[Reader-list] Fwd: some help would be great!

[Rakesh Iyer]

Hi to all

Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan (JJSS) is an organization working in Bihar on
issues related to MNREGA, PDS and ICDS (Integrated Child Development
Scheme). They have been conducting social audits for the three mentioned
schemes for the past 2 years. Here's their link: www.jjabihar.org

Currently, one of their members, Shivnarayan jee (Shibu jee in short), who
was our local volunteer from Araria district, has landed in trouble. He has
had to move out of his brother-in-law's home and does not have any land even
for dwelling. He also has a family with three kids. He requires around Rs.
50,000/- for building a kachcha house after having purchased a small plot of
land.

I had the pleasure of working with Shibu jee during May 2010 for conducting
social audits in two panchayats of Araria district in Bihar on MNREGA. I
personally request all members of the two forums (Sarai and Youth for Social
Change) as well as other friends and acquaintances to whom I have personally
sent this, to kindly help in whatever way you can.

Also, please spread this message as far as you can.

You can contact:

Ashish Ranjan Jha
Phone no: +9973363664
Member, JJSS

Thank you.

Regards

Rakesh Krishnamoorthy Iyer
Project Scientist
c/o Prof. Sudhir Chella Rajan,
Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences,
IIT Madras, Chennai - 600036
Phone no: +91-9444073884
E-mail ID: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ashish ranjan (आशीष रंजन) <ashish.ranjanjha at gmail.com>
Date: 2011/10/24
Subject: Regarding Shibu
To: kamayani02 at yahoo.com


Dear Student Volunteers,

Shibu has met with a crisis. He has had to leave his brother in law's house
where he has been staying with his family and no place to go. He needs
financial support (we are targeting 50 K). We know you may not be able to
contribute but we are hoping you will be able to tap your friends/family to
give personal support for a humanitarian cause. More below...

When we first met Shibu, he was just another young person in our group of 20
odd people setting out on our first ‘kaam mango padyatra’. In fact we would
never have imagined Shivnarayan would turn out to be this committed.
Shivnarayan had decided to join us for a couple of reasons, he had time at
hand, he was a friend of Ranjit’s and Ranjit had convinced him to come
along, for this padyatra would give him an opportunity to learn more about
singing and theatre, which were his interests, but for which the timber
industry had little time. Shivnarayan worked in the timber factories for an
earning. What we saw was a dandy and a fast rider of motorcycles.



But the Shibu we have got to know since is a man who is much more. And here
is Shibu for those of you who may want to know.



Shivnayarayan is in his mid-thirties, he has worked as a sangathan whole
timer for the last three years, cycling, biking and walking in the one of
the most backwards blocks of Araria district, Raniganj. He has taken the
message of unionising to distant corners of the JJSS work area, with his
songs, some picked up from others and others self written. He has moved from
Bhojpuri film music, which he knows well and had come with to the
sangathan.



He is also the man who stood shoulder to shoulder with his saathis in a
dharna at Mansahi block, Katihar district when tragedy struck his family.
Shibu lost his 6 year old son to brain fever in 2008, on the day of the
dharna, Shivnarayan rushed back when he was told his son was critical but
could not reach in time. Shibu has three children now, he sometimes talks
about the son he lost, he has borne the loss with strength. The sangathan
could not do much, and two years later when we could save another saathi
Arun’s son ... from suspected brain fever, with the help of Dr. Vandana
Prasad, it was some relief. Abhishek, now Shibu’s oldest boy is a TB
survivor at the age of 7.



Shivnarayan’s daily life is a struggle, he is a landless worker, first
generation literate, eight class drop out, he has been a migrant worker,
living in his brother-in-law’s house since neither his parents could make
enough savings to make a house or buy land to plan for a house nor has all
migrant work given anything more than survival to Shibu.



We have all in our own small ways tried to be of help. The sangathan has
demanded from Shibu what it demands from each of its whole timers- complete
commitment to the cause, untiring work, a lot of physical and mental stress
and strain. Shibu despite his personal problems has never shirked work.



I know many of you have supported the JJSS financially by seeking us
donations. We have appreciated your support. But today the support we ask of
you is personal, Shibu has had to move out of his brother-in-law’s house and
has no place to stay. His wife is at her parents place and his parents have
shifted to a sister’s place. Last year Shibu was able to buy a piece of land
and now he can build a kaccha  house, if we can all chip in to give him
Rupees 50,000. I am not sure if this will be a loan,for Shibu may not be
able to repay, he earns Rs. 120 a day and it may not be enough to make a
saving after supporting a family of three children and 4 adults.



Shibu and his family like many of our other saathis lead a precarious life
and support from you is needed.



Eagerly awaiting your response.

kamayani, ranjit, arvind and ashish for the JJSS
-- 
www.jjabihar.org