Mahabharat, India, TOS Group leader, Deepa Padhi, would like to thank all who are supporting her work to combat violence against women. In the first four months of this year, she and her team have carried out so much work benefitting the abused and downtrodden that we can do no more than list their activities.

A secondary school workshop on gender issues

In January, a workshop was organised at higher secondary school level in the city of Bhubaneswar.  Six topics were given to the students for discussion:

·       Gender equality is first and foremost a human right;

·       Man and woman are complementary halves;

·       The legal consequences of gender-based violence;

·       What are some means to change the mind-set on gender roles?

·       What would the world be like without one of the two sexes?

·       How can gender equality in schools be promoted?

Special guests enriching the deliberations were Dr Amrita Patel, researcher on women’s issues, Prof. Vedabati Mohanty, a social analyst and Mr Abasara Beuria, a former ambassador in the Indian Foreign Service.

A signature drive was also organised at the school in which students, guests and faculty members participated to show their solidarity with the cause of gender equality.

This whole event was sponsored by the TOS in New Zealand.

Installation of more billboards

In early February, a billboard sponsored by New Zealand TOS was installed in the city of Cuttack. It was unveiled by former Director General of Police, Mr G.C. Nanda. In the photo below, members are seen with the billboard at Station Square, Cuttack.

Mr T.K. Nair, Indian TOS National Secretary, also unveiled a billboard in Fire Station Square, Bhubaneswar, sponsored by the TOS in Italy (photo to the right).

Organising blood donations

In mid-March, a blood donation camp was organised in the Co-operative Management Institution for poor thalassemic children. (Thalassaemia is an inherited condition affecting the blood. Countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan are seeing an increase of thalassaemia patients because of lack of genetic counselling and screening.)

Cups and certificates were given to the donors by the Red Cross Society

A student of the Co-operative Management Institute donating blood in the camp

Providing water and buttermilk in the summer

In summer in Odisha, it is extremely hot. There is a scarcity of drinking water and people get dehydrated and suffer from heat stroke.  Different humanitarian organisations open “water sheds” or stands on the roadside for travellers where they can stop to obtain water.  Permission is sought from the Municipal Corporation for the space to house the water containers.  Since 2006, the TOS has employed a person to provide this service from 9.30am to 4.30pm throughout the summer months

In early April, Indian TOS National Secretary, Mr T.K. Nair, (above) came to the official opening of the TOS’s shed which distributes both water and butter milk.

Caring for senior citizens, the ill and destitute

Mr Nair visited Mission Ashra – a home for destitute, abused and mentally ill women and on behalf of the TOS Mahabharat Group donated 50,000 rupees for the welfare of the 200 residents.

He also visited a modest Day Care Centre for poor senior citizens run by the Mahabharat TOS Group and distributed clothes and hand fans to its 12 beneficiaries (two men and ten women).

Later, Mr Nair visited Debapi Lodge where he delivered a lecture and then inaugurated a homeopathy clinic offering free service.

Organising a workshop on gender issues in the workplace

A major workshop was organised in association with the National Institute of Fashion Technology on the theme How safe are women in their workplaces? The Program Manager for UNICEF and Mr Nair were guests of honour. Ms Jaggi Panda, a successful lady entrepreneur, was the chief speaker.

 A design and caption competition on the theme of gender equality had been organised among the students and cash prizes were awarded to the winners. The students actively participated in the workshop through discussions, skits and poems. A touching note of this event was that at the end, three students and two faculty members expressed their desire to join the TOS. At all these events the guests were given Theosophical books as gifts.

Mr T.K. Nair, Indian TOS National Secretary, delivering his speech

The Chief Guest, Ms Y. Padma, Program Manager for UNICEF, lighting the lamp

Student participants performing a skit on gender equality

Student participants receiving their certificates

Students signing their commitment to gender equality

The winner of the design and caption competition receiving the cash award from Ms Y. Padma

Supporting an orphanage

Finally, Mr T.K. Nair visited a small orphanage at Cuttack, the building for which was donated by a TOS member. There are 12 children up to the age of six. They received school bags and learning materials to equip them for nursery class.

Unveiling yet another billboard

Just a week after Brother Nair’s densely packed program (“densely packed” is the least one can say!), Acting International TS President Mr Mahendra P. Singhal and his lovely wife, Shashi, visited Bhubaneswar, unveiling a billboard sponsored by TOS New Zealand in the Regional College Square of Bhubaneswar.

Mr Mahendra P. Singhal on the left, his wife, Shashi, on the right and Mrs Deepa Padhi in the centre

Mahendra and Shashi also visited a Day Care centre for senior citizens, donating a tricycle to a disabled resident on behalf of the TOS Mahabharat Group. A standing fan was also donated by a member.

Deepa hopes that the work she and her team are accomplishing is worthy of the confidence shown by all those so keen to support the defence of abused women, as well as the needy of all ages, of course.

EN31 June 2014    >Back to newsletter    >Top