GLOBAL JUNIOR CHALLENGE 2015
ENTRY FORM
Fill in the form using capital letters.
The form should be sent at the e-mail address info@gjc.it
or by post or fax within the 31 of July 2015 to:
GLOBAL JUNIOR CHALLENGE
Fondazione Mondo Digitale
Via del Quadraro, 102
00174 Roma
ITALY
Fax: +39-06-42000442
1. PROJECT NAME: AWARENESS EDUCATION AGAINST SUPERSTITIONS FOR
BETTER AND SECURED LIFE.
2. Please provide us with a few keywords (max 255 characters) which best
describe your project. Separate each one with a space and do not use [enter].
These keywords will be used in the project database and search engine of the
GJC website. (Avoid general terms such as "Internet" and "Web")
1. HERE IN OUR LOCALITY PEOPLE ARE MAINLY LITTLE EDUCATED AND
PRACTICE AGE-OLD SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEVES WHICH HAS NO
SCIENTIFIC BASIS OR LOGIC.
2. PRACTICES OF SNAKE CHARMERS, EXORCISTS, WITCH-CRAFTS WHO
USES, SPELLS AND CHARMS… THEY DECEIVE AND BLUFF THEM WITH
UNSCIENTIFIC AND CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE, INCREASES MORTALITY AND
MORBIDITY AND ECONOMIC HINDERING BECAUSE OF THIS LOSS OF LIFE
IN THE FAMILY.
3. MOST OF THEM ARE LABORER CLASS PEOPLE AND BELONG TO LOWER
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS.
4. SIMPLE EXPLANATION WITH EXAMPLES AND SCIENTIFIC PROPER
KNOWLEDGE AMONG YOUNGER GROUP OF PEOPLE IN SOCIETY CAN
STOP THESE PRACTICES AND SAVE LIFE AND MONEY.
5. OLD PEOPLE ARE NOT MUCH READY FOR NEW LEARNING OF FACTS TO
RESOLVE THESE MAL-PRACTICES. INSTEAD, YOUNGER PEOPLE AND
STUDENTS LEARN AND UNDERSTAND QUICKLY AND PRACTICE IT IN
THEIR LIVES AND SPREAD THE KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS WHO ARE
BEYOND OUR REACH THOUGH THIS KIND OF EDUCATION.
6. WITH SOME CLASSES, SLIDE-SHOW, FILM-SHOW, WORKSHOP WE CAN
EASILY MAKE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SUPERSTITIONS.
3. COUNTRY ( City / Region):
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INDIA,
WEST BENGAL,
DISTRICT 24 PARGANAS,
SUB-DIVISION : BARUIPUR,
PS : ROYDIGHI,
VILLAGE : KASHINAGAR
______________________________________
4. COMPANY/ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTE PRESENTING THE PROJECT:
KASHINAGAR PIONEER SCIENCE CLUB,
VILLAGE + PO : KASHINAGAR,
DISTT : SOUTH 24 PARGANAS,
STATE : WEST BENGAL, INDIA
PIN: 743349
_____________________________________________________
5.
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TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: ASSOCIATION (SCIENCE CLUB)
School
University
Public institution
Private institution
Company
Association
Research center
Cultural Institution (foundations, museums, galleries, etc…)
Other
6. PROJECT COORDINATOR (our contact for all further information and
confirmation of participation):
Name and Surname: DR. NITYAGOPAL BASU
Address: VILLAGE + PO : KASHINAGAR,
DISTT :L SOUTH 24 PARGANAS,
STATE : WEST BENGAL, INDIA
PIN: 743349
Telephone: +91 9903630091 Fax: NO SUCH
E-Mail: DRNGBASU@GMAIL.COM
7. WEB address: NO SUCH
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Privacy Law:
Your personal data will be treated by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale with headquarter in via Umbria 7,
00187 Roma, Italy, in accordance with art. 10 and 11 of the law 675/96. The responsible for the
treatment is Prof. Gennaro Sangiuliano, President of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
Your personal data will not be given to anybody else without your previous consent, excepting partners
interested in your project for eventual contact.
At any moment you can address the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and its President to exercise your
rights, as stated in art.13 of the law 675/96.
To participate in the Global Junior Challenge you must consent to the treatment of your personal datas.
YES, I DO AUTHORIZE THE FMD TO THE TREATMENT OF MY PERSONAL
DATA.
8. Please select the category you submit your project: (UPTO 29 YEARS)
Up to 10 years
Up to 15 years
Up to 18 years
Up to 29 years
Helping youth step into the job market

refugees

9. DESCRIBE YOUR PROJECT IN ONE SENTENCE (to be used per identification in
database)
NO MORE SUPERSTITIONS : THINK RATIONALLY & LOGICALLY, PRACTICE
SCIENTIFICALLY, LIVE BETTER AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE! .
10. Describe briefly (max. 2000 characters) the key aspects of your project
(including how the idea was born and developed, and who is implementing the
project today).
IN OUR SOCIETY THERE ARE SO MANY SUPERSTITIONS PERSISTENT STILL
TODAY WHEN MANKIND HAS LANDED OVER THE MOON AND PLANNING TO
SEND AERONAUTS TO THE MARS! THESE SUPERSTITIONS BEGIN FROM
DIFFERENT REASONS. 1) IGNORANCE 2) LACK OF PROPER KNOWLEDGE
THAT CAN CIRCULATE FROM FELLOW-MEN AND GIVE THEM LIGHT OF
WISDOM, 3) OVER-POWER OF BAD PEOPLES (IMPOSTORS) LIKE ‘SNAKE
CHARMER’, ‘EXORCISTS’, ‘PERSONS WHO FAVOR INCANTATION TO HARM
OTHERS WITH CHARMS AND SPELLS’, PEOPLE WHO PRACTICES WITCHCRAFT. THEY SIMPLY MOTIVATE COMMON IGNORANT PEOPLE TO DEVIATE
FROM RATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC THOUGHTS AND PRACTICES OF MODERN
SCIENTIFIC WAY TO GET RID OF DISEASES.
HERE IN OUR LOCALITY ‘SNAKE BITE’ IN RAINY SEASON AND DURING
HARVESTING TIME AND ‘DOG BITE’ ARE VERY COMMON AS STRAY DOG
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POPULATION IS VERY HIGH. IN HEPATITIS THAT CAUSES ‘JAUNDICE’
(YELLOW DISCOLORATION OF WHITE PART OF EYES, YELLOW URINATION
AND SKIN) ARE USUALLY TREATED WITH WEARING A NECKLACE MADE OF
SOFT GREEN STEM OF LOCAL SHRUBS ALONG WITH SOME DIRECTIONS OF
‘DO’ AND ‘DON’T’. WITH TIME THE GREEN STEMS START DRYING AND
THREADS GET TIGHTENS OVER IT THUS ELONGATING THE LENGTH OF
NECKLACE. COMMON PEOPLE CAN’T NOT EXPLAIN THIS WITH THEIR
KNOWLEDGE AND THINK PERHAPS YELLOW COLOR OF JAUNDICE IS
DESTROYED BY THAT NECKLACE AND IT GETS LONGER! SOME THOUGHT,
IMMUNIZATION TO CHILDREN CAN CAUSE INFERTILITY IN THEIR LATER
LIVES. PEOPLE WALK IN THE DARKNESS AND BARE-FOOTED. SO THERE IS
MORE CHANCES TO SNAKE BITE IN VILLAGES. SNAKE CHARMER USUALLY
TIE A TOURNIQUET LIKE THING JUST ABOVE BITING SITE. THEN THEY
START HYMES, CHARMS AND SPELL TO DESTROY POISONS OF SNAKE
THAT IS UNSCIENTIFIC. INSTEAD OF TAKING THE VICTIM TO HOSPITAL, TIME
IS WASTED AT HOME AND THUS LOSING THE PATIENT. IF THE PATIENT IS
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, THE DOCTORS HAVE NOTHING TO DO ANYMORE,
PATIENT DIES!
WE STARTED TO STOP ALL THESE KIND OF MAL-PRACTICES, SINCE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR SCIENCE CLUB (1979) TO EDUCATE PEOPLES,
STUDENTS AND PREGNANT MOTHERS. BUT IT WAS OCCASIONAL. IN 2007, 3
CHILDREN OF A SINGLE FAMILY DIED AFTER SNAKE BITE (COMMON KRAIT)
DUE TO PROCEDURES DONE BY SNAKE CHARMERS WHO ASSURED THE
LIVES OF ALL KIDS. THIS PATHETIC EVEN FORCED US TO DO VIGOROUS
CHAMPAGNE TO EDUCATE TARGET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
DR. NITYAGOPAL BASU IS IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
11. HOW LONG HAS YOUR PROJECT BEEN RUNNING? (Please note that to be
eligible projects must be up and running since 31st December 2014 or earlier)
No
Yes, since when? (20/05/2008)
12. OBJECTIVES AND INNOVATIVE ASPECTS
 What opportunities/problems does the project address and what are its specific
objectives? How and with which instruments does the project try to achieve its
specific objectives (max 2000 characters)?
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF 26 VILLAGES WITH A TOTAL
POPULATION OF NEARLY 30,000 INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH 24 PARGANAS
DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL STATE IN INDIA, WE WORKED OUT AN
ANNUAL INCIDENCE OF 0.16% AND MORTALITY RATE OF 0.016% PER
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YEAR FOR SNAKE-BITE. THE ANNUALIZED DOG BITE RATE IS 51.9 PER
10000 POPULATION IN THESE POPULATION. "JHAAD PHOONK" AND
CONSUMPTION OF HERBAL REMEDIES. OFTEN THE PATIENT IS TAKEN
TO HOSPITAL TOO LATE TO BE SAVED. BLIND FAITH AND SUPERSTIONS
ARE COOMON IS POOR AND ILLETERATE PEOPLE OF REMOTE
VILLAGES AROUND US. THIS LEAD TO PRACTISING CHARMS & SPELLS,
EXORCISE, USING INCATATION TO HERM A PERSON, ARE VERY
COMMON IN DOG BITE, SNAKE BITE, DIFFERENT HEALTH PRACTICE IN
MOTHER AND CHILD & IN HYSTERICAL FITS AS POSSESSING BY DEITY
OR EVIL SPIRIT WITHOUT TAKING MODERN TREATMENTS, RATIONAL
AND SCIENTIFIC THOUGHTS TO ALEVIATE THESE. IN SNAKE BITE,
SNAKE CHARMERS KILLS THE PATIENTS IN THE NAME OF TREATMENT
AS PATIENTS DON’T GET MODERN ANTIVENINS, OR WASTE TIME TO
TAKE THEM TO HOSPITALS. IN DOGBITE THEY PROVIDE MAGIC BANANA
AND TABIZ TO STOP RABISES WITHOUT ANTIRABISE VACCINATION. IN
JAUNDICE THEY GIVE A MAGIC NECKLACE OF PLANT STEM IN
ARRANGED IN COTTON THREAD THAT INCREASES IN SIZE WITH TIME. IN
HYSTERIC FITS WITHOUT FOLLOWING MODERN MENTAL TREATMENTS,
EXORCIST OFFER PAINFUL PHYSICAL TORTURES IN THE NAME OF
CUREING. HOMEOPATHY AS SUBSTITUTE OF IMMUNIZATIONI N ANTEPOST NATAL CARE AND IN NEWBORN BABIES. OBJECTIVES ARE 1) TO
STOP THESE PRACTICES TO SAVE LIFE IN DOGBITE & SNAKE BITE
PATIENTS. 2) TO UNDERSTAND HYSTERIA, JAUNDICE AS DISEASES
THAT ARE COMPLETELY CURABLE WITH MODERN MEDICINES 3) TO
AVOID PRACTICES THAT STOP IMMNIZATIONS IN PREGNANT MOTHERS
AND NEW BORN CHIDREN TO ENSURE HEALTHY FUTURE-CITIZEN OF
THE COUNTRY.
WE FOUND OUT TARGET PEOPLE LIKE OLDER PEOPLE AND YOUNGER
STUDENT-GROUP WHO COMPRISE SOCIETY. IN GATHERINGS IN
RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND FAIRS, SATURDAY
AFTERNOON MOTIVATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, CLUBS, HOME VISIT
TO INTERACT WITH THEM FOR MAL-PRACTICES IN ANTENATAL &
POSTNATAL CARE AND IMMINIZATIONS. WE PROVIDE FILM SHOW, SLIDE
SHOW, TALK AND INTERACTION IN GRASS-ROOT LEVEL ON RELATED
ISSUES OF BURNING QUESTIONS.
13. RESULTS
 Describe the results achieved by your project How do you measure (parameters)
these? (max 2000 characters).
OUR AIM WAS TO MAKE THE TARGET PEOPLE FREE OF SUPERSTITIONS AND
TO MOTIVATE THEM TO THINK SCIENTIFICALLY AND RATIONALLY AND
APPROACH TO MODERN MEDICINES TO REDUCE HUMAN MORTALITY AND
MORBIDITY IN SNAKE BITE, DOG BITE, JAUNDICE, HYSTERIA AND TO
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UNDERSTAND IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNIZATION AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS
AND CHILDREN IN COVERED POPULATION. WE WANTED TO ATTAIN OUR GOAL
OF AVOIDING QUACKERY AND EXORCIST-PRACTICES AMONG TARGET PEOPLE.
WE HAVE FOUND OUT THE REASONS BEHIND THESE KIND OF PRACTICES ARE
1) LACK OF EDUCATION 2) THE CONTEMPORARY EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT
DOESN’T HIGH-LIGHT THIS PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF LIFE AT ALL IN DAY TO
DAY LIVING. 3) EDUCATION IS BEING ADOPTED AS METHOD THAT SIMPLY
ENABLE PEOPLE TO PASS EXAMINATIONS AND TO GET READY FOR A JOB
AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY, NEITHER TO QUENCH
THE THIRST OF GATHERING KNOWLEDGE, NOR IGNITE CURIOSITY TO FIND
REASONS BEHIND EVERY INCIDENCE. 4) IN LATER LIFE MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT
INTERESTED IN CONTINUATION OF READING AND UPDATE THEIR STATUS OF
KNOWLEDGE, SO WHAT THEY LEARNT ONCE IS FORGOTTEN EASILY. WHILE
THEY FACE PROBLEMS IN REAL LIFE, THEY SIMPLY FOLLOW THE PRACTICES
(IRRATIONAL, UNSCIENTIFIC) WHAT IS IN VOGUE WITHOUT SECOND THOUGHT.
WE HAVE FIXED PARAMETER OF FOLLOW UP AS 1) NUMBER INCIDENCE OF
SNAKE BITE, DOG BITE PER YEAR 2) HOW QUICKLY THE PATIENTS ARE TAKEN
TO HOSPITAL FOR MODERN TREATMENT 3) NUMBER OF LIFE SAVED. IN CASE
OF HYSTERIC FITS OF WOMEN IF THEY ADOPT CHARMS AND SPELLS OF AN
EXORCIST, IN JAUNDICE 4) IF THEY USE QUACKERY TREATMENT AND OR WEAR
NECKLACE OF PLANT STEM, 5) POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM COVERED
POPULATION.
WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE HAVE FOUND EXCELLENT POSITIVE RESULT
OF OUR HARD AND CONTINUOUS WORK OF EDUCATING PEOPLE SPECIALLY
YOUNG ADULT GROUP 15-30 YEARS THAT COMPROMISES MAIN COLUMN OF
THE SOCIETY. THEY NOT ONLY LEARN AND PRACTICE SCIENTIFIC AND
RATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT THEY ALSO MOTIVATE OTHERS IN THE SAME
POPULATION MULTIPLYING OUR EFFORTS IN LAST 2 YEARS (PROJECT WAS
ADOPTED SINCE APRIL, 2008) NO DEATH IN SNAKE & DOG BITE CASES, EVERY
HYSTERIC PATIENTS WERE TAKEN TO PSYCHIATRY OUT-PATIENT-DOOR (OPD),
AND ALMOST ALL PREGNANT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN HAVE COME UNDER
IMMUNIZATION AND ANTENATAL CARE CLINIC OF GOVERNMENT..
 How many users interact with your project monthly and what are the preferred
forms of interaction (max 500 characters)?
USUALLY WE TRY TO ORGANIZE AT LEAST ONE SEMINAR/SLIDE SHOW/FILM
SHOW/DISCUSSION IN FORTNIGHT. SOMETIMES IT IS ONCE IN A WEEK. DURING
‘DURGA PUJA’ IT COUNTS CONSECUTIVE 4 DAYS IN FESTIVAL GROUND.
AVERAGE GATHERING IS 150- 200 PEOPLE PER SHOW. WHEN THE TARGET
POPULATION IS STUDENTS, THE NUMBER INCREASES UP TO 1000-1200 ON
SATURDAY AFTERNOON. IN THE FAIR, AUDIENCE EVEN EXCEEDS 3000-4000. IT
DECREASES IN 50-60 WHEN IT WAS TARGETED TO ANTENATAL CARE AND
IMMUNIZATION AS WE SELECT A VILLAGE AND CALL THEM TO A COMMON
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PLACE. WE INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE TO ASK QUESTIONS. THEY ASK QUESTIONS
AND DISCUSS ABOUT THEIR BELIEVES AND SEEK WHAT IS BETTER WAY OUT.
14. SUSTAINABILITY
 What is the duration of your project (from beginning to end)?
Less than 1 year
From 1 to 3 years
From 3 to 6 years
More than 6 years… MORE THAN 6 YEARS, (WE STARTED SINCE APRIL,
2008. WE WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND WILL INCORPORATE
MORE SURROUNDING VILLAGES SUSCEPTIBLE TO SUPERSTITIONS AND BLIND
FAITHS).
 What is the approximate total budget for your project (in USD)?
Less than 10.000 USD (LESS THAN 10,000 USD)
From 10.001 to 30.000 USD
From 30.001 to 75.000 USD
From 75.001 to 500.000 USD
More than 500.000 USD
 What is the source of funding for your project?
Sale of products or services
Grants
Fee
Advertising
Commission
Sponsorships
Other, please specify… (OUR FOUNDER PRESIDENT DR. NITYAGOPAL
BASU BEARS ALL EXPENSES SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCIENCE CLUB
(1979) FOR ITS ALL ACTIVITIES. HE SPENDS 10% OF HIS TOTAL INCOME (FOR
LAST 25 YEARS) TO THIS KIND OF ACTIVITIES (FOR A BETTER SOCIETY FOR
OUR NEXT GENERATION).
 Is your project economically self sufficient now? NO
Yes, since when?
No, when is it expected to become self-sufficient? WE CONSIDER THIS
PROJECT AS VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY TO PAY OUR DEBTS WHERE WE BORN AND
HAVE BEEN GROWN. IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SOCIETY FOR THE
BETTER TOMORROW. BUT RECENTLY WE ARE ACTING LIKE RESOURCE
ORGANIZATION TO OTHER NGO (NON-GOVT. ORGANIZATION) AND GIVING
DELIVERY TO SPEECH OR SLIDE SHOW ON THEIR PROFFERED SUBJECTS WE
ARE PAID. THIS MONEY IS SPENT IN OUR ACTIVITY TOO.
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15. TRANSFERABILITY
 Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere?
No
Yes , Where?
By whom? … WE DON’T KNOW. WE HAVE NO SUCH
INFORMATION. BUT SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION ARE GETTING INTERESTED
TO THIS ACTIVITY AND INVITE US TO THEIR PLACES FOR ‘CALL SHOW’. WE
ACCEPT THIS GLADLY AND SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS STORY TO
THOSE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR WORKING BOUNDARY.
 What lessons can others learn from your project?

WITH SINCERITY AND CONTINUOUS EFFORT EVEN WITHOUT BIG BUDGET,
FEW MEMBERS OF AN ORGANIZATION CAN DO A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR
SURE IN A SOCIETY WITH SUPERSTITIONS AND BLIND-FAITHS TO MAKE IT
A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

YES, WE ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP OTHERS TO START OR WORK ON
SIMILAR PROJECTS TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE.
16. BACKGROUND INFORMATION (optional)
 Barriers/Solutions: What were the major barriers or challenges to the
implementation and acceptance of your product/process/service and what
solutions (if any) did you apply to tackle these problems or barriers?
IN THE BEGINNING, WE FACED OPPOSITION FROM MANY OLD PEOPLE OF THE
SOCIETY. THEY TRIED TO DO SOME PROPAGANDA THAT WHAT WE WERE
TRYING TO IMPLEMENT, WAS NO GOOD FOR THEM, FOR THE SOCIETY. SOME
MUSLIM COMMUNITY WERE NOT TAKING ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION (ORAL POLIO
FOR CHILDREN, TETANUS-TOXOID AND HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATIONS FOR
PREGNANT MOTHERS), SOMETIMES EXORCISTS TRIED TO STAND AGAINST US.
THEY FOLLOW UNSCIENTIFIC & TORTURE LIKE METHODS IN THE NAME OF
CURING A HYSTERIA. BUT WITH REPEATED DISCUSSION AND EVEN WITH
INTERACTION WITH EXPERTS, DOCTORS, POLITICIANS, GRADUALLY THEY ARE
MOTIVATED AND FINALLY THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD ITS IMPORTANCE FOR
BETTER LIVING.
 Future plans and wish list: Briefly describe future plans or ambitions for your
project. What would you require to make them true?
WITH OUR EXPERIENCE, ITS SO CLEAR THAT WITH CONTINUOUS EFFORT AND
CONSTANT WILL TO DO PEOPLE’S GOOD IF YOU WANT TO. WE WANT
1) TO INCORPORATE MORE VILLAGES UNDER COVER OF OUR AWARENESS
EDUCATION AND SURVEILLANCE, 2) WE WANT AT LEAST FEW CLASS IN THE
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LOCAL SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND AT LEAST A CHAPTER ON EACH
CLASS CURRICULUM, AND
3) WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FROM OUR COUNTRY OR
BEYOND WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH EXORCIST- PRACTICE AND LOTS OF
SUPERSTITION.
WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE OUR DREAM COMES TRUE, 1) ECONOMIC FREEDOM
TO EXTEND OUR BOUNDARY, 2) PROFESSIONAL MAN POWER (IT’S NOT
ALWAYS GOOD AND UP TO MARK IN VIEW OF STANDARDIZATION WITH ONLY
VOLUNTEERS. WE NEED SOME RESOURCES THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE HIRED
FOR BETTERMENT OF PRESENTATION. 3) GOVT. ASSISTANCE FOR WIDE
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ACTIVITY IN NATIONAL LEVEL AND BEYOND.
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