Health camps

October 3, 2009: Uniforms and book distribution at the Siddapura school

The children of the Government High School in Siddapura, 1st Block, Jayanagar, were the benefactors of a benefit drive organised by the KBG Volunteers. A hundred and ten children were provided uniforms that were stitched to each child's specific measurements and five notebooks each for use in their studies.

The donors include Mr. Parmesh and Mr. Priya Krishna, MLA of Govindrajnagar. The chief guests at the camp included Mr. Krishna Byre Gowda, MLA, Byatarayanapura, Mr. R. V. Devraj, former MLA and Mr. Udayashankar.

October 2, 2009: Senior citizens ID cards camp

We know how difficult it can be for the elderly to get their Senior Citizens ID cards made. There is the visit to the application issuing office, getting passport photos made, filling out the applications correctly, submitting the application to the relevant office and then finally checking on whether the cards have finally been processed. We therefore thought to make it easier for the seniors of Vidyaranyapura, by conducting a camp where all this can be done in a single location.

The KBG Volunteers got together with the local representatives of Vidyaranyapura and conducted a camp on Oct 2, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The camp saw unprecendented attendance and served more than 1200 people! Many attendees wrote back to us to express their appreciation and gratitude for the manner in which it was conducted as well!

Sep 21: 2009: Sahakarnagar Senior Citizen ID cards camp

Another service identified as a necessity was the senior citizens ID card. This card provides seniors with the ability to get several benefits including reduced air and train fares, higher interest rates in banks, etc.

Though the benefits are many, the process of getting the card has always been difficult for many. We therefore wanted to bring the service to the residents of Sahakarnagar and make it convenient. To our complete surprise many more people than we had planned for attended the camp and our volunteers scrambled and did their best to accommodate everyone. Some even sat on top of parapet walls in order to serve the people who attended the camp (photo below)!

Though we struggled hard, in the end, we executed a fantastic camp with the satisfaction of having rendered a useful service.

September 20, 2009: Agrahara Layout Health and Pension camp

Krishna Byre Gowda’s volunteer team conducted a free health and pension camp in Agrahara Layout in North Bangalore. More than 40 doctors from M. S. Ramaiah Medical and Dental College and M. S. Ramaiah Teaching Hospital provided services at the camp. Specialists included OB/GYN, Orthopedicians, Ophthalmologists, General Physicians, Paediatricians, ENT Specialists, Dentists, and Community Medicine specialists. 

In addition, the Red Cross screened candidates who could receive free cataract operations and also conducted eye tests in order to provide free eye glasses.

The camp also had a homeopathic unit provided by Soukhya who offered free consultation along with 1000 vials of free swine flu preventive medication to all the camp attendees.

Some prescribed medicines were distributed at no cost to all participants.

The pension camp conducted on site utilised technology to it’s fullest in order to submit forms over the internet directly to the Tahsildhar’s office in charge of verifying and dispensing pensions to widows, seniors and the handicapped.

Some of the handicapped persons who didn’t have a disability certificate were provided one after being vetted by a council of 14 doctors who were also present at the camp. This certification process was greatly appreciated by the participants as they didn’t have to make multiple visits to multiple doctors across various locations in the city.

In all, more than 1400 residents benefited from the health camp and more than 300 pensions were filed for widows, seniors and handicapped residents. The pensions were filed in partnership with COMAT.

Attendees to the camp and the general public were provided a free lunch. More than 2000 people were fed that day!

The inauguration ceremony was chaired by Mr. Krishna Byre Gowda, MLA Byatarayanapura and Mr. Narendra Babu, MLA, Mahalakshmi Layout. In his speech Krishna underlined the need for health camps and cited the incredible attendance as a testament to the need for more primary health care initiatives in these poorer areas. He also announced that Rs. 3 crores had been allocated towards the rebuilding of the sanitary drains in Agrahara Layout which should go a long way in improving the health of the residents.

In addition Krishna, has promised to construct a new toilet block for the students of Agrahara Layout Govt. School. The foundation for the new toilet block was also completed on the day of the camp.

Krishna has always highlighted the need for young persons to participate in shaping Bangalore’s future. His ability to inspire even the most cynical of us into action was attested to by the participation of an army of volunteers. More than 60 students and young professionals from all areas across Bangalore worked shoulder-to-shoulder with local participants to make this camp a grand success!

September 5, 2009: Pension filing camp follow-ups

After the last pension camp, we were unable to process a few applicants right away, we therefore had to conduct follow-up camps and attend to these people. We served a total of about 144 applicants during these follow-ups.

Aug 22, 2009: Local representatives and KBG Volunteers conduct a pension filing camp

For more photos and slideshow click here

Creating lasting change

Like most of us would want to ourselves, Krishna has been gunning to bring some systems in place for the efficient delivery of Government schemes. While corruption at any level is a curse on our society, it's particularly hurtful when it keeps those that cannot fight back from getting what they desperately need and are entitled to. The lives of our elders, widows and physically/mentally challenged persons would be much better if they could get their pensions from the Government without having to grease so many hands in between and run from pillar to post.

COMAT is an organization that aims to do just that. Through the use of the Internet, citizens can directly file their applications with the government. Everything, including identification pictures and thumbprint scans, are done on the spot. Months of effort and endless waiting are eliminated.

In order to bring COMAT's services to the residents of Kodigehalli and surrounding areas, local leaders Hanumanti and Shanta with support from Mr.K.N.Manjunath and their teams, along with KBGVolunteers, organised a camp on 22nd August, 2009 at the Kodigehalli Government School. Given that a government-doctor was also present on the premises, older people were certified as eligible for the old-age pension, and the extent of the handicaps of children and adults were also certified on the spot. Applications for senior citizen cards and the free senior citizen mid-day meal, were also filled and filed on-site.

If their applications are approved by the government, pensioners can expect to receive Rs. 400 per month- (While these amounts might seem too meagre to fight for to some of the readers, please keep in mind that they often form large portions of the person's income if not their entirety.)

At the end of the day however, we filled in applications for about 350 people. Hopefully they will have some lasting change in their lives.

Aug 8, 2009: KBG Volunteers provide 110 pairs of glasses for free

For more photos and slideshow click here

A sight to watch

Many years ago in school I used to see kids eagerly waiting and enthusiastically go up on the dais to collect their prizes. It was a similar sight today when Krishna was distributing free spectacles.

How often do we get the luxury of getting our power checked and having ophthalmic glasses delivered at our doorsteps. This function literally did that. The function was at a stones throw from everyone’s houses.

There were, the old and the young, men and women. As their names were called they went up the dais to collect their glasses. For most of them it was their first glasses ever and they were truly happy to wear them. It was a sight to watch.

The function was simple, everyone got to the job as soon as it started, no long waits, no speeches. Everyone who attended went home happy, looking good.

The programme was a follow up of the medical camp organised at the Sanjeevininagar government school on the 19th of July. On which day 200 people were screened and 110 diagnosed with needs of ophthalmic glasses , out of which 80 people attended the function today to collect their glasses.

The glasses were funded by Mr. Murthy and was provided for a reasonable cost by the Red Cross and Ranka Opticians. The programme was coordinated and driven by the KBG Volunteers. Another feather on their cap.

- Shruthi Muniyappa, KBG Volunteer

This event also got featured in Prajavani, click here to read it.

Anti-Smoking drive conducted across Bangalore

The anti smoking campaign was held on Aug 1st. The event was organized to spread awareness the general public about the ill effects of smoking in public and also to make people aware of the fact that smoking in public will attract fine.

The campaign was flagged off by Pejwar Swamji at Corporation office near J C Road. The event was jointly conducted with SAVE foundation and various other government organizations.

This was the fist such campaign organized by the KBG Volunteers and it was a huge success. Mr. Anil of the SAVE foundation played a important role in organizing the event.

Free Health-Camp conducted in Kolar in July

Kolar Health camp was conducted on July 2009 to commemorate 7th death Anniversary of Mr. C Byre Gowda who was an upright politician and had held cabinet post in the erstwhile Janta Dal government. He is the father of Krishna Byre Gowda BG who represents Bytarayanapura constituency Bangalore.

The event was flagged off by Krishna Byre Gowda at the local government hospital in Vokkaleri- Kolar district which is the native of Mr. Byre Gowda. The event was conducted with the help of R L Jalappa Medical College, Sagar Hospital Bangalore. The local leaders had taken the entire responsibility of organizing the function. This shows the amount of respect and gratitude the people of Vemgal owe to Mr. Byre Gowda and his family.

This was the second health camp organized by the KBG Volunteers and it was a great success. We were able to serve about 500 people. 70 ophthalmic glasses were distributed and 15 cataract cases were treated. The glasses were funded by the Red Cross.

Mr. Anil of the SAVE foundation played a pivotal role in organizing this health camp. We owe a lot to him in organizing the event.

Free Health Camp conducted in Sanjeevininagar on 19th July - a roaring success!

Those of us that had volunteered at Krishna’s election campaign a few months ago were reminded of how people pitch in whenever you set out to help others. We are grateful for the ceaseless efforts of Mr. Ramchandra, Mr. Manjanna, Mr. Murthy, Mr. Raghu, our friends at Ikhyata, the doctors of Sagar Hospitals, the nurses, the fantastic NCC cadets, the energetic AIESEC members and the people from the area that just decided to walk in and help. They are the ones that made the camp what it was!

And it’s heartening to see everyday people pull up their sleeves and help out. Krishna’s speech during the inauguration anticipated this when he said that the older generations could rest easy in the knowledge that they are handing the country over to capable hands. It was congratulatory to our generation for sure, but, also a sobering thought.

So, if you the reader, are up for the challenge, join us at the next free health camp for the underprivileged. It will be held in Agrahara Layout in North Bangalore on the 16th of August, 2009. We are raising the bar and preparing to serve about a thousand people this time around. We’ll need all the help we can get, so sign up below! We promise to send you back home with a glad heart and a well-spent Sunday!

View more photos of this health camp by clicking here.