First edition of Good Pitch Local saw many new ideas

The first edition of Good Pitch Local Karnataka was organised on Tuesday at the Bangalore International Centre, Domlur.

The event saw close to 200 people from diverse backgrounds.

This was the first time the Good Pitch Local format was tried in India (a forum where candidates pitch developmental ideas to seek support).

Campaigns on community relevant topics like ending manual scavenging, safety on the streets, sexual violence, the importance of veganism for climate change and textile heritage were pitched.

After every pitch, the floor was open to the audience to pledge their support.

The event saw an interesting mix of participants -- media people, funders, scientists and researchers, technical experts, activists, artists and filmmakers.

‘Jack Journeys’, a documentary campaign for jackfruit, a fruit with miraculous powers by Vinod Raja, received over Rs 2 lakh and an offer to raise funds through a cycling awareness tour by Sathya, the ‘cycling mayor’ of Bengaluru.

The next pitch, ‘End Manual Scavenging’ by Prajwal and Sowmya Chatterjee, saw support from
Bezawada Wilson, Magsaysay award winner, Sowmya Reddy, MLA, Jayanagar and Bhaskar Rao, Additional Director General of Police, KSRP.

‘Equity on Streets’, a campaign by Sonal Kulkarni and Subbaiah T S to create behavioural change in drivers of motor vehicles to respect and accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, was again supported by Bhaskar Rao.

He said showing a 10 - 15 seconds clip in multiplexes before a movie would be a good way to spread the awareness.

Jasmeen Patheja’s ‘I Never Ask For It’, a five-year effort to end victim blaming by building testimonies through their clothing, was applauded by the audience and received support from India Foundation for the Arts and Ford Foundation.

‘Vegan Karnataka’ by Manisha Singh pushed the boundary of vegan awareness by bringing it into a mainstream forum. Nitin Jain from Bengaluru Brigade for Animal Liberation pledged to go to schools and restaurants to educate people about veganism.

On the other side, ‘Her Stories’ by Deepa and Shobha of Co-Media Lab, received Rs 2 lakh.

The pitch aims to create one- minute videos on women role models from marginalised communities.

The campaign to further the rights of transgender people through street art, ‘Ten Fold’ by Sadhna, received paint and money to carry their campaign to 10 districts of Karnataka.

‘One Battle Won’ by Rajesh of Sangamma, received equipment and money for raising awareness about the rights of LGBTQIA.

It was delightful to see an encouraging audience of pledgers, actively participating and offering their networks, money, spaces and personal time to aid certain campaigns.