Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082522820500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Petbasheerabad residents to cut expenses on festival

Staff Reporter

To donate funds saved in this way to flood-hit people in State

HYDERABAD: The Ganesh festival celebrations may not be that grand this year in Petbasheerabad on the city's fringes, as the people in this area plan to reduce their expenditure on idol installations and decorations and spend the money thus saved to provide relief to families affected by the recent floods in the State.

"The statues we set up this time may be smaller but you cannot measure the contentment in our hearts," said Balappa of Mallikarjuna Youth Association.

He and representatives of several other youth associations joined hands to help the flood-affected families by restricting the expenses on the festival. "We went on with our regular collection of funds from people, in fact a bit vigorously, and bought articles useful for the victims with the savings," Srinivas of Siddi Vinayaka Association explained.

Food grain collected

They bought 150 quintals of rice, six quintals of pulses, utensils, 100 blankets, 100 saris and some sweaters. Instead of random distribution, they decided to give away the articles to people of Gottipadu and Polikipadu, the two villages badly affected by the recent floods in Khammam district.