Be a part of civic campaigns

Thank you N. Ram for setting an example.
Don't be surprised if you get to meet a bunch of people in unique gear sharing their positive sentiments at the November Music Fest later this month.
Ram followed up on what he, as Chief Editor preaches at 'The Hindu'.
He politely declined the sponsorship of a company which has been at the heart of the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Dow was one of the key sponsors of the annual music fest that the newspaper hosts in our city.
It has been targeted by activists all over the world for its response to the world's biggest disaster. So, when some of them based in our city learnt that the company was an integral part of the fest, they acted fast.
A slew of letters, faxes and e-mails flew into the offices of the 'The Hindu'. In less than 24 hours, Ram responded.
A positive campaign had made its impact.
It requires a bunch of alert, dedicated and determined people to run a campaign and ensure goodness comes out of it.
Are you one of them?
The monsoon is with us. Our roads are flooded. Our drains are overflowing. Our common spaces are pools of water.
Can we help our local officers do a better job of what they should be doing?
Take a walk around your colony and SMS them a list of the streets where water has been stagnating for days, where Corporation school children must negotiate slush and where trees have been uprooted.
If action is not forthcoming in a reasonable period of time, push that button again.
Else, email the civic body.
Copy that mail to the local or city newspaper.
You have a cell phone, you have a Net connected PC, you have a fax machine, you have a post card.
Use them to get involved in issues that affect us all.
These acts are simple and straight. And they can bear good fruit. Especially when you act on behalf of the community.