project Kodaikanal at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fimrc/sets/72157622030077650/

--
Vikas Hotwani
Correspondent / Copy Editor
Mumbai Mirror

An appeal from Pune

This appeal forwarded by Gunjan:

 

Dear Friends,
This appeal has reached us through Dr. Anju Kagal who has been associated with FoC for many years. We request you to kindly help this man ( Ram Bhau Jadhav ) regain his dignity and independence with any amount that you would be able to assist with. Let us begin this festive season with a gesture that would make a huge difference in a person's life !
You could contact Dr. Kagal directly or email unmana (unmana@gmail.com ) who is a core member of FoC.
Cheques would be in favour of SOFOSH and receipts with 80G exemption would be given for the same.
Many thanks,
Vani
www.focpune. blogspot. com 
 
                                                 AN APPEAL

Ram Bhau Jadhav is a  36yr male who was admitted on 11th Jan 2009. Reg No 1332.at Sassoon Hospital, with an atlanto axial dislocation (broken neck).  At the time of admission he was quadriplegic (paralysed below the neck). With traction he has recovered the use of his left upper and lower limbs. He is still bed ridden.  Doctors will now attempt to assist  fusion using transarticular screws and plates if necessary.
Currently the equipment required for conducting this surgery is available at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital ,where the surgeon Dr Sunil Nadkarni is willing to conduct the surgery free of cost. In addition Deenanath hospital will not charge for the use of the OT and subsequent post-operative care.
However, we need to raise funds for the implant and medicines (approximately Rs 35,000/-). His family members have abandoned him and there is no way that he can go out and collect the necessary funds. Therefore I appeal to you all to contribute whatever you can. Every penny will be helpful. The money can be given to SOFOSH from whom you will get a receipt which allows tax deduction. The surgery has to be done urgently. 
Thanking you,
Anju Kagal ,
Professor of Microbiology,
PRO Sassoon Hospital Pune.
Mobile :9822623459
 

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www.indiahelps.blogspot.com
www.indiahelps.org
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Find purpose. The means will follow.
Mahatma Gandhi