Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Aug 28: The department of education has launched online classes for students. It perhaps has no idea how many students are in need of smartphones to take advantage of this initiative. Three PU students from coastal Karnataka, who have realised the intricacies of the problem, have undertaken a novel campaign in Udupi.
These students, Avani Shetty, Adithri Kamath and Keki R Tallur, thought of this scheme on August 4. They have named this initiative as 'The Sulit Campaign' meaning 'doing something that is worth it'.
These girls want to provide smartphones to SSLC students who are in dire need of the same. Even when the campaign was in the initial stages and thought of how to finance the scheme and of giving indigenous mobile sets were being thought of, the girls started their campaign right away without delay. When they posted posters about the campaign, the response was slow as many felt it proper to think about it deeply, taking into account the fact that those who had launched the scheme are teenagers. However, the support has since picked momentum, and parents, friends, and neighbours of the children have been extending help in a big way.
The students said that after watching the post in social media, a person from Mangaluru donated his phone, which was given to children without any changes. "Some donors have donated their own mobiles. A wholesale dealer who bought Intel brand mobile phones donated the new phones to 11 children of Cherkady Sharada High School on August 20. Each of these phones cost Rs 6,000," the girls said. In addition, phones were also presented to three students from another school by the donor.
The youngsters still have money with them and they want to handover phones to needy children from different schools. The girls have observed that demand for mobiles has been more from north Karnataka than Udupi, and the demand was in excess of expectations.
Avani, a second PU student, says that they had the urge to help other children too to get educated like them. She said that they had observed that some parents were struggling to provide phones to their children and because of this, they started this campaign in all earnestness.
Adhithri said that currently the amount available is limited and therefore first preference is being given to SSLC students from Udupi. Once the demand here is fulfilled, schools from other districts would be contacted, she added.
Keki Tallur concentrates on identifying schools, demand for phones and contacting schools, while the money comes to the account of Avani. Adhithri maintains an excel sheet. All the three have been carefully and transparently handling the money.
"Phones are needed for the children to get online education. We are working as a link between the donors and the students. The campaign has just begun, and we will not stop it now. We will put forth our best efforts to reach our goal. We get a sense of fulfilment when the students who get mobiles smile and their faces are lit with a sense of gratefulness," Keki says.
These three students study in different colleges but have come together under this campaign. Being students themselves, they have joined hands to address the problems of other students. Their selfless service and great idea have come in for lavish praise.
Manjunath Nayak, principal of Sharada High School Cherkady is full of praise for the girls. He said that the staff in his school have conducted a survey, and listed out names of students who do not have mobile phones. He hailed the boldness, large-heartedness etc of the three girls and wishes that their service-mindedness will remain as it is and more children will get help from them.
These girls now have a sense of fulfilment about the fact that their project has succeeded to some level. They are serving the students in the true meaning of the phrase, 'need of the hour'. We wish that their plans and service-oriented approach will get a further fillip.
If anyone wants to be part of this project they can contact tallurkeki@gmail.com.