The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Fund drive for the homeless takes to the streets

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 25, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Fund drive for the homeless takes to the streets

By Our Staff Reporter

Jeroninio Almeida — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI, OCT. 24 . Taking fundraising for the city's homeless to the streets, Action Aid India has launched a drive to build shelters for the homeless in the city. Armed with sales training, the first batch of 20 volunteers from marginalised communities including the homeless, will begin pitching for donations from citizens face-to-face through the Friends in Action - Chennai for Change programme.

Commending the initiative, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, called on the media to support the cause by focusing on the issues of the homeless in a sustained manner. He reminded the audience that although the Supreme Court has ruled that the Right to Education was a fundamental right, most homeless children do not have access to basic education.

"We are asking the people of Chennai to give Rs 100 each. We hope to reach 60,000 donors in two months," said Jeroninio Almeida, International Fundraising Director, Action Aid India Society. The organisation also plans to use a portion of the funds to create educational opportunities for at least 5,000 homeless children at the shelters. At present, the city has two shelters: one run by the Y.W.C.A., the other by Corporation of Chennai.

The first step in setting up a shelter is mapping the whereabouts of the homeless, said Mr. Almeida. Subsequently, the NGO has to mobilise volunteers (many of whom are homeless people themselves), open shelters and inform homeless people about them. "Encouraging them to stay in the shelter is not easy; there is a need to build trust, as homeless people have been victimised and therefore do not trust easily," said Mr. Almeida.

Pilot project

In 2002, the NGO launched a pilot project, `Delhi for Change.' Today, Delhi has 16 homeless shelters, said Mr. Almeida. Similar projects are now being set up in other cities under the umbrella programme, `India for Change,' he said.

He believes it is important to get civil society involved in the effort through small donations. To spread awareness about homelessness, Action Aid India has produced a short documentary film, titled `Edam,' directed by director Vasanth on the subject of homelessness.

Every donor who pledges Rs 100 to Friends in Action - Chennai 4 Change will be entitled to freebies worth Rs 1,500, ranging from discounts at stores to mobile connections and life insurance, say organisers.

Friends in Action - Chennai 4 Change was launched at Shopper's Wonderland, a consumer fair organised by Wings Trade Fairs at Rani Meyyammai Hall. A portion of the profits from the fair will go to Action Aid India.

A 2002 survey by Action Aid identified more than 40,500 homeless people in the city:

Fifty six per cent of homeless people were male; 44 per cent were female

Twenty one per cent were below 14 years of age

Nine per cent were above 61 years of age

83.5 per cent were illiterate

Only 13 per cent begged for a living. The rest were involved in some form of casual employment.

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