The Hindu 11.06.2013
Student activism: it gets GHMC going
If you are inspired and committed you can do a lot. This was proved by a group of student activists who made the GHMC set right the dysfunctional clock atop the Mahbub Chowk. What the students did was to dash off representations to the civic body which forced it to repair the clock which had stopped functioning.
Heritage protection
The GHMC also ordered an enquiry into the excess charges collected at parking lots and agreed to put up boards displaying the approved parking fee. The students also convinced a local channel to telecast messages and run scrolls on water conservation and other social issues.
The student activists plan to get government support and corporate sponsorships for restoration and protection of heritage buildings in Hyderabad and strive for the establishment of Hyderabad Culture Museum at Khurshid Jah Dewdi.
All this is the result of a month-long activism programme conducted by COVA and ICAN on various social issues. A theatre training workshop was also organised by the Koshish Theatre Group, a COVA affiliate, wherein 50 students participated.
According to a press release, the student activists identified water shortage as the main problem in Hyderabad besides encroachment of water bodies, constructions in catchments areas of all water bodies (despite GO 111) and industrial pollution.
Representations made to GHMC force the civic body to repair dysfunctional clock.
