Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Red Cross initiative to help quake victims

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI : The Indian Red Cross Society has come up with an innovative campaign to draw the attention of people towards the need for earthquake relief in Jammu and Kashmir.

Volunteers will put up a sticker, designed by Sharad Haksar's One Point Size, on houses with cracked compound walls with a message that goes: "Help us heal the crack. Call 2855 4548."

Distant problem

"To the average Chennaiite, the Kashmir earthquake is a distant problem that happened many weeks ago. While many people felt shock and sympathy for the victims, very few did anything of consequence to help relief measures," a Red Cross official says.

Over 3 million people on either side of the border have been rendered homeless.

"The people there still need help with materials like tents, blankets, woollies, medicines, pre-cooked food like noodles, biscuits and milk powder," Bhargavi Devendra, Honorary Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, says.

Cost-effective

"With the winter fast approaching, survival has become a big question. The sticker plan is a cost-effective way of involving public in this social cause. Quite a few people have volunteered and allowed us to put our stickers on their walls," a volunteer says.

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