AASRA - Because They Need Us

March 29, 2015 7:14 PM Sangharsh A conference at Burla Upon invitation from the social service wing of VSSUT Burla, we went to attend their conference called “Sangharsh- a small step for a huge change.” It was a conference to discuss upon the current primary education scenario in Odisha, and in India and also it served as a platform for many organizations such as us to come to a single platform and discuss upon our work, achievements, challenges and solutions to such problems. Apart from the Sanskar Kendra team of VSSUT Burla itself, GIET gunupur NSS, GITAM vizag Yo Yo Youngistan also were participants of the conference. In presence of some educationalists and other dignitaries who have served the society in the education field, the conference was a medium to learn from their experiences. This post is meant to be a reference to all our members who could not attend the conference. These are the few heads upon which the discussions were carried out:- 1)   ...

This is to update and summarize all the work that AASRA undertook from February to August'14 Blood donation at Kalyan Foundation On 2nd February, "Kalyan Samitee" a group under SMS II of Rourkela steel plant, who have been our associates for two years, organised an event to help needy people around the Steel Township. In response to their formal invitation we volunteered in their event. A blood donation camp was also organised in their premises in which we actively participated. A new project conceptualised and energised by Prof. K C Patra has been taken over by AASRA recently. The project aims at rehabilitation of Street Urchins, those kids who roam around in Railway Station and streets. This being a sensitive issue, we made contact ADM office. He gave us permission to such kids and in any case if would find a kid whom we can rehabilitate we would contact them. We aimed at rehabilitating the ...

What they feel about us. I've translated the above from Oriya to English for your easier understanding of it.                   " My self Durga Hansdah. i am in class 9th. I stay in Rourkela sishubhawan. My parents are not alive, I'm an orphan. Here all of us stay together, happily. NIT brothers and sisters come three days in a week. They teach us on Wednesday and Saturday. On Sundays, we play, sing, dance and have a lot of fun together. They visit us in the evenings, from 5 pm to 8 pm. One thing I feel that I always miss my Papa and this is the reason, maximum time i sit alone and remain silent.. When Didis and Bhaiyas come from NIT, I feel like my parents are with me and I forget everything. It makes me really happy. They also come in festivals like Rakhi and Ganesh puja. I dont have sister, but Didis have never given us a chance to feel it. They celebrate our birth days ...

Aasra extends its presence into the world wide web further more today. We are glad to inform you about the new channel at http://youtube.com for aasra. The aasra channel aims at showing the world what we people from aasra at NIT Rourkela does at our workplaces. Currently the channel consists of some videos showing the people of world about our feedback and the dance performance given by the children at Chhend Orphanage, an orphanage where aasraites visit.   the link of the channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAasra . Three cheers to Ashish Ankur for the channel. We aim to tell the world that social service shall be an integral part of every ones  life and this channel is one such attempt to prove our caliber. Get to know us. Contact us. Help us.

Basanti Colony was all perked up last Monday , the 25th of October , to celebrate birthdays of Jigyansha and Jyostna . It being a change from the rhythm of routine life , seemed to charge one and all , with vigour and enthusiasm. By the time we reached there, the decorations and preparations for the birthday party were almost done with. The place was beautifully decked up and all the children were agog with excitement, eager, or rather it would be more proper to say , were impatient for the celebrations to begin. Finally their wait was over and the party celebrations took off with cutting of cake by the two little angels. And after that followed a grand dinner n lots of others party food . Needless to say , any occasion at Basanti , is a special one.

Ideas, people say can come from anywhere. Then how can kids be deprived of it? Interactive workshop on case studies on “Real Time Hydrological Modelling for Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin” was organised in our institute from 23rd to 25th September, 2010. Chhend, one of the workplace of AASRA made an active participation in this event. A four member team of Biswa, Durga, Suman and Kumar guided by Amlan and Prabartika of AASRA displayed a working model on Rainwater Harvesting. They were applauded and appreciated for their hard work and dedication. They were given a token of appreciation from the Chief Guest itself and were asked to carry on their work and come up with more new ideas. It was a new experience for the kids as they displayed their ideas for the first time in front of a bench of experienced members.

This year Aasra celebrated the Ganesh Puja festival at all its workplaces on 11th September 2010.There was a grand celebration at Sec-21 Leprosy Colony. The idol of Lord Ganesh had been prepared by a boy from OSAP leprosy colony, Kanhu. The Aasrites reached the Colony at 9am in the morning. Then we spent much time with the kids there, playing games. The Puja started at 11am..The atmosphere was very pious and devotional. The priest recited hymns. The organisation and conduct of the puja was a grand success. The puja was followed with the partake of 'prasad' by all. It was really a delightful experience worshiping Lord Ganesh in the company of the kids at Sec-21 Leprosy Colony.

On the day of Raksha Bandhan, the Aasraites went to their allotted workplaces to celebrate the auspicious occasion, with the motive of distributing sweets and smiles. Arriving there, greeted by excited faces and plates decorated with Rakhi, the beautiful band signifying the bond between a brother and a sister; diyas, and sweets. Settling down a bit, the Raksha Bandhan ceremony started. The girls there tied rakhis to the boys of Aasra and the Aasra girls tied Rakhis to the boys there. The boys there were so eager and happy at the prospect of having sisters, every time one of the members went to tie a Rakhi almost all the hands reached out. This was followed by music and dance, as goes the custom of every happy celebration. There was lots of fun with the kids. The celebration then turned into a mini Christmas as all the kids had their demands of various presents heard. Pens and chocolates were also distributed. In short, the evening was alight with happiness.