In a first, Facebook has featured a three-minute video on Compassionate Kozhikode, an initiative of District Collector N. Prasanth, aimed at bringing together people interested in philanthropy.
The networking site says that in just a year, the page Collector Kozhikode has successfully connected community members to work on a number of social impact projects.
“These include Operation Sulaimani, a project to provide a dignified meal to anyone who is hungry, which has benefited more than 18,000 people so far; mobilising volunteers to help at the city mental hospital, and activating youth to paint the walls of the city. It connects the virtual world to show results on the field.’’
The Collector Kozhikode page has over 2.25 lakh followers, and the new video has been viewed by 1.25 lakh persons in 24 hours. A visit to the Kozhikode Government Mental Centre a week after he took charge made Mr. Prasanth reach out to the people.
“I saw people in a pathetic condition, the building itself was set up long back (1872); it was like a jail cell. I asked the superintendent what the immediate requirements were that could make some difference to the lives of the inmates,” Mr. Prasanth said.
“That night I put out the list on my official Facebook page, and said this is what I want and I can’t take money. I won’t do any publicity for anyone. It’s your duty, if you feel so, if you want to contribute. I got whatever was required in that entire list in a week. That was a revelation that community mobilisation is possible.”
