FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

 I think the year was 2012.  I retired and did not know what to do though I was already into other social service organisations.  Wanted to get into something different. Geetha provided me an opportunity .  She connected me to Ramani , actively involved in an NGO .  I met Ramani and got to know a little bit of the NGO called Unnati . I was called for one of their monthly  meetings. That time the Gokulashtami festival was nearing. I attended the meeting with all earnest.  That meeting was more for discussing celebrations of Gokulashtami. I was formally introduced to  committee members present in the meeting.  As the discussion went on about the Gokulashtami Program ,  selecting famous music celebrities for performing at Unnati , I was getting restless. I thought this was not my cup of tea. Neverthless I listened to the proceedings.  I was hitherto used to the suited-booted gentry of Lions Club.  This was different.  Very informal dress code here.  I was beginning to think where is the type of NGO work I was expecting. I knew nothing about Carnatic music , dance, carnatic musicians etc.  Then the subject of discussions turned to fix responsibilty for each Member during the 23 day -long Gokulashtami celebrations.  I listened to them carefully and thought where I could fit so that my nil knowledge of carnatic music was not exposed. I volunteered to  be outside the Hall as a Reception Committee member. 

  On the first day of the festival we put up a counter just at the entrance to the Hall.  It had Pamphlets, a Donation Counter, a food counter etc etc.  Inside,  the Hall wore  a festive and divine look with stage decorated with the Lord Guruvayoorappan on one side and dias for the performing Aritstists

The most interesting part is accepting donations, issuing receipts etc. People donated generously for the cause of Unnati.   One person came upto me and wanted to donate on one condition .He said please do not tell his  wife that he donated. 😀 I now started liking this responding to queries from people, could answer them to some extent.  

It was a rule since it was Gokulashtami celebrations no footwear allowed .  We had separate shoe stand where people were to keep their chappal and our volunteers would give them a token.  Inspite of this you know some people would want to keep it at the entrance so that they dont have to wait after the program.  I got agitated and told a person not to keep the footwear here and there was  a chappal stand there.  He looked at me in anger and said, "You know who I am".  I said no.  I still insisted he keep the chappal in the allotted place.  He did but was fuming.  Later on I came to know he was a big donor . 

We also used to have monthly music program where young talents are promoted.   We used to interview the artist before giving them a chance.  Once a young Mohni Attam dancer came for the interview.  While we were going through her resume, we found her father name written as " E Sridharan" I asked out of curiosity whether he was the Metro pioneer Sridharan.  She humbly said "Yes" 

Gokulashtami over.  I started getting to know more about the Unnati Program. 50 days training of underprivileged children taught in basic computers, spoken Englih, Life skils and one vocation each has to chose like Office Admn, Retail Sales, Beautician , Housekeeping etc.  The faculy is superb with dedicated teachers both paid staff and volunteers with a sense of passion.  Interesting to be part of interviewing students on the first day.  The students who came from such a poor background, pale looking underfed nervous students , facing the interview for the first time in the outside world.  50 days training over , can't believe the transformation in them .  Full of confidence, eager to learn and take over the new challenges in life.  These very students who were so nervous on the first day, run the passing out ceremony with MC among them, students sharing their experience , performing skits and expressing their happiness over their achievement in just 50 days.  Unnati Slogan is apt., "A generation goes above poverty line in just 50 days."

I have cried literally listening to these student's narrations on the day of Valediction  how Unnati has helped them in their lives.

Originally Unnati started with a few students in a rented place some years ago and thanks to the founder trustees it has now its own building , with a big Air-conditioned Auditorium which could accommdate more than 400 people, two hostels of their own, one  for boys and one girls.  Each having a capacity to house 80 students. 

Many success stories I came across.  We selected some ragpickers from a BBMP garbage cluster about 10 of them .  It was tough making them agree to join Unnati.  They were all sleeping in an open surrounded by  garbage .  Every early morning they move around the streets with a dirty bag on their shoulders , picking whatever comes  their way.  The biggest threat to them were the street dogs who continuously bark at them.  Some how we managed to bring 10 of them to Unnati for a 50 day training program/  Interestingly most of them were 10th pass or fail and have chosen this profession, inherited from their parents. We briefed them, they listened half heartedly and started attending  classes. After about 10 days of their joining, I chanced upon them and asked them how they felt being in Unnati.  They expressed happiness and said that they had started taking bath.  This is their first transformation. We were happy that atleast they were sticking to the program and not running away.  One day when I was sitting in Unnati office, one well dressed youth appeared and said , "Good Morning Sir"  I looked at him and said Good Morning, though I could'nt connect him.  Then what he said floored me completely.  He said he was one of the ragpickers who not only  completed Unnati Program but also was placed in a reputed Lifestyle  Garment show room  by Unnati drawing a salary of 12K per month.  He further said all his friends who joined with him had successfully completed the program at Unnati and Unnati placed all of them.  He said their entire family have moved into a rented accommodation away from the garbage den and were happy and overwhelmed with what Unnati gave to them.  This is total transformation in 50 days.  My eyes were moist and derived the satisfaction of  being responsible in a small way for what they are today.    I recall a last few stanza of a beautifully recited poem on "Donor's Day"  of Unnati and I quote " Unnati pulled them from darkness and turn them to light , set them on a path to make their future bright. It just takes 50 days for a lesson of a life time.  How true it is.

It is still a record that all students who completed the training program were 100 per cent placed in good Corporates with good salary.  I still wonder.

Unnati also gives a small scholarship  once in a year to about 400 poor children .  There used to be a small interview before selecting them for this scholarship.  We see their academic performance.  I was shocked to see  that 90 percent of the students who came for interview were accompanied by their mothers . They work as a domestic help ,  earning a paltry income  and their husbands were all drunkards .  Very pitiable condition indeed.  Apart from brining up the children these women had to also give money for drinks for their husbands. We came across many children with very good academic record and had big dreams in their lives.   I thought given a platform they would definitely shine.

We used to visit juggies cluster in and around Bangalore in search of youth who could join Unnati.  To enter into such slums, you need to talk to their self styled slum leaders.  We failed to make them understand how it could change the lives of their children.  Firstly, they refused to believe a transformation could take place in just 50 days training.  Secondly, they were looking at us suspiciously why we were interested in them to come up in life.  They thought we had some hidden agenda. However in some places we could make in-roads and many came out with flying colors and settled in life and ever grateful to Unnati.

Once we were filling gas at a petrol bunk, the bunk attended said "Good Morning, How are you Sir. I was okay with "Good Morning" but was surprised at the next question meaning she knew me.  I said "I couldnt' recognise you".  She siad she did 50 days training at Unnati and Unnati placed her this job and she was expressing her happiness at being able to get the job.  Another incident was when I went to a Mall with my daughter.  We were just going through the shopping and we could spot atleast 5 to 6  youth both boys and girls  right from the counter staff to cashiers. They all mobbed us and wanted to give us a discount on our purchases from their side . My daughter said No discount to be taken from them. I gathered they were all students of Unnati once and well settled now.Such stories  really gives you inner satisfaction.

Now that Unnati has grown many fold with many centres across the country.  Great Team work and noble souls helping the underprivileged settle in their lives.  

Unnati has won many accolades , awards and recognition but the biggest award according to me is making youth "Stand Tall" in their lives.

Many passing out students have said in their passing out ceremony  from their hearts that Unnati is a Temple and all faculty and Management  are Gods.  This is the least we could do to them .