“Donate Sleep” Initiative

@ IOC, Manesar - March 8, 2014

Hours before the 90-minute long programme rolled out, Indian Oil Corporation officials Suresh Kumar Madan, Gaurav Kundra & Vikas Varma (Right to Left) discuss intricacies of the format at IOC COCO Outlet, Manesar

Toll Global Logistics’ Ajay Srivastav oversees erection of the promotional banner at the entrance to the 3.5 acre IOC retail outlet facility

Eager drivers hang around the IOC retail facility hours before the programme start

IRC India’s Aradhya Gupta (right), the first to arrive with a set of his company drivers, gup-chups with Toll Global Logistics’ Ajay Srivastav

Making India Employable (MIE), a Skill Development agency, focused on youth from the north east, deputes its musically-inclined team under Manish Varma to jazz up the Programme

The wait is over for these truck drivers criss-crossing Indian highways. They can’t proceed further till 7 p.m. due to entry/exit restrictions at the Gurgaon-Delhi border. Having bathed and lunched, they troop in for the Programme at IOC COCO Outlet, Manesar.

What “Donate Sleep” Initiative is all about? KRK Foundation’s Ramesh Kumar welcomes the gathering and explains the concept. Truck drivers get barely 4 hours sleep in any 24-hour cycle, leading to driver fatigue, resulting in accidents. Lack of highway amenities such as Driver Rest Room Facilities, makes them sleep in their cabins in uncomfortable conditions. Soft pillows, medical research proves, help relieve neck pain and improve sleep, howsoever short it is. Hence the “Donate Sleep” Initiative of the Foundation.

Author-writer Nishu Varma is a recently-acquired friend, courtesy ex-TVI/ex-Jain TV colleague Satish Dwivedi. Having read my maiden book, 10,000 KM on Indian Highways (2011) in Hindi – about to be released – she accepted the invitation. “Until I read this book, I never realized the pathetic living conditions of truck drivers,” said she in her speech to the audience, drawing a loud round of applause.

IOC Manesar Outlet Branch Manager Suresh Kumar Madan, in his address, spoke about the kind of facilities it offers to truck drivers when they halt at this outlet and requested the assembled drivers to spread the word among their fraternity.

IRC India’s Aradhya Gupta talks about his induction into his 50-year old logistics and supply chain company managed by his father Ashok Gupta and how his interaction with RK Foundation activities made him aware of truck drivers’ plight in depth.

IOC Divisional Officer Gaurav Kundra elaborates on Indian Oil’s grand plans to create more Driver Rest Room Facilities across Indian Highways.

Toll Global Logistics Ajay Srivastava charms the audience with his “safety first” anecdotes and cajoles them to take care of themselves by following certain simple activities.

Sipping tea and munching samosas, courtesy Indian Oil, the audience is in rapt attention

Guests at the “Donate Sleep” Initiative programme have their lighter moments as well.

Retd. Colonel Chauhan advises truck drivers not to take lightly the Foundation’s advise to wear seat belts while on the move. He illustrates with concrete & first hand incidents he had encountered.

Speeches interspersed with popular Hindi songs by MIE’s Manish Varma & group keep the audience glued to the activities. No sign of boredom.

Pillows Distribution in full swing amdist audience clapping and Mahesh & Co adding its bit as the Programme nearing its end for the day.

Before curtains down, a session of group picture

If you think the programme is over,you’re off the mark….

The surprise visitors are Mahindra Logistics Vice President – CSR & Public Affairs Selvan Dasaraj and Senior Manager Syed Hasan. Stuck in Gurgaon-Manesar traffic snarl, they land up at the venue after the programme got over. So… they get a briefing of what transpired before their arrival and …

At the open cafteria inside the IOC COCO Outlet, Manesar, MIE’s Manish Varma & group picks up guitars to regale the visitors over hot coffee and equally hot & spicy pakoras

It’s a wonderful interactive session with truck rivers. A day well spent

Thanks, Indian Oil! Thanks, Making India Employable! Thanks, Art Madness!Goodbye, till we meet again!

DONATE a pillowTODAY!

WRITE a cheque for

Rs.500/pillow.*

• Details In the NEXT Slide

Account Name:

KRK Foundation

Bank Name:

Punjab National Bank

Branch:

Mehrauli, New Delhi

Account Number:

6579000100024699

IFSC CODE:

P

UNB0657900

Help him SLEEP with a pillow.Not with a brick.

Deep Apartment, 52 Ward No. 1, Behind Punjab National Bank, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 030/India

ramesh@krkfoundation.org

IMPROVING Truck Drivers’ Working & Living Conditions