Revision as of 22:53, 16 May 2017

2001: Children Development Khazana

India Today

Nandini Vaish April 24, 2009 It is an idea that children can bank on, well, literally. The Children Development Khazana started by development organisation Butterflies works like a cooperative bank run by street children for street children.

Earlier called a bank, Khazana had to drop the formal title due to RBI guidelines, which state that only institutions with licences can be called banks. Founded in 2001, Khazana has 405 members, though most have shifting accounts as they form a floating population. As of February, it had savings of Rs 1.3 lakh—mostly used by children for food and visits to their families. Rita Panicker, director, Butterflies says: “If the children have nowhere to put their money, it ends up being stolen or wasted in drugs and gambling.” Khazana has 15 collection points in Delhi where children can deposit their money, while the branch itself is located in a alley near the old Delhi Railway Station. It opens for a couple of hours every evening to allow children to withdraw cash and even take small loans. The children themselves decide whom to give a loan to. “Giving them the power to make decisions is preparing them for life,” Panicker says.

Members can open two types of accounts—a savings account and a current or chalta-phirta account. The manager is elected from among them once every six months and the functioning of the bank is decided through monthly meetings. Those elected are taught the basic principles of banking and one of the most important rules for that person is to be polite to others.

As Khazana develops accountability in children by making them stakeholders, NGOs have approached Butterflies to help them develop the model. Today Khazana is present in eight Indian cities and internationally in Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan. The institute now plans a mobile banking centre which will go about town. Truly an idea whose time has come.

2016/ Southern Bird Wing: State butterfly of Karnataka

Mohit M. Rao, September 22, 2016: The Hindu

Southern Bird Wing; Mohit M. Rao, September 22, 2016: The Hindu

The red and yellow stripes of the insect matches the colours of the State flag

Fluttering with distinctive red and yellow stripes amongst the verdant green of the Western Ghats, the Southern Bird Wing butterfly was in-principle approved to become the “State butterfly” of Karnataka.

The proposal for the State butterfly was given approval from the State Wildlife Board during its meeting on Wednesday, said B. Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment.

This makes Karantaka the second State in the country after Maharashtra to adopt a State butterfly. Maharashtra chose the Blue Mormom butterfly as its State butterfly a year ago.

The proposal to adopt Southern Bird Wing butterfly as the State butterfly had been sent by Sanjay Mohan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Research and Utilisation).

“We short-listed a few butterflies and selected the Southern Bird Wing as its colours match the colours of the Karnataka Flag,” Mr. Mohan said.

The Southern Bird Wing is the largest butterfly in India, with the females growing up to 190 mm in length. Primarily endemic to South India, it is found in abundance in Karnataka.

“As it is easily sighted, we can hope that more people become aware of the importance of butterflies in the eco-system. These are important pollinators, and their preservation is necessary for the eco-system,” said Nitin R., an entomologist with the National Centre for Biological Sciences.

However, he said there could be a downside to this, particularly as the declaration of a State butterfly does not come with the additional protection.

With this particular species of butterfly shooting to prominence, there could be a chance of the colourful creature being targeted and becoming collectibles, he added.