Crowd Sourcing for Natural Calamity in Madikeri

Switzerland of India, Coorg (Also known as Madikeri, Kodagu, Mercera) was devastated by heavy rains (cloud burst) and landslides during August 2018. We thought of helping the affected people, through UKSL trust and appealed to members and friends. Within short time we could mobilise/crowd-source around 2 lakhs!! Trust president Gangadhar Wali, life members Lingaraj Managuli and Basavaraj Patil visited the affected areas and studied the ground realities. The devastation was beyond imagination and people were in dire need of shelter, food etc. Lot of state, national and international organisations involved in relief measures. Unfortunately, some people started misusing the funds, materials which was meant for affected people.

Looking into the ground realities we @ UKSL trust decided to reach out to the actual, needy people and their families who  got affected by this devastation. Their demands like building their houses, setting up the vehicles running, arranging for clothings and house articles etc were beyond our reach. Even though we tried doing that partially and was taken a back due to the mediators’ involvement and misuse.

So we decided to wait and identify actual people who got affected. Thanks to local organisation – Seva Bharati who identified the affected students whose parent’s land, house were devastated.

True to UKSL spirit “Giving is not about just making a Donation… It is about making a Difference” we executed the task.

The long wait was over, and we had organized a one day event for issuing cheques to the students at Madikeri on 21^st July 2019. Amidst our busy schedules we have decided to drive till Madikeri  and complete this task. Thanks to Trustee Mr.Kumar (GS) Handur who agreed to take out his car and drive. President Mr.Gangadhar Wali, Life member Mr.Nandeesh Handur and treasurer Mr.Prakash Rajagoli took part in this activity. It was not an easy task to drive that far that too on a rainy season. Thanks to office bearers of Seva Bharati whom we met on 20^th evening and they helped us getting into a lodge. By the time we reached Madikeri got to know that Mr.Wali’s mother is not well and hospitalised in Shivamogga. The person who is instrumental in completing all the ground work and bringing it to reality had to travel to Shivamogga!! It was tough moment for us to let him go but can’t help. Seva Bharti members helped him to get into a bus.

We got ready on a chill Sunday morning and reached the venue on time. We were greeted by the office bearers of Seva Bharati. On a sleepy rainy day students with their parents started assembling. Initially we have decided to issue cheques, based on the list prepared by Seva Bharati, in the name of respective school or colleges. But realised that school and colleges accept only CASH or DD!!

On the spot we have decided to issue cheques in the name of the students. Trustee Mr.Kumar  verified the records (aadhaar card, bank account details) of the students and Treasurer Mr.Prakash wrote the cheques.

The event was well organised, and we felt worth involving in such a noble cause.

Treasurer Mr.Prakash Rajagoli briefed about UKSL and its activities. Trustee Mr.Kumar Handur issued the cheques. Life member Mr.Nandeesh Handur was busy in capturing the moments in his mobcamera. It was mission accomplished moment for us to help in a little way to fellow Indians in general and Kannadigas in particular.

A big thank you to UKSL trust president Mr.Gangadhar Wali, life members Mr. Lingaraj Managuli and Basavaraj Patil for personally visiting the affected areas, evaluating the losses and making list of actual beneficiaries through genuine local organisations in Madikeri.

We had witnessed few touchy moments there.

One of the office bearer of Seva Bharati Mr.Tammappa D.H, who served as bank employee in north part of Karnataka (Badami, Mudhol, Muddebihal etc,) became emotional while expressing his views on generosity of north Karnataka people!

When one school going girl, may be sixth, came to us and told thank you. It touched our heart!!

One of the beneficiary homemaker, in a typical kodagu attire, thanked UKSL in her own way, we felt it’s worth spending our time and effort!!!

All from seva bharati appreciated our efforts in mobilizing the fund waiting for right opportunity and distributing cheques in person to the right beneficiaries even after almost a year!!!!

Cheques were issued to 18 students amounting to Rs.1.93 lakhs. The entire amount collected through donations (Rs.1.81 lakhs) was disbursed adding Rs 12 K from the trust fund. Unlike other similar trusts who deduct administrative charges on the donations received, no such charges were deducted by UKSL trust.

We would like to thank all the contributors to this noble cause-

Key take ways from the event:

We at UKSL trust give utmost importance to transparency of financials especially to the funds collected from all. We have issued cheques to the right beneficiaries by checking their records including school and college ID cards. We are happy that we have justified to the donations collected and reaching them to right people. This will give us confidence to take up such tasks in helping the fellow Indians who are in dire need of financial assistance.

UKSL Trust, Bengaluru thanks all the donors and members who helped directly or indirectly for organising this event and making it a great success. We also thank Seva Bharati – Kodagu and it’s office bearers for their whole hearted support in organising this event.

The next steps: Trustees and life members would like to take up such society give back activities through crowd funding donation initiatives.

“Maadidenembudu manadali holedara edisi kaadittu shivana dangura

Maadidenennadira lingakke

Maadidenennadira jangamakke

Maadidenennadira samaajakke

Maadidenembudu manadali illadiddare bediddaneeva koodalasangamadeva”

– Lord Basaveshwara

Content Created by: Mr. Prakash Rajagoli and Kumar Handur