Area V's 'Chak De Round Table India' at the Great Delhi Run/Vodafone Half Marathon

At the meeting point
Interview to Siti Channel
Waiting for Transport
At the Holding area
Aree Ramlila wale, accha free hain aaj!
To the starting point
chale chalo
Kya Rahul ko hamari T shirt jyada pasand hai
Jam ke nacho
Ruko aage kya hai? kaunsa TV channel?
Waiting to go on air-Live India TV
Photo op.
Woh dekho helicopter itna neeche
Chalo dhoop se to bache
Yeah we finished first!

Hi Friends,

It was a Mega event for which not only we at AreaV but the entire Delhi had been waiting for- the Vodafone Half Marathon & Great Delhi Run on October 28, 2007.

Our preparations began little over a month back with a call to every one in Area V to register. 71 souls - Tablers, Wives/Circlers, Kids & friends regsitered under our Group entry.

As publicity was the main objective, vibrant yellow T shirts with RTI & FTE branding & banners were designed. National pitched in with RTI caps and car stickers. A day befor the event, some apologies came in, but at the same time others who could not register earlier came forward to join us!

We all got together at parking lot in Bhikaji kama Place and after putting on our RTI T shirts and running numbers, headed for the Run venue opposite Nehru Park. On the way giving interview to Siti Channel. A Huge carnival atmosphere with people dressed up as ramlila characters, villagers, bare-chested men, monuments, Bhangra groups, clowns, sexy cheerleaders (guys at home u really missed something!!).

Our Contingent with vibrant yellow T shirts and banners held high really stood out. So, in a group we marched towards the starting point. And guess, who was there, looking at our vibrant T shirts temptingly...none other than Rahul Dravid!!

So, the run began and we ran & ran & stopped ... to give interviews to TV crews who were stationed all along the route... NDTV India (live)... Sahara Samaya NCR(live).... and we again ran & ran and stopped... Delhi Aaj Tak ahead!

Delhi Aaj Tak did a special coverage on us with the theme- Why did Delhi run? We got to speak clearly about Round Table India and our cause-Freedom through Education. The story was telecast on the Channel 5 times through the day !!

We again started running and bumped into CNN IBN & India Live (Janmat) and gave live Interviews. Oh yes, Radio Mirchi too .. mentioned Freedom Through Education .. as one of the causes Delhites ran for !!!

So, it was running & stopping every 5 minutes to give TV coverages. And that's why we were there in first place .. to get publicity for Round Table India and FTE!! and one feels good that we managed to do just that. We got TV coverages on 5-6 Channels, radio, great visibility with thousands of people around, and had great fun and fellowship too.

Thanks to the 40 odd team members- Tablers from Table 24, 32, 43, 50, 149 , 171 & 185, Circlers from LC 15 & 89 and wives & Kids of tablers who got up so early on a cool sunday morning to join our team for the Run. Special efforts by tablers from Jaipur- Tr Ravi Goenka(171) & Tr Anish Kothari(185) who came all the way to support & participate in this event. That's the spirit Guys!!! Your participation motivated us. Thanks to Tablers of DSRT 32-Ravi G, Vicky, Vinod, HT Yogesh & Circlers of DSLC-15 for their support and specially to Cr Nima who was co-ordinating the TV coverages.

Attached are a few snaps and some TV clips that we could capture. rest may be uploaded as soon as we get them.

Warm Regards

YIT

Tr Kulbhushan Rakheja

Publicity Convenor, RTI Area V

JPRT Inaugurates Another School

The elation to see a dream become reality is indescribable. And for another dream to come true… You just cannot imagine the bliss. Overwhelming! That’s the experience the tablers of Jaipur Pinkcity Round Table 171 had on Sunday, 21st October 2007. Yes, we are talking about the inauguration of the second school by JPRT 171. JPRT has built a completely new, eight classroom, wing at the Government Upper Primary School, Parshuramdwara, Opposite Jal Mahal, Jaipur. This was the second dream come true for us after our first school in Sunaron Ki Dhani, Khejroli, Near Chomu.

This magnificent structure, raised almost 4 ft from the ground, incorporating eight 21ft x 15 ft classrooms, is spread over the ground and first floor. With a wide open gallery, 63 ft x 12 ft, running in between, it has a separate principals room and store room. More importantly, given the strength of the school of almost 900 students, the school is scalable to 18 class rooms within a short notice. When we started the project the strength at the school was about 400 students, and as the word spread of this new building, the admissions jumped to around 900 students as of now. The structure has been given enough strength to hold classrooms over three floors.

This school project has been built as a showcase pilot project under an MOU with the Government of Rajasthan; whereby the Government provides land and partial funding, under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and the rest of the funding is arranged by Round Table members. The objective of the MOU is an attempt to make schools which are comparable to any good private school; in terms of quality of construction, design and facilities provided. Round Table will be making more such schools under this public-private partnership. One such other school has already been inaugurated at Bindayaka in August by Jaipur Heritage RT 185, a table extended by JPRT 171.

The total cost for the new school wing at Parshuramdwara is Rs 28 lacs, out of which Rs 11 lac have been contributed by the Government of Rajasthan, under the SSA/DPEP scheme, and the rest has been collected by JPRT members. The project has been completed in just 6 months; starting from 22nd April 2007, when the Bhoomi Poojan was done, to 21st October, 2007, when the school was handed over to the school authorities.

The inauguration function of the new school building was held on Sunday, 21st October, 2007 at 11:00 am. We had the tablers of JPRT along with their families as well as tablers from JHRT, JJRT and BURT. The chief guest for the function was Tr. Ravi Baid, Chairman Area V and the Guest of Honour was Ms. Bibi Russell, UNESCO Artist for Peace and the Face of Bangladeshi Fashion. We also had Mr. Beniwal, Officer on Special Duty, Mr. R. N. Sharma from DPEP, Mr. Manoj Mathur, AEN and Ms. Sumitra Sharma, MLA at the dais. The school organised 3 cultural performances presented by the students of the school. Tr. Ravi Baid unveiled the plaque while Mr. Beniwal cut the red tape. Ms. Bibi Russell, the officers from DPEP and MLA Ms. Sumitra Sharma were very impressed with the quality of the school building. After the ribbon cutting, snacks were distributed to all present and gift packs with crayons,etc. were distributed to all the children, donated by Mr. Sandeep Yadav.

All tablers of JPRT stood as one for this project, and each one of us has contributed towards the fulfillment of this dream. We know we will start dreaming again of new heights to achieve and new places to go. And we also know we shall be able to fulfil those dreams too, with the support of everyone who has supported us thus far and other friends we will make.

Tr. Vinamra Daga
Projects Convener, JPRT 171