Community development
Communication design student Sunakshi Bansal talks about her involvement in a community project which lead to Delhi CM selecting her work to be displayed on 50 bus stops in the capital
When 20-year-old Sunakshi Bansal started working on a community-based project for her college, little did the communication design student of Pearl Academy know where it will lead her. She got too involved with the project, and was happy that her teachers at college, as well as her family members supported her in her endeavours.
“The project started as a group project where five of us in my group chose to research the problems of the autorickshaw drivers in Delhi. We face many difficulties due to their behaviours, and thus we wanted to work on those problems,” she informs. As the group interviewed the drivers (over 200), the members realised that the drivers themselves were not the perpetrators of the problems as is generally believed. “In fact, we soon realised that they too are the victims of the system, and therefore they refuse to ferry people from one point to another with valid reason. Their meters, even the new ones are not equipped to calculate waiting charges, when the vehicle has to wait at a signal, in traffic or otherwise. And passengers are unaware of this, so they refuse to pay. The drivers are at a loss and hesitate to go into traffic prone areas due to this,” she narrates one of the major issues faced by the drivers.
Bansal worked relentlessly, making her infographic and booklet that she needed for the project. She also made a clear cur fare chart, which she hoped would be permitted to be put up in every autorickshaw in Delhi. “I went to the transport department and after about a week of following up with different people, I finally met with the correct person. Then again, I was sent from one officer to the other, and eventually, the design did get approved, but the officer got transferred and my file got lost!” she narrates her plight. The fare chart was made to clarify all the applicable fares to increase the awareness of the public so that none of the parties cheats each other.
After the entire ordeal, the new transport commissioner took heed of Bansal’s effort and displayed her work and design (see picture) at the Bhagidari Mela in the capital. The infographic with is clear copy and the animated characters, caught the eye of Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, who appreciated the effort of the young student. Bansal’s design was picked by the CM to be displayed at 50 bus stops in Delhi to increase awareness among the commuters.
The infographic states simple rules for convenient commute for both, the drivers as well as the passengers. “By no means do I think that some of the drivers are not guilty about taking the passengers for a ride, but I know that most of them face troubles and the public does not know of their plight. If they realise it, I am sure the situation can be improved,” the motivated student tries to sound optimistic, even after narrating tales of corruption at every step of the way, which formed major barriers for her.
The final-year undergraduate student may not be fully certain of the specialisation she wants to pick in academics, but one thing is definite. She certainly knows how to make a difference!