With the fest right around the corner, the Oasis English Press sat down with Parasmay Acharya, Joint Coordinator of Nirmaan to gain insight into the NGO’s work. 

Parasmay explained that Nirmaan was the BITS Pilani student chapter of the Hyderabad-based NGO, Nirmaan Organization. Nirmaan Organization was founded in 2005 by BITS Pilani students. Parasmay added that the BITS Pilani chapter focused on community development, women empowerment, and education in Pilani. Members volunteered to be on the Oasis team, which met in the Nirmaan room in SAC and he explained that the majority of the pre-fest work included making decorations for their stalls. 

Parasmay said that Nirmaan would have three stalls that would be open throughout the fest. There would be a carnival games stall, a tote bag painting stall, and a ‘women empowerment’ stall that would sell items handmade by the local beneficiaries of Nirmaan. He explained that Nirmaan taught the women of Pilani skills such as weaving, pottery, and crochet to help them earn a living. He mentioned that painted diyas and pipe cleaner bracelets would be available for sale this time. According to him, Nirmaan’s previous stalls had been successful, with the APOGEE stall raising fifteen thousand rupees for its beneficiaries. 

Of his experience as the Joint Coordinator, Parasmay said, ‘It has been good. It is fulfilling working for something that I know goes to a good cause. It’s a bit hard on the wallet though, with all the treats I have to give, but some sacrifices are necessary.’ On a parting note, he encouraged people to visit the stalls as ‘anything you spend here will go to a good cause,’ noting that most of its profits would go to the beneficiaries who made the products.