Im Dezember 1998 spendete Herr Ernst Weikert, Geschäftsführer der Firma Biocon Medizintechnik GmbH aus Mönchberg, 10.000 DM für die Errichtung von sog. Community Shelters. Diese Schutzbauten bieten eine lebensrettende Zuflucht bei Naturkatastrophen (Überschwemmung, Wirbelsturm) und werden sonst als Schule und für Frauenförderungsprojekte benutzt.

Community Shelter cum School Building constructed at Gollapalem village (Ramakrishnapuram) of Krishna District.
Dr. Poturi Venkateswara Rao, chairman, A.P.State Sahitya Academy inaugurating the building in the presence of Mr. Lavanam - a social reformer & Atheist Leader, Mr. Mandali Buddha Prasad - Member of State Legislative Assembly, Mr. Veeraiah - Secretary, ASM, Mrs Nau Gora - Administrator, ASM
Heads of the Chiruvolu Lanka & surrounding villages along with Guests of Honour at the time of inauguration.
Mr. Lavanam addressing the gathering at inauguration explaining role of Voluntary Organisations & participation of the community in development & social change
Community Shelter cum School Building constructed at Gollapalem village ( Ramakrishnapuram) of Krishna District.
Mr. Mandali Buddha Prasad, Member of State Legislative Assembly in presence of Mr. P.Chinna Venkateswara Rao, Koduru Mandal president & Mr. Veeraiah, Hon. Secretary & Chief Functionary of ASM

Completion Report of A project Supported by Jochen Weikert of Germany through BFG Munich for the construction of school building cum community shelter in a cyclone, tidal wave and flood affected villages of Krishna district.

Arthik Samata Mandal (ASM) is a non-profit, non sectarian, non political humanitarian organization founded by two of the close associates of Mahatma Gandhi ie Gora and Joseph C Kumarappa to work for the promotion of economic equality and social justice.

The vision of ASM is to create a just and egalitarian society based on the principles expounded by Mahatma Gandhi on concept of Sampoorna Gram Swaraj (village self sufficiency) engrossing sustainable development.

ASM's mission is to promote scientific, secular and democratic outlook among the people and to help them to become conscious citizens creating a new society based on Gandhian values of truth, non-violence, equality, dignity, freedom and justice.

ASM strives towards child rights, gender equity, poverty alleviation, empowerment of disadvantaged, environment sustainability and integration of disabled.

The 1977 cyclone and tidal wave which devastated Divi Taluk and surrounding areas of Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh became an entry point of ASM activities in the field of emergency relief, rehabilitation and development. From humble beginning the organization grew over the years in response to the needs of the poor, challenges of natural calamities. Human resource development became its prime concern. The cyclones of 1977, 1979, 1990, 1996 and the reoccurring of the floods in Godavari and Krishna in 1983, 1986 and 1998 enlarged the scope of the action in areas of operation encompassing health, education, community organization, disaster preparedness and preservation and protection of environment.

We came in contact Mr.Eric Jacob of BFG through a common friend of ours Mr.Mark Lindey of USA who initiated helping us in our efforts of humanitarian work to help the needy and the most under privileged in this part of the globe. BFG has so far helped us to help the physically handicapped children (polio affected) through polio corrective surgeries, physio and occupational therapy. BFG also helped us in our efforts to help the cyclone and flood victims of 1996 cyclone and floods in the east and west Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh particularly to rehabilitate the affected handloom weavers (textile weaving) without the help of the BFG the lives of these handloom weavers would have been in broom.

During the year 1998 a group of four German students under youth exchange program visited our organization and stayed with us for a period of six weeks. We were introduced to this group through Gandhi Peace Foundation based in New Delhi. This group was headed by Mr.Jochen Weikert.

While they were with us they have elaborately studied our humanistic approach and philosophy of socio-economic and village development. They were practically involved in our rural development activities and secular social work. They were moved by our interventions during natural calamities such as cyclones, floods and tidal waves which devastate the near by coastal areas threatening to life and properties.

ASM's operational area in the state of Andhra Pradesh a coastal belt on Bay of Bengal coast. We are active in four coastal districts ie East Godavari, west Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts.

The German youth exchange group headed by Mr.Jochen Weikert moved very much by the 1998 floods which devastated the villages they visited and decided to help to rebuilt a community shelter cum school. We are understand this amount was donated by Mr.Jochen's parents Mr. & Mrs. Weikert for an amount of 7000 DM and Biocon, a biomedical company for an amount of 3000 DM (10,000 DM) for this purpose and transferred the amount to ASM in the month of January 1999. This amount was transferred to ASM through BFG Germany.

ASM wanted to make good use of this money for the purpose for which it was raised and sent to us. Therefore ASM selected two interior villages that are Daxin Chirivolu lanka and Golapalem in the coastal area of Krishna District. These two villages are prone to cyclone, floods and frequent tidal waves. There was no safe building neither for a school for children to attend nor a community place where the women and community make use of and also to use as shelter at the time of emergencies. ASM decided to built two buildings in these two villages for the purpose of community use and to run school for children.

The project was completed in these two villages by constructing two buildings with active participation of the villagers and close association of the state. We have spent Rs.50,000/- for the construction of building at Gollapalem and 200,000/- at Daxin Cherivolu lanka out of the money we received from BFG amounting to 250,000/- equivalent to DM10000. These two buildings were handed over to the respective communities at a function attended by the villagers, local elected representatives (MLA's and M.P) and government officials. The buildings are put in good use so that the children are enabling to attend school and the village women are using the building to conduct self-help group meetings. ASM is happy to complete the project with in the stipulated time even though there were some difficulties and hurdles due to weather conditions.

The donor Mr.Jochen Weikert and our common friend Mr.Mark Lindey have visited the area after the completion of the project particularly the Chirivolu lanka village. They expressed their happiness about the design, construction and its utility.

The members of the village community and ASM is grateful to the donor and BFG for their kind concern and timely help for these villages and community to have a permanent shelter for school, community use and life saving structure at the time of emergencies.

(VEERAIAH)

Hon. Secretary & Chief Functionary, ASM

1998-1999

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1999-2000