Junior Anoop Swaminath is busy these days. Immediately after an earthquake devastated India on Jan. 26, he jumped into action, beginning an effort to help the country's people in the aftermath. Swaminath and several other students had already been involved with the Veda Vyasa Foundation, a charity that works to improve the living conditions of Indian villages, when the quake hit. In light of the natural disaster that killed 50,000, injured 200,000, and left 700,000 homeless, Swaminath initiated a pledge drive called the Tufts Veda Vyasa Pledge Drive (TVVPD).
The Veda Vyasa Foundation's mission statement explains its purpose: "Through the consolidation of efforts of NGO's (non-governmental organizations), non-profits, and governmental organizations in America and India, [to] improve the standard of living of villages all over India by setting in place necessary infrastructure like adequate housing, agricultural resources, hospitals, education, etc."
Immediately after the earthquake, Veda Vyasa members called for a meeting that Swaminath described as "very much needed." They developed TVVPD, and they are asking people who join to agree to raise a minimum of $100 by the end of this school year. This money will go to the Veda Vyasa Foundation, which will focus on rebuilding after the earthquake. Freshman Vikas Keswani, a member of Tufts Association of South Asians (TASA) said that the tabling is going well, having made approximately $1,000 in a single day last week.
"We have numerous people signed up already and are eager to look for more people to contribute," Swaminath said. "These funds will go directly to the victims of the Gujurat earthquake."
According to The New York Times, this earthquake reached an area of western India the size of Switzerland. Although Indian authorities reported the quake as a 6.9 on the Richter scale, French, Chinese, and American experts estimate that the earthquake actually falls between a 7.6 and 7.9.
In an e-mail bulletin to group members, Swaminath cited an factor that will slow the recuperation process: over 80 percent of India's one billion people live in villages, and many of these villages do not have any access to clean water, basic necessary medicines, or basic agricultural education.
After experiencing an earthquake in Japan that reached 7.6 on the Richter Scale, Keswani said it was hard for him to imagine such an occurrence in India, which he considers his homeland.
Swaminath urged students to attend group meetings and learn about the Veda Vyasa Foundation, a group that has secured $2.4 million from the World Bank to help Indian villages.
"We are actively recruiting new members for the Veda Vyasa Foundation and are encouraging them to spread the word about this unique group," Swaminath said.
