Movie for motivation
Chak De—Go for it! Coach Kabir Khan's clarion call to the ragtag women's hockey team in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De India had its reverberations in Bangalore-based Navratna defence PSU, Bharat Electronics Ltd
BEL recently screened the movie for its employees and their families and drew good response. The idea behind the screening, organised on December 29 and 30 was to inspire and stimulate the employees.
Chak De India's theme interweaves patriotism, national interest, team spirit, hard work and discipline. BEL's management felt the film provides a good recipe for success, which can be adopted at the workplace.
BEL, incidentally, is perhaps the first public sector company in India to organise a screening of the film for the benefit of employees and their families.
Archana Kumari, Personnel Officer, BEL, felt the film was a celebration of womanhood. "The BEL Unit in Bangalore has around 1,500 women employees. I am sure all of them who watched the film would have been motivated to raise the bar," she said. Hari Haran, Deputy Manager, BEL, said he could learn a lot about man management, strategy, motivation, determination, leadership skills and team-building from the film. "In Chak De India, the coach, Kabir Khan, shows how raw talent can be nurtured," he said.
Manjula, another employee, felt she could relate to many instances shown in the film. " Chak De India shows you how to transcend petty feelings and work as a team. Its message is relevant for all types of workers, be it of private sector or public sector," she said.
Eye camp conducted
Jain Samaja (Youth), Bangalore, a foundation which actively works for social causes had organised a mega free eye check up and operation camp in the city on December 30 in association with Mahaveer Eye Hospital & DBCS Bangalore Urban and was held at CAR HQ (Police Ground) Sirsi Circle, Mysore Road.
The event witnessed about 2350 patients, and 1200 Spectacles and medicines were distributed free of cost. About 189 patients were registered for cataract operation, 60 of them were taken in for surgeries immediately. The rest are to be taken during the week.
Jain Youth Samaja was started with idea of helping the needy and underprivileged class of the society. Their focus has always been towards the development of the poor and the unfortunate people. Their various activities over the years includes organizing activities like the free eye check up and operation camps, giving away notebooks to the slum children and organising medical camps etc.
For the love of reading
Would you like me to read to you first or ask you a few questions first?", asked writer Swapna Dutta with a friendly smile to the young audience who had gathered at the Koramangala venue of the online library, EasyLib.com recently. The children who were at the library for this month's 'Meet the Author' event, unanimously chirped that they wanted to talk first!
"Why do you read?" asks Dutta. "For the humour", "for the mystery", "for the feel of the faraway land" - pat came the replies. Their favourite writers were pinned down to Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, J K Rowling, and, surprisingly Shakespeare. The conclusion was that they did not like stories that have too much description!
For the motley crowd of eight to 12 year olds, Swapna first picked up one of her picture books 'Chik Chik and Mul Mul'. With her voice modulating aptly for the cheeky small bird Chik Chik and the bossy lazy cat Mul Mul, Swapna had the children in rapt attention.
After this warm up, Swapna picked up one of her chapter books 'Tinku at Duliyatal', where the ten year old girl Tinku is forced to move from Delhi to Duliyatal where her father had taken up a new job. Tinku hates everything about Duliyatal, especially the rains and having to make new friends.
However, the end of the chapter saw Tinku softening to her new world. The story hit home among children since many were in a situation similar to Tinku's. "Aunty, will Tinku move back to Delhi?", "Is Tinku sad when she had to move back?" - the questions were endless and the children were more than eager to pick up a copy of the book to read everything about Tinku!
Aid to mentally challenged
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is assisting various NGOs working for the welfare of disabled and down-trodden. Under this scheme, few executives under the leadership of Chitra Vishwanathan visited the school run by Nachiketha Manovikasa Kendra Trust and handed over the donation amount to the organisation. The employees of BHEL also assured continued support to the organisation in future.
Uniforms to govt school
The Social banking Cell of Canara Bank head office assisted the poor students studying in a High School run by Badavarabalga in Chickpet which is a government aided school. The bank distributed uniforms to the children at a function held on December 19. P P Nayak, Assistant General Manager of the bank head office distributed the uniforms. Nayak in his address explained about the educational loan facilities which the Bank offers for higher education to students.
Techies mite
Aricent, a Bangalore-based company organised Goody Box Collection Drive in association with the Freedom Foundation an NGO for HIV infected kids. Goody Box collection boxes were placed all around the offices with lists of stuff that can be collected - per Freedom Foundation's list as also toys from which can be donated to a deserving orphanage.
The also organised NGO Bazaar on December 20 and 21 with various kinds of products—a lot of them made by the NGO/NGO supporting children.
All proceeds will go for their benefit.
