Q – What is Ek Aur Prayaas?
A – Ek Aur Prayaas is a drive or journey or a platform, which intends to churn out and transform raw enthusiasm into a tangible catalyst to bring about change in society. The medium can be either online or offline or both.
Q – Who started Ek Aur Prayaas?
A – Ek Aur Prayaas as a platform got its shape through the joint efforts of Jaymin Panchal (@jemin_p) and Anil Kohli (@anilkohli54), who are the co-founders of this initiative. It is they who decide the activities of the platform. However, its various activities and causes are supported by many supporters and volunteers from time to time.
Q- What is the driving force behind EAP?
What started Ek Aur Prayaas was an incident that involved Sahana Kumari, an Indian athlete, who was unable to fund the trip of her personal coach, for the London Olympics in 2012. Ek Aur Prayaas stepped in and requested the donors to directly help the athlete and donate the money in her bank a/c directly, without routing through any other or even Ek Aur Prayaas. After the motivating support received from online members for support of Sahana, we at Ek Aur Prayaas got associated with two more causes assisting Asom riots victims and the Maharashtra drought victims. Here again same model was replicated, the request was made to directly donate funds to the ever so reliable organization Seva Bharti, who have done some pioneering work in social service. The Details of the donors and Beneficiary account details are mentioned in the website, can be checked for further details.
Q – Can you shed some light on Transition Beyond Twitter and Tweet ups?
A – Transition Beyond Twitter or the Tweet up is an initiative taken to meet various social media users in order that they interact and attempt to explore more efficient ways and means to contribute towards change that is expected in society. While the first Tweet Up was in Mumbai in November’ 2012 and was successful, subsequently there have been requests or suggestions from various people to organize Tweet Ups in their cities.
Q – What help can we expect from EAP if we wish to organize a Tweet UP?
Ek Aur Prayaas organizes an event with help of local volunteers in the city. As Ek Aur Prayaas works on volunteer ship model, the first one in Mumbai had no participation fees. However, all other Tweet Ups work on a self-financing basis, where total cost is spread across conservative participation to arrive at individual fees (normal event practice) and is announced beforehand. Surplus if any accrued due to few extra participation then estimated attendance, is used up in reimbursing the expenses of the pre and post event; and/or the administrative expenses incurred in past. The idea of having corpus has also been worked at, as in past, many of the causes/events couldn’t be taken up, only for the lack of funds.
Q – How does one associate with the work of Ek Aur Prayaas? Are there any membership charges or an annual fee?
A – There is no membership charge or annual fees as of now. The idea of Ek Aur Prayaas is to provide a platform for real work. Who ever conceives of an idea that he/she feels needs greater participation or dialogue can connect withJaymin Panchal (@jemin_p) or Anil Sir, (@anilkohli54) and if the idea seems worthy, full freedom is given to the person to execute the idea, under the brand name. The core issue is to include more and more active supporters. Co-Founders intervene, only and when required for meeting and/or fixing the date for the event or cause decided by the supporter, which not only gives accountability, but also the authority and necessary motivation to him/her. Until now, Ek Aur Prayaas was loosely held however with the work increasing, over the period of time, there would be streamlining in place.
Q – Can anyone else use the words Ek Aur Prayaas?
A – Ideally answer is yes and no, both. The idea initiator whether member of Ek Aur Prayaas or not, is welcomed to present the concept to Ek Aur Prayaas, once the Founders are convinced with the same, support is provided, in terms of strategy or logistics. Without the approval of founders, usage of Ek Aur Prayaas is not allowed, either for cause or money collection drive; in fact Ek Aur Prayaas as principle has only marketed beneficiary accounts or of Seva Bharti for the causes taken up, Also, there has been no call to support Ek Aur Prayaas, financially until now.
Q – So has Ek Aur Prayaas achieved what it started for?
A – Well, the journey has just begun and will be on. It will take a while to reach to the goal. But yes the list of achievements isn’t blank. The key is Ek Aur Prayaas is not centralized nor does not have a hierarchy system. The idea initiator is rallied behind. Ek Aur Prayaas got support of many volunteers and supporters, who took up the cause in entrepreneur manner. Our team from Pune who took step forward during Maharashtra drought cause, is just one of the many examples, where idea of “Do it Yourself” was implemented. Similarly, various quarters performed, be it Delhi or Orissa and others, the Volunteers/ supporters came up with full support for the event.
Q – Without corporate funding or Investor, how will Ek Aur Prayaas sustain itself, and going ahead will it have a lasting future?
A – Ek Aur Prayaas shall continue on the self-financing model. No amount has been taken as donation directly or indirectly, except the sales proceeds of book sales of “Social Media As Watchdog’ written by @Mediacrooks was accrued during sale of Delhi Tweet Up. We are thankful to him for the same. As for future, currently idea is to move ahead similarly, until a better idea crops up.
Ek Aur Prayaas can be contacted at info@ekaurprayaas.org; if any specific or further information is required.