The Dwaraknath Reddy Ramanarpanam Trust (DRRT) and the Association for Voluntary Action and Services (AVAS) recently organised Janapada Jhainkara, a festival of folk songs and dance by Jeevanotsava Makkala Koota, a network of children from urban poor communities and villages.
Beginning with a brief on the festival by the chief guests, the audience was then enlightened about each village and their culture.
Two hundred children from 12 slums in Bangalore participated with each group representing 12 villages of Karnataka. Vennilla from the Vyalikaval slums always wanted to perform on stage and this was her chance.
“Getting together for a stage performance like this gives us much needed confidence as well as an opportunity to educate people about rural life and culture.” 
Jeevanotsava, a celebration of life, founded by DRRT and AVAS, is a movement to increase awareness among children on wider social issues with the primary aim of nurturing them into confident and responsible individuals. 
AVAS was initiated by a group of professionals and social activists who shared common concerns for the deprivations of the poor, especially its slum dwellers.
DRRT, established by Dwaraknath Reddy, Founder Chairman of the Nutrine Group of Companies has two initiatives — Dwaraknath Reddy Institutes for Knowledge to ensure that every child has access to educational facilities and Dwaraknath Reddy Centres for Upliftment of Village Artisans to encourage the revival of traditional skills in the rural areas by providing aid, support and motivation.
The show was quite a success with vibrant coloured costumes and immense energy that kept the audience enthralled.