Report on Gairsain Social Awareness Camp-cum-Sponsorship

Programme - 21st July, 2007, Chamoli Garhwal

“Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each
other's welfare, social justice can never be attained.”

Who are we (The PG Group)

We are a small drop in the ocean. Each member of the PG Group contributes as a drop of the
ocean in all our actions and initiatives. Our objective is to empower our community, people,
and state by all means. We are the first online yahoogroup which is registered as Non Profit
Social Organisation with Registrar, New Delhi. Our Aims are as follows: -

• To provide a platform to all Uttarakhandis to interact with each other online where they
can share their views, thoughts and help in executing various good initiatives towards
the empowerment & upliftment of People, and Community of Uttarakhand.

• To help the Less Privileged Children based on their talent till they become self-
supporting individuals.

• To help Shunned Families to live a better life during old days.

• To help people with dire straits to meet the expenses for Medical Treatments.

• To help in the development of Uttarakhandi Culture.

• Last but not the least; give back to society by all means.

Project Gairsain Introduction

As part of the annual activity of PG Group, Project Gairsain was identified for social awareness
camp cum sponsorship programme. The roots of this initiative were sown in year 2006, when PG
Group launched its first ever social awareness camp in Puryadaang Inter College in Pauri
Garhwal. The camp was the first learning for the PG Group and had a great success. Based on
the learning of Puryadaang, we were all set for executing our second Awareness Camp in
Gairsain, Chamoli Garhwal. A team of volunteers was identified who joined the Task Force of
the Project Gairsain for making the entire initiative successful. Funds were also generated
through members and other people of Uttarakhand for “Scholarship Programme”.

Project Summary
Gairsain Project Task Force Team comprising 10 members (8 Males + 2 Females) was all set for
executing the Project. The team departed from Delhi on 19th night in a Tempo Traveller. Two
members of the Task Force were to join from Mumbai directly in the Gairsain.

On 20th July morning, the team took first halt at foothills of Nanital District (i.e. Ramnagar)
where the team spent some time in freshening up and then again started up the journey. The
next immediate destination of the Task Group was “Maasi Village” where Shri Ram Swaroop
Masiwal had made the prior arrangements for task force members for taking rest including meal
arrangements. Prior reaching Maasi, we took another halt at Chaunliya Inter College, Almora
where we met with Shri Bala Dutt Sharma (uncle of Kaliash Dhoundiyal) and discussed on various
topics & initiatives related to education. Somewhere at 11:30 a.m., Task force Team arrived at
Maasi where it was welcomed by Shri Masiwal. The first thing the team did was to pay a visit to
Temple and then most of the members preferred to take a bath in the adjacent river. The
entire team then visited at Shri Masiwal’s home. We all had lunch there and then we took a
short nap before we started our journey for Gairsain. Soon the weather changed and we all got
a big relief from the burning sky. We had not expected such a change in weather as
temperature dipped unexpectedly. Finally, we reached Gairsain, where Principal of the school,
Shri D S Panwar ji had already made arrangements for welcoming us.
The programme in school was to start at 8 a.m. on 21st July, 07. The Task Force team of PG
Group was on time though school administration took some time in making logistics
arrangements due to rain because of which the programme delayed and started at 9:20 a.m.

Session Details
1. The programme began with the introductory speech of Shri B L Verma (from Gairsain
Inter College) who introduced the PG Team with the students. Shri Verma later
requested the Principal of school, Shri D S Panwar, to share his thoughts with the
students and also talk about the PG Group Initiatives.

2. After the speech of Principal, K. S. Rawat talked about the PG Group in detail.

3. Next Session on “Education & Motivation” was taken by Rajiv Naithani. This session last
for an hour and few minutes. Rajiv shared his experiences with the students and tried
to motivate them.

4. During the sessions, students were encouraged to come on the stage to share their
career goals and each student who shared the same in the forum was awarded with a
small souvenir by the PG Team.

5. Shri J S Bisht who joined the task force team from Mumbai also addressed the students
and shared valuable information.

6. After all the sessions, the identified needy students for scholarship programme were
segregated based on their standards and were directed to respective blocked rooms
identified for a written exam.

7. Parallely, Career Counselling sessions were oragnised for students in class 10, 11 & 12
where they were told about various career options available to them under each stream
after 10th & 12th.

8. Before closing the camp, Principal of Inter College was presented with a memorable
souvenir by the PG Task Group Team.

Identified Students for Scholarship Programme

1. Suraj Singh 7th standard
2. Rajender Prasad 7th standard
3. Akbar Ali 7th standard
4. Vijay Singh 8th standard
5. Neeraj Singh Negi 8th standard
6. Devesh Chandra 9th standard
7. Neeraj Prakash 9th standard
8. Maimuna 12th standard
9. Sunita Kotwal 12th standard
10. Anita Rawat 12th standard

Other than the school fees, PG Group has sponsored below mentioned heads under the
scholarship programme –

a. Tuition Fees
b. Books
c. Stationery Items
d. 2 set of Uniform to each employee

Feedback from the Principal / School

The entire camp was appreciated well by the Principal and the School Faculty. At the closure of
the camp, Principal shared his overall feedback which was very positive about the camp.
Principal also extended sincere thanks to Project Gairsain Task Force Team for holding the
valuable sessions for motivating and encouraging the students in the School.

Feedback from the Students

School children were also very happy and they appreciated the entire initiative of PG Group.
Students told us that such an awareness camp never ever happened in their school before and
each task force member helped them to shape their career and they were highly influenced with
the thought process of the task force team members. They also took note of the contact details
of PG Group so that for any assistance or guidance they can contact the PG Team.

They also requested the PG Task Force Team to visit once again for the similar camp.

Feedback from the School Principal/Teachers & School Children reflected that the
Programme/ mission were a GREAT SUCCESS. They heard all the team members
silently and were very eager to know more from the PGG Task Team.

List of Members who Joined the Task Group

S. Name of the Participant Information/ Experience imparted on

N.
1. Smt J S Bisht Education /
2. Ms. A. Sharma
Careers guidance /
3. Subhash Pokhriyal
4. Deepak Kala Health /

5. R P Chamoli
Information & Communication/
6. K S Rawat
Social evils / Self-employment/
7. Rajiv Naithani
8. Shri J S Bisht Environmental Awareness/
9. Kailash Dhoundiyal
Natural Calamities, Government Schemes &
10. Subhash Kandpal
RTI & other welfare schemes for poor & SC/ST

Thank You Note

PG Team extends the “Thank You” note to all such members, people and Institutions who
helped the PG Team with their financial and moral support, without which the initiative could
have not been successful.

PG Team would like to share the name of all such members below –

1. Sh Sanjay Kukshal
2. Smt Richa Pant
3. Smt Chanderkanta Pandey
4. Sh Rajiv Naithani
5. Sh Deepak Dhyani
6. Sh Atul Nauriyal
7. Smt Sunita Kathait
8. Sh Subhash Kandpal
9. Sh Deepak Rana
10. Sh Gautam Rawat
11. Dr Ravi Joshi
12. Sh Divakar Uniyal
 13. Sh Jagdish Sajwan
14. Sh Surendra Singh Bisht
15. Sh Bharat Bhushan Lekhawar
16. Sh Anil Gaur
17. Sh Ashwani Thapliyal – Contributed Rs. 10k for the scholarship programme.
18. Sh Umesh Thapliyal
19. Sh Ashok Suyal – Contributed Rs. 25K for the scholarship programme
20. Smt Poonam Rawat
21. Nidhi Bahuguna
22. Savita Sati
23. Nutan Pokhriyal

We also extend our special thanks to one of the business friend of Shri Subhash Pokhriyal who
donated Rs. 5K to PG Team for meeting with the logistics expenses like Gift, Souvenir and
Banner expenses for the Camp.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the volunteers of the Task Force Team who
joined the Project Gairsain and organized the camp.

Our Findings……at GIC Gairsain, Chamoli

1. Even the school & place is very famous, students were totally unaware and ignorant of
happenings around them.
2. The students were totally unaware of their future career.
3. The cultural, social and religious systems restrict women’s education, economic
independence, and political and social participation.
4. Women are still accustomed to subordination. Male dominance is seen & is very
common.
5. Almost all are unaware of governmental welfare programs that are designed for them.
Even not a single student was aware of RTI. PGG Task team has given them tips for all
the schemes/acts.
6. Students & people of the region are still unaware of the concept of self-help programs.
7. Many of the adults abuse alcohol and drugs adversely affecting their economic condition
and health.

Transportation, Boarding & Lodging..by PGG Team..!!

The expenses arising on account of transportation, boarding, lodging and any other misc.
expenses during the trip were borne by the individual members of the Task Force of Project
Gairsain who participated in the Camp voluntarily. Per head cost worked out to be
Rs. 1850/- for the trip.

Feedback Seeking..!!
The intent of sharing this report of the Project Gairsain with all the members of PG Group is to
seek individual feedback on the efforts being put in by the PG Group for completing the Gairsain
Project successfully.

Please feel free to post your comments. Your response in this regard is highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Best Wishes,

Team Pauri Garhwal Group!

http://www.paurigarhwal.com
http://www.paurigarhwal.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paurigarhwal