Ashoka India appeal to support Goonj's relief efforts in Bihar | Bihar Floods | Help Flood Victims | Floods | Flash Floods | 3 million displaced in Bihar floods | Flood devastation in Bihar state I Donate funds,material I Volunteer I | Details of 90+NGOs working in Bihar for Flood Relief 2008

Dear Friends,

You might have seen media reports on devastating flood in India. Ashoka Fellows are mobilizing to engage directly with populations in flood-affected Bihar. The situation is very bad and in the long term because the river having changed its course, this means thousands of people will be homeless for a longer period of time. And the governance across Nepal and Bihar are not equipped to handle this. The media is also concerned with the immediate future of the villagers stranded in the flood, but the disaster is a longer term one.

Ashoka Fellow Anshu Gupta, who has founded Goonj (www.goonj.info) is traveling to the Saharsa region now to mobilize Goonj's resources towards the relief effort. Attached please find his profile. Ashoka is partnering with him to float a campaign towards relief efforts.

If you or colleagues and/or friends are interested in supporting us in this campaign, please read the attached material and respond to us.

Thanks,

Sohini

Sohini Bhattacharya

Director, South Asia Partnerships

Ashoka Innovators for the Public

T-13 Green Park Extension

New Delhi 110016

Telefax : 911126190969,26198002

Mobile : 919818516067

Skype : sohininthesky

e-mail : sbhattacharya

website : www.ashoka.org ; http://india.ashoka.org/

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She needs a SAREE

Bihar has been hit by one of the most devastating natural calamities in recent history. The river Kosi has changed its course and millions of people do not have villages or homes to go back to, ever.

People are homeless and hungry. But an oft neglected need during such disasters is that of clothing. There are over 30 lakh people affected, most of whom have merely a single piece of clothing. Of these, there are over 5 lakh women who have only worn sarees all their life. For them, a kurti, a skirt or even a salwar kameez strips away their identity as a woman.

Changing urban lifestyles has led to a severe shortage of sarees – the estimated need for sarees in this disaster alone is 1 million.

We appeal to you all to donate SAREES, old and new.

Goonj, an organization founded by Ashoka Fellow Anshu Gupta, was established in 1998 to address the critical need of clothing for the poor through a nationwide movement, ‘Vastradaan’. Using clothes as an entry point, Goonj has set up an efficient, round-the-year system for the collection, inspection, sorting, repair, recycling and distribution of materials to the poor across urban and rural areas. Goonj sends out over 20,000 kg. of material (clothes, books, stationery, shoes etc.) every month. With a force of over 300 volunteers, GOONJ functions through over 150 grassroot organisations, Panchayats, Ashoka Fellows & social activists across 20 states of the country. GOONJ has recently been awarded the 'Indian NGO of the year' award for its governance and practices.

You can also donate MONEY.

Donations in India: Please send cash/cheque/draft payable to “GOONJ” and send it to

GOONJ, J-93, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi- 76 (Kindly send your full name & address with the contribution amount for receipt/accounting purpose. (All donations to GOONJ in India are tax exempted u/s 80 G of IT act.)

Overseas donation: Please send a cheque payable to “GOONJ” with the donor’s full particulars or by wire transfer with information emailed to yasmeengoonj@gmail.com. You may also route it through Wacovia Bank, New York swift code: 2000193008933. Goonj Bank A/C No. 2591101004644, Canara Bank, H block, market Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 76. Swift Code: CNRBINBBDFS

Saree collection centres: http://www.goonj.org/collection.php

Contact: 011 26972351, 41401216

goonjinfo@gmail.com

http://www.goonj.info/biharfloods08.php