Every human being has a responsibility towards the society,” says Tarini Prasad Sahoo, the founder of United for Social Interests (USI) who is creating social awareness about various issues. A topper in Bachelor of Legislative Law, 2012, Utkal University, he registered USI under the Indian Trust Act in 2012.
In the past two years, he garnered the support of 50 students who joined social awareness campaigns and 100 other students who pledged their support online. USI members work with various orphanages and with visually-impaired children. They celebrate important days like Independence Day, Children’s day, and Gandhi Jayanti, and hand out food and gifts. “We distributed T-shirts and umbrellas to 70 students in the Bhabagrahi Drustihina Vidyalaya in the city,’’ says Tarini.
Their recent ‘Don’t Honk Unnecessarily’ campaign, launched at traffic signals in the capital, was also notable. The message was to avoid noise pollution and rash driving near hospitals, schools and colleges. Talking about funds, Tarini says all the members voluntarily donate money ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 and there are also professionals who donate funds.
Speaking about how little gestures go a long way, Tarini says, “I stopped going to malls and pricey restaurants in order to save my pocket money for the children.” After conducting awareness programmes in Bhubaneswar, Tarini is now working towards getting volunteers in Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal, his native place. “We will hold Kamakhyanagar Abhiyan with cultural activities,” he says, of his USI’s plans there.
prachitara@newindianexpress.com