The joy of giving

hat does it take to combat poverty-induced hunger among the poor and destitute in the city? A group of dedicated young volunteers in the city believe a fistful of grain is a modest reply.

Working under the banner of a non-governmental ‘Youth for Seva’, volunteers across the city are devising initiatives that most people can indulge in without having to go out of their way. The ‘Narayan Patra’ initiative requires a contributor to deposit a handful of rice or grain into a bag or patra every day over 45 days. At the end of the period, bags from households in a building are donated to the needy.

Venkat Dusari, who coordinates with volunteers for the organisation, said 21 apartment complexes are now contributing. “Our volunteers introduce the concept and motivate the contributors. Over a period of time, the initiative becomes self-sustaining where apartment’s welfare association comes to own the initiative,” he said. The volunteers could have raised anywhere between 10 to 15 quintals of grain in the one year the initiative has been around, reckons Mr. Dusari. Most volunteers are below 35 of age and employed in the IT sector, he said. For contributor Jayashree Sriram in Panjagutta, Narayan Patra signifies one common man giving to another. “For people who may not be able to do much for the needy, this is a doable initiative. Every household generates at least two kilos of grain. We make sure the recipient is really is need,” she said. Ms. Sriram has spread the word and some of her friends have also taken to it. The organisation has other initiatives, including raising funds to pay fees of poor children from sale of waste paper that has found takers in the city. The volunteers also indulge in training the differently-abled and help them secure jobs, informed Mr. Dusari.

For people who may not be able to do much for the needy, this is a worthwhile initiative. Every household generates at least two kilos of grain

Jayashree Sriram

A contributor