Every individual in our community has thoughts to make a difference to our Kulala community, which they belong to. Some get opportunity to convert it into actions & some get stopped for reasons known to them. And people who get stopped can move provided they have a right platform to make their first step. We already have two Sanghas in Bangalore working for our community in two different groups. They are doing a great job but its not addressing every one in our community. Some of us strongly felt that we should support their objective & have a common platform for new ideas to benefit all our community members. So this group of like-minded young individuals of our community working in various disciplines joined together to start “BHRAMI” which means potters wheel. The group members are from various professions in their personal life like engineers, doctors, foreman, lecturers, accountants, businessmen, administrators etc. Among our group, some are committee members of one Sangha & the rest are committee members of the other Sangha. The commonality among us is that we belong to Kulala community & there is a drive in us to make a difference to the people around us. This common intention has united us to form “BHRAMI”- a potter’s wheel that will drive our community to a new future. And the first project taken by this group is called “Book Bank”. Click here for the details about the project.

We need right information of the community members to serve you all better. We thereby have dispatched a family data sheet to all our community members in Bangalore. And we have requested our fellow community members to fill the same & mail it to us in the stamped envelope sent to them. We will be compiling the data & storing it in a central computer. The information that will be given by our community member is of very high importance to us, thereby please convey to our community members who do not have access to the internet to send us the completely filled family data sheet.

Our group called “Bhrami” had the first kick–off meeting in November 2003. Subsequently, there were fortnightly meetings & some of the activities we plan to handle for our community in a phased manner after the first project are as given below.

We now request all our community members to send us the completely filled data sheet to us. We would be obliged if anybody wishes to donate used or new text books/ reference books. For any form of donation, please contact by e-mail or telephone numbers given in the next section (between 8PM to 10PM). If you have not received any communication from this group by post, please e-mail to us.

Project Description

Project Title: Book Bank.

Background: Kulala community in Bangalore, are around a few thousands in population, which is growing at a fast rate. Almost every family of this community has a student who is undergoing education in school or college. Education is a key area, which will shape the future of this community. The cost of education is also growing at a very high rate. The rate of growth of education cost is not in line with the rate of growth of an individual’s income of our community. In today’s growing market, cost of education of your son/daughter can be forecast to a certain limit & one can plan accordingly to face it. But most of the time, expenditure during education of your son/daughter comes as a surprise. And the grey area is the cost of books. It’s become important that this grey area is addressed properly. 

The annual approximate cost for purchase of textbook’s, for some of the curriculum are as below.

 For a seventh standard student it varies from Rs.500/-(state syllabus) to Rs.1500/-(central syllabus).

 For a PU standard student it varies from Rs.500/- to 2000/- depending on the syllabus.

 For a student in first year B.E. it varies from Rs.1000-2500/- depending on the branch.

 For a student in first year MBBS it varies from Rs.1000-2000/- depending on the author.

 For a student in first year BDS it varies from Rs.1000-2000/- depending on the author.

And after every year of completion of syllabus, the books are rarely given to other students who can re-use it. Generally, we all know that the books get piled up in our attic or ends up in waste paper shop. These instruments of knowledge end up dead burying the value it had once offered to the student.

 Now, consider a possibility where in every family doesn’t have to pay full cost for the books for a year & the student gets the books at 15% of its market cost. Consider a possibility that the books once used by one can be re-used by another student. Consider that for students who are economically backward, the books will be provided “free” of charge. This possibility will be very helpful for our people & will encourage students to take up studies who cannot afford to purchase textbooks. This thought gave birth to the concept of “book bank”.

Broad Strategy:

Development process: “Book Bank” is live now. It will have a structure wherein students of our community studying between 7^th standard to degree course (Commerce/Arts/Medicine/Engineering) can approach book bank for their requirement of text books & reference books. The books will be stored in one central place. And this bank will issue books to the student for a year on returnable basis for 15% of market price of the book. Reference books for competitive exams like IAS, KAS, IES, CAT, GRE, NDA, etc. can be sourced from the book bank.

 The first kick-off meeting of the team has been held in November, 2003. The next steps for the project are discussed & a schedule is put in place. The project is already rolled out.

Next steps:

As a first step, the project implementation group was put in place, which will be as follows.

As a second step, a template has been made to collect required data of all the community members. This template has been dispatched to all members of our community. The template will have information giving a map of who’s studying in which class/course, blood group of members, contact nos etc. In the third step, the collected data will be stored in a central computer. Organized self-supportive finance system is being framed out. Collection of books started from June second week & final launch has taken place by third week of June. Students of our community who wish to have access this facility can reach us on the above numbers or e-mail your request to us at bhrami2003@kulal.com.

- BHRAMI team