Update on "Ramesh Pantham Funeral Fund"

We are grateful to all the kind outpouring from the community members through out the country.  To date, we have received about $24,000 towards Ramesh's
memorial/funeral fund and counting.  GWTCS has issued a check to transport the last remains of Ramesh for $6300.  We will be sending out an immediate check for
$10,000 to the family immediately to cope with their immediate expenses. Once all the checks are cleared we will send out the remaining amount to the family. 

We want to express thanks to one and all for their generosity and acting in a speedy manner to make this possible. GWTCS would like to extend special thanks to TANA, BATA (Bay Area Telugu Association has collected $3250.00), ATA (American Telegu Association), Swagat Restaurant (CA), IAFC (Indian American Friendship Council has collected $2144.65), Delaware Valley Telugu Association and all the members of the Telugu communities around the country including our own GWTCS.  Finally, we also want to thank the Indian Community members at large who have contributed generously and with speed.  One more time, THANK YOU ALL.

We also got word that the Government of AP is willing to pickup the transportation expenses.  If that ends up to be the case, we will be able to add the $6300
paid for transportation to the funds that we will send to the family.

Many of you have expressed that something should be done to prevent such tragedies from happening again. GWTCS is setting up a fund aside to make counseling services available for people in need.  GWTCS is also working with other Indian communities to setup or make available counseling services from Indian doctors for the needy to contact them directly.  We will report the progress on this matter very soon. 

On behalf of GWTCS Executive Commitee, thanking you all again,

Sincerely yours,

Nallu Chittaranjan Reddy
Treasurer(2001-2002), GWTCS

About Ramesh Pantham

It's rather unfortunate that one of our friend Ramesh Pantham (26), Had an untimely death in US. He was the only son in the family with an unmarried sister and old parents to be taken care of.

Ramesh Pantham a BE ECE graduate from OUCE (94-98) came to USA on H1b visa 8 months Ago (October 2001). He went into a deep depression for bad financial situation and other reasons like not getting a Job. He committed suicide on Wed July 10th in his apartment in Virginia (Herndon). Ramesh do not have health and life insurance and he is from a lower middle class family.