Sewa International Delhi

2011-03-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Japan Tsunami Appeal, March, 2011

A ferocious tsunami spawned by the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Japan (and the fifth worst in the world since 1900) slammed the country’s eastern coast on Friday, killing at least 1000 people, sweeping away houses, boats and cars across cities and farmlands.

Japanese police officials said the toll was at least 1000 with 300 bodies found in Sendai, a port city in northeastern Japan and the closest large population to the epicenter. The full extent of injuries weren’t known and the toll is feared to rise substantially.

Walls of water whisked away houses and cars in central Japan, where terrified residents fled the coast. Train services were shut down across central and northern Japan, including Tokyo, and air travel was severely disrupted. A ship carrying over 100 people was swept away by the tsunami, Kyodo News Reported.

Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was horrific because of the tsunami that swallowed everything in its path as it surged several kilometers inland before retreating. The apocalyptic images of surging water and uncontrolled conflagrations broadcast by Japanese TV resembled scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie.

SEWA INTERNATIONAL Bharat, having been at the forefront of many disaster relief projects and with wide experience in rehabilitation, launches this appeal to help and provide succor to these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of the people in the Tsunami hit Japan.

For further information please contact: Telephone: +91-11-23232850, 23684445

Email: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com, Website: www.sewainternational.org

Please send your generous donations to:

SEWA INTERNATIONAL

49, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi – 110002

Bank Account Details

Sewa International, Account No.- 10080533326, State Bank of India, Jhandewala Extn Branch, Branch Code- 9371, Swift Code-SBININBB550, New Delhi- 110055

Sewa Sandesh 131: August 8, 2010

2010-08-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
The catastrophe in Leh, Laddakh and the surrounding rural areas saw RSS swayamsevaks and Sewa volunteers rushing in for providing succour to the flash flood affected. The disaster in Leh and the villages around is difficult to contemplate, the terrain being rugged and air being thin. It is more than a fortnight and the govt agencies are yet to provide normal power, water supply and communications. A senior political leader like Shri L. K. Advani is on record asking his party Parliamentarians to donate at least Rs.10,000/- from their salaries to Sewa Bharti J & K.
Laddakh is sparsely populated area as compared to the rest of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and yet providing relief is a Himalayan task.
It is in this trying hour that we need to extend our hand and go a mile longer to help the flood affected people. SI invites donors and well wishers to join hands for providing relief to the flood affected population of this tough terrain.

Relief And Rehabilitation Efforts By Sewa Organisations on in Leh

Hundreds of people got killed and thousands are missing and numerous were injured in worst ever cloud bursts and flash floods in Leh which caused unprecedented destruction in the entire district in general and Leh town in particular on August 6. In these adverse conditions, volunteers of Sewa International, Sewa Bharati, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) and the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram started all-out rescue and relief operations. The leaders of all these organizations met the Dy Commissioner Leh, Chief Executive Councillor of LDHC and Brigadier Dutta of Army and submitted them written letters extending full support to relief and rescue operations. They appreciated the relief operation by all these organizations.

In the meantime, the Sewa Bharati J&K through its unit in Leh in association with the Ladakh Phande Tsongpa had already established a relief operation camp in Leh and is looking after
the nees of the affected people.
In Jammu, the Sewa Bharati organized an emergency meeting in which social workers of many organizations were present to chalk out the strategy to provide immediate relief to the victims of the disaster. All members paid homage to those who died in the disaster and formed a relief committee under the name of Ladakh Aapada Sahayata Samiti to assist the victims and affected families in Leh. Brig. (Retd.) Shri Suchet Singh has been unanimously elected president of the Samiti. Dr Kuldeep Gutpa is secretary and Shri Abay Pargal will be treasurer.
As an immediate measure, some cash donations were immediately transferred from Jammu to the group of sewa volunteers working in Leh. They purchased whatever relief material they could get from the nearby local markets and started distributing them. According to latest reports, a relief package of 2,000 blankets, a set of utensils for 500 families, 2,000 clothes and 500 shoes is on the way and will soon reach the calamity site. Some injured from Leh who have now arrived at Jammu are also being contacted by Sewa Bharati workers to provide them necessary help.

According to Shri Suchet singh on an average a family requires at least 4 quilts, 4 blankets and equal number of mattresses ,4 pillows and a big darri. All this material is necessary for high altitude places like Leh where the temperature goes below zero degree Celsius during winter months which start October, latest by early November. The approximate cost of these items works out to Rs 6,500 per family of four members. In clothing sweaters, warm shirts, inners, jeans/warm trousers, jackets are required. The average cost works out to around Rs 8,000. As regard to the utensils the minimum requirements are one pressure cooker of at least 5 liter capacity, 6 plates for lunch/dinner, 6 glasses, 6 katori, 2 patila wih lids, 2 buckets per family. The approximate cost works out to around Rs 2,000.

“The cost of constructing dwelling units comprising two rooms (one room 12X12 and the other one 12X15 including kitchen) in mud with tin roof will cost approximately Rs 2-2.25 lakh without labour component for which we intend to involve the beneficiary. The estimates are only tentative and may vary depending upon the requirements of the site. Similarly, the requirement is based on an assumption of four member family the factual position can be assessed only after the connectivity is restored”, Shri Suchet Singh added.

Sewa International
Aid Appeal For Cloudburst And Flash Floods In Leh (J&K)

CLOUDBURST, resulting into flash floods, triggered by sudden overnight heavy rain on the 6th August 2010, killing approximately 150 people as per latest report and over 500 people missing. Many people are still believed to be trapped under debris of buildings. Five villages – Nimmo, Basgo, Shapoo, Faing and Ney, apart from Choglamsar and Leh town have been very badly hit, where all communication systems, bus stands, Hospital and many other buildings have been washed away. Leh airport inundated with mud and water has been rendered non functional.
A distance of 150 kilometers – from Pang village on the Rohtang – Leh highway up to Nimoo on the Leh – Srinagar highway has been hit, hence the road connectivity to the city has been cut off from the rest of India.
SEWA INTERNATIONAL, started relief activities in association with local partner organization Sewa Bharati Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir from the early morning of August 6, 2010 by providing food and temporary shelter to the affected.
There is an urgent need to provide relief to the flood affected. SEWA INTERNATIONAL, Bharat, (a registered organization with FCRA facility) appeals whole heartedly the benevolent to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of these people in the flood affected area of Leh, Laddakh. Sewa International is constantly helping the flood victims to bring back their life to normal.
Laddakh is the region under J & K state and is predominantly Buddhist. SI has been serving the local community through computer training classes and supporting the construction of school and hostel building.
“Of all the righteous acts, help rendered to those needing it, is the most righteous.”

For further information please contact: Telephone: +91-11- 23232850, 23684445Fax: +91 11 2351 7722Email: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com,

Website: www.sewainternational.org

Please send your generous donations to:

SEWA INTERNATIONAL,

49, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg;

New Delhi – 110 002

NEED YOUR SUPPORT URGENTLY

From Untouchable to Businesswoman
By GUY TREBAY

PLENTY of people exchanging free hugs in Times Square last Sunday traveled a long way to reach New York, but it’s safe to say that few covered anything like the distances Kakuben Lalabhai Parmar had. This is not just a matter of mileage, although certainly it’s a hike from Madhutra, a rural village in the western Indian state of Gujarat, to 42nd Street.
At a practical level, Ms. Parmar’s trip required a series of unusual conveyances, among them a bullock cart, a trishaw, the flatbed of a Jeep and the open-topped shuttle bus she rode to reach an airport before boarding a form of transport she had seldom seen up close before, let alone ridden.
At a deeper cultural level, her journey is yet stranger and more wonderful, embodying as it does a half-century of global feminism and the evolutionary arc of modern India. In the cattle-herding community Ms. Parmar belongs to, one among a cluster of groups categorized by the Indian constitution as “scheduled castes,” women were traditionally bound not just to their region or village but to the home.
“My group was treated as untouchables,” said Ms. Parmar, 50. And if the community was untouchable, its female members were still more disadvantaged by being invisible. Married at 14, the mother of seven, Kakuben Lalabhai Parmar was well into adulthood before she came face-to-face with a man who was not a close relative.
Yet here she was in Midtown Manhattan last weekend, wrapping her arms around the strangers who gather there regularly to dispense affection, some of them understandably astonished at the apparition clad in a mirror-spangled skirt and a tie-dyed shawl, her throat and hands and arms lavishly adorned with the homemade tattoos that are a form of what Ms. Parmar termed “affordable beautification” in the far reaches of Gujarat.
And here she was, too, a businesswoman setting up shop at the Asia Society, where a group of artisans gathered for three days to sell their wares; and at CVS buying bargain shampoo and $1 hair ornaments for her five daughters; and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Sunday morning, pointing out to this reporter that the cooking vessels of the 12th Dynasty of Egypt (from about 1800 B.C.) look exactly like the pots she uses to cook dal at home.
Not a lot seemed to faze her. She took in stride urban commotion, the assorted indignities of travel, the novelty of seat belts, in-flight movies and also elevators, escalators, yellow cabs, mattresses and the abundant forms so standard in life that could be unnerving to an illiterate whose signature is a print of her thumb.
“I already experienced the biggest change in my life,” she said, speaking a Gujarati dialect through an interpreter, “when I first got the chance to come out of my house and participate in society.”
Ms. Parmar’s moment of liberation came roughly 20 years ago, when the not-for-profit Sewa Project formed a unit in her village to help preserve endangered handicrafts and, equally, to provide the people who make them a form of alternative employment.
“We never even thought of getting income from selling this stuff before,” said Ms. Parmar, who sews patchwork embroideries that incorporate vivid threads and reflective shards laboriously cut by hand from mirror scrap she buys by the pound.
The cloth, at least, may be familiar to readers, since it is the kind used in the making of a slouchy “It” bag being hauled around this summer by Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie and other celebrity entities.
The price tag on a satchel made from mirrored patchwork and bearing the label Simone Camille is about $2,000, a sum equivalent to two years of Ms. Parmar’s income. Yet even on the modest $60 a month she earns sewing pillow covers that require almost a week’s work and that sell in her local market for $15 a pair, she has become the family’s chief breadwinner. She holds title to her own cattle, has a personal account with a microfinance credit union and is quick to point out that while this may seem insignificant to a New Yorker accustomed to such symbols of Western wealth as reliable electricity and plumbing, it is considered a vast change in circumstance for a woman from rural India, even now.
“When I was a girl, all the assets belonged to the father or the husband or the brother,” Ms. Parmar said Friday. Squatting on the floor of the Asia Society’s grand marble lobby, she demonstrated her technique for cutting mirror shards into diamond, oval and triangular shapes and a pointed form called a “crow,” using the sharpened edge of a terra cotta roof tile. She multitasked ceaselessly, stopping to spread out pillow covers for one buyer’s approval, and explain the eye-dazzling motifs she uses to another, all the while keeping a sharp eye on the sales totals, eyeglasses perched at the tip of her nose.
“In those days, the husband was in charge of everything,” she explained to a visitor. “What could you do, with no skills and no education?”
Now as a globetrotter, an informal ambassador for Sewa and the Crafts Council of India — one of a growing number of groups committed to preserving traditional folkways in India, a country where, by some estimates, 40 million to 60 million people gain at least part of their living making handicrafts — she finds herself in circumstances she could never have foreseen.
She flies around the world on her own. She takes taxis. She shops at Walgreens and somehow manages to domesticate the experience of visiting a world-class museum like the Met by finding creative kinship there between her own utilitarian patchworks (“We never wasted a scrap of fabric,” she said) and a Malian mud cloth or a Sudanese tent divider embroidered with Venetian trade beads and cowrie shells. She proselytizes in an easy and natural way for the importance of educating women, getting them out of the house and into jobs.
Thanks to the work she does now, she says, with a high-pitched hoot, her role in family life inverts that played by the generations of women who came before her.
“Now that I have my own business and make my own money, my husband shows me respect,” Ms. Parmar said. There are even occasions, she said, when he helps her out with her accounts. “He’s my secretary,” she added with a laugh.

School Kit Drive By Seva Sahayog

Volunteers at Seva Sahayog come together every year to help provide brand new school kits to school going under privileged children. The aim is to bring smiles to these children as they take their next leap in learning. The beneficiaries have experienced the joy of having a new school bag, books, pencils and crayons on the first day of school. Sahayog hopes to create that moment of smile for the underprivileged children in the society.
Some facts regarding school kit drive are as follows:
• 10,000+ is the number of donors for school kit.
• 100 NGOs benefited from the drive.
• 150+ coordinators registered for the event.
• 100 companies empanelled for the drive.
• 600+ volunteers participated in assembly and distribution.
• In 2010, more than 26,000 school kits were collected.
· Spread over Six Sundays from 9 to 3 pm everyone 4 to 50 yr old had a task to assemble over 200,000 items for 20,000 school kits.

School Kit Drive By Youth for Seva ,Hyderabad.

• The first project taken up by YFS Hyderabad was the school kit drive.• It was designed in time for the start of the school year.

• A school kit consists of 1 school bag, 6 long note books, 1 com pass box, 2 pens and 20 labels.

• The kit was designed to prevent dropouts from schools due to financial constraints and lack of motivation to study further.

• The call for 'Gift a School Kit for Rs 250' was well received and funds for 2400 school kits were collected by YFS volun teers within 2 months.

• These kits were then distributed by the volunteers in various government schools across the city and rural areas of AP.
Titbits:
1. Nine years back, Shri S.S. Narayanan, a retired Assistant Executive Engineer of Madras Port Trust, found that Rs. 40,000 had accrued in his father Sankaranarayanan' s savings bank account, being the monthly Railway pension over the years. As all the sons and daughters of retired Station Master Sankaranaraynan were leading contended lives, and were looking after their parents Sankaranaraynan – Rukmini well, the father advised Narayanan, to use the amount in such away to benefit the needy in the society. Within a week, Narayanan and his siblings together added Rs 10,000 to it and donated the amount to Madhava Seva Samiti, which identified meritorious school going children of daily wage earners in Chetput, Chennai (Tamilnadu, Bharat); for the last eight years, the interest proceeds of the amount is awarded to nine such children in memory of Sankaranaraynan – Rukmini at functions organisd by Seva Bharati. This year the function saw two college students receiving similar awards, thanks to the thoughtful donation by Shri Sundar Nathan, a software professional working on E – learning projects in the US. He has instituted , on the advise of his mother Smt Saroja, a growing corpus in memory of his father late B.Viswanathan, a top business executive in his lifetime.
2. Vanshidhar project high school under Bhandra block at the Lohardaga-Ranchi road (Jharkhand, Bharat), comprises more than 700 girls in 6th to 10th standard. The double-storied school building earlier functioned from six rooms, including the office. ''Now it has nine rooms with three of them constructed with the guru dakshina of our students,'' said Meera Bakhla, principal of the school. ''Earlier we used to merge two or three sections to run classes in a single room but thanks to our students and their guardians who came forward for the noble cause,'' Meera Bakhla said. ''Parents of majority of girls are daily wage earners but their eagerness towards their children's education surprises us,'' said Muneshwar Mahto, Mathematics teacher of the school. More than 80 per cent of the students passed the Matriculation examination conducted by the Jharkhand Academic Council this year. It is to be noted that the district is infested by Naxal terrorism involving blasting of school buildings.
3. Shri Devinder Sharma is a food and trade policy analyst. He also chairs the New Delhi-based Forum for Biotechnology & Food Security. In 1999, he persuaded farmers of Punukula village in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh, Bharat, to go in for bio fertilizers. A few farmers began experimenting with Non-Pesticidal Management (NPM) practices. A year later, the highly contaminated environment began to change for the better. Soil and plant health looked revitalised, and the pests began to disappear. Such was the positive impact both environmentally and economically that by 2004 the entire village had stopped using chemical pesticides. Restoring the ecological balance brought back the natural pest control systems. Along with the pesticides, the pests too disappeared. Surrounding villages promptly emulated this. By now 3,18,000 farmers in 21 districts of Andhra Pradesh are using compost manure and earthworm to enrich the soil. The health of farmers greatly improved with the disappearance of pesticides. Cost of farming too fell by 35 percent. Farmers of Ramachandrapuram in Khammam district had been bogged down by debts as a result of use of chemical fertilizers. After they took to bio fertilizers, in just two years, 386 of them could redeem the lands they had mortgaged.
Courtesy: Panchaamritam

“The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.”
- Chanakya

Sewa Sandesh 130: July 8, 2010

2010-07-30T02:51:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
Participation of women in Sewa karya has grown phenomenally in last decade throughout the country. In many states, women activists are leading the Sewa organizations in the capacity of President or Secretary or Coordinators. Indicators clearly state that the rise in number of Sewa karyas of Sewa Bharati is some way related to this very factor. Units like Delhi Sewa Bharati have crossed the limit of 50-50, tilting towards Mahila participation, having Mahilas at all levels- from grassroots to the state level.
Any change in society can be effectively brought in provided this is supported by womenfolk. This phenomenon has to be carefully watched and understood as their contribution in Sewa activity is growing in leaps & bounds. Everyone is aware of women Seva Vratis of Hindu Seva Pratishtana, Karnataka but many are not aware of women Arogyarakshaks of North East or teachers in city of Delhi where participation of women is in good numbers.

Vidya Bharati Schools in Odisha Felicitated for Producing Excellent Results

SARASWATI Shishu Vidya Mandir schools run in Odisha by Shiksha Vikas Samiti, affiliated with Vidya Bharati, continued to perform exceptionally well in the Matriculation Examinations in the State. The Shishu Mandir students excelled in the State High School Certificate Examinations this year by notching up 56 ranks in the top 100 list, including the top five positions. Anupam Jena, a student of Cuttack Shishu Mandir, topped the exams in the State.
According to information received from Shiksha Vikas Samiti, students of 158 Saraswati Shishu Mandir schools appeared in the Board examinations. The Vidya Bharati schools recorded pass percentage of 98.58 which is much higher than the overall pass percentage of the State. This year the overall pass percentage of the State is 71.74.
Out of 158 schools, 102 schools recorded cent per cent results. There were two schools where all the students got first class.
Out of 7,911 Vidya Mandir students who appeared in the examinations, 5,635 students got first class. The percentage of students getting first class is 71.23.
The Shiksha Vikas Samiti organised a function, Medhabi Abhinandan 2010, at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar to felicitate 56 students, who secured place in the top hundred list.
Addressing the function Education Minister of the State Shri Pratap Jena, praised the role of the Shiksha Vikas Samiti for providing quality education to the students of the State. "Good management, dedication of Acharyas and the role of guardians are the keys to success for Saraswati Vidya Mandir Schools. The government schools have to learn many things from the Shishu Mandirs," he added.
Speaking on the function, national secretary of Vidya Bharati Shriram Araukar said the aim of the Shishu Mandirs is not only to provide quality education to the students but also to build their character so that they can contribute in the process of nation-building.
Shiksha Vikas Samiti secretary Dr Bijay Kumar Swain said the holistic and value based curriculum, an edifying atmosphere, strong teacher-student relationship and strict monitoring system are the main reasons for the success of the Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir schools. A souvenir, Krutitva Vartika was also released by chief guest Shri Pratap Jena on the occasion.
Shiksha Vikas Samiti president Shri Duryodhan Kathua presided over the meeting.

All India training camp of Bharat Sanskrit Parishad
Drive to prepare 11 lakh Sanskrit speaking families all over the country

Drive to develop 11 lakh Sanskrit speaking families all over the country BHARAT Sanskrit Parishad, a unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has launched a campaign to develop at least 11 lakh Sanskrit speaking families all over the country. According to Shri Radha Krishna Manori, general secretary of Bharat Sanskrit Parishad, a concrete action plan has been formulated in this regard and such families are being prepared all over the country through Sanskrit training camps by the Parishad.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony of all India Sanskrit training camp organised in New Delhi from June 11 to 24, Shri Manori pointed out that Bharat Sanskrit Parishad is working on the agenda to connect the propagation of Sanskrit with employment generation and it is with this objective that training camps are being organised at different places of the country.
The shiksharthis are imparted training in language, Ayur Veda, astrology, Yogashastra, Gandharva Veda, writing, etc. This training in the camps is imparted by experts. A total of 75 shiksharthis attended the camp in Delhi.
Earlier, inaugurating the camp on June 11, joint secretary general of VHP Swami Vigyananand said the Sanskrit scholars would have to come forward to protect and promote the language. He said learning Sanskrit did not mean neglecting other languages. One may learn any language including English but negligence of Sanskrit would prove disastrous to India. He appealed to Sanskrit scholars to focus on science also through Sanskrit and explore new avenues of knowledge. He also apprised the gathering of the information regarding the Sanskrit gurukulas being run in America, England, Australia and New Zealand. He emphasised that Bharat can regain her glory only through the Sanskrit language.
Vice president of VHP Shri Balkrishna Naik said the Sanskrit still has worldwide influence. He appealed to each and every patriotic citizen of the country to learn Sanskrit and help in preparing Sanskrit families. Prominent among those who guided the shiksharthis at the camp in different sessions included Dr Shri Krishna Semwal of Delhi Sanskrit Academy, Sanskrit scholar Dr Ruby Verma, national working president of Bharat Sanskrit Parishad Dr Girija Shankar Sharma, general secretary of VHP (organisation) Shri Dinesh Chandra, Dr Madhu Gupta of Yoga and Naturopathy College and Prof. Deviprasad Tripathi of Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit University.

Shree Chaitanya Maauli Trust Board, Sangali

Shree Chaitanya Maauli Trust Board has been rendering yeoman services to the down-trodden by running free cradle house, cultural education centre, etc. for children since 1982 with determination & perseverance.
The pious plant initially planted by Late Shri Balasaheb Joshi & Smt. Malutai Joshi with a motto of social service has now grown into a big tree. The institute is fortunate to have selfless workers, volunteers & because of support to this sacred cause from people at large more than 200 kids
of age ranging between 1 and 5 are receiving education at present.

Men and women from surrounding hut dwellings have full faith that when they leave their kids in the institute early morning at 7.30 a.m. while going away in search of work for earning livelihood, will be fully taken care of even upto late 8.00 p.m. by the institute and the kids also feel here like their own house. Thus, it can be imagined as to how much and what kind of care is required to these kids for 9-10 hrs daily.
Institute is also conducting cultural education centres at various places for children between the age-group of 9 to 14 for one or two hours once a week. About 250-300 children have benefited so far. Their mothers & sisters are also being empowered through Saving Groups and thereby making them self reliant. Shri Chaitnya Papad Home Industry is the fruit of these endeavours.

Purpose of conducting cultural centres
Every evil, unwanted destructive incident taking place in the present society is the outcome of depriving good cultural education to the large section of society. Even the honest straight forward person who believes in simple living finds it difficult to lead life and he helplessly turns to unfair means.
Unfortunately, these evils have reached our doors now and will enter in our house any moment. It can be imagined what our sweet and cultured children will have to face when they come out.

Children from rich and educated families are today following wrong path of vulgar language, unabated behaviour and that too, shamelessly. This leads unhealthy relations among youngsters.

People around us need to be religious, thankful, industrious and self respecting as well as responsible citizens so that their life can be peaceful. To uplift the society in general to a higher level of good thinking is the responsibility of the institute.

Sewa International’s Unique Water Project

In the rural areas of Nalagonda district in Andhra Pradesh, India, a village known as Mandanpally has received water filtration systems that is comparable to the ones in the mineral water plants in the country. This water filtration systems have greatly changed the lives of the villagers in this rural area, which lies in the mandal of Aleru. The population of Mandanpally is around1500 among 300 families. These water systems were kindly donated by an NRI residing in the United States. The cost of each system is approximately 1.5 lakh rupees.
The water filtration systems are located in 2 water tanks around the village. They can each produce around 500 litres of water per hour. This has made a gigantic impact on the people of Mandanpally.
The groundwater in the village has too much fluorine in it. This can cause diseases such as fluorisis. This disease can cause the teeth to become damaged. This high fluorine content can also cause paralysis. The filtered water is vital for children in early development because it affects their growth. The filtered water made available here is so good and clean that the villagers now do not prefer to drink the unfiltered water again.
One June 21st, Aditya Gande, Shashi Mutyala, Thirupathaiah Gande, and Shobhith Mathur visited the filtration systems. They talked with the village panchayat members, the president of the village and several other people residing there. They told how much it has positively impacted the community. They also examined the water filtration system and took pictures of the project.
Thus, Sewa International has made a tremendous impact on this village!

Youth For Seva Starts “Sponsor a Patient” Programme

Youth For Seva has started a new program called ‘Sponsor A Patient’, wherein it aims to provide financial, social and moral support and rehabilitation to patients with severely disabling illnesses who are unable to look after themselves and have no such support systems. This will be done by YFS volunteers during their routine field surveys as well as by word of mouth from its own social networks.
It will then include these patients in its ‘Sponsor a Patient’ database and subsequently match interested sponsors with such patients.
The sponsor can be any one above the age of 18 years who voluntarily wants to be a part of this program.
The sponsorship will be valid for 1 year. The sponsor can pay on a monthly or yearly basis. Further, the sponsor can decide whether he/she wants to pay the full amount or partial amount of the expenses for treatment, as the treatment cost for various illnesses may vary from a few thousand rupees to several lakhs.
The expected total cost of treatment will be put up along with other donor details on the website and the details will be regularly sent to the sponsors on the medical and overall social condition of the patient. The sponsor will also be allowed to communicate with the patient at any point of time, either personally, by phone, or in writing.
At the end of 1st year, the sponsor can choose to renew the sponsorship.

Seema Jagran Manch (S.J.M.) Plans to Build Schools on Indo-Nepal Border

The newly formed Seema Jagran Manch (S.J.M.) has decided to undertake the task of constructing schools and coaching centres in the border areas of India and Nepal, which is roughly 550 kilometer long. Through these schools the Manch would also be able to create an ‘army of patriots’ to check anti-national activity on this porous border.

Remember, your work may be only to sweep a railway crossing but it is your duty to keep it so clean that no other crossing in the world is as clean as yours. – Sir M. Vishweswaraiah.

More Smiles Than Worries: Baba Ramdev with Bhutanese Refugee children at Dallas Youth Camp, U.S.A. The Programme was organized by Sewa USA.

Sewa Sandesh 129: June 8, 2010

2010-06-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
Some of the traditions among the Hindu society have degenerated along the time, one such being the tradition of “Devadasi” prevalent in North Karnataka, South Maharashtra and some adjoining districts of Andhra Pradesh. One of the girl children in a family will be dedicated to the Deity in the local Mandir, rendering the young girls without a family as she will be married to the Deity. Dr. Bhimrao Gasti, born in a tribe that offers Devadasi, has successfully rehabilitated more than 700 such Devadasis and has also established institutions that offer free hostel & education to such young girls from those tribes. Fighting all possible odds including murderous attacks and political opposition, this loner has penned some novels in Marathi and some other languages. He was felicitated on the occasion of his “shashtipurtee” – completing 60 action-packed years of his life. Sewa International wishes this ideal “Sewa vratee” a long healthy eventful life.

Sewa Volunteers Take up Rescue Operation At Mangalore Air Crash Site

KARNATAKA witnessed its worst ever air mishap on May 22 when an Air India Express Boeing 737 flight carrying 169 passengers on board overshot the runway while landing at Bajpe airport at Mangalore and got burst into flames. The flight was coming from Dubai. It was a cloudy Saturday morning with heavy rains. The mishap resulted in the death of 158 passengers including the crew members. The rescue operation was not an easy task at the site as it was heavily forested and sparsely populated area. With the fire brigade personnel and emergency staff, local Sewa Volunteers involved themselves in the rescue operation. They extended timely help during the day long rescue operation at the air crash site. More than 100 volunteers from the nearby areas rushed to the spot and started rescue operation from 6.40 am onwards. Shri Nalin Kumar, local MP, also a swayamsevak, was there from 7.00 am to 7.45 pm leading the operation with local karyakartas. Due to the bad weather the rescue operation got delayed, however extensive support from public and Sewa Volunteers was extended timely. Shri BG Chengappa, director of Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services also rushed to the spot and led the rescue work.

Rashtriya Seva Bharati: A lifeline for Voluntary Organizations

Rashtriya Seva Bharati (RSB) was established in Delhi in December 2003. There are hundreds of organizations serving the underdeveloped and the underprivileged throughout the country. They are addressing different social concerns like education, rural development, health, social rejuvenation, economic self- reliance, nationalistic and character building, relief and rehabilitation during the natural and man-made calamities. Today there are more than 1.57 lakh projects and programs of this kind, run by more than 700 such organizations inspired by the ideology of Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh.

Rashtriya Seva Bharati “A-Z Service” for voluntary organizations-
¨ RSB helps in registering the trusts and societies, conducting the surveys, analyzing the problems and identifying the needs of a particular village or slum.
¨ Guiding affiliates to establish and run a functional office.
¨ Reaching out to new volunteers and orienting them to serve in various fields of social life.
¨ HR development and fund management
¨ Assessing the impact of the Running Projects and achievements of the affiliates.
¨ Helping affiliates in generating the PR material and reaching out to the society in general.
¨ To get them feel confident in their effort to build strong and nationalistic society.

Activities of Rashtriya Seva Bharati
Publications:
Seva Disha: RSB publishes the assessment of activity every 5 years that covers all the organizations, their area of activity, types of activity and details of beneficiaries, etc.
Seva Sadhana – RSB publishes an issue focusing on one of the Seva related issues providing the All Bharat glimpses. Following are the issues published by RSB in last couple of years:
2007 – Activity in urban slums
2008 – Illuminating seva experiences
2009 – Rural development & related experiments.
Training:
Workshops for Rural Development: An all Bharat workshop was held under the aegis of RSB in Chitrakut, on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in 2007 in which 120 activists from all the states of Bharat participated. Experts from rural development, organic farming, cow based agriculture, education, and others guided the workshop.
Reorientation Program for State Level Teams- RSB holds a National Reorientation program for state level teams drawn from all states once in every three years. The last national reorientation program was held in Delhi in 2008.

Assessment & Evaluation: RSB conducts a national evaluation and assessment program every year to keep tabs on the programs and their performance. This evaluation of activity provides inputs to the organization to improve quality, economize the activity, effective implementation of programs, understand the beneficiary, etc.

Till now, RSB has conducted three Assessment programs : i) Free hostels being run across the country ii) Free clinics and iii) Arogya Rakshak Yojana – village health worker.
Some schemes through the affiliates-
Education:

- Education being priority, emphasis on Yoga, Sanskrit, Sports, Music, cultural knowledge, Bharatiya Ethos.

- Alternative educational systems like Gurukulam, Ekal Vidyalayas (one teacher school), interstate Hostels for students from North East Bharat.

- 1200 Ekal vidyalayas in Jharkhand helps double the literacy rate in the state from 30% to 60%.

- The spread of education in other states have also helped awareness regarding health & hygiene among the students and their families.

- State Govt. of Delhi felicitated Seva Bharati, Delhi for providing primary and vocational education to Street Children- Chief Minister Sheela Dixit gave State Award to Seva Bharati.

- In Palmur district of Andhra Pradesh, the children are provided productive education like bicycle repairing, book binding, lamination, etc. Such income generating activity boosts their confidence to be entrepreneurs in future.In this way, these initiatives serve many types of educational needs and reach a variety of deprived groups.

Health:

Arogya Rakshak Yojana-Implemented in thousands of villages in many states of Bharat providing primary referral as well as preventive healthcare in remote villages.Thousands of youth have been trained to work as Arogya Rakshak in their own villages, benefiting the local village health.Arogya rakshaks also run Yoga classes, hygiene awareness, dietary awareness, etc for improving health.

Rural Development:

Rashtriya Seva Bharati has been encouraging integrated rural development in many parts of the country through affiliated organizations.RSB dynamically promotes-Organic, semi-organic, integrated and cow-based farming.Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic herbs.Producing medicines from cow milk & urine and related products.Food and fruit processing are special features in some states

.Idkidu village in Karnataka – transformed the village life through various programs like organic farming, water harvesting, gobar gas plants and Mandir based social activity which resulted in bringing harmony among all castes and classes in the village.In the tribal villages of Nandurbar District of Satpuda mountains, Maharashtra state, D

r. Hedgewar Seva Samiti has successfully provided livelihood in many tribal villages through soil conservation, water harvesting, effective agricultural cropping patterns together with educational and awareness programs.

Motivating and mobilizing people, providing technological support and brining in a feeling of oneness is the goal of Gram Vikas activities.
Social Rejuvenation
These activities ensure building a society with a healthy character. Temples are often the hub of these activities, which silently mitigate social evils like untouchability and alcoholism.
Matru Mandalies- Women’s weekly gathering – generating awarenss
Kishori Vikas- Supporting development of adolescent girls
Yoga and awareness activity in Jails among the jail mates.
Legal Counselling for women.
Balagokulam- the Global Network of Religion for Children (GNRC) affiliated with the UNICEF has brought forth Balagokulam as the model for value education in the world.
Indians living in USA and some other countries have already set up Balagokulam for their children. Balagokulam has grown to occupy an important place in the social life of Kerala, having originated there.
Economic Self Reliance
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been the most powerful tool in empowering people with economic self-reliance. Seva Bharati institutions are providing a multitude of skill trainings for rual and urban youth, and women.
Economic activities, coupled with character building, are distinct features of RSB-inspired projects.
· Self Help groups in Tamil Nadu have empowered women in rural areas of the state-bringing in self reliance.
· Considering the discipline, financial transparency, response from the rural masses and excellent team work, the State government recognized Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu’s SHGs in 2002.
· Women beneficiaries in these villages of TN have worked on micro enterprise.
· Men are now following the women-forming SHGs.
Aid during calamities
The country has faced many natural calamities in the last few years like the Tsunami and the flood of Kosi. Rescue, relief and rehabilitation were taken care by the karyakartas. Hundreds of schools, homes, Mandirs and livelihood opportunities were provided for those devastated by these calamities. During the Mumbai terrorist attack on 26th November 2008, the karyakartas supported the police and citizens with food, water, medical help, and blood. The Jaipur bomb blasts too had karyakartas rushing for immediate relief of the wounded.
Youth for Seva

Desire among the youth to serve the society has grown many fold.
They wish to volunteer their time and talent for community development.
“Youth for Seva” project launched under Hindu Seva Pratishtana in 2007.
YFS motivates the youth, connects them to grassroots projects.
Trains them in the skills required and orients them.

Nepali New Year Celebration Organized In Denver, USA.
DENVER, USA: "Hindus settling in the western countries can lead their lives as proud Hindus and preserve their religion, heritage and culture" Dr. Ved Nanda, the president of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), USA declared here recently.

Addressing big gathering of Bhutanese Hindu Community of Colorado at the Nepali New Year celebration in Denver, Dr Nanda urged the community to continue their Hindu way of life in America and assured that they have the freedom and cultural environment to do so. He asked the Bhutanese Community to be vigilant and not fall prey to the proselytisation efforts by the Christian missionaries. It is essential and possible to continue many Hindu practices such as daily puja, bhajan, keertan and temple worship in the US, he observed. Dr Nanda praised the Hindu Communities in Suriname, Guyana and the Caribbean countries as a model for Hindus worldwide for preserving and promoting Hindu religion and culture for generations. He also stressed that many Hindus in the western countries have successfully maintained their Hindu identity. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vijayaraj Sharma, a professor of economics at the University of Boulder, encouraged the Bhutanese families to preserve their unique religion and culture and not to be intimidated by their

Neelam Shreshta, president of the Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal (RMFN) chaired the event and offered support to the Bhutanese families. Colorado Bhutanese Community, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), USA and Sewa International had organised the event. More than 400 Bhutanese participated in the celebrations. HSS and Sewa International are working very closely with the Bhutanese refugee communities across the US to help them settle in and maintain their Hindu identity in an alien country. Bhutanese Hindus were driven out of Bhutan for political reasons during the early 1990s. After living in refugee camps in Nepal for 18 years, these families have been offered refuge by the US and other western countries. Out of 60 thousand Bhutanese accepted by the US, more than 24,000 have already arrived and settled in various parts of the country.

Agastya: Sparking Creativity In Rural India

Spread over a vast area of 170 acres of rocky wasteland in Kuppam, a deprived rural area in Andhra Pradesh, Agastya International foundation believes that complete learning is a combined form of shiksha (education), samskara (values) and sansara (world). It focuses on transforming the critical and much neglected area of primary and secondary education of the rural masses in India, including children and teachers.
Agastya runs one of the largest hands-on science education programs in the world!Agastya does this by bringing hands-on science education to the rural masses through the use of outreach programs like “Science on Wheels” (Mobile Labs), Scinece Fairs, Teacher Development program and Young Instructors Programs. Agastya seeks to fill the gaps in the Indian education system that threatens its socio-economic development. The conventional Indian education system instils little creativity in children and teacher education is generally divorced from classroom realities. Agastya’s projects overcome these problems with their unique features which involve idea generation and testing through the creativity Lab, creativity generation for poor and disadvantaged through interactive and engaging learning methods, learning linked to environmental goals, emphasis on developing behavioral skills and a close link between teacher education and the classroom system.
Agastya: Science on Wheels
If you ever hear Ramji Raghavan (Founder, Agastya International Foundation), you would certainly hear him talk about the learning pyramid as he strongly believes in the fact that we learn about 5% of what is taught to us in a lecture, 10% of what we read, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we discuss with others, 80% of what we experience and 95% of what we teach. Ramji Raghavan, a former NRI banker came back to India with a vision of providing education to poor children and teachers – education that would be the opposite of conventional techniques and this led to the birth of Agastya, named after Maharshi Agastya, famous for spreading sacred knowledge to south India, as a charitable trust in 1999.
Agastya was started off successfully on the path of building a creative India of ‘thinkers, solution seekers and creators’ that are ‘ humane anchored and connected’ by impacting over 3 million children and 120,000 teachers from vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and the model is scalable and replicable anywhere in the world.

Successful Blood Donation Drive in Guyana
SEVA-Guyana, SVN and the CI Temple have together sponsored another successful blood donation drive, on Sunday 23 May 2010 at SVN. The unit count at this time is 261. The Ministry of Health has assured that it continues to be the biggest drive in the Caribbean. With luck and hard work Seva-Guyana wants to make it to 396 next year which is the number of Indians (some say 406) who landed in Guyana in 1838. It is noteworthy that in 2009 it was 214 and in 2008 it was 176.

It is high time for the scientific workers in India that they exert their inherent right to live like decent citizen and shoulder responsibilities for the betterment of their motherland.
- Meghnad Saha.

Sewa Sandesh 128: May 8, 2010

2010-05-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk

Any selfless effort in Bharat will receive unconditional support from the Hindu society at large. We have a reason to reaffirm the above statement. Last summer, some youth decided that the Kshipra river flowing through the holy city of Ujjain needs some de-silting. The group decided that they would clean the river bed that summer for a length of close to 1 km. Every morning the youth started cleaning up the riverbed and remove the silt. To start with they were just a small group of 15-20. But soon, the watchers and morning walkers started joining hands. Crowbars and shovels came in, baskets and tractors came in, finance poured out of market, everyone joined hands to make this a people’s movement. Ultimately, the state government could not avoid funding without application.
The same exercise is being carried out this summer also in Ujjain, proving the point beyond doubt that charity is part of Hindu ethos.

Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra (VKK), Jharkhand Organises Gram Vikas Training Camp

Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra, Jharkhand organized a state level village development workshop from 18th March to 21st March at Lohardaga Centre, Jharkhand
29 karyakartas including 10 women from 15 districts of Jharkhand and 3 karyakartas from Purulia district of West Bengal participated in the event. Among them, 17 were block level (Mandal-Prakukhs) 4 district level, 5 divisional level and 3 state level karyakartas. Sri Ramji Oraon (full time karyakarta) who was trained at Devalapar Goshala near Nagpur gave the training in Panchgavya. National Vice President V.K.K. Ma. M. S. Purti, State Gram Vikas Pramukh Sri Raghav Rana, who looks after 599 SHGs, State Joint Organising Secretary Sri Satyendra Singh, guided the workers. The training programme was sponsored by NABARD, Jharkhand The Tide Trust of Mumbai has been supporting the SHG activities since the last two years.
Methods of preparing Vermi – compost (from cow dung), “Kamdhenu Ark” (from cow-urine), Malish oil, Keet-Niyantrak (pesticides), Danta Manjan (tooth powder) from cow dung were practically demonstrated. Shri Siddhanath Singh, Ma. Kshetra Sanghchalak of R.S.S. told about the methods of preparing Amrut Pani & Amrut Mitti. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “Farmers are the food giver like God but chemical fertilizers are poisoning their land”. At Patratu, he has started “Kalpataru Trust which prepares ladoos of Amalak, and Jam of raw Papaya. Sri raghav Rana demonstrated the preparation of tomato ketchup & told about Organic Farming.
Sri Chandra Sekhar Agrawal a retired engineer from HEC, Ranchi gave the information of installing small Gobar-gas plants & Solar heaters. The DDM of NABARD, Lohardaga, Sri Samrat Mukharjee provided the details of Kisan Club, SHG scheme & village development activities supported by NABARD. He also appreciated the work of Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra. Dr. Satyendra N. Nayak, HOD of Centre for Rural Development & Tech. of IIT, Delhi put forth the details of preparing Madhuka juice from fresh mahua flower through charts & Audio-Visual. He also distributed the samples of chocolate, powder, jam etc.
Mr. Morensingh Purti, who presided over the event, said, “Mixed farming & organic farming are not merely essential but also beneficial. Some bad habits of drinking which spoils the whole life is a challenging problem before us. Our work aims at transforming the lives of the vanvasis. The experiences shared by the trainees also support that.”
Kumari Roshini District Incharge of Women’s Activities of Lohardaga, conducted the function Sri Raghav Rana introduced the guests & Sri Suresh Lohra proposed the vote of thanks.

Sewa Sangam in Bengaluru –II

By Shyam Parande

How youth get the inspiration to serve instantaneously when they have an opportunity on hand? Without much search, I could understand the phenomenon during the Sewa Sangam. The band of youth which was taking care of the delegates-serving them the food, helping the delegates with whatever they need-had all the youth from the engineering college hostel, the venue of the Sewa Sangam.
Most of the NGOs look up to the national governments or international aid agencies to fund their projects. Apart from the governmental financial support, some of the NGOs raise funds through fund raisers, sales of the goods produced by the disadvantaged groups and services provided, and lastly through public donations. Everyone is aware that several governments of the developed countries are funding NGOs in the developing and underdeveloped countries.
The corporate sector has started investing good amount of funds through its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes for supporting the NGOs. To some extent this has come as a relief to the NGOs as national governments have started reducing on their funding to the NGOs. Ask any non-governmental organisation (NGO) about need of a volunteer and you can expect an affirmative answer in most of the cases. Volunteers contribute in a big way though through smaller tasks. Many tasks in the non-governmental sector do not call for a full time paid person. Every organisation seeks volunteers for such tasks and interface with the local community. Language is important to some extent but more than that it is the heart-to-heart relationship that volunteers easily build and connect the organisation with the local community. Familiarity with the local situation is also important apart from the grasp of local social traits. Simpler tasks are executed efficiently and economically by the volunteers. The more the volunteers, the better would be interaction with the beneficiary and local community.
Orienting, training and deploying volunteers is a considerable task for many and needs some sort of specialisation. It is always simpler to handle employed staff than handling volunteers. Professional staff fails to achieve the results sometimes that the well oriented and trained volunteers can achieve. Of course, the professional staff will fare better in many given situations and demeaning their importance can be avoided.
Not all people who work in the NGO sector are volunteers. Volunteers are not always philanthropic as some of them have their own benefits at the back of their mind while they serve. They bring immediate benefits to themselves as well as the community they serve, including skills, experience and contacts.
However, Youth for Seva in Bengaluru city or Seva Sahyog in Pune engaged only the volunteers who were out just for serving selflessly and did not expect even a certificate from the organisations they were engaged through. Hindu society has a splendid tradition of sewa and getting volunteers at a modest call is enough in reaping good response from the society, especially the youth. It is amazing to understand that girls are outnumbering boys if figured out among the young students and professionals.
Engaging large force of volunteers is where the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati (RSB) affiliates have an advantage. The funds available are spent mostly on the beneficiaries and less on the salaried staff in all these projects. However, there is a disadvantage where the weakness of these organisations is exposed sometimes. The volunteers do not match the schedules for the reporting as well as quality of the reports so produced through volunteers fails to match the one through the professionals, I feel.
How youth get the inspiration to serve instantaneously when they have an opportunity on hand? Without much search, I could understand the phenomenon during the Sewa Sangam. The band of youth who were taking care of the delegates, serving them the food, helping the delegates with whatever they need, were all from the Engineering College hostel, the venue of the Sewa Sangam, and had no exposure to the sewa activity or voluntary action earlier, I found out. This was spontaneous response from the students as they saw some other volunteers, who were part of the Youth for Seva programme, making arrangements for the delegates. The local students cooperated in the best way they could, including offering their own rooms for the delegates, shifting themselves to some friend’s room. Astounding, is it not?
Funding for NGOs
It is vital for any voluntary group to raise funds, particularly when these organisations are not trying to get funds from governments or international funding agencies. Most of their energy is utilised for raising funds and naturally the other part-effective implementation-is less taken care of.
Most of the NGOs look up to the national governments or international aid agencies to fund their projects. Apart from the governmental financial support, some of the NGOs raise funds through fund raisers, sales of the goods produced by the disadvantaged groups and services provided, and lastly through public donations. Everyone is aware that several governments of the developed countries are funding NGOs in the developing and underdeveloped countries.
Though these organisations are called non-governmental organisations meaning independent of the governments, most of the topmost international NGOs depend on the government funding heavily. The famous Christian relief and rehabilitation organisation, World Vision, receives goods worth millions of US$ for their projects while OXFAM, receives millions of US$ support from the British and EU governments. "Medicines without Frontiers" (Médecins Sans Frontières), the Nobel Prize winning NGO receives close to 50 per cent of their annual budget through various national governments, it is said.
Distinctly different : One needs to be very unambiguous here in comparing the voluntary bodies with the NGOs. Most of the above said NGOs spend at least 35-40 per cent of their budget on the administration while the voluntary organisations spend less than 10 per cent on administrative expenditure which speaks a great volume of the difference. It becomes essential here to state that the NGO sector has become a major sector for employment in some of the countries world over.
The corporate sector has started investing good amount of funds through their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes for supporting the NGOs. To some extent this has come as a relief to the NGOs as national governments have started reducing on their funding to the NGOs. Observers have also stated that the CSR funding is being utilised by the corporate companies to pre-empt the NGO run campaigns against some of the corporate companies. The logic here is simple, if the corporate is supporting an NGO, the NGOs will not work against the corporation. This logic similarly applies to the governmental funding and the supported NGOs. That is mutual interest being protected on both sides, biding a good-bye to the interest of the beneficiary society.
In many cases, monitoring and control is being utilised effectively by the funding agencies, be it governments, international aid agencies or corporations, in safeguarding their own interests to the extent of curbs on the NGOs or the beneficiaries, it is understood.
Paradigm shift
There is a paradigm shift when I tried to compare the above with the voluntary organisations attending the Sewa Sangam. During the valedictory session of the Sangam, Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Sarkaryavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, assured the conference that there would be no dearth of funding for sewa projects and that the society would support any creative activity worth it’s purpose provided they are done with a pure heart and mind. "Go out and seek the person, not just the money," he elaborated, "A person is more important than the money."
Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi further said that, "the numbers are important as RSB is serving the society through more than 1.5 lakh of programmes and projects but this alone is not important. More significant is the quality of the programmes and projects through which sewa is being offered. Qualitative growth of the karyakarta has to be improved for enhancing the quality of the sewa. One has to offer the best one can and not just whatever one offers is best."
Mahatma Gandhi had stated this very emphatically, saying, "It is the quality of work that pleases the Creator, not the quantity." This is something stirring. A volunteer has to improve on his own quality for providing quality service and this becomes an obligation for every volunteer.
The beneficiary can never be looked down and serving him can best be defined as serving the Divinity by serving his manifestation before one’s own eyes. Swami Vivekananda wants the youth of this country to serve the manifestation in a best way possible when he defines the beneficiary as Daridra Narayana.
Every delegate at the Sewa Sangam had a bagful of experiences to share as almost all of them had started as micro efforts in serving voluntarily and have grown into huge projects with large expanses. For every endeavour had a goal set before them, not just serving the society but to bring in metamorphosis in the society, the Parivartan-as it was all the time being talked about. "Sewa Sangam" was an earnest effort, I could understand, at bringing the Parivartan in the minds of all the beneficiaries, the volunteers and benefactors as well as the society around! (The writer is International Coordinator of Sewa International and has an experience of three decades in the voluntary sector. He can be contacted at shyamparande@gmail.com)

Inspiring Personality: Nanaji Deshmukh

Early childhood
Nanaji Deshmukh was born on October 11, 1916 in Kadoli, a small town in the Parbhani District of Maharashtra to Late Shri Amritrao Deshmukh and Late Shrimati Rajabai Amritrao Deshmukh.
Nanaji’s long and eventful career was full of strife and struggle. He lost his parents at an early age and was brought up by his maternal uncle.
His family had little money to pay for his tuition fees and books, but his keen desire to learn encouraged him to work as a vendor and sell vegetables to raise money to fund his education. He lived in temples and received a higher education at the Birla Institute in Pilani.
Though born in Maharashtra, the fields of his activities were Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Seeing his devotion, the then RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Guruji sent him to Gorakhpur (U.P) as “Pracharak”. He rose to be the Saha Prant Pracharak of Uttar Pradesh.
Social work
After retirement from active politics Nanaji then served Deendayal Research Institute that he himself had established way back in 1969. He wanted Deendayal Research Institute to be devoted to strengthening the movement for constructive work in Bharat.
He did pioneering work towards the anti-poverty and minimum needs programme. Other areas of his work were agriculture and cottage industry, rural health and rural education. Nanaji assumed chairmanship of the institute after relinquishing politics and devoted all his time to building up the institute. He was also instrumental in carrying out social restructuring programme in over 500 villages of both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states of Bharat. He also published the journal “Manthan” (introspection) which was edited by K.R. Malkani for many years.
Nanaji did a lot of social work in Gonda and Beed — the most backward districts of U.P. and Maharashtra respectively. The motto of his project was: “Har hath ko denge kaam, har khet ko denge paanee”.
He finally settled down at the picturesque Chitrakoot, a holy place on the borders of U.P. and Madhya Pradesh. It was in 1969 that Nanaji Deshmukh visited Chitrakoot for the first time. He was moved to see the pathetic condition of the society in the karmabhoomi of Sri Ram the place where Ram spent 12 out of the 14 years in exile. He sat by the holy River Mandakini, and resolved to change the face of Chitrakoot during his life-time. While in exile, Lord Ram started working for the upliftment of the downtrodden here. With this important historical and inspiring background, Nanaji made Chitrakoot the centre of his social work.
He chose to serve the poorest among the poor. He used to remark jokingly that he admired Vanavasi Ram more than Raja Ram and so would like to spend the rest of his life in Chitrakoot among the vanavasis and most backward sections of the society. He kept his vow to his last breath.
He also established Chitarkoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot- Bharat's first Rural University and was its Chancellor.
Deendayal Research Institute (DRI)
Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) was founded in 1972 by Nanaji Deshmukh to validate the philosophy of Integral Humanism propounded by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968). Integral Humanism gives us a vision for Bharat that, with an approach to man and his relationship to society that is integral and complementary, could transform Bharat into a self-reliant and compassionate example for the world to follow.
Nanaji Deshmukh developed a model for the development of rural areas on the basis of Integral Humanism. After initial experiments in Gonda (U.P.) and Beed (Maharashtra), Nanaji finally fine-tuned an integrated program for the development of rural areas that covers health, hygiene, education, agriculture, income generation, conservation of resources, and social conscience, that is both sustainable and replicable. The basis of the project is 'Total transformation through total development with people's initiative and participation'.
The project, called the Chitrakoot Project or the 'Campaign for Self-Reliance', was launched on 26 January 2005 in 80 villages around the Chitrakoot area in the border of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The aim was to achieve self reliance for these villages by 2005. When complete in 2010, the project hopes to make the 500 surrounding villages self-reliant and serve as a sustainable and replicable model for the Bharat and the world.
DRI has association with the following important institutions among others.
The Wadia Group, Apeejay Education Society (AES), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MPCST), India Development Coalition of America (IDCA), Department of Elementary Education (DEE), The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Ayurveda Yoga & Naturopathy Unani Siddha and Homoeopathy(AYUSH) and Sewa International (SI).
Appreciation and recognition
He was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1999.
Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has lavished praise on Nanaji Deshmukh and the organization started by him, the Deendayal Research Institute, for giving the nation the litigation-free model he had devised for resolving disputes. The then President said "In Chitrakoot, I met Nanaji Deshmukh and his team members belonging to the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI). DRI is a unique institution developing and implementing a village development model which is most suited for India,". "Apart from all the development activities, the institute is facilitating a cohesive, conflict-free society. As a result of this, I understand that the 80 villages around Chitrakoot are almost litigation-free". "The villagers have unanimously decided that no dispute will find its way to the courts.

The differences will be sorted out amicably in the village itself. The reason given by Nanaji Deshmukh is that if the people fight among each other, they have no time for development,". "I consider that this model may be propagated in many parts of the country by societal organisations, judicial organisations and governments," Kalam concluded.
Praising Nanaji Deshmukh for his single-minded devotion to the uplift of the people, Kalam said “What the octogenarian leader was doing at Chitrakoot should be an eye-opener for others.”

Mahaprayan : Nanaji died on 27 February 2010 at 4.45 p.m. the premises of Bharat’s first rural university, Chitrakoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya, that he established. He was unwell for some time due to age-related ailments and had refused to be taken to Delhi for treatment. He had willed that his body be donated to Dadhichi Dehdaan Sanstha of New Delhi which accepted and sent his body to All India Institute of Medical Sciences for medical research.

My Haiti Experience
— Vinayak Joshi

I am back from a very memorable volunteer work. Volunteering is not new for me as Sangh have taught that to me from childhood seeing Latur and Moravi physically. But Haiti brings a unique case with a combination of poverty, lack of inland commerce and infrastructure.
95% of homes in the town of Leogane are at ground zero level. People have all their life savings and after 20 years of settled life they will have to start from beginning. Worst than rich to rag stories. And on the top they have lost their loved ones.
During my visit I did see a lot of presence from UN soldiers and many of Indian soldiers representation. Hats off to them. We also have a Indian peace force in Port Au Prince. The tweeter minister had been there some time back !.
I was accompanied with my 2 daughters Saie (13) and Tanvi (17). Many have warned me against going to Haiti myself leave aside taking them due to security and psychological challenging conditions in Haiti. But this was exactly the reason for me to take them with me. Having them was very useful as we did conduct games , conduct family events and visited hospitals in Haiti. Saie and Tanvi played a crucial role in organizing get together session (can call it Shakha) and have lead the Bal Vibhag. It started with 10 kids and within short time reached to 150 kids and total upasthiti at 200 plus.
For that time families laughed, kids exhausted themselves competing for Rassikhesh and soccer like games. Everybody forgot the memories of past 2 months.
Along with this heart building activity we all participated in cleaning the city and rebuilding activities. While leaving my daughters felt that all their hearts were left in Haiti. Same was true with Haitian kids when we departed. The reality of life has made me insensitive to these events but I was also touched to see how soon we have crossed color, race and language barriers.
My 13 year old wrote – “I think I might have actually lost more than I gained on this trip to
Haiti. Firstly, I lost weight. I lost my pride. I lost my materialism. I erased the walls of a comfort zone. I became a humanitarian.”
My 17 year old who secured admission to GW College of medicine wrote – “Working in Haiti has further solidified my ambition to become a borderless physician.

‘We have, I think, developed an inferiority complex. I think what is needed in India today is the destruction of that defeatist spirit. We need a spirit of victory, a spirit that will carry us to our rightful place under the sun”. -- C.V. Raman

Sewa Sandesh 127: March 8, 2010

2010-03-24T05:15:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
Changing the rural scenario in Bharat had been a daunting task. Many have ventured on the path, yet, very few could accomplish. One of the most renowned among them is Shri Nanaji Deshmukh.
Late Shri Nanaji Deshmukh is an exemplary person who decided to retire from the active politics at the age of 65, to utilize his rest of the life for the rural upliftment. All his energies, skills and talent, his contacts were deployed to change the face of villages in Gonda and Chitrakut districts. Nobody needs to explain his achievements through the Deendayal Research Institute as the villages where DRI has been working are the standing monuments of his contribution to the development of those villages.
Visiting Chitrakut mesmerizes the visitor, for a person like Dr. APJ Kalam, ex-Rashtrapati of Bharat spoke at length of his visit to Chitrakut in the Parliament of Bharat. Dr. Kalam personally paid his tribute to Nanaji by visiting DRI in Delhi.
Shri Nanaji breathed his last on 27th February 2010. In life he breathed for the downtrodden and in death, he had endowed his body for the medical research.
We pay our tributes to the towering social worker who started as a Pracharak for Sangh, adopting to the politics some way, only to prosper as a Sewa Vrati. Om Shanti.

IIT Delhi and Kalyan Ashram join hands for rural development

RURAL development department of IIT Delhi and Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram have joined hands for strengthening the process of development in rural areas. As a follow up, they have decided to organize village development camps in Vanvasi villages beginning from April this year. There will be camps in Assam from April 2 to 3, Sundargarh (Orissa) from April 10 to 11, Jashpur (Chhattisgarh) from April 12 to 13, Babhani (Uttar Pradesh) from April 14 to 15. The dates of the camps in Purulia (WB) and Lohardaga (Jharkhand) will be declared later. While the camps in Karnataka, Madhya Bharat and Mahakaushal regions will be held in June.
A joint meeting of both the organisations was organised in New Delhi on January 30 to start the process in a systematic way. Kalyan Ashram workers from Assam, Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Mahakaushal, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir participated in the meeting. The meeting was inaugurated by joint general secretary of Kalyan Ashram Shri Kripa Prasad Singh and Dr Rajendra Prasad as well as Dr SN Nayak of IIT.
Both, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Dr SN Nayak, explained the new technology available for rural development. Shri Kripa Prasad Singh elaborated on the sad condition of rural areas. He said 45000 revenue villages in Vanvasi areas do not have basic facilities and there is a dire need to initiate the efforts of development there. "Connectivity of villages with roads is necessary but providing electricity, transport facility, educational facility and drinking water is the immediate needs. When the state governments have failed to take initiatives on these fronts the social organisations and technical institutions have to do it," he said.
Prof. SS Krishnamurti presented the model of Picco Hydle project which hardly costs Rs 1.5 lakh and can supply power to 100 houses. Two horse power pump supply of water is required for the Hydle project. If the village is situated on the bank of a small river, it could be a successful experiment. IIT can install this project for the villagers. Similarly, the experiment of using solar energy in villages has also been very successful and Government provides subsidy for it to BPL families. Shri Jagdish Joshi, an engineer from Rajasthan, who has done experiments in Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur districts, said the investment from Rs two to three lakh could irrigate 100 acre land for double yield.
The IIT has spared Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr SN Nayak and Sri Ramgopal for this work while the Kalyan Ashram spared Shri Harsh Chouhan, Shri Soumen Gupta, Shri Jagdish Joshi and Shri Prakash Kamath for this project. All these workers are from engineering background and are suitable for the village development programmmes.

Sevabharathi, Tamil Nadu:

Sevabharathi, Tamil Nadu is a socio-cultural sewa organisation striving to bring about the integration and all-round development of society. It ensures that caste, class and religion do not stand in the way of social cohesion. Its service activities reach out to the weaker and neglected sections of the society living in remote villages, forests, hills and slums.
It focuses on five areas of service – Education, Health-care, Social Welfare, Self-sustenance and Disaster Management. Over 7,000 Seva Projects are being implemented all over Tamilnadu.

Whenever and wherever a natural or man-made disaster occurs, Sevabharathi volunteers are often the first to arrive at the scene and the last to depart from it. It is one of the very few NGOs with end-to-end disaster management (rescue, relief and rehabilitation) capability, with over 25,000 disciplined and dedicated volunteers who can assemble at short notice at the disaster site.
As it looks around, it sees an increasing need for broadening and deepening its Seva activities. These millions, mostly from villages and slums, are languishing not for lack of talent, ambition or perseverance, but because they have far fewer opportunities and vastly inferior infrastructure – schools without teachers, the nearest hospital miles away, lack of identity because of zero contact with the mainstream culture...

A little help, guidance and inspiration from it can go a long way in transforming the scene. These people will not only catch up with the rest of people, but make a substantial contribution through their own vigour and skills when their self-esteem is bolstered.Sevabharathi Tamil Nadu is seeing the miracles happening everyday, as it engages with these children, youth, mothers and elders.

Seva Project Summary, December 2009
Education
Play Schools (Balvadi) 26
Free Tuition Centres 342
Value Education Classes 436
Libraries 5
Mobile Libraries 77
Yoga Classes 83
Hindi Classes 4
Children’s Small Savings Forums 737
Health Care
Medical Centres 19
Mobile Medical Services 4
Blood Banks 2
Blood Donor Directories 15
Blood Donation Camps 7
Neurotherapy Centres 14
Ambulances 2
Social Welfare
Bhajan Mandalis 35
Anbu Illams (Orphanages) 14
Women’s Forums 257
Deepa Pooja Groups 1,179
Adolescent Girls’ Counselling Centres 2
Maintenance of Temples (Uzhavarappani) 151
Senior Citizen’s Forums (Sanjeevani) 5
Self-sustenance
Tailoring Training Centres 77
Computer Training Centres 5
Typewriting Training Centre 1
Self-help Groups 3,761
Handicrafts Training Centres 14
Total Projects 7,275

Sewa Sangam in Bengaluru
A search for the grassroots leaders

By Shyam Parande

I had the opportunity to talk and discuss with the grass roots as well as the higher ups in the echelon present in the Sewa Sangam and decided to have a reality check on the ethics that were presented from the podium.
Participants, I could understand, were from large voluntary organisations on the one hand and small on the other, not to mention that there were the mid-size also. Budget and expanse of activity wise, some were restricted to a village or a slum while the others were covering a state. A fine spectrum well spread to understand the quantity and quality of activity, their penetration and acumen in reaching the legitimate needy, I thought. I could talk to quite a number of delegates to gauge the organisations they are working for, their working method, their finance management, their achievements, et al.
Annapurna Mahila Bachat Gat (A women Self Help Group) working in the village Kolda of Nandurbar district is involved in producing the Neem seed kernel powder. The Dr Hedgewar Sewa Samiti through the Krishi Vigyan Kendra Nandurbar had trained the group in producing the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that includes physical, biological, chemical control of pests. The major component of IPM is the Neem seed kernel powder.
The SHG could produce 32 quintals of Neem seed kernel powder last year to earn Rs 48,000 and this year could produce 60 quintals to earn Rs 90,000, making the women participants of the SHG self-reliant, enhancing the confidence of the women from the small and remote village. The Annpurna Mahila Bachat Gat is now looking for other avenues to work together and earn better, helping their kids for improved education.
If this was the case of the SHG producing the Neem powder to be self reliant, the story of some others who utilised the same powder to advance their economic resources needs to be listened to.
Namdev Atmaram Koli, a small farmer from Hatmohida village in the same district had been cultivating Bt. Cotton for quite a few years now. However, he adopted the IPM method since last two years using the produce of the Annapurna Mahila Bachat Gat to save on chemical sprays which cost him Rs 3600 per hectare to Rs 1700 per hectare while the net earning on the cotton produce has been enhance from Rs 27,500 to Rs 39,850 on the same plot of land. The local resources and technology has been effectively used to provide self reliance to the women’s SHG as well as helping the Vanvasi farmers improve on their profits.

I wish to elaborate a case of Kantilal Gojilal Naik, a Vanvasi farmer from Navapur Taluka among the Satpura Mountain. Kantilal was harvesting rice for quite many years and since his training with the KVK Nandurbar has doubled his rice harvest. It was the training in seed treatment, Integrated Nutrient Management, and Improved agronomical practices along with improved rice variety that brought the difference.
But this is a difference that many other NGOs can talk about. Kantilal, the Vanvasi farmer from the remotest village has gathered the courage and conviction to offer his own farmland for experimenting to the agricultural university. Any person with integrity, just cannot ignore what the Sarsanghachalak was talking about and will have to trust his word
Dr Hedgewar Sewa Samiti Nandurbar accomplished the self reliance in the remotest villages through the SHGs and the agricultural innovations. Can we have a look at the urban slums and the much talked about city of Bengaluru?
Ramya, a girl at the age of 5 had to resort to rag picking, like some other children because she lost her parents before that age. She had a noble hearted neighbour who accommodated the young kid but the supporting family was also part of the slum and had economical restrictions. Ramya used to leave the home everyday for rag picking from 8 AM to 8 PM, a rigorous 12 hour routine.
She would spend her entire day rummaging through large piles of trash sorting out and recyclable paper products. At the end of the day Ramya would take the paper products she had collected to a recyclable centre where in exchange for her findings she would receive Rs 10 only, a paltry sum for day long toil. That is inhuman on the part of the civil society.

Ramya was 8 then. She was spotted by a Sewavrati of Nivedita Nele, a home for rag picking girls run by Hindu Sewa Pratishthana Bengaluru. Quickly Ramya could understand the importance of education and joined the Nivedita Nele starting her 1st standard at the age of 8. The challenge of being in a home and discipline was huge for the young girl who was enjoyed the roaming and roving at will on the streets of the city. She struggled a lot to herself for a year or so and was helped by the Sewavratis, full timer ladies, to settle down.
Ramya is now 13 studying the 5th standard and has a dream of serving the aged people whom she watches around while she walks up to her school from Nivedita Nele home. This is amazing to understand that a girl, who was destitute herself, that too within a short period of just 5 years, is dreaming of serving others. Ramya is not alone for singling out. Saumya, a 4th grade student from Nivedita Nele topped her class with 100 per cent marks while Netra, a 10th standard student, excels in traditional Rangoli art and a compere of programmes par excellence.
Let me also talk about a village and this is from the southernmost district of the country-Kanyakumari. Perumal Self Help Group-a women group-has influenced the life of their village absolutely. Caste differences are done away-women representing all castes in the village are members of the group-no discrimination. Drinking water tank-which happens to be the bone of contention in every other village-is open to all villagers. The members of the SHG initiated cleaning process of the tank themselves offering karseva, following which whole village participated. ‘Anganwadi’ centre for the young kid’s education was brought into the village from a neighbouring village as the students had to walk long. An enterprising unit using the green technology to manufacture plates and bowls out of Areca nut leaves has been established-from micro finance to micro enterprise development. The local village Panchayat and Banks, observing the impetus, have joined hands with this SHG offering funding to various schemes in the village.
Well, can not this be called the metamorphosis that the Sarsanghachalak was talking about? Turning the beneficiary into a benefactor, appropriately!
Well, a Ramya from Bengaluru streets, a Kantilal from the remote Vanvasi village in Satpura, the Annapurna Mahila Bachat Gat SHG group from Nandurbar, the Perumal SHG from Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, are just a few examples of the change that is being brought in the minds of the beneficiaries by the dedicated band of activists. Not bothered about someone watching them or not, someone cares for them or not, they have raised the flag of development and that they would carry till they achieve the goal. The urge to serve and the urge to develop are innate and concurrent among the people who volunteer and the people who are being offered some kind of support through this movement. This is something different, I realise from what I see otherwise.

Are they not the "grass roots leaders" joining hands for development of the underdeveloped and yet do not cater any ego, totally selfless shunning name, fame or anything else, and sowing the seed of self reliance in the minds of people who would have been otherwise?
Probably, these are the people who made the Sarsanghachalak speak out for their action.
(To be concluded)
Bhutanese Refugee Empowerment Conference: Sewa International, US is going to organise a conference on Bhutanese Refugee Empowerment. This conference will be held from April 17 to April 18, 2010. Conference details are as follows:
Objective
Empower Bhutanese-Nepalis to settle in the US while preserving their identity and culture.
Conference Need
• With significant experience gained over last two years, a crucible for exchange of experience is vital.
• Success and challenge of the BRE project are uneven geographically. Some chapters have significant successes in certain BRE projects while lagging behind in others.
• It has become increasingly clear among the community that a national forum is needed to address the unique needs of the Bhutanese in the US.
• A platform is needed to nurture National and local leadership among the Bhutanese through mentoring.
• Sewa is happy to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Bhutanese brethren and help them achieve this goal.
Goals and expected outcomes
• Bhutanese brethren and Sewa volunteers will exchange best practices, success and challenges faced.
• Bhutanese to organize themselves into a self-governing national US organization.
Program
• Bhutanese/Sewa delegates from 30 cities. Academicians will share experiences and will guide.
• Determine future plans of action.
• Open session.

TITBITS

1. Good news for millions of diabetic patients. Cow urine, which has many medicinal properties, can also cure diabetes.In a significant development, a three-member team of researchers in Bangalore has found that cow urine contains certain molecules that can fight diabetes. Led by Dr K Jayakumar, professor and head of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Veterinary College under Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (Karnataka, Bharat), the team is in the final stages of identifying the molecule that secretes insulin. This is the first ever scientific study on cow urine and its properties and its findings can change the diabetes treatment in India . Jayakumar said that anti-diabetic activity of cow urine was tested on rats with experimentally induced diabetes. He said rats were orally administered small doses of cow urine daily and there was marked difference in blood sugar levels in these animals. But in the case of diabetic rats which were not administered cow urine, sugar levels remained the same. The cow urine is used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines for centuries. This scientific study promises to give a ray of hope for millions of diabetic patients in the country. Based on a report by Smt. Kestur Vasuki in THE PIONEER, February 19, 2010.
2. Nine children and a teacher were killed on Thursday December 3, 2009 when a school van fell into a 30 – foot deep pond at Panayadikuthagai in Katripulam village of Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district (Tamilnadu, bharat). The pond was full to the brim. Twelve children were rescued from the water by the 22-year-old teacher M . Suganthi, who died by drowing while saving the kids. But for two who were in Class IV, the children were in kindergarten grade. Most of the rescue work was undertaken by local people, who jumped into the pond and forced open the van. One family lost two boys in the accident. Later, on Republic Day, Chief Minister gave away the Anna Medal for Gallantry 2010 to Suganthi for saving the lives of 12 children from drowning. It was presented posthumously to her father Mariappan. The award carries a medal, a cheque for Rs.25,000 and a citation. Based on media reports and the Tamilnadu government press release.
3. Ms Irina Bokova, during her first official visit to India as Director-General of UNESCO, delivered the IGNOU Silver Jubilee lecture on "Building inclusive knowledge societies in a globalized world". Ms Bokova's visit to India has drawn attention to IGNOU, the largest university in the world, as well as to distance education in general. Almost three million students in India and 33 other countries study at IGNOU which is also India's National Resource Centre for Open and Distance Learning and a world leader in distance education. Through its 21 schools of study, 59 regional centres, 2,300 learner support centres and some 52 overseas centres, the university offers 175 certificate, diploma, degree and doctoral programs, comprising around 1,500 courses. IGNOU's staff consist of 380 faculty members and academic staff in headquarters and regional centres while some 36,000 counsellors from conventional institutions of higher learning and professionals from different spheres. With the launch of EduSat (a satellite dedicated only to education) in 2004, and the establishment of the Inter-University Consortium, IGNOU has ushered in a new era of technology-enabled education.
4. Each of the 50 plus saplings girding the Luz Garden Enclave (the High Income Group flats behind Navashakti Vinayaka temple) in Myalpore , Chennai (Tamilnadu, Bharat) promptly receive a bottle of water every morning, thanks to the thoughtful school going kids of the Enclave. As part of New Year celebrations, instead of dinner and dance, the children of this community planted saplings of various trees. The Owners' Association president Dr. A.M. Jayaraman led the activity. Association auditor Shri Raman, impressed with this campaign, announced a gift of Rs, 250 to each of four well-maintained saplings to be given at the end of the year to the child who planted it. — Courtesy: Panchaamritam

"Man is not a detached spectator of a progress immanent in human history, but an active agent remoulding the world nearer to his ideals". — Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

Sewa Sandesh 126: February 8, 2010

2010-02-09T04:53:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk
“Seva Sangam” turned out to be a most memorable event for all the 927 delegates as well as for the organizers. Kudos to organizers who did all they could to make this event successful. P. P Sarasanghchalak Shri Mohanji Bhagwat and Ma. Sarkaryawah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi took time out of their busy schedule to address and meet the delegates of the Seva Sangam. The venue was a technological institution which was most befitting and was decorated imaginatively for the event. The exhibition which sported the canvas of Seva activities across all the states of Bharat, was an example of ingenuity. Ex-Sarsanghchalak Shri Sudarshanji, famous spiritual Master Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji and Yoga master Baba Ramdevji made it to the venue to inaugurate and address the gathering.
Some of the deliberations were participatory and one could understand the enthusiasm the delegates had. By the end of the three days of gruelling schedule, all the delegates were sporting smiles that spoke of the achievement and not of fatigue. The quality of programs and the feeling of togetherness had played magic on them, most probably.

First Sewa Sangam Organised in Bengaluru
Sewa Sangam Resolved To Empower The Weaker Sections of Indian Society

"SERVICE needs to be done without expecting anything in exchange. The God gives us everything we need in our life but He never expects anything from us. We too should serve the society in the similar way without expecting anything from those who are being served," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji while inaugurating the Sewa Sangam at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Yelahanka in Bengaluru on February 6.
The three-day Sangam was organised by Rashtriya Sewa Bharati in order to ensure better coordination between the like-minded service organisations of the country so that the needy people could be served more effectively. The Rashtriya Sewa Bharati came into existence in 2003 with the objective of bringing all sewa organisations at one platform, imparting organisational training to the people interested in service activities.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also stressed the need to have better coordination among all service organisations of the country. "It has been witnessed at certain places that there are many service projects catering to a particular need of the people and they fail to focus on other requirements of the society. There is no need to start another school at the place where there is already one school. If the society needs a dispensary or anything else that should be provided with by other organisations. If we have coordination, there will be no repetition," he said.
Emphasising on engaging maximum number of youth in service activities he said the youth should be encouraged to work for the society through yoga and dhyana. "We have a rich tradition of sewa, sadhana and satsang. They all should be promoted together. The unique confluence of these three things is found nowhere in the world, except Bharat, hence it is the field in which we can guide the whole world," he said.

Baba Ramdev stressed the need to organise all good forces of the country through service activities. "When we see our own image in others then we feel their problems as our own problems. This is what is called sewa. We have to understand the sufferings of our own brethren who have been languishing for years and extending them a helping hand is our responsibility. Serving the needy is the best work in the world. Our services should reach all those who are incapable. The service needs to be rendered with utmost honesty and commitment," he said.

RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat said our basic task should be to make the society strong. "We have to reach the society. If the common man is hungry and is not literate, we have to first make him capable of earning his livelihood with dignity and honour and this can be done only through sewa," he said. He further said, “The prime objective of certain alien forces in the country is to convert our people. But while serving our people we have to keep in mind that we have to first make them samartha (capable) and self-dependent. The service being rendered by RSS workers is to make people strong and it should be ego-free.”
He said, “We are the followers of the culture which teaches that the person whom we are serving may be God.” He praised the work being done by Ekal Vidyalaya activists and Arogya Rakshaks in remote areas. "A swayamsevak has to dedicate all his strength to the society and, if need arises, he should not hesitate to sacrifice his life for the benefit of the society," he said.
Former RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri KS Sudarshan stressed the need to infuse the feeling of oneness into those who are being served. He said our culture helps the man in becoming Narayan (God). He also stressed the need to remove the inferiority complex from the Hindu society.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony RSS rkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi said there is no lack of resources today, what we lack is workforce. We need more workers as the work has to be started in various fields to address many problems of the society. He said the feeling, which generates among us after seeing the sufferings of others, is the real inspiration for serving others. We have to mobilise the people who have such a feeling and should also generate this feeling among those who do not have it. He suggested the workers to draw inspiration from the life of the senior workers as they have seen many ups and downs in the field. "How many projects are being run by us is not important, rather we have to see how effective our project is and how perfectly we are serving the society," he said.
Sahsarkaryavah Shri Madan Das stressed the need to make the work multi-dimensional. He said our overall objective of service activities should be to strengthen the social harmony.

Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh Shri Sitaram Kedilaya said sewa has been regarded as param dharma (supreme duty) in Hinduism. He said service is an effective tool to bring positive change in the society. First Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of RSS Shri K Suryanarayan Rao, Dr NR Shetty and Dr Dayananda Pai were also present.
Inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh more than 700 social service organizations have been formed throughout the country. All these organisations have engaged themselves in the field of education, rural development, economic uplift and many other fields where there is necessity of service. Some highly useful results have been achieved through more than 1,57,000 service activities by swayamsevaks across the country.

Some Highlights
1. 927 delegates representing 452 service organisations of the country attended the Sewa Sangam
2. Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, Spiritual Leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and R.S.S. Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat addressed the gathering in different sessions.
3. An exhibition depicting various Sewa Activities remained a centre of attraction for all the participants. The exhibition was coordinated by Youth For Seva (YFS)
4. A Souvenir namely ‘Parivartan’ was also released by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Sangam.

Emerging Points/Ideas
1. “Think globally, act locally” – It should be outlook of every Sewa worker.
2. To make Sewa work multi dimensional.
3. To increase one’s personal domain through Sewa and reach the status of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”
4. Adopt Sewa as a medium for complete transformation from Nar to Narayan.
5. Natural farming (Bio-farming) practice should be popularized.
6. Sewa is not just charity. It is about transforming the lives of people.
7. Sewa is a means. It is not an end in itself.
8. Mobilization of Resources should be encouraged at local level.
9. The quality of Sewa work should not be compromized.
10. Honesty, accountability and transparency must be maintained in financial matters.

Sevavardhini

Sevavardhini, a support service initiative was established in 1998 in Maharashtra with the aim to facilitate the field level voluntary activism.
* Sevavardhini aims to connect field level voluntary initiatives and support agencies with each other for best use of resources.
Nationwide network of 200 plus such initiatives engaged in variety of social sectors like Energy, Self-employment, Agriculture, Rural Development, Watershed, Women & Child Empowerment, Education, Health, Culture, Rehabilitation etc.
* Sevavardhini provides various support services like Project formulation, Survey, PRA & other studies, Case study, Assessment & Evaluation, Training workshops etc. to these organizations and to trying to streamline resources and techonology from where they are available to those areas where it is really required.
Dimensions
1. Empowerment of field level voluntary agencies.
2. Development of a strong interface between donor agencies & voluntary organisations.
3. Basic and Applied research and development in various Seva Initiatives.
4. Evaluation and monitoring of Sewa Projects
Programs
* Training programs and workshops.
* Exhibitions & Seva Fairs
* Exposure visits to Seva projects
* Sevafairs – Access to Markets for Gramodyog/village-cottage industries.
* Evaluation and Monitoring of Organisational structure.
National, regional and Sectoral Advisory Boards for
1. Voluntary Initiatives
2. Donors
3. Government Initiatives
4. Overseas Funding
Panel of experts to guide these Seva initiatives in their day to day activities.
Operational Methodology
* Identification of Seva Projects of field level voluntary organisation.’
* Evaluation of Seva Projects.
* Survey and need identification for Seva Projects.
* Networking of Seva Projects with other similar Seva initiatives, individuals.
* Periodic training programs for member organisations.
* Streamlining resources to Seva projects.
Capacity Building Programs
1. Registration of voluntary organisation.
2. Management of voluntary organization
3. Accounts keeping
4. Project proposal formulation
Training on Waste management-Biogas-Entrepreneurship development etc.
Success Stories
* Bee keeping training has resulted in increased earnings for tribal youth living in remote parts of Raigad, Nanded, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nandurbar, and Dhule districts.
* Sequence of Entrepreneurship Development Programs and training in Modern Management skills for Women SHG members has boosted their confidence of self employments.
* Training in food processing has promoted tribal people for best use of local natural resources for their livelihood.
Exhibitions
1. Provide platform for SHGs, Artisans, to showcase their products.
2. Sevafairs in Corporates around Pune in Diwali and other fevtivals.
Project planning & Proposal drafting: Through this service number of organistion have been benefitted with funding and other support from Government, Corporate and individuals donors.
Organisations it works with
1. Khadi and village industries commission.
2. NABARD
3. Bank of Maharashtra
4. Ministry of Agriculture
5. Institution of Engineers
6. Centre for Environment Education
You can participate by
* Sharing your time and expertize
Fund and other resource mobilization
* Connecting like minded people with this cause.

Nanaji Deshmukh: An Obituary

If white is the colour of renunciation, it suited Nanaji Deshmukh perfectly. It was the favourite colour of this great modern-day sanyasi who passed away in Chitrakoot on February 27 at age 94. Clad in spotless white dhoti and kurta, and sporting a flowing white beard, he looked every bit the yogi he was.

Nanaji was one of the heroes of the underground struggle against the Emergency. However, when the Emergency was lifted in 1977 and the Janata Party won a landslide victory in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, he declined Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s offer to join his cabinet. He lamented that power-oriented politics created divisions in society. He therefore renounced it, went to Chitrakoot to implement his vision of rural development, and never looked back. What he achieved there on a micro-scale in two districts, one in UP and the other in MP, was impressive and earned kudos from everybody who visited Chitrakoot — from JRD Tata to A P J Abdul Kalam. He established India’s first rural university. The Krishi Vigyan Kendras that he set up were among the best in the country.
"Nobody from our village has migrated to cities in the past six years," said a farmer. That is the best tribute anyone could pay to this remarkable social activist who was part RSS, part Gandhian and part socialist.

“NO nation devoid of faith in high moral principles can really rise high and attainment of these principles should coincide with, if not precede, material prosperity to make it really great.”
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Sewa Sandesh 125: January 8, 2010

2010-01-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk
The ovation received by the Vishwa Mangal Gau Gram Yatra all through its course, in almost all states of Bharat, was an indicator of the longing of the farmers and villagers towards the traditionally time tested cow based agriculture. Villages after villages were all festooned the first of its kind of Yatra highlighting the importance of “Gau Mata” and the yearning for the development of the villages through agro based industry which has the potential to provide employment on a mass scale. The yatra has generated environmental awareness together with organic farming, usage of Ayurveda, water management, afforestation and all related issues.
Social activists from various foras joined hands for the successful completion of the Yatra while Swamis and Sadhus provided the spiritual support to the Yatra in abundance, gracing the Yatra all along. This issue is devoted to the “Vishwa Manga Gau Gram Yatra” for the benefit of our readers.

Massive response to Gou Gram Yatra
Yatra turns into a mass movement

The Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra has turned into a mass movement. The enthusiasm developed among the people by the Yatra has started agitating the people. The speeches of the saints exhorted the people especially the youth to come forward to protect the cow. On the other hand the subyatras being taken out in many states have awakened the people at the grassroots level. The groups of workers educated the people about the need of cow protection and rural development.
On the very first day itself, i.e. October 1, 2009 the people waited for hours at the places fixed to welcome the Yatra in bright sunlight. The Yatra was normally moving late due to the unprecedented reception being accorded to it by the gobhaktas at different places. People stoped the yatra in middle way and did not allow it moving further till they welcomed the saints, performed goupuja and expressed their commitment for cow protection. People in villages were happy as they felt that for the first time some-people were fighting for their cause. People from all sections of the society including children, youth, old and women participated with full vigour and fervour. The Yatra has also cleaned the image of Indian youth who are depicted an anti-Indian culture by a section of media. The youth in particular were seen highly energetic for cow protection and village development.

The way the villagers extended warm welcome to the Yatra in whole India, is a clear indication that they are ready to fight for their rights and also for cow protection. The Yatra has not only mobilized the common man for cow protection but also established the fact that the forces committed to restore pride of the nation were not yet weakened. Women in Hisar (Haryana) distributed more than 10,000 food packets to the gobhaktas. An emotional wave was seen in the areas of Punjab too where the Yatra visited. It also received warm welcome while entering in Jammu on October 6, 2009 which is considered as highly sensitive region for security reasons.
It is unique Yatra spreading the message of Bharatiyata. Recognising the cow as a symbol of change, it was moving with the objective of bringing a positive change in the system. It was an initiative, which generated a debate all over the nation, for the first time after Independence, whether the model of development we adopted during the last 62 years led us to prosperity and development or to destruction.
The Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra formally began from Kurukshetra on Vijayadashami Day i.e. September 28, 2009. Began with the Gayatri yajna and Kamdhenu yajna performed on the banks of Brahm Sarovar in Kurukshetra, the Yatra touched more than five lakh villages of country in 108 days. The Yatra basically educated the countrymen about the significance of govansh, Indian traditional social, economic structure and their relevance in today’s perspective. The senior saints were educating and exhorting the common men for cow protection and her preservation at various halts and also in the welcome meetings normally organized at night halts of the Yatra.

Starting from Kurukshetra the Yatra turned to north direction. Within just one week it reached the beautiful valleys of the Himalayas where the nature still exits with its full youth and beauty. As the Yatra moved forward, subyatras continued to join it and very soon it took the form of a gigantic movement. Crossing many mountains and valleys of Jammu and Himachal Pradesh the Yatra entered Uttarakhand, situated in the Shivalik range of Himalayas. The enthusiasm of the people even in the small towns was very encouraging. There was the same shankhdhvani, the same slogans for protection of the cow, the Ganga and the Gita and the same inspiring speeches of the saints, but the crowd listening to the speeches and raising slogans was different at every place but with same vigour, energy, faith and devotion.
Originating from the hills and joining many tributaries as the Ganga takes a gigantic form while entering the plain area, the Vishwa Manga Gou Garam Yatra also took a gigantic form receiving energy from the subyatras that joined it at many places. This form of the Yatra began from Chandigarh and continued to assume bigger and bigger form.
When the Yatra was in Haryana, the Ramlila Grounds at Paper Mill was packed beyond its capacity. There was a big line of the vehicles driven by the villagers participating in the welcome meeting. They included buses, jeeps, tractor-trolleys, etc. People from adjoining villages of Yamunanagar and Jagadhari like Nadgarh, Darpur, Rampur, Golani, Khajuri, Budiya, Thana Dhapar, Sathora, Mugalwani and others had started reaching the ground since noon and stayed there till Swami Akhileshwaranand administered them the oath of cow protection at 8.14 pm. The people responded with clappings on the speech of Shankaracharya Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji. The ground continued to reverberate with the clappings and slogans. This response proved that the public was still with those who were honestly fighting for their cause.
People’s participation was inspiring in this agitation launched to make the village self-reliant and taking the nation to the pinnacle of economic prosperity. After crossing the river Yamuna, the Yatra reached Saharanpur city of Western Uttar Pradesh where thousands of gobhaktas had assembled even in early morning to welcome it. Even after the Yatra left Saharanpur, the people continued to come in tractor – Trolleys and in other vehicles.

Besides the local people, there were many leading saints at the function held in Haridwar. Apart from the cow they also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the River Ganga. Prior to it, the Yatra received overwhelming welcome at Dev Sanskrit University in Shantikunj. Many senior leaders of Gayatri Parivar were present at the function. The meeting held in Roorkee at night was very impressive. The BT Gang crossing of the city was packed beyond its capacity. Those who did not get the place to sit were standing on the sides. Noted Muslim leader Chhote Miyan Moinuddin Sabri described the cow slaughter as anti-Islam at the function and appealed to the people of all communities to save the cow at any cost.
The scene in Muzaffarnagar was no less impressive than in Saharanpur. There was a large crowd of gobhaktas and the people were continued to come. The main attraction at this meeting was the presence of noted farmers’ leader Shri Mahendra Singh Tikait. Addressing the gathering in his local style he said, “Cow is a unique gift of the nature to the mankind and everything she gives is useful for the man.” He also explained how she is useful for the agriculture and what adverse effects the people are facing today due to the negligence of the cow and her progeny. He said , “It is his own experience that the family, which has a cow, encounters less disease than the families, which do not have cows”. He also quoted Swami Dayanand to prove his argument. After the speech when some youth started asking him some questions he said: “I had almost lost all hopes that somebody will save the Indian breeds of cows. But looking at the response to this Yatra it appears that our Indian cow will definitely be saved now”.
The Tyagi Hotel Ground of Meerut was packed to its capacity, and there was a huge crowd at the meeting in Garh Mukteshwar. The slogan of Gomata ki Jai was reverberating from the venue to the banks of the Ganga. The pain of the farmers and the villager was clearly visible during the speech of Shri Raghveshwara Bharati Swamiji. It was a very emotional moment when the young saint Shri Atul Krishna Maharaj administered the crowd of more than 20,000 people the oath of cow protection. The meeting in Moradabad began late in the evening and concluded late at night. After the speech of Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji the local mediapersons reached the place where he was to stay at night.
Beginning from Moradabad and passing through Haldwani, Khatima and Pilibhit the Yatra reached Bareilly where people had been waiting for hours. The atmosphere at the meeting turned very emotional when Shri Atul Krishna Maharaj informed the gathering that Bareilly is the historic Ahichchhatra region. Recalling his family traditions Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji informed that his ancestors migrated to the southern region from this Ahichchhatra region itself about 1500 years back. The next morning he went to see the ruins of the Ahichchhatra Empire. These ruins spreading over 100 km near Anwala and its surrounding areas can be seen even today. When Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji offered Sashtang Pranam to the Shivlinga there it appeared as if the gap of centuries had filled in a mater of second. He also resolved for renovation of this land of his ancestors.
Passing through Badanyun, the Yatra reached Kasganj on October 13, 2009 where it received grand welcome. People were showering flowers from both sides when it passed through the main streets of the city. People extended special welcome at many places. The participation of rural people was very inspiring here. Same day the Yatra reached Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, where a large number of saints were present at the meeting. Gopalan and goupujan is an integral part of daily life here. The Yatra reached Agra on October 14, 2009 where the gathering of people was very inspiring. In the presence of thousands of people, the Yatra was flagged off from Western Uttar Pradesh on October 15, 2009. Visiting Dhaulpur of Rajasthan and Muraina and Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh it again entered Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.
Traversing over 19,000 kilometres the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra reached Delhi on December 26, 2009. The response it received all over the national capital was tremendous. Youth took out vehicle rallies and burnt firecrackers to vent out their enthusiasm. At the same time people showered flower petals from both sides of the road and women conducted kalash yatras as well as performed deep pujas.

Addressing the goubhaktas at Uttam Nagar, Gokarna Peethadhishwar Shankaracharya Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji said the goubhaktas would not bend before the government, rather the government would be forced to impose complete ban on cow slaughter. “If one fourth population of the country signs the memorandum to this effect, the government shall have to ban cow slaughter and enact a Central law for it,” he said.
Earlier, addressing a gathering at Andheria Mode on the night of December 26, 2009 the Gokarna Peethadhishwar said, ’The Yatra is not being conducted by any religious sect, Peeth, political party or the person of any State, it is being conducted for the welfare of the whole world. The larger number of cows which are being killed today in so-called Independent India, were not killed even during the British and Mughal period. It is very unfortunate that the policymakers and rulers have to be told that cow is their mother and if she is not saved today the very existence of the country will be at stake,” he said urging the government to save the country from destruction and enact a Central law for cow protection.
A total of five large meetings were held in Delhi at Lado Sarai, Kalyanpuri, Yamuna Vihar, Pitampura and Uttam Nagar. More than one lakh people participated in all the meetings. Apart from it, various social, religious and cultural organisations of Delhi also welcomed the Yatra at more than 100 places. In Yamuna Vihar, some Muslim youth participated in the procession in an open car and extended complete support to the cause of cow protection.

Addressing the gathering at Netaji Subhash Place in Pitampura Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of RSS Shri Sitaram Kedilaya said, “Formation of Gramrajya is must for the formation of Ramrajya. That is why Gandhiji had called upon the educated youth to move to the villages and take concrete steps for village protection”. Describing the cow and the village as two eyes of the country he said, “Both these eyes are in danger today. It is due to the blind following of the west, both in deeds and thinking, that we are totally dependent on the west”, He emphasized, “If the nation has to be protected from destruction and has to be led to prosperity and development three mantras have to be kept in mind and to be followed in practical life. These mantras are—turn to the village, turn to the cow and turn to the nature”. A ‘Kavi Sammelan’ was also organised at Pitampura in which various leading Hindi poets including Shri Gajendra Solanki participated.

Addressing the gathering at Yamuna Vihar, national secretary of the Yatra Shri Shankar Lal appealed to the government to stop cross-breeding of cows and set-up a separate ministry at the Centre for cow protection. He also demanded declaration of the cow as national animal and strict implementation of the anti-cow slaughter laws in the states where they have already been enacted.
Mahant Naval Kishore Das appealed to the countrymen to boycott all the things made of leather and contribute in cow protection by using the products made of panchgavya and other things provided by the govansh. He stressed the need to save one rupee and a chapati everyday for cow. Underlying the religious significance of the cow he said, “The benefit one gets by conducting the parikrama of 33 crore gods and goddesses, the same benefit can be get by just one parikrama of the cow.” Swami Ramate Yogi and Smt Shahnaz Afjal of Muslim Rashtriya Manch also addressed the gathering in Yamuna Vihar.

The Gou Gram Yatra visited all over India including Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gujarat and Rajasthan. A section of the main Yatra segregated from Siligiri traversed in north-eastern states. It concluded on January 13 at Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh. The concluding ceremony of the main Yatra held at Nagpur on January 17, 2010 and signatures of crores of people would be handedover to the President of India Smt Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on January 31, 2010 in New Delhi.
According to Shri Shankarlal over 10,000 subyatras had been conducted in different parts of the country which touched each and every village in their respective areas. A total of 175 subyatras were conducted in Delhi alone from December 18-20, 2009 which visited each and every colony of Delhi.

A world record of
signatures
The founder of Arya Samaj, Mahrishi Dayanand Saraswati had once appealed to the countrymen to collect two crore signatures for cow protection. He hoped that the collection of the signatures in such a huge number would force the government to ban cow slaughter. But unfortunately two crore signatures could not be collected then. After that, many signature campaigns were conducted demanding ban on cow slaughter. The biggest record of such campaigns is the collection of two crore signatures by RSS swayamsevaks in 1952 on the call of
the then RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji. But the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra is going to break this record too and will set a new world record. As per the initial indications, the signatures being collected will be in at least nine digits.
The signature campaign has gotten tremendous response all over the country. There was no lack of people signing the memorandum, rather the number of workers collecting the signatures was falling short.
At the meeting in Rajkot, Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji received 12.65 lakh signatures collected from Rajkot city, Amareli and Jamnagar districts. A cow of ‘Geer’ breed was worshipped at this function. The unique attraction of this function was that a total of 492 goubhaktas donated blood at this function equal to the weight of this cow. A digital signature campaign was also launched at the website of Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra (www.gougram.org) which too received tremendous response.
Bhutanese Refugee Farmers Sell Shares of Indian Vegetables for 2010 Harvest
It has been 18 months since Bhutanese of Nepali origin started arriving in Greater, Cleveland areas in the largest refugee resettlement in the UN history. With 20,000 arriving into the US till now, over 400 have settled down in the Greater Cleveland area.
Though many of the Cleveland Bhutanese found entry-level jobs in this difficult economy, a majority of the working-age group over 40 years of age are having a difficult time due to language and lack of marketable skills (40% of eligible labor). This population cohort is the most vulnerable and is growing as more rufugees of lesser skills trickle in. The Bhutanese population is expected to quadruple over the next three years in Greater Cleveland.
Enter Mark Mackovjak, a farmer from Madison, Ohio, started training a group of Cleveland Bhutanese through Project Krishi of Sewa International USA. A volunteer-based organization Sewa International is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization that is working to resettle the Bhutanese refugees in 30 cities across the USA. Introduced to Sewa International by Prof Francis Weng (Adjunct Faculty, Horticulture Department, University of Akron). Mark promptly offered his wellequipped 104-acre farm with its own water supply (farm is 4 miles from Lake Erie), two netural gas wells, twelve greenhouses, a deer pen, and a large barn with a big walk-in cooler, for year-round farming.
Ten Bhutanese families took advantage of the opportunity to learn farming under North American conditions. Mark taught these Bhutanese how to use farming equipments. Working patiently and overcoming the language and cultural barrier, Mark turned out to be a natural Guru for teaching these enthusiastic students.
Tradiing the oxen for tractors and modern farming equipment, the Bhutanese farmers learned quickly. They in turn brought in their organic farming skills to create a hybrid technique to seed, plant, weed, prune, fertilize and finally harvest a variety of pesticide-free vegetables including tomato, beets, broccoli, peppers, superhot chillis, Hungarian green and sweet potatoes, cucumbers, herbs, etc.
Sewa International donors gifted a camper-on-wheels and stationed it on the farm to solve the problem of day-to-day transportation from Bhutanese apartments on the West side of Cleveland to Madison. The camper came completedly equipped with electricity, gas, air-conditioning, kitchen, beds and a shower. A portable toilet was also installed on the farm. With this the number of trips were cut down to once a week. Most Bhutanese do not have a driver’s license, and cannot afford to own a car with insurance.
Come the time of harvest – what to do with the produce? Sewa volunteers again solved the problem of marketing by settling them up with farmers markets in Cleveland Clinic and at Cleveland State University, and, helping them to sell produce retail through groups of Indian community such as the Sai Group of Solon. The Sai Group of Solon along with Sewa volunteers through the Value-Added Produce Program taught Bhutanese women to pickle the excess produce that would have gone to waste. Two hundred twelve oz bottles of South Indian pickles were made, sealed, and sold for $6 a bottle, which was instantly gobbled up the Indian community.
Fast forward to the present. With the pilot of Project Krishi a success, the Bhutanese fromed Shangrila Farms LLC along with farmer Mark. They are now selling shares of the pesticide-free produce for the 2010 harvest through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) approach.
CSA is gaining popularity for more than 15 years in the USA among locovers (literally local produce eaters), and people who worry about food travel miles – that is how far this tomato at the supermarket has traveled from its origin.
The CSA concept is simple. Farmer Mark explains, “In January 2010, you invest in a share from Shangrila Farms. From June thru September (20 weeks), pickup pesticide-free produce of 12-15 lbs. Each Saturday from a local distribution point in your neighborhood. In addition to staple vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, beans, onions, potatoes and such, we have formulated a special produce mix for the Indian community – bottle gourd (loki), bitter gourd (kerala), Grey pumpkin, gherkins (tindora/tonda), snake gourd (padval), fenugreek leaves (menthe), brinjals (round variety and log variety), and okra (bhindi)”.
If you are unable to pick up our share for instance due to vacation that week, do not worry your share will be donated in your name to the local food bank to feed the needy.
Santi ram Poudel, leader of Bhutanese farmers, adds, “The beauty of CSA is that weekly produce mix changes and you will not be bored, each vegetables is grown at its optimal growing time and picked fresh by us on the day of delivery, hence guaranteeing you the best and frehest. On top of that you get your Indian herbs like mint, ginger, etc.”.
Hira Foretedar, a Sewa International volunteer closely involved with the project, says.
“Not only you will get pesticide-free fresh vegetables delivered to your neighborhood, you will be helping many refugee families settle down in the US.”
Santi Ram continues “We are happy for all the support of the Indian community and the mainstream American community that has provided in this difficult time in our lives. We are grateful for that”.
Anil Kumar Singh, the coordinator for Sewa International Cleveland Chapter adds, “Sewa is proud to help the refugees who are our brothers from the sub-continent.
“We are also happy that Project Krishi was covered by the Plain Dealer, Christian Science Monitor, and TV Channel 5 bringing awareness to the tribulations, hopes and triumphs of the Bhutanese refugees”. --Courtesy: India International, Jan 2010
Bhutanese Refugees : A Brief History
Xenophobia (majority in Bhutan follow Tibetan Buddhism and are of Mongolian descent), preservation of political status quo and resistance to democratic reforms by the Bhutan monarchy led to pogroms – arrests, murders, rape, and looting through state security apparatus on the minority Hindus in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s.
This led to a large-scale deportation and forced migration of nearly 90,000 of these Bhutanese Hindus to nearby Nepal via India (Sikkim).
Having lived in difficult refugee camp conditions in a state of limbo for 17 years with no visible agreement between Nepal and Bhutan, the UN Human Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) requested its member countries to absorb the now 107,000 size refugee population.
The US responded by agreeing to resettle 60,000 between 2008 - 2012, while Canada, the UK, Norway, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand also agreed to provide a new home to them.
Sewa International USA is working in 30 cities across the United States to help resettle the Bhutanese after the government programs, which end after 4-8 months after they arrive.
“If any men or creatures come to you, do no discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect. Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting”— Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Sewa Sandesh 124: December 8, 2009

2009-12-08T01:45:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk
The idea of Sewa (service) has played a prominent role in evolution of Sikh religion. According to Sikkhism service should not be confined to fixed forms of sectarian charity but shall be freely varied according to the needs of those to whom it is rendered.
The cultivation and practice of self less service which is termed as Nishkam Sewa in Gurbani or Sikh scriptures attracts God’s grace and when He bestows His favour the Holy name comes to dwell in that person who performs such service. Guru Nanak says – “Practice Charity and worship the Lord and deal honestly with your fellow beings”.
Extending Sewa beyond Sri Gurudwaras and to the needy wins the followers of Sri Guru Nanak Devji the confidence of the fellow countrymen and even other societies. This would surely carry the holy message across.

Sikh Sangat To Organise Service Activities During

Kumbha Mela In Haridwar

The two-day national convention of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat was organised in Haridwar from November 29 - 30. About 150 delegates from different parts of the country participated in the convention. It decided to organise fifteen service acivities during the Kumbha Mela beginning from January 13 in Haridwar. About four crore devotees are expected to have a dip in the River Ganga during the Mela.
Following the rich Sikh traditions, the Sangat would organise langar, free medical camps, exhibition highlighting the great Sikh traditions, residential arrangements for the needy, Sarvadharma Sant Sammelan, Rashtra Raksha Sammelan, Keertan Darbar, etc. Sampark Pramukh of the Sangat Dr Avatar Singh Shastry would look after these service activities.
Apart from taking various decisions related to the organisation, the national executive was also reconstituted and Sardar Gurucharan Singh Gill was again elected national president for next two years.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony, former Union Minister Dr Subramaniam Swamy recalled the contribution of Sikh community in development of the nation and said that many great personalities of the community made sacrifices for the sake of Hindu society. RSS National Executive member Shri Indresh Kumar, founder of the Sikh Sangat Sardar Chiranjiv Singh, VHP vice president Shri Balkrishna Naik, general secretary of the Sikh Sangat Shri Avinash Jaiswal and many other distinguished social leaders also attended the convention.

Micro Finance – A Unique Experiment of Udyamita Vidyapeeth, Deendayal Research Institute (DRI), Chitrakoot

After providing training to rural youths at Udyamita Vidyapeeth, Deendayal Research Institute’s Rural Entrepreneur Training Centre at Chitrakoot, it was found that (except for raw material based industries) no trained individual could be able to set up his/her own industry due to lack of resources. To overcome this problem, Udyamita Vidyapeeth, drew out a project proposal to encourage the rural youth to avail themselves of bank loans. However, none of the youth was willing to get loans. They cited several difficulties, including the payment of interest, as the reason for their reluctance.
Thus, Udyamita Vidyapeeth realized that the funding requirement of the majority of villagers was the main concern. From donations received by the Institute, Udyamita Vidyapeeth opened a bank account in the name of ‘Swavalamban”, to make available the interest free micro loans to the needy.
Methodology:
The methodology to ensure repayment and ‘zero default’ was as follows:
1. Organising meetings in the village, attended by the villagers and Samaj Shilpi Dampati of a particular cluster, where the villagers themselves recommend the name of the candidate.
2. In some cases, the candidate contributes up to 50% of the capital requirement. His/her ability to raise funds is verified by the villagers themselves.
3. At the end of the meeting, selected candidates are asked to come to Udyamita Vidyapeeth to collect their cheques and complete other formalities on a particular date.
4. During their visit to Udyamita Vidyapeeth, the candidates are welcomed, shown around the campus, provided lunch, told about the sources of the funds and also introduced to senior DRI functionaries present there.

This gives them a sense of belonging and togetherness, as opposed to the fear of being entrapped by the funding institutions.
5. The candidates are photographed and have to sign a mortgage agreement on Rs. 10/- stamp paper that remains in force until the repayment of the total loan amount. After that, cheques are handed over to them.
6. The Samaj Shilpi Dampati ensures that the shop/enterprise is started within 2 working days from the date of receipt of the cheque, and on the 3rd day, the officials of Udyamita Vidyapeeth check that the loan has been properly utilized at the village level.
Since its inception in May 2004, a total of Rs. 6,00782.00 has been distributed to 207 beneficiaries. The loan recovery rate in clusters where Samaj Shipli Dampati works has been 100%. The loans have been made available to all – whether educated or uneducated; young or old; man or woman; farmer or landless worker. The sole criterion for providing loan to the villagers was their poor economic condition.
The main objective of this unique experiment was to support unemployed rural youths through micro finances so that migration to urban centres can be checked, and demand for training of employment generating skills can be increased.

Rashtriya Sikh Sangat

Rashtirya Sikh Sangat is a Socio-Cultural Organisation, which propagates the massage of SANJHIWALTA of Shri Guru Granth Sahibji.
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat was formed on 24th Nov, 1986 on the Guruprakash Purab of Jagatguru Nanak Sahibji Maharaj.
Gursikh Meet Chalo Gur Chali
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat is working for the cause of Gurmat and Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj’s “Marg of Sikhi”. Rashtriya Sikh Sangat thinks that the entire Hindu Society should also be made acknowledge of the high ideals of Sikhism, Sikh History throughout the world. Presently it is running 543 organisational units in India and 16 units abroad.
Different Dimensions of Area of Work
With the inspiration of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, Sangat Sansar Society (Regd). Is publishing a Magazine with name & style of “Sangat Sansar” in the same premises. “Sangat Sansar” Magazine basically writes about the Gurbani, history of Guru Sahiban, history of Sikhs & Guramat. The magazine also focuses on the ancient spiritual knowledge, nationalist ideals, Indian theosophical subjects. It also takes up the social and political issues related to the sikh masses.
Its new website is www.sangatsansar.org. For that, the organization has a well trained team and a well equipped computerized office. It is the first Punjabi (Gurumukhi), Hindi (Devnagari) & English website about the Sikh Gurus, Sikh history, Gurbani & Sikh Gurdwaras.
Newly acquired Office, Its Renovation and Expansion
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has acquired a new office at Karol Bagh. The organization is at the same time planning the expansion of the premises. Under the guidance of the seniors of the organization, different Vibhags of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat function in the office.

Bhai Gurudas Pustakalya
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has started a Library, which has books on the subjects of Gurbani, History of Guru Sahiban, Sikh scriptures of Punjab, Gurmat Philosophy & Ancient Spiritual Heritage of Bharat. The organization has also chalked out a plan for the expansion of this project. Starting of this kind of projects are also being considered, in which financial aspect is most important ingredient.
Sangat Vichar kaksh
A well computerized office with aim to design the website of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat and “Sangat Sansar” Magazine is under-progress. A group of young, intellectual workers of the organization has been formed to publish literary work with nationalist ideas in Sangat Vichar Kaksh.

Bibi Nanaki Rasoi (Langar)
Sikh Sangat and its workers come to central office and have Langar with the blessings of Shri Guru Maharaj. It wants to expand this sewa as a great tradition of Sikh Gurus. This Langar Sewa runs with the contributions of the Guru Ki Sangat.
Baba Deep Singh Ranjit Akhara
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has been planning to start an institution to train the masses with traditional Khalsa Marshal Art – The Gatka; the seviour of the Sanatan Dharma. Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has crafted a plan with a road map to establish a consistent dialogue with the different sections of the Sikh Social Groups residing throughout the world.
Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara Foundation
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has started working among the great Banjara Community, which is spread all over the country including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarkhand. Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara Foundation has started to construct a building to train the children of Banjara community in the field of Gurbani Kirtan or Raag Vidhya, Kathavachan, Gurbanivachan & other fields of Khalsa Traditions in village Qasimpura, Tehsil-Bhopa, Disst.- Muzaffarnagar (U.P.) as first step.

Zero Waste Policy: An Inspiring story

For S. Indra Kumar, a machine operator-turned-environment activist, charity begins at home. No chemical, save the soap he uses, enters his home. And no waste is ever let out. This makes his modest dwelling in Pammal, the southern suburbs of Chennai, a "zero-waste home".
He didn't have to read rocket science to turn his residence into a "green" home. He is inspired by the simple, age-old chemical process that every housewife in India is familiar with. "If you leave a bowl of milk behind for five days, how will it smell when you come back? Rotten, right? But if you put a drop of buttermilk into it before you leave, you'll find fresh curd!" beams Indra Kumar (59), whose 1986-built house has now become a pilgrimage for those wanting to do their bit for the environment — be it farmers from Arakkonam or school students from Chennai.
"Here, smell it," says Indra Kumar, as he opens the lid of the septic tank in his garden. One instinctively recoils, but its contents look as harmless as accumulated rain water. "Is there smell?" No. "Do you see any mosquitoes?" No. "That's because I treat sewage with a certain bacteria," he declares. The bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, neutralise the sewage to turn waste into manure for plants in his garden.
Then, the earthworm takes care of the liquid waste from the kitchen. Under the drainage pipe, Kumar has buried some worms which not only digest the organic matter but also feed on mosquito eggs. And at the spot where water from the bathroom drains out, he grows cama plant, whose roots treat the soap water.
Solid waste from kitchen is collected in an earthen pot and dried cowdung sprinkled on it periodically. "Any smell?" Indra Kumar asks. No. "Any fly?" No. "In 60 days this will turn into beautiful compost," he exclaims. He treats leaves from the garden similarly: collects them in drums and sprinkles dried cowdung on them till they turn into compost. "This way, you give back to nature what it gives you. People often burn dry leaves, which only causes pollution."
Indra Kumar's fascination for composting is understandable because in 2004, he took voluntary retirement from Areva (formerly the English Electric Company, where he worked as a machine-man and then as a purchase supervisor) to take up vermi-composting. Today, as the president of Home Exnora, he is a sought-after man who is called by universities and citizens' group to speak on waste management. "If you control pollution at the micro-level, it doesn't require any money or the government's involvement. People only think about what they eat or what they drink. But what about the air that you breathe non-stop, right from the time you are born?" Kumar asks. — Times of India , 17 Nov 2009

An Extraordinary Indian - S. Sreedhar

A lazy Sunday morning, when the majority of people relax with a cup of hot coffee and a newspaper, S Sreedhar is at the mortuary at the general hospital in Chennai. The hospital authorities hand over 17 bodies wrapped in a white cloth to him. No, they are not his relatives. In fact, all those 17 people are strangers to him -- unclaimed bodies with no one to give them a last farewell.
Sreedhar takes all these unknown bodies to the cemetery, and gives them a decent burial after showering them with rice, flowers and milk with a prayer on his lips. They are buried because the names or religion of the dead are unknown. If the deceased are Hindu and from an old age home, he gives them a proper cremation according to Hindu rites.
Back home, Sreedhar, associate vice-president, IndiaInfoline, does not feel bad that his weekly holiday starts in a burial ground. On the contrary, he feels calm and blissful, having bidden farewell with dignity to some unknown souls. Sreedhar started this service of cremating the unknown 24 years ago in 1985 after he happened to read the book Daivathin Kural (God's voice) by Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, the Paramacharya or senior shankaracharya of the Kanchi Mutt.
"In the book, he says that a dead man should be given a decent farewell irrespective of the caste or religion the person belongs to. When the atma (soul)) leaves the body, it should be given a proper farewell. This is the belief of all Hindus." The observation made Sreedhar think of all those unknown and unclaimed bodies in the hospitals and the abandoned old people in old age homes. And when he expressed his desire to cremate the abandoned bodies to the Paramacharya, he blessed Sreedhar and asked him to go ahead.

Titbits: 1. On October 9, 2009, Nagendran made some purchases in the market of Kallakurichi in Villupuram district (Tamilnadu, Bharat). When he took out money from his pocket, he failed to notice a packet that fell down. It contained gold ornaments weighing 4 sovereigns valued at Rs. 50,000. A little later, Aruna Devi, Kalaiselvi and Chandralekha, poor women from nearby villages, noticed the unclaimed packet on the road. On finding ornaments in it, they wanted to hand it over to the police. As the police station was a fair distance way, they gave the packet to head constable Kannan who was regulating traffic nearby. He, in turn, gave to officials. Soon, the owner of the packet was traced and the ornaments restored to him. Amal Raj, the District Superintendent of police, praised the ladies for their honesty.
2. Dr. C.V.Raman, Nobel laureate and an ideal Guru, was invited by the then President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad to Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi for the investiture ceremony for awarding `Bharat Ratna'. C.V.Raman wrote back, "As my student who has completed his Ph.D course under my supervision is to face his oral examination on that date, I will not be able to come to Delhi in person. My presence here will be a source of encouragement to my student". This anecdote was narrated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam former President of India.
3. Thirukokarnam in Pudhukottai district is home to `gnanalaya', a library. With 25,000 books, it is sought after by M.Phil and Ph.D students. Scholars from other countries have stayed here and made use of the library, thanks to the hospitality of the `librarian' couple – Shri B.Krishnamoorthy and his wife Smt. Dorothy. They serve delicious meals for three days to book lovers free. Krishnamoorthy, 58, is a retired headmaster. Dorothy is a lecturer in a college. They have so far spent Rs 10 lakhs on books in addition to converting most parts of their house into a library. With the library growing, the couple built a separate block nearby at a cost of Rs 6 lakhs exclusively for books. Krishnamoorthy managed the money out of his retirement benefits.

Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work. — Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Sewa Sandesh 123: November 8, 2009

2009-11-24T01:04:00.001-08:00

From Editor’s Desk:
Sewa USA is wholly engaged in serving the Bhutanese refugees in as many as 17 cities across the country, empowering them in as many ways as possible. It is said that more than 15000 Bhutanese have already reached USA out of a total expected number of 60000 that the country has accepted to accommodate. This is according to an accord signed in 2007 under the United Nation High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) program. Other countries that would welcome the remaining number of 50000 Bhutanese refugees are UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark and Norway.
We appreciate the effort of Sewa USA in serving the Bhutanese refugees and providing them the social & cultural support that the host country cannot provide and this is being appreciated by the beneficiaries as well as the host country. A detailed report of the same will be carried in the next issue of Sewa Sandesh.

Ekal Kumbh Resolves To Reach
One Lakh Tribal Villages

A massive Ekal Kumbh organized by Ekal Vidyalayas was inaugurated by the Sarsanghchalak of the RSS Shri Mohan Bhagwat in Delhi on October 30. More than 12,000 vanvasis & girivasis (Forest & Mountain dwellers) of Ekal Vidyalayas assembled in Swarna Jayanti Park of Rohini in North west Delhi. Vanvasis from almost all the states of India participated in the three day conclave.
Started in 1988 from Jharkhand, the Ekal Vidyalaya Movement has made its presence in 27110 villages of 22 states of India. Presently. 7,78,965 students are getting their education through these schools. With the objective of making India ‘Sikshit, swasthya and samridh’ (literate, healthy and prosperous), the Ekal Vidyalaya has also undertaken the responsibility of imparting education for health care, community development and promoting village folk for constructive activities.

The three day conclave formally concluded with the address of Sadhvi Ritambhara on the first of November with the resolve to reach out to one lakh tribal villages. A grand exhibition depicting real India living in rural and forest areas was also inaugurated by the Yoga guru Baba Ram Dev on 29th October evening. Many NRIs also participated in the conference hosted by the Bharat Lok Siksha Parishad, Delhi. All the sessions were organized and conducted by vanvasi volunteers exclusively.
Eight townships were setup in the 24 acres of land in Swarna Jayanti Park. A common conference hall, grand exhibition hall, reception booth, health centre and office etc. occupied another 20 acres of the park area. Speaking on the occasion Shri Mohan Bhagwat appreciated the work being done by Ekal Volunteers in providing education in the remote areas of India. He said, “It is only education that would make the country great. In fact, through Ekal Vidyalayas, we are not only running schools but trying to make India of our dreams”. Addressing the gathering Baba Ramdev described the Ekal Movement as Master Plan for country’s integrated development “The body of human being is nothing but a temple and Ekal Vidyalaya is nothing but worship of the God”, he added. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Shri Ashok Singhal expressed his concern saying that the benefits of Independence have not reached the villages whereas 60 percent of national resources should have reached there.

Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti:
Providing Livelihood Security

The Satpuda Mountains in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra is a Vanvasi (tribal) area with features similar to many such areas in western and central Bharat. The forests are fast eroding, the land is losing its fertility, agriculture is at chronic loss, and poverty and malnutrition are taking a heavy price. The solutions provided– by Government as well as NGOs – have not proved so effective. Distribution of free food or diet to the children in tribal villages has never solved the problem of malnutrition.

The Volunteers of Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti evolved a model of livelihood security for tribal villages of Satpuda. They thought that to prevent malnutrition and eliminate poverty, a multi-dimensional approach was needed. Soil conservation measures were to be adopted, water to be harvested, cropping pattern to be improved, a vegetable kitchen-garden to be included with vegetables in daily diet, value – addition to forest – based micro-
enterprises and improved sale price for these enterprises – all this together could secure livelihoods for people and ensure nutrition for coming generations.
HSS sent its proposal of Livelihood Security programme to UNDP’s “Small Grants Program”. Their proposal was accepted and a full-fledged project was launched. A team of field karyakartas and scientists from the HSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra joined to implement the ideas in a cluster of five villages in Dhadgaon Taluka. All villages were on the contact list of its karyakartas. This helped in the beginning. The elders and farmers in the villages were encouraged to form Technology Transfer Clubs (Tantragyan Hastantaran Mandal). These clubs became the vanguards of the project. The first phase of the project included changes in cropping pattern. Inter-cropping and improved varieties of seeds were introduced. Soyabean was introduced for the first time. The production of Tur, Jawar, and Soyabean has now been doubled. Simultaneously, at the down end of fields, farmers were asked to dig 2-feet deep pits. These pits stopped the fertile soil from erosion. Vegetative buds with Khas grass were added to this soil-conserving activity. 23 farmers participated in the first year programme. The results encouraged other farmers too and theyjoined the activity. The Gram Panchayat incorporated this digging of pits – through National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra developed a model of kitchen garden that could be suitable for each season (Monsoon, winter, and summer). The model was designed by including various vegetables to ensure nutritious diet. The kitchen-gardens – even at a 50% success level … would ensure that no member of the family would suffer from malnutrition. The cultivation of kitchen gardens was constantly monitored by the scientists and karyakartas. The crops were protected by the farmers for eight months. The target for next year is to ensure this diet for full year. The team has developed a micro-irrigation kit with drip pipes and it can irrigate 100 sq. meter kitchen garden from two pots of water.

The project has achieved all its planned goals: improvement in farm yield, improvement in nutrition through kitchen garden, and awareness in the villages towards development. Micro-enterprises will be started in the next year. The project will be completed within two years. After that, these five villages will be projected as a model of development for the rest of the region.

1. Rehabilitation Plan For Karnataka :
Seva Bharathi Karnataka Selects Villages For Reconstruction

Sewabharathi Karnataka volunteers had conducted an extensive survey in all the flood affected areas of Karnatka to identity the homes that need to be reconstructed. Based on the data and in consultation with the state government, following plan has been made. The cost of constructing 1 Home is Rs. 1 lakh (Rs. 100,000) and Sevabharathi – Karnataka is planning to build 2349 homes with the help provided by Sewa International and India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF). Sewa International and India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF).

2. Rehabilitation Plan For Andhra Pradesh

After conducting, a survey in 145 villages of Andhra Pradesh and consulting with the state government, Sewa Bharati, Western Andhra Pradesh has prepared a rehabilitation plan for the flood affected people. The plan has covered five integrated sectors: Livelihood support, Community rehabilitation, Community based needs and assessments, Healthcare and Education. Salient features of the plan are as follows:-
* To distribute school kits.
* To construct Community Welfare Centres (CWCs) in 30 places in Mahaboobnagar and Kurnool districts.
* To support the village artisans.
* To distribute agricultural tools.
* To conduct study and tuition centres.
* To develop Self Help Groups (SHGs).
* To launch skills development programme.
* To facilitate Institutional Financing and Cooperative Management in Dairy &Textile Industry.
Details of Expenses:
1. Community Welfare Centres : Rs. 1 crore
2. Agricultural Tools : Rs. 1.35 crore
3. Entrepreneurship : Rs. 1 crore
. . Total Rs. 3.35 crores

AN INCREDIBLE PHENOMENON

A year ago a footage emerged from a remote village in India . The video showed a young girl receiving surgery to separate her fingers, which were badly burned and fused together. Why did this operation make headlines around the world? The surgery was performed by a 7-year-old boy named Akrit Jaswal.
Now 13 years old, Akrit has an IQ of 146 and is considered the smartest person of his age in India a country of more than a billion people. Before Akrit could even speak, his parents say they knew he was special.
'He learned very fast,' says Raksha, Akrit's mother. 'After learning the alphabet, we started to teach him joining of words, and he started writing as well. He was two.'
At an age when most children learn their ABCs, Akrit was reading Shakespeare and assembling a library of medical textbooks. When he was 5 years old, he enrolled in a school. One year later, Akrit was teaching English and maths classes.
Akrit developed a passion for science and anatomy at an early age. Doctors at local hospitals took notice and started allowing him to observe surgeries when he was 6 years old. Inspired by what he saw, Akrit read everything he could on the topic. When an impoverished family heard about his amazing abilities, they asked if he would operate on their daughter for free. Her surgery was a success.
After the surgery, Akrit was hailed as a medical genius in India . Neighbors and strangers flocked to him for advice and treatment. At age 11, Akrit was admitted to Punjab University . He's the youngest student ever to attend an Indian university. That same year, he was also invited to London 's famed Imperial College to exchange ideas with scientists on the cutting edge of medical research.
Akrit says he has millions of medical ideas, but he's currently focused on developing a cure for cancer. 'I've developed a concept called oral gene therapy on the basis of my research and my theories,' he says. 'I'm quite dedicated towards working on this mechanism.'
Growing up, Akrit says he used to see cancer patients lying on the side of the road because they couldn't afford treatment or hospitals had no space for them.. Now, he wants to use his intellect to ease their suffering. '[I've been] visiting to hospitals since the age of 6, so I have seen people firsthand suffering from pain,' he says. 'I get very sad, and so that's the main motive of my passion about medicine, my passion about cancer.'
Currently, Akrit is working toward a bachelor's degree in zoology, botany and chemistry. Someday, he hopes to continue his studies at Harvard University .

Akhil Chopra Memorial Scholarship Awarded

In a bid to support needy and meritorious students/scholars to pursue their career in various fields, Sewa International US had raised funds in the United States and sent it to Sewa International Bharat for disbursement. In the memories of Shri Akhil Chopra, Sewa international Bharat through National Institute of Mass Communication and Journalism (NIMCJ) provided five students with the scholarship of Rs. 10,000/- each (Total Rs. 50,000/-).

National Institute of Mass Communication & Journalism (NIMCJ) a media institute, recognized by Gujarat University is situated in Ahmedabad. NIMCJ Offers two-year full time “Post Graduate Diploma” in Mass Communication & Journalism. NIMCJ also provides the benefits of scholarship to the meritorious students as well as to those, who are in need of financial support to make their career in Mass Communication & journalism field.

Keeping this in mind, NIMCJ had formed a three-member selection committee of eminent personalities in this field and according to their recommendation, total five students of NIMCJ were selected for the scholarship, which was supported by Late Shri Akhil Chopra Memorial Fund. Scholarship award ceremony was organized by NIMCJ on November 7, 09 at 3.00 p.m. at the institute’s premises. Mrs. Uma Chopra (mother of late shri Akhil Chopra) presided over the function. Mr. and Mrs. Rupesh Shah, Dr. Shirish Kashikar welcomed her and other participants. Shri Pradip Jain, Managing Trustee of NIMCJ and Shri Sunilbhai Mehta, Member of Scholarship Committee, were also present on the occasion.

Titbits: 1. Premraja, a Sri Lankan Tamil who had come from Denmark on a tour, hired an autorickshaw on July 26, from Gopalapuram to Teynampet. While getting down at the destination, the passenger forgot to take the suitcase containing Rs 1.87 lakh in both Indian and foreign currencies and passports. When Premraja realised that he left the suitcase with cash in the autorickshaw, he lodged a complaint at the Teynampet Police station. Meanwhile, auto driver Vel Murugan who found the suitcase in his vehicle returned it to the police control room. The police personnel alerted the Teynampet station which in turn informed the passenger. The Commissioner handed over the suitcase to its owner. Vel Murugan was rewarded for honesty by the Chennai City Police Commissioner T Rajendran
2. People of India are sending petitions to the Hon'ble President of India to demand that the cow (Gomata) be declared as the `national animal' and cow slaughter be banned by law throughout India ; this petition- campaign is part of the ongoing nationwide mass movement - `Vishwa Mangala Gau Grama Yatra'. Parents of the students of Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Mathur, near Manali ( North Chennai ) took active interest in collecting signatures on the petition. Father of Sayi Prasad of Class 2, is one such. All 5 of his family readily signed the petition. He also secured 10 signatures from his co-workers at his place of work. Sayi's mother, a working woman, took the petition slip to her office. She was amused when her colleagues refused to sign the petition saying they consume beef. The lady presented before those gentlemen the case of cow-based agriculture, agro-based village economy and the need to cherish the noble village culture based on cow and agro-crafts. The gentlemen, all 15 of them at the office that day, listened in rapt attention and silently signed the petition. They also voluntarily vowed that they won't touch beef ever again in their life.
3. Nagini and her husband, Madan Lal of Mohalla Amarpura in Ludhiana ( Punjab , Bharat), were in a very difficult situation after they came to know that their only son — 14-year old Durga Dass — had a huge hole in his heart. He was examined by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Head of Cardio Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, at the prestigious Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Dr Bedi realised that the hole was leading to a shunting of blood with resultant tremendous strain on the heart and lungs. Durga was not growing as his body was not getting enough blood. He needed an emergency surgery. His case was further complicated by the fact that he had a prior surgery for a defect of his food pipe at birth. The problem now was that his parents were unable to raise the finances even after a significant concession from the Institute. On getting to know of Durga's dilemma, some of previous patients of CMC contributed for the surgery. A major open-heart surgery was successfully performed after putting the body on a heart lung machine and stopping the heart. Durga Dass is now doing well. According to Dr Bedi, he should now have an absolutely normal life. He will be able to follow any profession of his choice and in fact can even join the Armed Forces as he is fully fit now. —- Courtesy: Panchaamritam.

From now on you have become casteless. In your new order, the lowest will rank with the highest and each will be to the other a bhai (brother). And, between the Hindus and Muslims, you will act as a bridge and serve the poor without distinction of caste, colour, country or creed.

- Guru Govind Singh

Sewa Sandesh 122: October 8, 2009

2009-10-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
Every natural calamity takes its toll on human and animal life. Every occasion, relief is provided by the voluntary organizations as well as the concerned governments which is an expression of charity as well as oneness. In recent days, the Aila cyclone in Bengal, the floods in Bihar earlier and again floods in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have done the damage and the society has responded in some way. Preventive measures towards limiting the damage & devastation are most essential now. On the other hand, the rehabilitation has also to be altered to suit the needs of the devastated families and the region for a longer period. Reconstructing the houses is one part which falls short by almost every means apart from providing the roof for the family.
The principle of Confucius sounds quite logical in such cases. He says, “Give a fish to a person and he would eat it all the day. Teach him how to catch fish, and he will be happy all his life.” We think this policy would be more beneficial for the flood affected families in the said states and this is how the rehabilitation policy is being planned.
Your help in this direction is to go a long way.

Relief Work Gathers Momentum In Flood Affected Areas of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka
The spirit and determination of Sewa Volunteers have been proved once again when they responded swiftly to help the needy before anybody including government could reach flood affected areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Despite the non availability of resources and funds, they stood against all odds to serve the flood affected people in these disastrous times.
Sewa Volunteers initiated the process of bringing together and collaborating with various NGOs and individual philanthropists to use the resources properly.
First Phase of Relief Operations:
They started distributing food packets brought by their fellow volunteers from the neighboring villages and Districts. They supplied food packets to over one lakh families in three districts of Andhra Pradesh for first 3 days reaching the interior rural areas of Kurnool and Mahaboob Nagar. Since the connectivity to Kurnool has been cut off, material is being brought in from Anantapur, Kadapa, Nellore and Raichur of Karnataka
Sewa Volunteers started the relief camps in Kurnool town in Saraswati Sishu Mandir and G Pulla Reddy Engineering College. Supplied thousands of food and water Packets to the Kurnool town from here.
Volunteers from Adoni cleaned the Mantralaya temple and cleared the dead bodies of cows of Goshala and other animals.
In Hindupur, they are running 5 food preparation and collection centres to support needy people immediately.
In Anantapur, Sewa Volunteers started a food collection centre with an intention of sending 10,000 food packets. With an overwhelming response from the people of Anantapur, the centre could prepare 50,000 packets and other material worth 5 lakhs sent for the needy in Kurnool district.
In Dronachalam(Dhone), they sent 50,000 food packets and 1 lac water packets for Karnool.
Volunteers from Nandikotkur rushed to the villages which went under the water and rescued 45 families and brought them to the safety and provided them food and other necessary items.
In Gadwal, A relief Camp is being conducted at TTD Kalyana Mandapam. Food packets are being supplied to 200 Villages.
In Hyderabad, 2000 volunteers are going around and collecting the funds, food and material which needed for flood affected people. Two collection centres have been set-up at state office of RSS and Keshav Memorial School. Every Day 4 truck loads of food material, 2 truck loads of other immediate necessities are being supplied to flood affected areas.
Sri Raghavulu, All India Secreatary VHP, visited affected areas and met the volunteers involved in the work in Karnool.
Sri T V Deshmukh , State President of RSS and State Organizing Secretary of Seva Bharati Sri Vidwan Reddy also visited Gadwal relief Camp and met the volunteers working in Mahaboob Nagar.
Second Phase of Relief Work :
After conducting a survey in the affected areas of Mahaboob Nagar District it was found that 58 Villages were badly destroyed and 16,000 families of several other villages were devastated. The immediate requirement of these families is to settle them down to their daily chores. Hence, Sewa Volunteers are planning for supplying the life supporting kits to 5000 families which will enable them to start off their living. Each Kit will consist of Kitchen utensils, food grains and material of daily use.
In Karnool District, since 250-300 villages were still under water the survey has not yet been completed. As far as Karnool Town is concerned it is slowly returning to normalcy. Around Karnool Town, 29 villages have been severely affected.
Sewa Bharati, Sewa International and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are planning to undertake similar steps to supply daily life supporting kits to the affected people to start their daily routine once they get the final statistics.
Third Phase of Relief :
Sewa Organisations including Sewa Bharati, Sewa International and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have already initiated planning for rehabilitating devastated people and reconstruction of destroyed villages. In this process, they are making coordinated effort with many other voluntary, social, cultural and spiritual organizations.

Some Organizations currently working with them in Flood Relief and Rehabilitation process are as follows:
- Vande Mataram Foundation
- Gayatri Pariwar
- Help for Needy
- Sanskriti Foundation
- Bharat Vikas Parishad

from the neighboring villages and Districts. They supplied food packets to over one lakh families in three districts of Andhra Pradesh for first 3 days reaching the interior rural areas of Kurnool and Mahaboob Nagar. Since the connectivity to Kurnool has been cut off, material is being brought in from Anantapur, Kadapa, Nellore and Raichur of Karnataka
Sewa Volunteers started the relief camps in Kurnool town in Saraswati Sishu Mandir and G Pulla Reddy Engineering College. Supplied thousands of food and water Packets to the Kurnool town from here.
Volunteers from Adoni cleaned the Mantralaya temple and cleared the dead bodies of cows of Goshala and other animals.
In Hindupur, they are running 5 food preparation and collection centres to support needy people immediately.
In Anantapur, Sewa Volunteers started a food collection centre with an intention of sending 10,000 food packets. With an overwhelming response from the people of Anantapur, the centre could prepare 50,000 packets and other material worth 5 lakhs sent for the needy in Kurnool district.
In Dronachalam(Dhone), they sent 50,000 food packets and 1 lac water packets for Karnool.
Volunteers from Nandikotkur rushed to the villages which went under the water and rescued 45 families and brought them to the safety and provided them food and other necessary items.
In Gadwal, A relief Camp is being conducted at TTD Kalyana Mandapam. Food packets are being supplied to 200 Villages.
In Hyderabad, 2000 volunteers are going around and collecting the funds, food and material which needed for flood affected people. Two collection centres have been set-up at state office of RSS and Keshav Memorial School. Every Day 4 truck loads of food material, 2 truck loads of other immediate necessities are being supplied to flood affected areas.
Sri Raghavulu, All India Secreatary VHP, visited affected areas and met the volunteers involved in the work in Karnool.
Sri T V Deshmukh , State President of RSS and State Organizing Secretary of Seva Bharati Sri Vidwan Reddy also visited Gadwal relief Camp and met the volunteers working in Mahaboob Nagar.
Second Phase of Relief Work :
After conducting a survey in the affected areas of Mahaboob Nagar District it was found that 58 Villages were badly destroyed and 16,000 families of several other villages were devastated. The immediate requirement of these families is to settle them down to their daily chores. Hence, Sewa Volunteers are planning for supplying the life supporting kits to 5000 families which will enable them to start off their living. Each Kit will consist of Kitchen utensils, food grains and material of daily use.

In Karnool District, since 250-300 villages were still under water the survey has not yet been completed. As far as Karnool Town is concerned it is slowly returning to normalcy. Around Karnool Town, 29 villages have been severely affected.
Sewa Bharati, Sewa International and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are planning to undertake similar steps to supply daily life supporting kits to the affected people to start their daily routine once they get the final statistics.
Third Phase of Relief :
Sewa Organisations including Sewa Bharati, Sewa International and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have already initiated planning for rehabilitating devastated people and reconstruction of destroyed villages. In this process, they are making coordinated effort with many other voluntary, social, cultural and spiritual organizations.
Some Organizations currently working with them in Flood Relief and Rehabilitation process are as follows:
- Vande Mataram Foundation
- Gayatri Pariwar
- Help for Needy
- Sanskriti Foundation
- Bharat Vikas Parishad

In Karnataka:

Raichur District: Raichur and Manvi Taluks are the worst affected in the recent floods caused by Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers. Volunteers of Sewa Bharati, Sewa International, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other partner organisations started the relief work since 3rd October 2009. On 3rd Oct. 6000 food packets were prepared and handed over to Govt. machinery to be supplied through the helicopter to the people stranded in the floods. On 4th Oct. another 6000 food packets were distributed to the people of 3 villages who were camping at Ganadal Village. 5th Oct onwards Releif Camps were started at Chickmanchali, Nadugaddemalakapur, Tungabhadra Villages which are on the Banks of river Tungabhadra. This initiative gathered support from all the communities and organizations of Raichur. Around 50 Sewa Volunteers are involved in this work.

Bagalkot District: 40 Villages of Hungund and Badami taluks are worst affected due to the flooding of Malaprabha River. Houses are collapsed due to heavy rains all over the District. Releif work like Food Distribution, Medical facilities was started in several villages by Sewa Volunteers. On 3rd Oct.about 30000 Rotis (chapattis) were collected in Bagalkot and distributed in 6 affected villages. On 5th and 6th Oct. Volunteers and college students started relief work in 28 villages. Food distribution & survey work have also been untaken.

Belgaum District: The heavy rain in the Belgaum district had caused immense loss of not only property but also of lives. Sewa Volunteers collected Rs. 1.5 lakh cash, food grains, plastic sheets and other necessary things and sent them to the affected areas in Ramdurg and Savdatti talukas.

Gadag District: Releif work was started on 4th Oct.in Holealur, Nargund, Mundargi,Magadi,and Vaasan. Food was prepared and distributed to 2600 people daily for 3days.In Magadi village Sewa Volunteers repaired the damaged road between Gojanur & Akkigonda village.

Keshav Seva Kendra, Delhi: A Unique Street Children Project
Seva Bharati initiated the first centre of Street Children Project in eastern Delhi at the Kalandar Colony in Dilshad Garden area. This Kalandar colony has population of 6000 people; including daily wage-laborers, rikshaw-pullers, rag-pickers, beggars, and many other struggling everyday for mere survival. Children above six years – living in these conditions – often join their parents in earning bread for the family. Some children dressed like monkeys and jokers dance at the traffic signals, some polish shoes, some pick rags, some beg at bus depots and railway stations. Parents too are either working or searching for work. They cannot pay any attention to the children. Children remain deprived not only of education, but of Sanskar (values) and affection.
Seva Bharati centre named as ‘Keshav Seva Kendra’ had little response in beginning. It was due to sustained Sampark (interaction) and efforts of Karyakartas, that children started coming to the centre. The centre offered primary education as well as some vocational education. The children after passing a year or two of primary education at the centre were admitted to Government schools, and the centre continued to offer vocational education in the evenings. Making of chalks and candles was the first training given. Later on, electric wiring, weaving of Jute bags, making toys, block printing, drawing – were also taught to children.

The karyakartas continued to meet the parents of these children regularly. This generated meaningful support of the parents to children’s education – though this meant loss of income in the family. The entire families often come together at the Keshav Seva Kendra to celebrate festivals. Karyakartas are invited to weddings and other celebrations in the families. To quote itinerant utensil-seller Heera, “No one in my caste has ever been to school. It was only because of repeated visits of Seva Bharati Karyakartas to our home that my children are now going to school”.
Keshav Seva Kendra has received a state award from Delhi Chief Minister Sheela Dixit during the Gandhi Mela.
Seva Bharati is currently running six centres for the Street Children Project. Five Hundred and Forty one children are getting education and sanskar at these centres. Fourteen full-time workers are working in this project. Eighty seven children have completed vocational education, and 27 have started earning. Fifty homeless children have been re-united with their lost families. Three centres are being run without any government grant, while the other three are being run on grants by the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Keshav Seva Kendra has maximum children, who were rag-pickers, shoe-polishers, beggars, snake-charmers, and drummers.
Gokalpuri Kendra has children of nomadic blacksmiths (Godiya Lohar) living on footpath. The Kunj-Bihari Kendra in Jhandewala has children of beggars. Lalbath Kendra has wage-labourer children, while Khichdipur centre has children from nomadic families.

Sewa International - FLOOD APPEAL 2009
For Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
This is a never – before – seen situation. Both the states, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are witnessing the worst flood due to incessant rains since the 1st of October 2009. Thousands have been rendered homeless and over 40,000 homes have been damaged alone in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. More than 250 deaths have been reported so far in the two states. The hapless victims of this catastrophe are in dire need of helping hand and will have to begin their lives from scratch when the flood waters recede.
The worst affected districts of Andhra Pradesh are Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Krishna and Guntur and in Karnataka the affected districts are Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Koppal, Bagalkot and Bellary. The volunteers of Sewa International and Sewa Bharati have responded immediately. The first and foremost task is evacuation of the people from the flooded areas and bringing them to safer locations and then distribution of food through mass feeding camps at various locations. A team of Doctors too has been deployed to take care of the health issues of the flood victims.
The most urgent help includes shelter and access to clean water, food, emergency medical supplies and basic household items. Volunteers of Sewa Bharati, Sewa International and other partner organisations in respective districts are engaged in providing immediate relief with the locally raised available resources. Plans for launching rehabilitation of the flood victims will be considered once the rescue and relief ends.

There is an urgent need to provide relief to the suffering millions. Whilst the Governments of the two states are making their own efforts in rescuing people and providing relief, the magnitude of devastation is such that additional aid and resources are required urgently to help in the relief efforts.
SEWA INTERNATIONAL, Bharat appeals the benevolent to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of these people in the flood affected states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, living in the remote areas. Sewa International will help the flood victims to bring back life to normal.
“WAKE UP TO THE CALL OF THE SUFFERING MILLIONS
SHARE YOUR MITE TO HELP THE MAROONED PEOPLE”
For further information please contact:
Telephone: +91-11- 23232850, 23684445, Fax: +91 11 2351 7722
Email: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com, Website: www.sewainternational.org
NOTE: Bank Details for Transfer will be given on demand
Please send your generous donations to:
SEWA INTERNATIONAL
49, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg; New Delhi – 110 002

EARTHQUAKE ROCKS BHUTAN
APPEAL FOR RELIEF – Oct, 2009
A strong 6.1 –magnitude earthquake struck the remote Himalayan Kingdom of BHUTAN on September 21, 2009 killing at least ten people and devastating the lives of million by damaging houses, monasteries, schools, property, agriculture holdings etc. Even three people of Indian origin too have been reported dead in the eastern district of Samdrup Jongkhar.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in Mongar, 125 kilometers north of Guwahati and 180 kilometers east of Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The four worst affected districts are Balfai, Thebong, Damoitsi and Gong Thung. Major death and damage have been reported from the remote Bhutan.
SEWA INTERNATIONAL wishes to reach to the victims of the earthquake and provide them with the desired relief and assist them in bringing life to normal. We will seek support of the temple establishments, monasteries and the Tibetan government in exile to Bhutan in reaching to the remote parts of Bhutan which have badly been devastated. There is an urgent need to provide relief to the suffering millions. SEWA INTERNATIONAL, Bharat, (a registered organization with FCRA facility) appeals whole heartedly the benevolent to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of these people in the earthquake affected Bhutan.

“Of all the righteous acts, help rendered to those needing it, is the most righteous.”

For further information please contact:
Telephone: +91-11- 23232850, 23684445
Fax: +91 11 2351 7722
Email: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com
Website: http://www.sewainternational.org/

Please send your generous donations to:
SEWA INTERNATIONAL
49, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg; New Delhi – 110 002
NEED YOUR SUPPORT URGENTLY

Sewa International honours Anandiben

Shrimati Anandiben Mafatlal Patel-a long standing member of Gujarat Assembly-is a Cabinet Minister of Revenue, Disaster Management, Roads & Buildings, Capital Project and Women and Child Welfare departments of Gujarat State. Besides being Gold medallist during student life, she has also many special achievements and honours to her credit in her political career. She has been bestowed upon with many gallantry awards e.g. saving the lives of two girls of Mohinaba Girls’ School from drowning at Navagam reservoir in Narmada, Winner of Charumati Yoddha Award, etc.
Arjun Lal Sharma, Vice Chairman of Sewa International UK had the privilege of meeting her when she was on a short visit to UK. He presented her the Sewa International’s achievement and information pack at a public gathering in Leicester on September 12, 2009 .

Titbits:
1. Karuppayi (85), of Lingawadi village in Dindukkal district (Tamilnadu, Bharat) sells peanuts around the Court and Hospital premises in Madurai. It is her livelihood. She had sustained injuries when a government bus hit her. That was in 1996. She was awarded a compensation of Rs 9,000 by the 4th Additional Sub Court in 1997 in a case seeking compensation. But the amount failed to reach Karuppayi. Meanwhile, Veerammal, Karuppayi's daughter-in- law, committed self immolation and died. Karuppayi's son too committed suicide, in dejection. That left the three children of the couple orphaned. Undaunted, Karuppayi continued to sell peanuts to eke out a living and to support her orphaned grandchildren (2 girls and a boy). The pathetic condition of the octogenerian and her untiring legal battle were reported in the Press. Justice P. Murugesan, a High Court Judge who read the news item, ordered the Secretary, Madurai Legal Aid cell and Sub Judge Venkatachlam to expedite payment of the compensation to the old woman. Two advocates, Muthukumar and Panneerselvam, too, were appointed for this purpose. The two held a talk with the government transport authorities represented by Govindasamy, regional transport manager (legal section), who in turn took up the mater with officials in Chennai and deposited a cheque for Rs. 9,000 with the Court. The information was conveyed to Karuppayi who was spotted at the Hospital premises selling peanuts.
2. An Indian student has been recognised by the prestigious LANCET journal for her essay "Pens and Needles", which stressed the importance of equipping poor people with tools. A Ph.D student of medical anthropology, Bianca Brijnath, has been declared as one of eight winners worldwide of the "Young Voices in the Research for Health" essay competition. She has been invited to the Global Forum for Health Research to be held in Havana, Cuba. The 27-year-old' s essay "Pens and Needles" stressed the importance of equipping poor people with tools, such as pens and needles for their health and intellectual journeys, according to a university release. It was selected from 415 submissions and will be published in November by the LANCET.
—(From Panchaamritam)
3. Sandeep Bachhe has an autorickshaw in Mumbai. It has a television set tuned to good old Doordarshan -- which incidentally is celebrating 50 years of transmission in India. Then there is also a board with the day's price of gold, silver, dollar, pound and the yen.
Behind the driver's seat hangs another chart with phone numbers of hospitals, theatres, hotels and airlines. You can also pick up the day's papers and a couple of magazines in the rack behind him. 'Do not spit,' another notice admonishes you. There are pictures of Gods from all major religions. "All are welcome," he says with a smile.
Of course, you can't have it all, even Bacche's wonder auto has some limitations -- 'No toilet available,' says another sign and Sandeep, 35, explains, "Some college girls got in and told me, 'You have everything where is the toilet?' and so I put this sign up."
The signboards continue, and there is one that says, 'Donate for old people' with his mobile number below. Sandeep gives whatever he can spare to an old age home. He also collects money from like minded auto drivers to distribute notebooks among slum children.
He points out four other auto drivers who had each given Rs 500 to distribute books to needy children.
Sandeep also gives free rides of up to Rs 50 to people who are blind and gives a 25 per cent discount to the physically challenged. He gets a physically disabled customer about once a month. —(By A. Ganesh Nadar)

“Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion can not compare with an ant filled with the love of God.” — Guru Nanak.

Sewa Sandesh 121: 8 August 2009

2009-08-08T01:14:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s desk
Vishwa Mangal Gau Gram yatra that would be launched on the Vijayadashami day this year i.e. 2009 from Kurukshetra, Haryana and is planned to visit all the states of Bharat before it reaches the final destination Nagpur on the Sankranti day next year i.e. 14th January 2010, has generated many hopes across the country as the focus is “cow centric/cow based integral development of the villages” in Bharat. Obviously Cow has been the most sacred creature mentioned all along the literature of Bharat starting from the Vedic times to the present day and yet somewhere along the history line, this aspect has been pushed aside in the melee of faster development.
Bringing back the environment friendly development back to the agenda, the yatra has been rightly named “Vishwa mangal”- integrated village development for global welfare of all beings. Cow and calf were the symbols of traditional organic farming that matches the human history and needs to be brought back to the central theme from the fringes.
The yatra is also an effort to get all the scientists, farmers and the beneficiaries who have deep trust in the organic farming, on one single platform to save the “Gau Mata” from the abattoirs that have proved to be hazardous to the humanity.

Vishwa Mangala Gou Gram Yatra (VMGGY)
To Be Started From September 30

The saints and socio-cultural organisations of the country have come on a joint platform to launch from Sept 30, 2009 to Makar Sankranti 2010 - a 108 day national awareness mission covering a distance of 20,000 KM to reach every nook and corner of the country the message of the vital role of cattlewealth in the protection of nature and welfare and quality of human life.

Role to Play
Making life meaningful is the purpose of this movement. This journey will progress with a sense of inclusion for the humans and cows and all other living entities of the universe, with a resolve not to rob another being of its life or food. Each one of you has a responsibility to involve in this journey, internalising and voicing this noble and holy message.
This is only a starting point in the journey to continuously evolve life. You can consider a few points for its success. Each entity has unique constitution and different roles.

Rligious Institutions : Can show a path forward and also collaborate with government agencies in their plans.
Government : Should strengthen its resolve to work for the betterment of citizens. There cannot be compromise on quantity and quality of services. In the past, the green revolution gave people a little toxin along with food, white revolution fed poison in the name of milk. The government can claim another achievement by providing medical treatment to the people who have thus suffered – but this is not useful.

The government can form a new ministry dedicated for the welfare of cows, enforce existing rules and formulate new laws to support the cause. Encroached grazing land should be liberated for dedicated use of cows. Government can open model cattle farms at district and taluk levels and create models and guidelines for rearing and nurturing cows. It can prohibit cross-breeding of cows. It can include and encourage Indian breeds in indigenous technologies, in green revolution, and in white revolution. By promoting cow related products like food, medicine, manure, insecticides, gobar gas for cooking and electricity, people can make cow-rearing profitable.

Voluntary organisations can help the government in these welfare oriented programs.
Farmer : Farmers can turn to profitable cow centred agriculture. Apart from the yield of milk, they can use other cow-products gainfully and experience their superiority over inorganic products. Considering long-term benefits, they can use oxen in farming, cow manure in the fields, and cow urine as insecticide.

Industrialist : As a unique example – extract of cow urine can cure terminal cancer. There are several such unparalleled qualities in different cow products. These products are still new to our society and industrialists are cautious. They need to take some risk and put cow based products in the market. Cow Based Products
Possible Products : From Indian breed cows – milk and milk products, wholesome food items; effective treatment for cancer, hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, neurological problems, psychological problems, skin diseases, ENT problems, fever, cold, hair loss, etc.; in cosmetic products like soap, shampoo and beauty aids; for farming, manure and insecticides; cooking gas and electricity – all are possible.

Do remember, the industrialist should not think of grabbing the bulk of profits, but should share with others who are part of this system.
Scientist, journalist, artist, worker and common man: Consider what your involvement would be in achieving your values. The path you take can be a model for others.

Keshava Seva Samiti:
Reaching Out to the Unreached

Keshava Seva Samithi is a Charitable Trust that serves the economically backward sections of the society, with a special focus on slum dwelling families. KSS is managed by a team of dedicated volunteers with an aim of creating a sense of dignity, equality and responsibility.
For about a decade, the Samithi has been executing several service projects in more than 150 slums in the city. The thrust areas of these projects are education, health, women and youth empowerment. As of now, direct beneficiaries are around 9000 annually.
KSS is exclusively supported through voluntary efforts and the support from philanthropists and donors, is bound by the spirit of service.

The Objectives
• Create a sense of dignity, equality and responsibility among these poor people
• Impart values and life skills to them, particularly to the children
• Empower women in such families for economic self reliance.
Vidya Bhagya – Tuition Centres:
(Vyasanga Kendra) This is a scheme focused on school going children, wherein additional coaching (tuitions) is offered after their school hours. Being from illiterate families and studying in schools with poor facilities, quality of education received is often very sub-standard.
Hence, KSS has been conducting these tuition centres in 50 slums. Spoken English classes during weekends are also offered to these students by volunteers from the IT Industry and other MNCs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Measurable indicator of achievement:
This has gone a long way in enhancing their performance in school and helped in controlling dropouts. So far KSS has been successful in providing tuitions to 5400 students in 3 years.

Shishu Mandirs:
Slums have the most number of daily wage employees which include both men and women. This leaves most of the children below 6 years of age unattended. Hence, KSS has been managing 3 Pre-school learning centres for children aged between 3 and 6 yrs.
Measurable indicator of achievement
There are 3 shishu mandirs covering 3 slums. These mandirs have supported 270 children in 3 years.
Bala Samskar Kendras:
(Value Education Centers) (6-14 yrs) Slums, being areas which are both educationally and financially backward, value education among the younger generation always takes a backseat. Hence, to inculcate better cultural and moral values among the children, 18 Value-Education Centers are run by KSS. Children are taught singing, dancing, story telling, yoga and breathing exercises, meditation, drawing and craftwork etc., and educated via games (learning through playing).
Measurable indicator of achievement:
There are 18 Bala Samskar Kendras catering to 1000 children. These are conducted weekly between 9 am to 12 am.

Summer Camps are conducted annually in atleast 7 places each numbering around 129 children for 20 days. The children are taught drawing and painting, dancing and singing, arts and crafts, yogasana, story telling, social awareness, personal hygiene, awareness of global warming, importance of rising pollution and using biodegradable and eco friendly recycled material by experts from their respective fields..
Mobile Library: A ‘Book lending library’ in the slums to instill reading habits in the children is set up in one slum. About 100 books are available in the library and is being managed by one librarian working as part time. The books available are in two languages and cater to age group between 8 and 20 years. Subjects like sports, wildlife, grammar, stories, fiction, poetry, educational books etc., are circulated to the children at their doorstep. Reference books like encyclopedia and magazines are also part of the library.
Measurable indicator of achievement:
54 students are registered as members of this and every 15 days, books are re circulated among them.

Vidya Vahini:
Target: Youngsters above 13 yrs
This programme is focused at encouraging students to continue their education beyond high school level. This has helped talented and meritorious students to study further and improve the living standards of their families. This has helped to reduce child marriage. In this scheme, students are adopted and all their needs are taken care of. Some are given scholarships and others who are in need of an environment which is conducive to studying are provided with hostel facilities.
Arogya Bhagya:
This is a wholesome scheme adopted for the entire wellbeing of the slums and undertaken for all the inhabitants irrespective of age, sex, caste or creed. The programmes conducted under this scheme are as follows:
• Free/subsidized health check up and health assistance camps which include eye, dental, childcare, gynecology, general hygiene
• Conducting free dispensaries in slums
• Pranayama and Yoga activities
• Free eye surgeries and spectacle distribution to the needy.

Measurable indicator of achievement:
13 eye camps have been conducted which have benefited 4780 people in the past 3 yrs. 135 patients have undergone cataract surgeries free of cost.
Free distribution of spectacles have been undertaken for 750 people.
6 camps for children have been held where free health check up facilities have been provided to 3000 children primarily for malnutrition, skin diseases, ENT etc.
Mathru Shakthi:
Target: Women
Every week, women from slums are brought together and social awareness programmes are conducted.
Swavalambana:
Target: Women from the weaker section of the society seeking employment opportunities.
SHGs:
Formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) of women for economic and self reliance has been very successful in the slums. These SHGs are registered with nationalized banks who gave a matching grant for the savings made by the women. One volunteer in each group coordinates this activity and manages the book keeping.
Vocational training:
Vocational training is provided to women based on the needs assessment carried out from time to time in the slums. Computer classes, screen printing, tailoring, beautician courses, agarbathi making, candle making etc., are conducted.

IGA:
Income Generation Activity (IGA) is an offshoot of the SHG activity. These women earn revenue for contributing to the SHG saving through various IGAs. Following are the programmes undertaken by the women:
Making “Paper Bags”: News papers are collected from residential apartments and converted into bags which can be used as alternative to plastic bags. These bags are sold to super markets, groceries, NGOs and corporate for their seminars, workshops etc.,
Job Placements: Destitute and orphaned girls who are above the age of 16 yrs are given vocational training and appropriate placements. Many of them are offered jobs as supervisors, volunteers in the KSS programmes itself.
Measurable indicator of achievement:
Tailoring classes are being conducted regularly which consist of 6 months course. 2 classes are currently in progress with 150 women benefiting from these courses.
20 women who have benefited from the tailoring classes have been gifted with tailoring machines.
There are 20 self help groups catering to almost 400 women in various slums.
Push carts and vegetable carts have been given to 14 women.

A Model of Self –Reliant Villages
General Body Meeting of
Deendayal Research Institute (DRI)
Concludes in Chitrakoot

“About 500 villages in Chitrakoot region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh borders
are going to become role model for the whole world by achieving the goal of self-reliance. Due to the tireless efforts of rural people poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, diseases and many other social problems have been eradicated from the region. By the year 2010 these villages are expected to leave their indelible imprint on the map of India. This was the message of the general body meeting of Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) that concluded in Chitrakoot on August 2 in the presence of Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, eminent social worker and founder of DRI. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pracharak Pramukh Shri Madan Das and many other workers associated with the DRI.
Speaking on the occasion Nanaji said, “Everything is achieved as we planned in Chitrakoot. The impact of the joint efforts of the government and non-government agencies can be seen in these villages.” "No positive result can be achieved without setting a goal and firm determination. The DRI workers have proved it. The day the Swavlamban Abhiyan (Self-reliance Campaign) had begun in 2002 from Khodri village we were confident that it would produce positive results. As a result the work that could not be done in 60 years has been done within five years. Today, the villagers are conscious of solving their own problems and they do not wish to depend on the government," he said.

Shri Madan Das said, “The wind of change that has started in these villages should not stop. The uplift of the countrymen is a big mission, which would ensure the development of the whole country.” “This work should spread all nooks and corners of the country. It is to be noted that these villages have witnessed over 70 per cent decline in conflicts. Roads have been built by villagers themselves, where there were no roads. Water harvesting work has resolved the problem of drinking water and irrigation permanently. People are conscious about education and have become self-reliant. The credit of this change goes to the Swavlamban Yatra conducted by the DRI to educate the villagers”, he said. Dr Bharat Pathak presented the account of different activities. Dr Nandita Pathak narrated the experiences of the three-phased Swavlamban Yatra.

TITBITS:

>> G V Balasubramaniam aged 40 from Kaundanapadi of Erode District seems to be a different person. People going abroad, usually earn some amount and wanted to settle in their native. He is one such person attracted by nature’s manure, guided by Mr. Subash Palekar an Eco-scientist. He left his job at Kuwait, came to his native and started cultivating vegetables through natural manure. He is now guiding the upcominme to his native and started cultivating vegetables through natural manureg agriculturists in this field. He is not expecting any subsidy from the Government.

>> Politicians may have achieved little consensus on stopping global warming, but religious leaders are moving quickly. Some proposals make religious texts available on recycled paper, food in gurudwaras will be cooked in solar-powered kitchens, and places of worship around the world will install waste recycling and water-harvesting systems. Islamic leaders are expected to announce that the Haj pilgrimage will be green starting next year and environment studies will be taught in religious schools, and Pope Benedict XVI has just released an encyclical — a statement — that mentions the environment. Some measures have already been taken. Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati, Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar already use solar-powered kitchens — apparently the world’s largest — to prepare lunch for devotees, and churches in England and southern India have developed seven-year plans to save the environment.
Olav Kjorven, head of the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) international policy division on the environment, points out, “Religious bodies are the world’s biggest civil society and they can make a huge impact on the fight against climate change.”

>> Most Hindu primary schools were established in rural Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean in the early 1950s by one man, Bhadase Sagan Maraj. He converted temples into schools on private lands that were donated by altruistic individuals and organizations. The cost of renovations, refurbishments and furniture was borne by the goodwill of members of the community. Today, these schools are a source of pride to Hindus. The results of the 2009 SEA examination in 2009 reveal the largest number of students among the top 100 performers came from Hindu schools.. Hindu schools comprise just 10 percent of all primary schools in the country, but secured 35 percent of the schools that made it to the top 100 places in the SEA examination. Among denominational institutions, Hindu schools performed the second best after Muslim schools. (Courtesy: Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Chennai)

Caste restricts opportunity. Restricted opportunity constricts ability. Constricted ability further restricts opportunity. Where caste prevails, opportunity and ability are restricted to ever-narrowing circles of the people.

— Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
SEWA INTERNATIONAL DELHI

Sewa Sandesh 120: July 8, 2009

2009-07-08T03:44:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
Sewa activity has grown phenomenally over last 5 years across the country. “Seva Disha”, the assessment issue on Sewa activity is published every 5years and the recently published issue brings cheer to everybody. Sustained efforts by volunteers and Swayamsevaks have put the total to a staggering 157776 from 43386 in 2004.
Following is the organization-wise break up:
Rashtriya Sewa Bharati ...................... - 59076
A. B. Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram ............. - 13969
VHP .................................................... - 72370 (including Ekal Vidyalayas)
Bharat Vikas Parishad...................... ... - 01050
Rashtra Sevika Samiti ..................... ... - 00461
A. B. Vidya Bharati ............................. - 09682 (Excluding regular schools)
Deendayal Research Institute.............. - 01000
A.B. Vidyarthi Parishad ....................... - 00168
---------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---------------
Total- ................................................ 157776

Among these education is the largest sector with 38% (59498) share, while health programs and projects share 24% (38528), social programs are 27% (42304) and economic developmental is 11% (17329).
The numbers send a clear signal that creative activity is likened by the most and the society supports such activity most as almost all the projects and programs are supported by society and are not government funded.
Another trend that is observed in the Seva Disha is that almost half of the total activity is shared by southern states.

Sewa is Not A Tool For Achieving Name-Fame
- Sitaram Kedilaya

“Sewa work is not the medium to gain publicity or a tool to achieve name fame. It is a novel way to serve the needy people without expecting anything. The workers engaged in service activities should present the sewa work in a way that can inspire other people of the society also”, said Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Shri Sitaram Kedilaya. He was inaugurating the website of Sewa Bharati Delhi:(www.sewabharati.org) on June 26. He said, “The root cause of growing number of slums in the cities is migration of people from rural areas in search of jobs, etc.” He stressed the need to protect the rural economy based on cow to preserve the Indian culture. Leaders of some service organisations working in the field of service were honoured at the meeting by Sewa Bharati. A souvenir, ‘Sewa Punj’, was also released. Kshetra Pracharak of the RSS Shri Rameshwar, Akhil Bharatiya Sahsewa Pramukh Shri Suhasrao Hiremath, Kshetra Sewa Pramukh Shri Srinivas Murthy were also present on the occasion.

Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Samsthan, Bangalore.

At Present Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is spreading like a wild fire among the world population, more so in India, due to unhealthy life styles, sedentary work conditions, and improper diet. Indians are more prone to DM. If unchecked, DM will engulf India making it world capital of DM.
Considering this fact, Swami Vivekanda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore has launched a nationwide movement for prevention and management of diabetes mellitus thorough practice of Yoga, changing the diet and life styles etc. This program is being launched with the cooperation of doctors, yoga therapists, social workers and research groups.
In pursuance of this Stop Diabetes Program, a good number of yoga therapy Centres are being established in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad. These centres are being run by therapists specially trained to cure and prevent early onset of diabetes.
What a diabetic patient needs to do?
* Become a member of the holistic yoga therapy centre for diabetes by paying the prescribed fee.
* Practice Yogasanans, Pranayama and meditation daily for an hour at a suitable time.
* Practice Kriyas twice a week.
* Change your food habits as advised.
* Change your lifestyle as counseled.
* Learn and Adopt the relaxation techniques imparted at the Yoga therapy centre.
* Get your glucose levels checked periodically.

A Gurukul True To Its Tradition
- Shyam Parande

The phenomenon of Vedic pattern of learning in a globalized world seems to be some sort of ‘miracle’, if I am allowed to use that word. This seems to be an out of the world episode. The search for a classical Gurukul being run on the Vedic system of learning would surely end at the gates of a lush green scenic establishment called “Maitreyi Gurukulam”, named after the Vedic luminary Maitreyi. “Well, where is Gargee?” asked one of my seniors rightly, as many of them are not aware of the fact that Vedas have tens of women highbrows and that Maitreyi is one amongst them.
Gurukulam

A sprawling 100+ Acres of lush green hilly forest full of Cocoanut, Areca nut, Jack fruit, and rubber plantation among the beautiful Western Ghats is probably the most appropriate venue for such a Gurukul where 100 and odd girl students are learning the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagawatam, Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Vyakaranam together with some modern subjects.
We would have missed the opportunity of enjoying this two days bliss, had we stayed back in Bangalore for a Sewa group meeting. Every moment spent at the Gurukulam was full of surprises for all the participants, that no one could have imagined such a project being run under the aegis of a local Trust that is part of Hindu Sewa Pratishtana, Karnataka. Launched two decades earlier because a noble lady wanted her property to be utilized for a women activity and some more social service projects, this project has grown into one of its kind in the country.
An old couple, the owner of this huge plot of land costing some millions, were happy with some 200 dogs that lived with them on the 100 acres of land. They served the dogs like they served the Almighty Bhagwan. However, after the demise of the husband the old lady wished to donate this plot of land to some voluntary organization and approached a person whom she had heard about and who was a Sangh karyakarta. Her offer was negated by the karyakarta with a premise that he does not have the manpower for taking care of the huge plot of rich and scenic land.

The noble soul had her road map drawn clear in her mind. She startled the said Karyakarta one day to hand over the papers of the land, and walked away triumphantly, the latter left clueless. The noble lady left the material world in a week days time, with satisfaction that she has ordained the right type of Karyakartas to take care of her family property.
The team of Karyakartas from that region resolved to work in tandem to turn the dream of the noble lady into a reality. The canvas has been laid bare and that dream has become true as “Maitreyi Gurukulam”.
Hindu Tradition does not approve of trading in Education, medicine and food- the three essentials of life, the Maitreyi Gurukulam being true to tradition does not charge fees from the students. Education including lodging & boarding is free in this Gurukulam which is run on public contribution. I need to make a point here and that too candidly. Some in the west feel that charity in Bharat is absolutely low. Look, there are many endeavours that run in Bharat and that are not registered under charity which provide tax benefits to the “benevolent”. While the donors at such endeavours do not anticipate any such benefits as tax benefits, nor do they expect the name- fame- recognition, in return. Hindu concept of charity, I mean. Now just imagine free residential school for some 100+ girl students and the cost of that.
Morning prayers was a treat, all the girl students sat on the floor in the prayer hall with their tutors scattered among them, most of whom happen to be ladies, and some of the tutors are full timers of Hindu Sewa Pratishtana, as we entered the “Dhyana Mandapam”, the prayers were choreographed. This was really amazing! Some of the prayers were collectively offered while some in groups and some individual. The prayer was led by a young bright girl who performed this gracefully, as if she is the “master” of the ceremony. For me this experience was divine.
We watched while some “Gurus” came calling for the classes from the nearby villages & towns, the Gurus seated on platforms and the Shishyas sitting on the floor, right beneath the huge “cool” green trees- a unique setting for this type of a Gurukul. There were no blackboards or green boards, no chalk pieces and dusters; the oral tradition being practised flawlessly in a modern world where no one understands a concept unless it is presented to him or her through visuals.

We enjoyed the Sri Rama Navami celebration in the school where the girls sung absorbing Bhajans, it being the Sri Rama Navami day. Like breakfast for lunch, we were treated only with the mouth watering recipes but also with bonbon melodies of mantras throughout the lunch.
The pre-dinner session of cultural performances was fascinating. A perfectly choreographed Bharatnatyam on the “Evolution of the cosmos” based on Vedic concept in the form of a Guru- Shishya dialogue was a unique one in Sanskrit and Kannada languages. The expertise was evident in every step and every move and every expression of every participant, at least 25 of them, that left the audience spellbound. I would not be wrong if I term this performance as “professional” in the sense of best proficiency. The aptitude, the skill, the talent, everything manifested and synchronized skilfully, is how I understood it.

A class in progress at Maitreyee

The evolution of a personality is being experimented in this lab of human performances. Most of the girls have come out of modest rural milieu, not the ambitions ones of the urban locale. The education in this institution being free of cost, being supported by the philanthropic society in the vicinity of the project, was looked down by many as this Gurukulam sprouted initially. However, the society has recognized this endeavour and now the entrance test qualifiers only get the admission.
I would only call this a lifetime experience and one that would always linger on the memory line.

YSF Volunteer Nirbhay Dhapodkar Writes About -
An Experience Of Micro Financing Of Women

Our first real volunteer experience in Pune was at the School Kit Drive which has been a successful program going on for over 4 weeks before we had gotten involved. The program had already formed a strong growing membership and had a platform which was a very good introduction to the type of work that is done by Seva Sahayog. After assembling the school kits and packaging them, we delivered a portion of them to a nearby school. The members of the school planned a ceremony for the presentation of the school kits. Everyone involved in the school kit drive had a chance to hand the kits to the students individually. While receiving the school kits, smiles spread across the faces of the children. They knew that they’d have the proper equipment needed to have a decent education.
After a few days of getting settled in, we began our project. Coming from a finance background, I was advised to do the project that was related to microfinance and self help groups. . For our first two weeks, our project consists of creating a document and a presentation that overviews the current state of microfinance and its scope, along with information about self help groups. Currently, we are doing this during the day and at night we participate in a nearby Shakha that is run by 'Swa' Roopvardhini. The activities there include physical games, follows by exercises, meditation, Prarthana, and a study hall. On random days, the participants in the Shakha visit the houses of the participants that did not show up that day or haven’t shown up in a while and request them to come. Our experience with that Shakha has been very enjoyable.
While writing this, I realized that I had gotten a lot more from India than I expected. I thought that I would come here and help others, but I feel as though it has been the opposite. The experiences that I have gone through have really opened up my eyes to a world outside the bubble that is America. Even though some things we much more difficult and required more work than I would have had to do back home, every moment of it has been something I would never want to skip.

Seva Fellowship

If you have a gap of three months or more either after graduation or during job transition Youth for Seva wants to offer you a Seva Fellowship. Come join its team of enthusiastic volunteers in committing your time and energy in an effort to give back and serve your community.
Youth for Seva offers a fellowship for volunteers willing to make a full-time commitment for a minimum of three months in projects concerning various self-empowerment activities, basic education, technical education, self empowerment, women empowerment, cultural education, healthcare or come up with your own project. Youth for Seva will reimburse fellowship volunteers for any incurred expenses during this period. You have the option of either working in your home town or away from home in other towns/villages. Few volunteers may serve outside India as well (Malaysia and West Indies).
In committing to a fellowship with Youth for Seva not only will you have the power to make a difference in the lives of others but you will achieve a sense of fulfillment, gain a new and better perspective on life, and develop leadership qualities that will be extremely beneficial in your future career.
For more information, send email to info@youthforseva.org or call Keerthana 9008418714 or Venkatesh at 9900227382

“Whatever work you undertake, do it seriously, thoroughly and well; never leave it half-done or undone, never feel yourself satisfied unless and until you have given it your very best. Cultivate the habits of discipline and toleration.

— Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee

SEWA INTERNATIONAL DELHI PUBLICATION

Sewa Sandesh 119: June 8, 2009

2009-06-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
Situation in war ravaged north and north eastern Sri Lanka continues to be grim. The affected area is still under the control of the military forces and no voluntary organization has been allowed to reach the Internally Displaced People who are lodged in the camps with soaring sun. Neither has the media been allowed to reach to the IDPs till now though it is almost a month since the war is over. Though the government of Sri Lanka claims that the IDPs are being taken care of well, some of the people who could get some news out of the fortification, have expressed concern. Sewa International has appealed to the global community for relief to the IDPs in this trying hour. SI wishes to reach to the IDPs in those ramshackle camps and serve them through medical assistance as well as other immediate relief material. We, however, wait in anxiety for the permission from the Sri Lankan authorities to serve the war ravaged community and pray that this happen the sooner!
Sewa Volunteers Reach Out To The Cyclone-hit Villagers of West Bengal
It was a nightmarish experience for 50-odd volunteers who were desperate to reach Hingalganj Jetighat criss-crossing other inaccessible riverine villages in the Sunderbans after Aila cyclone battered and ravaged Bengal’s famous archipelago of islands on May 25, 2009. The rivers Kalindi and Raimangal were turbulent and wind speed was not less than 60 km per hour even 24 hours after the cyclone lashed the Sunderbans.
They hired a large vessel with a capacity to carry about six tonnes relief materials for distributing among the cyclone-hit villagers separated from the mainland. Risking their lives, they finally reached Jetighat, Hemnagar, Mandirghat and Parghumta villages where thousands of marooned villagers had been awaiting the government relief for three days since the Aila blown away their hamlets. They had no food and drinking water during the past 72 hours.
Indeed, the marooned villagers had lost all hopes to survive as the area remained inaccessible due to swelling of Dasha river following the cyclone.

The team of volunteers, led by North 24 Pargana Shri Sukumar Vaidya, was the first batch of volunteers to
reach them braving nature’s fury.
Initially, the starving villagers took volunteers as state government relief employees and started to hurl abuses. However, when the distressed villagers discovered that they were Sewa volunteers and risked their lives to bring them relief materials, they were simply over-joyed and begged pardon for their initial mistake. Women blew conch-shells to welcome the volunteers in their mud houses. Packets of dry food, water pouches, milk powder and clothes brought by volunteers were distributed with full cooperation of the distressed villagers.
The distressed villagers in Hingalganj block in the riverine Sunderbans made it amply clear that even in misery they had high respect for honest and hard-working volunteers of Sewa.
Nearly a fortnight after the cyclone Aila hit West Bengal’s coast, thousands of people are still stranded in the Sunderbans. People with boats have left, but many have no choice but to stay. The human misery is telling. “I have nothing left. Utensils, pans, plates and glasses. Even the three bags of rice, we had saved from the last harvest, are gone. It would have been good had we been given a house to live in by the administration. What else do the poor people have, money? My daughter has to be married off, but there’s nothing left,” Purnima Mondal, resident of Dakshin Yogeshganj near Bangladesh border said. The villagers here are facing an added misery as robbers from Bangladesh are raiding border villages as they left their homes and sheltered in relief camps.
The Sangh has a well-knit organisation in the Sunderbans under North and South 24 Parganas. There are ‘one teacher-one school’ establishments in 90 villages. Volunteers of the two neighbouring districts have set up 32 relief camps and have been feeding about 30,000 cyclone-hit hapless villagers daily since May 26. The worst affected are the five blocks, Hasnabad, Najat, Sandeshkhali I & II and Hingalganj. Even after flooding, volunteers are running two relief camps in Basantitala where cooked food is supplied to nearly 4,000 villagers daily.

Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Dr. Manmohan Vaidya, visited several relief camps in the affected areas in Hasnabad block in North 24 Parganas on June 3 and took a stock of the grim situation prevailing there. He was told that the Sewa volunteers braved the storm and rains and started distributing relief to distressed villagers at Basanti, Sonakhali, Kultuli, Gosaba, Pathankhali, Hemnagar and Mandirghat within six hours after the Aila lashed villages in the Sunderbans on May 25. As the villagers have lost everything and have no means to cook rice, the meals are being cooked at the Sewa relief centres on the main land and then transported by country boats to relief camps set up by volunteers in far-flung Sunderban islands daily.

Hindu Samhati Undertakes
The Relief Work Without Favour Or Discrimination

The unaccountable plight over the South Bengal especially in North and South 24 Parganas is increasing day by day after it made a havoc upon the rural Bengal on 25th May 2009. A little measure taken by the State Relief Deptt., effort of the Military and volunteering by some NGOs could not lessen the sorrow of the unreached Aila-struck people.
A team of Hindu Samhati (HS), West Bengal State Committee lead by Chittaranjan Dey, Gen. Secy., Prakosh Das and Sujit Maity went to the Rajbari, Kanmari, Nalkara-Bangipara, Sarberia for the survey of the affected areas of Sandesh Khali Block. As urged by the affected people, the Survey team decided on spot to run relief work immediately to those areas, where no relief could be started due to various reasons.
A team lead by Upananda Brahmachari, accompanied by Shyamanjan, Srijan, Abhisek and Prasenjit reached at Malancha on the very next day on 29th May. A local team of Hindu Samhati received the relief materials including parched rice, molasses, medicines, water purifying drops etc. to march into the interiors which were still water-logged.
At the first point of Kanmari Market, 500 affected people were served with the dry-foods and medicines over two hours relief work. Another team of HS workers took the relief materials for Shankardaha-Boyermari II, a furthest corner from Kanmari.
The water logging was a problem to reach main road leading to Kanmari, but it was an un-explicable experience to reach Bhangipara through a totally water-logged village road taking a time over one hour. The water touched the upper knee, un-known risks of broken sides of roads, the bones of decomposed fishes and animals, sharpened edges of bricks and stones, nothing could stop the volunteers of HS to reach Bhangi-para, a completely isolated hamlet of this distant area.
Another 200 people were served with dietary articles and medicines here. A stock was also preserved to serve the needy people there according to there utmost need. A stock of Paracetamol tablets, Norfloxacin tablets and water purifier drops were given to combat the fever and gastro-enteritis disorders.
But everything, foods or medicines were found scarce to meet the requirement of the locality. Returning to Rajbari a delegation team was sent to Berh-majur, another affected site to judge the severity of the situation so that relief work could start there.
There are many relief camps on the road sides, where a number of distressed people are staying under compulsion and getting relief.

Appeal—1: Cyclone ‘Aila’ West Bengal (India)
Appeal For Relief - June 2009

CYCLONE “AILA” hit the coast of West Bengal on the 25th of May 2009, at wind speed of over 110 km. per hour, killing over 50 and crippling normal life of over two lakhs people. The highest death of 14 people was reported from South 24 Parganas, followed by Kolkata, Bankura and Howrah districts. The hilly regions witnessed land slides claiming numerous lives; where as lower regions were practically swallowed by moving water inundating the entire villages escaping the wrath of the cyclone with absolutely nothing except their breath.

SEWA INTERNATIONAL, started relief activities from the evening of 26th May 2009 in partnership with like-minded organizations such as Bastuhara Sahayata Samiti, Sewa Bharati, Friends of Tribal Society, Bharat Sevashram and Sri Ramkrishna Mission. These organisations are operating through 32 relief centers at the moment in remote villages which are generally inaccessible, catering to the needs of over 8000 families constituting over 30,000 people, where they are distributing cooked meal, dry food and potable water. The cooked food from base kitchen has to be carried with the help of boats to these relief centers located in far flung areas, which take almost 4 hours to reach.
Further, in wake of such disaster, epidemic diseases have already begun to spread hence there is a great need of medical assistance too. SI with its partner organisations have already made arrangements of treating patients and distributing medicines through medical camps in various affected locations.
There is an urgent need to provide relief to the suffering millions.

SEWA INTERNATIONAL, Bharat, (a registered organization with FCRA facility) appeals whole heartedly the benevolent to help these unfortunate victims. Your support will help reduce the sufferings of these people in the Cyclone affected state of West Bengal, living in the remote areas.

Sewa International will help the cyclone victims to bring back life to normal in the state of West Bengal.
Its future plan is to run these 32 relief centers and increase more such centers if needed and continue its relief activities till life returns to normal. SI intends to provide the affected families with immediate necessities for daily living: tarpaulins, food, clothes, medicines etc. The estimated expense will be approximately Rs. 1,00,00,000 (One Crore).

The break-up of the same is as mentioned below:
Cooked Meal and Infant food- Rs. 12,00,000/-
Clothing for adults and children—Rs. 37,00,000/-
Utencils, Lanterns, Durries, etc.- Rs. 15,50,000/-
Medicines- Rs. 07,00,000/-
Tarpaulines- Rs. 28,50,000/-
TOTAL Rs. 1,00,00,000/-
Rs. One Crore Only.
(USD 2,17,400/- or GBP 1,42,857/-)
“Of all the righteous acts, help rendered to those needing it, is the most righteous.”
For further information please contact: Telephone: +91-11- 23232850, 23684445
Fax: +91 11 2351 7722
Email: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com, Website: www.sewainternational.org
Please send your generous donations to:
SEWA INTERNATIONAL, 49, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg; New Delhi – 110 002
NEED YOUR SUPPORT URGENTLY

Appeal-2: Appeal For Helping Generously to the War-affected Sri Lankan Tamil People

The end of the three decade long war in Sri Lanka is over with the end of the leadership of LTTE. However, the last battle that took place for last 4 months have created a situation wherein nearly 2,00,000 people in the North and North East of Sri Lanka have been rendered homeless. Many of these displaced people are located in camps arranged by the Sri Lankan authorities. The misery out of the war has left thousands wounded and many families bereaved of their kith & kin.

News columns are being scrolled with sympathy to the suffering thousands. But this is not getting transformed into some sort of action. The concern for the suffering thousands has been amply represented through the media in India as well as internationally.
In this hour of crisis, S.I. feels that extending a hand of succor to the displaced community in Sri Lanka is a prime duty of the neighboring country India. Apart from the governmental help that is being extended to Sri Lanka, the benevolent society in India should also try to help out the suffering thousands in that country. The best way to help during this man-made calamity, S.I. feel, is sending medical team to Sri Lanka and also some other basic relief material.

Appeal
Sewa International has resolved to reach out to the thousands of war-affected population in the North and the North East Sri Lanka. The war ravaged states of Sri Lanka and especially the suffering Tamil population is in dire need of relief in the form of food, shelter and medical assistance including counseling for the war trauma affected.
SI appeals to the benevolent in the society as well as establishments to extend their hands in serving the war-torn society in Sri Lanka.
Objective
1. To provide food and other home groceries.
2. To provide medical relief including medicines
3. To provide trauma care and support
Your helping hand in this hour of crisis would go a long way.

The need for the displaced-
Ø A set of 6 Blankets and mosquito nets for a family would cost - Rs.1500/- ($30)
Ø Medicine for a family for a period of one month- Rs.2500/- ($50)
Ø Providing food for a family for a period of 15 days- Rs.2500/- ($50)
Ø Cost of sending a medical team to Sri Lanka for 3 months- 2 Doctors+ 4 Medical assistants including travel, conveyance, lodging & boarding, cost of medicine etc. – Rs.30,000/- per day. Total - Rs. 27,50,000/- Rs. Twenty Seven Lakhs fifty Thousand only. ($55000/-)

Please join hands by sending whatever you can afford.
For further information please contact: Telephone:+91-11- 23232850, 23684445
+91 9811 392777 (Shyam Parande)
Email: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com
Website: www.sewainternational.org
Please send your generous donations to:
SEWA INTERNATIONAL, 49, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg;

Maitreyi Gurukulam, Karnataka:
A Unique Educational Venture

Background
When Bharat was under alien rule, the self expression of society was naturally inhibited. this was a result of the deliberate and sustained endeavour of the British administration to deculturalise the Hindu society and render it forgetful about its own glorious past and about the essential Bharatiya value - system which had guided and shaped all spheres of life including education. It was a stated objective of the Biritish - promoted system of education to create, in particular, a dominant social class which would be Hindu only nominally and would soon assimilate the mental habits and ethical norms of the British rulers. While being small in terms of numbers, the new social elite class created by the British system of education was expected to establish a new hegemony over all administrative and educational activities in the country. Not only did the foreign rulers succeed in this mission, but also laid firm foundations for a continuance of such a regime even after their departure from the shores of Bharat.

Due to lack of a truly nationalist vision among post Independence rulers, almost all the legacies of colonial rule have continued even half - a - century after the advent of political Independence. The most noteworthy negative fallout of this regression is in the field of education. This is tragic, since education is the basis of progress of any nation.
In view of continued disinterest of the State in the much needed indigenization of education, private initiative to promote Bharatiya orientation in education has become a dire necessity. Maitreyi Gurukula is one such humble voluntary effort.

The need of the hour is for a vigorous movement to replace the present system of education with an alternate one that would realize the dreams of such savants as Yogi Aurobindo, Swami Vivekanadna, Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. In other words a cluster of Gurukulas have once again to be established all over Bharat. Maitreyi Gurukula is but a starting step towards that goal.
In Bharat, where the family forms the core of the social life, the mother occupies a pivotal position. It is she who moulds the child in its formative age. As such, she is considered the first Guru for the child. When the mother fulfils this role in each and every family, the child automatically acquires the Adhishila shikshana which forms the foundation for his/her later life. The Adhichitta and Adhiprajna Shikshana that should follow at the Gurukula was enunciated by Swami Vivekananda as Man Making Education. It is only when such men with capital 'M' are produced through the educational system that Bharat will shine forth in her pristine glory like a colossus among the global nations and regain her status as the enlightener of the universe or Jagadguru.

With this end in view the, Maitreyi Gurukula has been started as an alternative to the present education system. Here the girl child is targeted to make her blossom forth into ideal womanhood, patriotic, service-oriented and devoted towards Bharatiyata. It is obviously through her that the ideal society of the future is going to be shaped.
Boarding, lodging, clothes, study material and all necessary facilities are provided free to all the inmates of the Gurukula. No fees are charged.

Specialities
* It is for blossoming of the inner potency of the child.
* It is for the all-sided development of her personality.
* It is for arousing unalloyed nationalism.
* It is for self-study, self-thinking, self-discipline and self-dependence.
* Behavioural learning through emulation of elders.
* Enrichment of information along with enhancement of the assimilational capacity.
* Learning with a spiritual outlook.
* Learning through the medium of the mother tongue - Kannada.
* Working knowledge of Conversational Samskrit.
* Ancient Knowledge judiciously blended with modern information. Hence Veda, Yoga, Agriculture, native medicines and modern science for the core subjects of this multidimensional curriculum.
* Additional orientation in the use of English and Hindi.
* Extra facilities to study literature and also for cultivation of music and other fine arts for those who are desirous of learning them.
* To be always under motherly care of in-charge matrons.
* The curriculum designed and capsulized by eminent educationists who also guide the day - to - day activities.
A Few Relevant Details
> Open to all Hindu girls above 10 years without considerations of caste and class.
> Admission limited to 20 girls only for each batch.
> Six years course in the first phase. Higher Course on the completion of the first phase if desired by the student and parents.
> Higher Course optional
> The Gurukula is situated in a vast verdant area and serene atmosphere in Moorukaje Village, 4 kms, off Vittla, Bantwal Taluk, Dhakshina Kannada district, Karnataka.

"We shall be required to produce such institutions which will kindle the spirit of action in us, which will replace the self centredness and selfishness by a desire to serve the Nation, which will produce not only sympathy towards our brethren, but a sense of affection and oneness with them. Such institutions can truly reflect our Chiti." - Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

Sewa Sandesh 118: May 8, 2009

2009-05-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk
We sincerely hope that our readers will pardon us for this belated May 8 issue of Seva Sandesh. In this issue besides an article on SHG’s describing its potential reach, we would be proud to appreciate the yearlong efforts by volunteers of YFS – Banglore in teaching the underprivileged and gain valuable insights about the much acclaimed Chitrakoot model of holistic development.
We share with grief the news of sad demise of Shri. Vishnukumarji who relentlessly worked, for about 30 years, to build a strong network of Sevakaryas in Delhi and M.P. Seva Bharati Delhi and Madhya Pradesh are the living testimony of his untiring efforts, zeal and ability to motivate thousands of workers with personal example. Vishnuji, as he was fondly known, was truly seva personified. He breathed his last on May 25, 2009 in Delhi. We pray the Paramatma for eternal peace of the departed soul.
Youth for Seva Volunteers’ Appreciation Day 2009, held at Jayanagar, Karnataka
An annual event for Youth For Seva, "Volunteers’ Appreciation Day" was held at RV Teachers college, Jayanagar, on 11th April 2009. Youth for Seva had collaborated with Times of India Campaign "Teach India", last year to beget thousands of volunteers, who were trained and assigned to various teaching projects in Govt. Schools and Study centres in slums, all over Bangalore.
In conclusion to the academic year of 2008-09, YFS held this meet for volunteers wherein their work was appreciated and certificates were distributed. The chief guest of the event was Dr.S.K Maini, the founder of Maini group of Companies which manufacture REVA car, who is well-known himself for his work in the field of social service.
The event was participated by around 300 volunteers and friends of YFS. It was also organised and conducted by volunteers who put up social awareness skits, displayed documentary on YFS work, presented highlights of year 2008-09 and future plans for 2009-10. The audience were enthralled by the feedback from couple of volunteers and representatives of NGOs, who were supported by YFS volunteers. They went on to say that the active work by YFS is a blessing of satisfaction for them and a motivation for the youth and also a hope for the underprivileged and underdeveloped sections of society. YFS work and its innumerous volunteers were appreciated by one and all, including Dr.SK Maini, who mentioned that our country is slowly forgetting its cultural values under the influence of the western world; praised YFS for its values and ethics. He also said that the major part of the country is in the rural and we need to protect and develop them. Prof.Vaidyanathan from IIMB admired the work of volunteers and the vision of YFS to send volunteers to other countries. The event was concluded by a recitation of "Vande Mataram" in its glory, which was revered by one and all, in their silent standing, in solemn thoughts of duties or seva for our country.
SHGs And Development of Microfinance
Financial inclusion of the poor can only be possible if the MFIs inculcate a habit of savings and come out with insurance products covering various risks.
Delivery of credit at the doorstep of those who are not covered by the formal banking business, coupled with capacity building, is one of the ways for achieving financial inclusion. Such a financial inclusion of the poor can be more fruitful if the credit disbursed can help them become entrepreneurs than meeting only their consumption needs. The process can also be accentuated if the disbursing microfinance institutions (MFIs) inculcate a habit of savings by attracting deposits and come out with insurance products covering various risks.
The Nobel Laureate from Bangladesh and the founder of the Grameen Bank movement, Muhammad Yunus, has termed the microfinance disbursement as “a social business” in contrast to the commercial business of banks and financial institutions. There should be a separate regulatory authority for MFIs as distinguished in character from that for the commercial banks. The regulatory authority for MFIs should evolve guidelines keeping in view the objectives of socio-economic development of the poor, he suggests.
According to Yunus, MFIs should be self-sustaining, be allowed to attract deposits, provide insurance and pension fund, and should be capacity building.
If MFIs are owned by borrowers, there should be no payment of licence fees. MFIs can source funds from banks. He is, however, not in favour of MFIs sourcing funds from outside the country. Funds should preferably be mobilised and distributed locally, he opines.
The interest rates should preferably be lower. MFIs should ultimately be owned and operated by borrowers, as is in Bangladesh. There should not be any scope for individual profit in MFIs. All profits should be ploughed back in the MFIs for meeting the costs of transactions, he suggests.
According to Yunus, this is the right time for the microfinance movement to grow and spread in India. It can counter the adverse impact of the current global financial crisis and provide jobs and self-employment to many.
He holds the global banking and financial institutions responsible for the current global economic crisis as they have befooled the investors via mere paper transactions. “Banking regulations should clearly distinguish between gambling and business. There should be proper in-built mechanism to prevent the business from running into trouble and insurance schemes should be in place for protecting deposits. The government should not bailout these institutions by doling out public money,” he says.
The microfinance institutions should cater to the ‘real economy’ and livelihood of millions of poor. The developing countries like India and Bangladesh have been largely insulated from the adverse impact of the current global financial crisis due to the presence of the ‘real economy’, he says. In Bangladesh 80% of the poor are covered under microfinance. The remaining 20% are expected to be covered within the next two years.
India has been able to cover only 20% people under it and needs to speed up, he suggests.
In India, a Bill for regulation of MFIs is pending in Parliament since 2007. The proposed legislation has been delayed on the issue of lowering of interest rates. A joint secretary in the banking division of the finance ministry, Amitabh Verma, says the government is very keen on MFIs lowering their interest rates. The MFIs should carry out their operations without any subvention of interest rates by the government. Bangladesh has set up a regulatory authority for the Grameen Banks and another legislation for approval of MFIs as social banking institutions is pending for approval.
Citing a few instances of social business, Yunus said, students in Bangladesh were given loans, most of who have opted to become entrepreneurs after they complete their studies. Interest-free loans of 1,000 taka were given to 1,00,000 beggars, 15,000 of which have stopped begging and set up small business.. Loans without any interest was an exception in case of beggars. As a general principle, MFIs
should charge interests on loans to cover their transaction costs. Prudence suggests that cost of transaction should be minimised and interest rates should be kept low.
MFIs in India, however, allege that their interest rates are higher (mostly in double digits) as they have to cover the costs of transactions and capacity building. According to Amitabh Verma, bank’s refinance rates to MFIs are not likely to be less than 7%. Also, the government may not be in a position to render subvention on loans. Therefore, the MFIs should find novel ways for covering or hedging their costs.
MFIs apex body Sa-Dhan’s executive director Mathew Titus said; “The microfinance sector in India is going through a difficult and a challenging phase. Extraordinary growth, global credit crunch and increased awareness of social impact pose a challenge. It is an opportune moment for house keeping and clearing up concerns that have been around for a while. Growth and competition need to be addressed in the common spirit to serve the poor. Transparency is the key property that microfinance must subscribe to”
Microfinance in India touched the 33.6 million clients-mark in 2007-08, of which 14.1 million were served by MFIs, according to Sa-Dhan estimate. Other estimates put the client outreach at over 100 million. These estimates may differ but there is an unanimous acknowledgement of the fact that over 90 million low-income households still remain unserved. Therefore, microfinance must grow steadily and steeply. All indicators point to a flattening growth curve. However, these were computed before the global financial crisis and the growth path may even suffer a dent, according to some experts. This means not only unserved clients will have to wait longer but also the existing clients are likely to see their credit flow slowing down and shrinking.
However, microfinance can grow from the perspective of demand only if adequate resources flow to MFIs and self-help groups (SHGs). There are four main options for capital mobilisation --- grants, profits, savings and investment. Grants and profits, however, are unfeasible.
There is no possibility of a steep growth from grant –financing at this stage. In a given period, grants are just not large enough. The same holds true for profits that, in theory, can be generated from a granted corpus. If profits are huge enough, the organisation would either cease to be a community development finance by charging in excess of traditional moneylenders or serve non-poor clients. Savings could be a very feasible option, particularly in the long run. Only cooperatives are legally entitled to mobilise savings. Some of the experiences suggest failures of cooperatives. However, cooperative legislations in several states like Andhra Pradesh led to reforms in the cooperative model. The outcome is the legal form of MACS, which is the registration for many SHG federations.
There are about 75,000 SHG federations functioning in India and are an important avenue for managing an ever-expanding number of SHGs. The SHGs federate into a two or three-tier structures and take up a range of services, both financial and non-financial. They have so far not been included formally into the SBLP and have strong points in their favour like cost efficiency and democratic governance. Besides lacking exposure to these relatively new organisations, bankers often raise concerns about level of professionalism of federation management, viability of the business model including dependency on the self-help promoting institution (SHPI) and political interference. The idea of a national-level SHG federation is being debated to address the issue.
Bankers are generally comfortable in extending re-finance to the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) because equity serves as a lever for credit.. Banks are usually concerned over the creditworthiness of MFIs and SHG federations’ portfolio quality, profitability, governance and viability of the business plan. Incidentally, the involvement of investment funds regularly brings about improvements in all these areas. Bankers rely more on existing systems and structures, though some emphasise on the merits of a long-term relationship, their loan terms are mostly 24 to 36 months. Therefore, it is essential that MFIs and SHG federations go for credit ratings. Meanwhile, Nabard has a scheme for subsidised credit rating for MFIs and SHG federations. --Ashok B. Sharma
The Chitrakoot Project: A Unique Self Reliance Campaign
Introduction:Even 55 years after Independence, and the expenditure of over Rs. 30,000 crore on rural development, the villages of India are in a sorry state. The progress of the villages has not been achieved as desired. The cherished ideals of Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, with regard to social reconstruction have not been fulfilled. The dreams of the illustrious Martyrs of our Freedom Movement for a reconstructed nation, remains as yet unattained. The development of our villages is of critical importance for the economic development of the country. The route taken by successive Governments for development through 5-year plans that evolve at the top and are to permeate downwards towards the villages have not been successful.
The Late Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya extensively studied all the different aspects of human life and Indian society. Thereafter, he compiled his thesis 'Integral Humanism' on what requires to be done, as a model and guide for a harmonious and progressive society. The need of the hour is to achieve the overall progressive development of our youth by following this philosophy.
The human body consists of several parts - each integral to the other. The functions of each part vary from the other, and are all carried out with absolute precision, without any interruption, thought or doubt for even a moment. They are engaged solely in keeping the body secure, functional and
healthy. A healthy and strong body ensures that the requirements of every part of human body are duly met. 'Complimentarity' is the word Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya had coined for the functional dimention of our body parts.

The relations between human society and its constituents, is similar to the relation between the human body and its parts, because the elements of society are also interdependent. The farmer produces food grains, vegetables and fruits that everyone in society consumes for sustenance. The weaver makes clothes for everyone to wear. Therefore, inter-dependence or complimentarily is the basis of a happy social life. Without fulfilling each and every essential need of society, neither an individual nor a family could pursue their respective careers or vacations with perfection and success. This is a natural law. Only if a social order is developed with in the framework of this natural law, would be possible to realize the noble objective embodied in the saying "Let everyone be happy".
The greatest problem with development work since Independence was the Districts and States - without people's participation. This ignored core local issues and the requirements of the particular area. It also ignored awakening a sense of ownership and initiative in the people involved. As a result, these cost-intensive rural development schemes were unable to achieve their objectives. As Pt. Deendayalji had said, "The process of development begins from the bottom and moves to the top. The roots of our nation lie in rural India. So the development of our society and country must begin from the rural area." People's participation and initiative in rural projects increase their scope, stability and success rate.
Objective: To give India a new direction is the need of the hour. People's initiative and local issues are a key component for any successful rural development program. Complimentarity and a social consciousness in society form the basis of a Nation's soul (Chiti). Without looking at the needs of a society in totality, no development program can succeed.

Deendayal Research Institute (DRI), set up in 1968 to validate the philosophy of Integral Humanism, is currently working on such a project. DRI's Chitrakoot Project is an integrated and holistic model for the development of rural India, based on the principles outlined in Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya's Integral Humanism to create a society based on the complimentarity of the family, primary school and the local population. The Chitrakoot Project is a self-reliance campaign that was launched on 26th January 2002 and will cover 500 villages around Chitrakoot in 2 phases. The 80 villages taken up in the 1st phase will be self-reliant by 15-August 2005, and the remaining villages will achieve self-reliance by 26th January 2009. Deendayal Research Institute has been found to confirm to Quality Management System Standard ISO 9001:2000 in the implementation of the Chitrakoot Project.
The self-reliance campaign covers all aspects of individual, family and societal life of the villagers. The key to the campaign is the concept of Samaj Shilpi Dampati (SSD), 'graduate' couples who live within the villages itself, and are responsible for motivating and guiding a cluster of 5 villages.

Foremost among the aspects covered is income generation. This is achieved by introducing watershed and soil management techniques where necessary; new and improved farming technologies through 2.5 and 1.5 acre model farms that enable small and marginal farmers - to look after the family needs plus save; and by increasing Non-Farm Sector incomes through entrepreneur training and the formation of income-generating Self Help Groups (SHGs) that are both stand alone, and vertically integrated.
Issues of health and hygiene are the second most important aspect of the campaign, as an unhealthy individual is incapable of working to improve his/her economic condition. Regardless of the manifold benefits of Ayurveda and Naturopathy, Allopathic intervention - when the ratio of doctors to population is in excess of 1:10,000 and the cost of medicine is high — is common. Therefore, in issues related to health the Chitrakoot Project looks to Ayurveda and Naturopathy to keep villagers healthy. Locally available herbs and nutritional vegetable gardens are the key interventions used in this area, including a Dadi ma Ka Batua (grandmother's pouch), a collection of 34 Ayurvedic local herbs and preparations that can be used to treat common ailments. Where Ayurveda is not applicable, as for example in Dentistry, state-of-the-art facilities have been provided at Arogyadham,Deendayal Research Institute's Ayurvedic & Naturopathy Hospital & Research Centre at Chitrakoot.
Illiteracy and social consciousness is the third area covered by the campaign. A 'functional literacy campaign' developed by TCS is being conducted for the villagers by the Samaj Shilpi Dampati, Educational Research Centre and the 4 schools that operate within the Project area. The Smaj Shilpi Dampati work with the villagers on the principles of mutual co-operation to ensure that the village is litigation free, and also on personal and village hygiene to make the village 'clean and green'.
Deendayal Research Institute is confident that its reliance model, based on the universal principles of Integral Humanism, that is both replicable and sustainable, can be a model for the future of India as also for global development problems.

The Self-Reliance Campaign:: On 26th January 2002, villagers from 80 of the 500 villages that form the 1st phase of the Self-Reliance Campaign took the following oath: "We all the villagers, with mutual cooperation, will make our village self-reliant. By 26th January 2005, we will eradicate unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy from our village. Every Family of our village will become self-reliant and prosperous. We will see to it that no dispute of our village will reach the court. And all the old disputes will be settled amicably at our village level. We will also see to it that our village will become green and clean and will build our village into a model of self-reliance." In the 2nd phase of the project, the remaining 420 villages will become self-reliant by 26th January 2009.

Current Infrastructure: To enable the project to succeed, Deendayal Research Institute has established a host of institutions and centres to give inputs to the villagers for their success in the self-reliance campaign. These include:
1. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Majhgawan (M.P.) - a 63 acre model farm that reaches out to farmers in the villages of the self-reliance campaign situated in Madhya Pradesh helping them to increase both farm and non-farm income through watershed management, improved sustainable agricultural inputs both on-farm and farmer's fields and training in various disciplines.
2. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ganivan (U.P.) - a 50 acre model farm set within a 150 acres DRI campus that reaches out to farmers in the villages of the self-reliance campaign situated in Uttar Pradesh helping them to increase both farm and non-farm income through improved sustainable agricultural inputs both on-farm and farmer's fields and training in various disciplines.
3. Arogyadham - The Ayurveda & Naturopathy Campus at Chitrakoot is the key centre for maintaining good health among the villagers. Within the 53 acre campus is:
a. Out-patient Department with modern diagnostic equipment.
b. In-patient Department for 40 patients.
c. A Maternity& Pediatric Centre with operating theatres and a neo-natal pediatric wing.
d. A Yoga & Meditation Centre.
e. A fully equipped Naturopathy Centre.
f. An Ayurvedic Research Centre for Ayurvedic Herbs and Preparations.
g. A modern Dental Unit.
h. An Ayurvedic Research Library.
i. An Herbal Garden.
j. An Ayurvedic Doctor Outreach programme.
k. An Herbal Remedies Kit (Dadi Ma Ka Batua) for treating common ailments.

4. Udyamita Vidyapeeth - A production-cum-training Centre that consists of a complex of over 19 industrial sheds, 4 hostels and an administrative block to impart training to villagers in various skills to earn. The Centre is actively involved in the self-reliance programmes and has innovated vertically integrated Self-Help Groups and the concept of one village-one product.
5. Suurendra Paul Gramodaya Vidyalaya - A comprehensive primary, secondary and high school situated in Chitrakoot that serves 1,000 students from in and around Chitrakoot.
6. Ramnath Ashramshala - A residential co-educational school for 200 tribal children located in Chitrakoot.
7. Parmanand Ashram Paddhati Vidyalaya - A residential co-educational school for 125 scheduled caste children located in Ganivan.
8. Krishna Devi Banwasi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya - A residential girls school for 50 girls from tribal families.

9. Gurukul - A unique experiment that houses 80 children with retired couples in groups of 10 children that inculcates values in the children and helps them to study and grow in an inspiring atmosphere.
10. Chitrakoot Ras Shala - The in-house Ayurvedic pharmacy that caters to the medicinal needs of Arogyadham as also markets 35 Ayurvedic preparations.
11. Gramodaya Darshan Park - A permanent exhibition where all the innovation and interventions used in the self-reliance campaign can be seen in working models as also other innovations that could be used in villages.
12. Govansh Vikas Avam Anusadhan Kendra - The Gaushala in Chitrakoot is engaged in maintaining pure Indian breeds; research in cross breeding of Indian cows; as also an A.I. programme for improving the livestock yield and bullock performance in the villages in the self-reliance programme.

13. Resource Centre - Controls the inputs of the Samaj Shilpi Dampati - the 'graduate' couples that live in the village and serve as the catalyst of change in the self-reliance campaign. They are the nodal point through which all interventions of DRI flow to the villagers in the self-reliance campaign.
14. Educational Resource Centre - Innovates new educational aids for schools and adult literacy, is currently starting a TCS developed Computer Based Functional Literacy (CBFL) programme in the 80 villages.
15. Ramnath Goenka Smarak - A public bathing ghat for the people of Chitrakoot on the banks of the holy Mandakini river with separate enclosures for men and women.
16. Ram Darshan - a unique museum to inculcate the social values and ethics embodied in the concept of Ram Rajya, using paintings, bas-relief and dioramas to depict socially relevant scenes from Lord Rama's life.

“We do not live for ourselves but for our oppressed and neglected brethren”
---Nanaji Deshmukh

Sewa Sandesh 117: April 8, 2009

2009-04-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

From Editor’s Desk:
Meeting the women artisans in remote villages of Kutch district, Gujarat was probably a good lesson learnt while we travelled through the district in the summer heat of April. Life of these women as tougher than those in the rest of the Gujarat state, or better stated, tougher than the life of women in Bhuj the district headquarter.
Against all possible odds, these women are keen to catch up any opportunity that comes their way. A few lessons with modern designs that impress the contemporary market, these artisans produce the best quality material in handicrafts. It is their single minded urge to sustain their family and grow that was evident throughout our team visit to Kutch.
Geetaben, a young lady who has finished here graduation, is a team leader and leads some 8 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in her village, assisted by 8 group leaders who vary in their age from 20 to might be 65. What surprises a visitor is that the SHGs are being run with skill and discipline, unmatched even in some professional establishments.
Rural Bharat is raring to go towards development was inevitable through these village women, if not throughout the country, at least a part of that!

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Receives Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) Utkrishtata Samman
Bharat Vikas Parishad honoured the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation with its Utkrishtata Samman for the year 2007-08 for its excellent services towards empowerment of Vanvasis and villagers. The Samman was presented at the national Governing Body of the Parishad held in Hyderabad on February 14. It was second Samman by the Parishad, which was instituted in the memory of its founding secretary general the late Dr Suraj Prakash. Shri Vijay Maroo, president of the Foundation accepted the Samman.

Shri Subhash Gupta, president of US Chapter of the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation was also present on the occasion. The Major hurdle between India’s growth and her march towards a super power is illiteracy at the grassroots level. Ekal’s mission is to eradicate illiteracy from rural areas, particularly amongst Vanvasis so that they can have access to primary health, childcare and gainful self-employment. It is a vision that embraces integrity, determination and commitment with 26724 Ekal Vidyalayas spread all over India till date. To spread the light of knowledge to the far-flung areas of our country. Ekal works in the fields of basic education, health care education, developmental education and empowerment education. Last year, the award was given to two saints Swami Chidanand Saraswati, head of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, and Shri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swami, chief pontiff of Sree Ramachandrapura Math, Karnataka.

Vandemataram Founation, Andhra Pradesh: Tansforming the Lives of the Poor

Experiencing the need of inculcating values among the children, Vandemataram Foundation, an NGO was established by a few young social workers. Drawing inspiration from Vandemataram movement that inspired scores of Indians to fight the British, the Foundation works towards building the character and integrity of the individuals. Making a Village School the Nodal Point, the Foundation has setup a team consisting of village elders, youth and alumni of the school. The team working in tandem with the Parents and the teachers of the school actively involves the students in various constructive and creative activities. Such an exercise not only sharpen the students sensibilities and but also promotes a sense of duty among them.
Responsibility
It is obvious that only those children who can not afford their educational expenses in private schools join Government Schools. Perhaps, such children may not get any guidance either from the parents or from any other source.

The Foundation wants to fill these lacunae by way of extending a helping hand. Need of the hour is to undertake programmes targeting the government schools because the poor are looking for help. The Foundation is willing to undertake such programmes which will bring out the latent talents among the children. The only way to rescue the poorer sections is to create basic facilities in schools.

The Objectives
· To inculcate the spirit of freedom struggle and to nurture patriotism among youth, targeting the government schools
· To mould and transform the students into noble citizens by imparting time tested values of our heritage
· To sustain and further patriotic fervor among the students by judicious blend sports and academics
· To make students active participants in the great vision of 2020 of Former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with a view to make India Strong and Prosperous

. To identify school dropouts and to endeavour to take them back to school by ensuring quality education
· To encourage and patronize the higher education of the poor meritorious students
· Intermediate education for Kishori Students-Organising study camps with them in Government schools.

· Organising residential camps during the examinations in the localities of the poor to sharpen the talents of the poor students
· To orient and nurture such spirit among the youth which motivates them to fight corruption
· To promote awareness about employment opportunities for the unemployed youth and to work towards women empowerment
· To work towards eradication of social evils such as untouchability and child marriages
· To organize periodical medical awareness camps in the villages to enhance awareness about various diseases
· To sustain and further traditional value system and ethical values and pass them on to the future generations
· To felicitate all those who are steadfastly working in various spheres of life and try to make a difference

Kutch Kala Sewa Kendra: An Artisan Resource Centre, Kutch, Gujarat

Background:
Women-owned businesses have the potential to make significant contributions to job creation and economic growth; Economic empowerment of women changes the balance of power because it allows half the world's population to contemplate higher goals than basic survival. Allowing the women to grow on their own with some training and funding that encourage them to find their own way and build enterprises. However women in many parts of the country are not fully participating in entrepreneurial activity because of lack of attention in government policies and other support system.
The Kutch Kala Sewa Kendra
Kutch Kala Sewa Kendra is a federation of Self Help Groups of artisans. This project is being implemented by Sewa International and supported by India Development and Relief Fund (I.D.R.F.). Embroidery is a vital, living and evolving expression of the craft and textile traditions of the people living in this area. Different patterns of stitch and motif articulate their cultural identity as well as their vision about the world.
Mission
To identify and motivate poor women in the rural areas and to deliver capacity building workshop, training cum exhibition and provide financial assistance by linking them to the banks and facilitating them to avail soft loan timely and in efficient manner so that Sewa International as an organisation can prove to be a financially sustainable MED model for the poor

Objective:
An important element of this project is to develop and promote sustainable programme in the domain of handicrafts and bring the people above poverty line in the most backward area of Kutch. The primary objectives of this project are as below:
1. To provide self-employment for handicrafts artisans, which will help them in establishing their micro-enterprise.
2. Intervention for skill upgradation, design development technology, provision of adequate infrastructure, marketing etc.
3. To ensure effective, collective participation of all the members involved in production and marketing process for optimal growth in human resource, production, business and income through SHG approach.
4. To provide sustainable and long-term marketing network and linkages.
5. To provide Social welfare & social security to the artisans.
Motivation for key activities:
* Group formation
* Capacity building training for SHGs and Animator
* Enterpreneurship Development Programme
* Skill training programme (Visual Training Programme, skill upgradation & specialized skill)
* Credit rating
* Youth group formation and skill development.
Achievements:
The project is operational in 08 villages of Bhuj Block, of Kutch District, selected on the basis of level of poverty and backwardness. Some of the villages are Keshav Nagar, Atal Nagar, Dhaneti, Jaam Kundariya, Godpar, and Sanosara, Vagura, Sangam Ner of Bhuj Block.
Presently, 110 women are directly & 125 indirectly associated with the project. Rise in income of the beneficiaries could be seen clearly from the amount of work they are doing.

Future plans:
Establishing Sewa Design & Development Centre for sustainable development-

A Successful Effort In Economic Emancipation Through Micro-Financing

The Sree Narayan Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), the sword arm of the 26 per cent Hindu Ezhava community of Kerala, has completed 106 years of existence. The saintly order Sree Narayan Dharma Sangham was founded by Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer and saint of Kerala. Dr Palpu, who had medical education in Banglore, met Swami Vivekananda there, after taking the blessings of Sree Narayana Guru. Based on Vivekananda’s instructions, he founded the SNDP. Sri Kumaran Asan, the immortal poet of Kerala was its first general secretary. The SNDP is now led by vibrant, decisive and effective personality Sri Vellapalli Natesan, who has given dynamic leadership to Hindu unity in Kerala, from SCs to Brahmins. During his two decades hard work, he has converted the SNDP into a strong and vibrant organisation, ready to take up the community’s and Hindu issues. He has been the hard critic of church efforts to control and commercialise education and health care. He has taken strong stand against religious conversions. By adopting several innovative methods the SNDP has emerged as a major community organisation helping its fellowmen. Educational aid to economically deprived children Economically deprived children are adopted and put in hostels. Their food, uniform, books and other expenses are taken care of upto employment. Based on qualifications, jobs are also provided in SNDP-run job centres as well as outside. Thousands of youth are drawing benefit from this scheme.

Sri Vellapally Natesan, Secretary, SNDP

Old age pension
The SNDP has 118 unions and 5488 shakhas worldwide. Selected economically deprived old persons are given Rs 125 pension per month. Lakhs of people are benefiting from this scheme. Marriage of economically deprived girls Every year several economically deprived girls are identified and the SNDP make essential arrangements for their marriage by providing gold, dress, wedding feast etc. Adopting non-earning member families Families who lose their earning members in accidents are provided home delivery of essential food provisions. Jobs are also given to such people in SNDP-managed margin-free shops. Jobs to unemployed youth

Almost 1000 auto-rickshaws have been distributed among unemployed youth under the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana. Banks are willingly giving loans since SNDP is monitoring repayment effectively. Since autos are purchased in bulk, the Bajaj Auto Ltd has given Rs 10,000 discount per auto and banks give Rs 7,500 subsidy. Loans are arranged for women for starting DTP centres, ladies fancy stores and beauty parlours. For men it is for electronic repair shops and general stores. A three-day residential camp, with food and accommodation, is organised every month targetting prospective new-weds—both rich and poor attend the camp. Eight major topics affecting them are discussed there.

Personality development and civil services coaching Besides providing coaching to children in spoken English, personality development, Gita, Gurudev’s darshan, a civil service training course for prospective IFS, IAS IPS and other civil services is to be commenced shortly. Micro-financing The micro-financing initiative started by the SNDP in 2004, has now grown into a massive ‘banyan tree’ consisting of 64,440 Self-Help Groups (SHG) involving 12 lakh women and benefiting 50 lakh people i.e. 1/6th of Kerala’s population. Up to the last month, the total turnover was Rs 810 crore, surpassing Mohammed Yunus of Bangladesh’s record of 3300 crores in 37 years. The SNDP has outbeaten the Nobel record by its vision, mission and dedication. SHGs of 12-20 women in each of the 5488 shakhas were formed for overall development like financial, educational, social, cultural and poverty eradication. Name of Sree Narayan Guru is given to each unit and they meet in different houses every week. Here they imbibe qualities of good culture, leadership, public speaking etc. Rs. 20/- has to be put in by each woman curtailing expenditure, every week. Account is opened in a bank and amount is deposited there. This ensures transparency and interaction with bank officials. After six months, evaluation of internal loans upto Rs 1000 is done. Bank also gives four times of the deposit amount as loan. In two years, the deposit amount comes to Rs 20,000 and the bank gives Rs 80,000 loan for starting small micro-enterprises. Agarbatti manufacturing, tailoring and garment making, pickles, jams, squashes, soaps, papads, bakery products, electronic and internet related enterprises etc. are started by the SHGs. Marketing is taken up by the shops run by SNDP and majors in the field of agarbatti, textiles, garments and electronics, etc.

Under the Haritha Geetham project, farmers are identified in each shakha and cultivation of paddy, vegetables, banana and coconut are encouraged. Bank loans are also arranged by SNDP for this project. Kerala is a state which imports more than two lakh litres of milk from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It was Sri Vellapalli Natesan’s idea to start the ‘Sheera Samrudhi’ project under SHG for self-reliance in milk production. Under this project, farmers are identified in each of the 5488 shakhas and are given 3 cows and a shed. The milk is sold to the milk societies who further supply to government dairies. The plan is to give 20,000 cows to 10,000 farmers. Already 600 cows have been distributed till now. Thus in two-three years Kerala’s import of milk will stop. Best cows are selected, checked by doctors, insured and handed over to farmers. They look after the cows, settle the bank loan and look after their family. The Rs 20/- thrift started four years ago has become Rs 202 crores. Major Banks like SBI, Canara Bank, State Bank of Travancore, Union Bank, Dhanlakshmi Bank, Federal Bank, South Indian Bank etc. are financing the SNDP projects. The SNDP, Sree Narayan Trust etc. run almost 70 schools, 23 Art an Science Colleges, 2 ITIs, 7 Engineering Colleges and 3 Hospitals. Plans are in pipeline to start a Medical College at the earliest. Due to the exposure gained in the SHGs, Hindu Ezhavas have won the three-tier Panchayat polls and are rendering commendable service to society. Sri Vellapalli Natesan says the idea of SHG struck him when he was organising prayer groups at SNDP shakhas. What started as contribution of Rs 5000 to 25 shakhas has grown into a huge banyan tree comprising of 64,440 SHGs, 12 lakh members, 880 crore turnover and 50 lakh beneficiaries. If other Hindu community leaders emulate the dynamic vision and missionary zeal of SNDP general secretary Sri Vellapalli Natesan, the economic, social, cultural and educational uplift of Hindu society will be quickened many fold. May the tribe of Vellapalli Natesan increase! — By S Chandrasekhar
Titbits
1. Dashrath Manjhi (born in 1934) of village Gehlour is a daily wage labourer. The nearest hospital was 80 kilometers away. In other words, a child in that village had hard time surviving. People with health problems found it nearly impossible to walk on a muddy road for 80 kms to get a pill or the doctor's advice. Some people even died on the way. One day Dashrath's wife fell down on that very path when she was on the way to meet Dashrath with his midday meal. It was at this point that Dashrath decided to build a tunnel through the Gehlour hills to make life easier for his village folk. Obviously the whole village thought Dashrath had gone insane. He earned his daily wages as a coolie, and then devoted a few hours everyday to this new challenge. He constructed a 360 feet long, 30 feet high and 25 feet wide passage through Gehlour hills with a hammer, chisel and nails working day and night for 22 years from 1960 to 1982. His feat reduced the distance between Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya district (Bihar, Bharat) from 75 km to just one km. The village was blessed with a new lifeline. People from his village could reach the nearest hospital in 10 minutes. He felt peace in his heart as he knew an entire village benefited. The then President Abdul Kalam honoured him with the Padmashree Award for this selfless act. The government offered to give him a piece of land and a house in Karjani village. He requested the government to build a hospital in the land. He was hit by cancer and died in August 2007 at the age of 78.
2. Of all the institutions that The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) runs, `Sravanam' is unique. Sravanam is an institute specially started for the children who are hearing impaired. This is very special because it takes children up to 5 years of age and trains them to speak, unlike most institutes that train them in sign language. Along with the child, the mother is provided free board and lodging until the completion of the training. The institute was started with the first batch of 6 children. Today it benefits 120 children. What is amazing is that the student to teacher ratio. It has one teacher for two students. When the first batch of 'graduating' children spoke from the dais during a function, every eye in the audience was moist with tears. I write this to specially ask the readers to refer children with hearing impairment (Age up to 5 years) to the Sravanam, TTD, Tirupati. They will be pleased to take as many, so the future generations can hear and chant the Divya Nama of Govinda.The first batch of these 6 children are fit for admission into the regular schools of the TTD.
3. Shri Navinbhai M. Shah of Narayanpura, Ahmedabad ( Gujarat , Bharat), carried a packet containing 50 tolas (580 grams) of gold ornaments to the locker section of the Ahmedabad Mercantile Cooperatve Bank. He took out all the contents of the locker and checked them. He placed all of them back into the locker, but in a hurry, left the packet that he had brought for keeping in the locker on the table there, locked his locker and went home. An hour later Smt Namrata Behn Patel of Asarwa came to the bank to operate her locker. She was taken aback on seeing a packet filled with jewellery lying on the table. After finishing her work, she contacted the locker manager Shri Dilipbhai Patel and handed over the packet. He at once called all the customers who came that day to the locker section and after inquiries, handed over the packet to Navinbhai in the presnce of Namrata Behn. On getting back his jewel packet worth Rs 7.5 lakhs, Navibhai heartily thanked the manager and Namrata Behn. -- Courtesy– Panchaamritam

The Idea of Swadeshi or one's own country is one of the noblest conceptions that have ever stirred the heart of humanity…
The devotion to motherland, which is enshrined in the highest Swadeshi, is an influence so profound and so passionate that its very thought thrills and its actual touch lifts one out of oneself. -- Gopal Krishna Gokhale
A Sewa International Delhi Publication.

Sewa Sandesh 116: February 8, 2009

2009-02-08T01:21:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk
Health services in rural Bharat are a real challenge for the country. Though in a statement issued by the Ministry of Health, Govt. of India states that before 2020 “Health for All” will be a reality, action does not support such kind of an achievement. Trained medical personnel are seeking the urban destination and schemes like mandatory rural engagement for every doctor did not motivate anyone.
Village Arogya Rakshak is a scheme through which we are trying to reach out to the tribal and rural population. Educated youth drawn from the local area are trained in the First Aid and primary health care and are provided with a kit of medicine that he or she uses. The patients are referred to Doctors in the nearer towns or cities when ever need arises and the Arogya Rakshak plays the role of facilitator in that case. The experiment in many distant villages is quite encouraging for us to launch a scheme of village Arogya Rakshak. We appeal for benevolent support to this scheme from all our readers.
Village Health Workers' (Arogya Rakshaks) Training Programme Concludes in Meghalaya
Seva Bharati Meghalaya has been organizing the activity of Village Health Workers’ since the last ten years. It conducts the training programme for selected boys and girls from different villages. The organization trains them in Primary health care and about common diseases and give them a medicine kit for free distribution of medicines to the needy patients. Its 256 health care workers are engaged in 159 villages in Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills. About 40,000 patients have been benefited so far by this programme.
The two-day training was inaugurated by Shri Thabah, President of Seng Khasi organization. Shri D. Lyngdoh, President of Seng Khasi Nongthilew was also present on the occasion. The training concluded at Sohiong village in West khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.
52 youths from 32 villages of West Khasi Hills District participated in this training programme.
Dr. Pdeh delivered his lecture about common diseases, their symptoms and precautions. Dr. K. Sari explained about digestive system and diseases related to it.Shri E.W. Warjri guided the trainees about the medicines and medicine kits. Smt. T. Kharkylliang explained them about anatomy and physiology.
Seva Bharati has provided medicine kits to them which contain medicines for common diseases. These health workers' will work voluntarily in their respective villages. Villagers of remote areas will be benefited through this project.
Seva Bharati had arranged night halts of the trainees' in different families of Sohiong village. This interaction among the people created the environment of love and harmony among villagers and health workers.
Sewa International USA Provides Helping Hand to Bhutanese Refugees

The population in Bhutan mainly consists of two communities: the Drukpas and the Lhotshampas. In 1985, conflict between these two communities resulted in a mass exodus of Lhotshampas to Nepal. Starting from then until 1994, more than 110,000 Lhotshampas took refuge in seven UN-administered camps in Nepal living in very poor conditions.
The United States eventually volunteered to resettle 60,000 of these refugees, with the remainder destined to go to other developed nations.. In 2008, they began arriving in the United States in what the UN has described as one of the world's largest resettlement efforts ever. These refugees are given only a few months of support from the government and the resettlement agencies. After that, they are required to become self-sufficient. The most pressing needs are for financial assistance, employment, and basic material needs. They also require support to help them make the transition to this new land.
These are poor families who cannot afford to buy essentials such as blankets, winter jackets, and toys for their children. Many have no jobs or are students and have no income. Although the VolAgs (Voluntary Agencies), or resettlement agencies, provide some support for the first few months, it is not adequate.

Though many of the refugees are educated and can speak English, many of them have remained unemployed because agency support and government aid is not available to them for an extended period of time, the assistance of Sewa International is quickly becoming a lifeline for many of these families.
Sewa International USA is providing:
Sewa International USA has taken up a nationwide project to help these families. Currently, its chapters in various cities, along with various local organizations, are working to fulfill the immediate and long-term needs of these refugees with several more chapters gearing up to help. Sewa International USA is providing:
· Financial help
· Essential materials such as blankets, winter jackets, clothes, toys etc.
· Employment assistance:-
1. Job search assistance
2. Sponsorship of vocational training
3. Job fairs
· Mobility
1. Help in aquiring driving licences
2. Sponsoring or donating used cars
· Help in transitioning to a new environment while preserving their culture
1. Help in conducting cultural events
2. Mentoring and friendship
3. Rides to their preferred places of worship
Each chapter may only provide certain services depending upon availability of resources. Sewa International, US welcomes a Bhutanese refugee who needs help at the information given below.
Locations:
Sewa International USA is currently conducting the BRE project at the following locations:-
Cities:
* Atlanta, GA Houston, TX Sacramento, CA
* Boston, MA Laconia, NH San Antonio, TX
* Chaple Hill, NC Louisville, KY San Jose, CA
* Chicago, IL Lynn, MA St Louis, MO
* Cleveland, OH Manchaster, NH Washington, DC
* Concord, NH Oakland, CA Woburn, MA
* Dallas, TX Phoenix, AZ Ft Worth, TX
* Denver, CO Portland, OR
Contact:
Email: info@sewausa.org
Phone: 510-579-4742
How can you help?
Sewa International, US appeals to its benefactors to donate to this project. It also appeals to the community and its organizations to provide a helping hand.
Supporting Organizations:
¨ Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
¨ Hindu Temple of Atlanta
¨ India Association of New Hampshire
¨ Sunnyvale Hindu Temple
¨ Vishwa Hindu Parishad

Imports Destroy Indian Silk

The decline of the Indian handloom industry is a fallout of the second phase of trade “reforms” in India. Between 2000 and 2005, the average annual growth rate of handloom production was a negative -6.99 per cent. Sericulture and handloom silk have suffered immensely, largely due to the import of cheap Chinese silk yarn and fabric.
According to Kumar Gautam of the Centre for Trade and Development, “The big blow to weavers came during 1999-2000, when the Indian Government allowed duty-free imports of Chinese plain crepe fabric. In 2001, India also abolished its quantitative restrictions on silk imports on demand from the WTO.”
Gautam notes that, “Between 2000-01 and 2004-05, imports of silk fabric into India more than doubled in value terms. In volume terms the cheap imports of silk fabric from China to India increased from 14.48 lakh metres in 2000-01 to 9.649 crore lakh metres in 2004-05 — a whopping increase of 6,560 per cent in just five years.”
Such imports are a disaster for sericulturists who grow silk cocoons. The States of Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where silk yarn is produced have been demanding anti-dumping duties to prevent the destruction of their sericulture.
Cheap silk yarn import has not helped the handloom weaver either. On the contrary, the advantage has gone to powerloom owners, as Chinese yarn is better suited to the powerloom.
In 2003, after protests from sericulturists, the Government of India imposed an anti-dumping duty on import of Chinese mulberry raw silk for five years, until January 2009. Tariffs were also imposed on other silk imports but duties on textiles remain low, so more textile rather than yarn is being imported.
Rampant import of silk fabric has destroyed demand for handloom silk cloth as it is more expensive. On average, while China silk costs $1-1.25 per metre, Indian silk costs $2.5-4 per metre. Previously the Benaras weaver used Bangalore silk, now 60 percent of the silk used in Benaras comes from China.
Benaras has some half a million handloom weavers. Its handloom industry generates revenue worth Rs. 4,000 crore annually and is a source of livelihoods for about 10 lakh people in the region.
There are several thousand retail and wholesale shops in Benaras that sell ‘Benarasi’ sarees. The gaddidars, the local traders, are rich and powerful men whose relationship with weavers has always been feudal and exploitative. The traders increasingly prefer to sell cheap powerloom sarees as there is more demand and fatter profits to be made from the higher turnover of such sarees. They do not value the skill and labour of the traditional weaver and pay a pittance for handloom silk products. Many gaddidars now own powerlooms.

The powerloom of course is a major competitor of the handloom weaver. One powerloom displaces 10 weavers. The result of competition from both imports and technology is starving weavers and a dying industry.
Activists accuse the Ministry of Texiles of neglecting handlooms. In 1997-98, the handloom sector was allocated 27.5 per cent of the total textile Budget. By 2006-07, this allocation dipped to 7.9 per cent. While khadi gets some support, silk handloom gets little. Dr Rajnikant of the Human Welfare Association (HWA) demands a separate ministry for the handloom sector. He also argues for the aggressive promotion of the Handloom Cluster Development and Handloom Mark and Silkmark schemes as well as Geographical Indicator protection for Benaras handlooms. HWA has organised public protest by weavers, burning Chinese silk and demanding a ban on dumping.
HWA also started the Taana Baana cooperative which provides livelihood to over a thousand weaver families, helping them with credit, design development and marketing support, as well as alternative income generating opportunities. It has a small retail outlet in Sarnath and a turnover of Rs. 70 lakh. But, given the scale of distress among the weavers, Taana Baana is at best a demonstration of what needs to be done for the industry as a whole. (By Sujata Madhok, The Hindu, Sunday, Feb 1, 2009)

Slough Hindu Community Donates £4,000 for Bihar Flood Relief

SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE UK: The Hindu Cultural Society (Hindu Temple) of Slough donated £4,000 (Four thousand pounds) to Sewa International's Bihar (India) Flood Appeal. The presentation was made at the Hindu temple in Slough during the Gita Jayanti programme, an occasion to mark the anniversary of the recitation of the Bhagawad Gita by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield during the Mahabharat war.
Presenting the cheque on behalf of the Hindu Cultural Society, Shri Vijay Datta, its vice-president said, "The Hindu community in Slough has been very generous in donating the money following the tragic news of the floods in Bihar. We have supported previous disaster appeals such as the Gujarat earthquake, the tsunami and other humanitarian causes and we have great pleasure making this donation to Sewa International."
Accepting the cheque on behalf of Sewa International, Shri Bharat Mistry, thanked the Hindu Temple Committee and the people of Slough for their generous donation and support in times of need. He explained that Sewa International had sent £20,000 very shortly after hearing the news of the disaster. It then quickly launched the Bihar Flood Appeal in the UK and other countries. Working together, Sewa International, in association with Sewa Bharati and other like minded organisations set up seven sewa centers in seven most affected districts to provide immediate relief, food, shelter and treating sick people on arrival. Relief materials coming from different places was collected at these centres, and distributed to the deserving people through small boats and even by head loads, by Sewa volunteers.
After providing immediate relief to the flood affected people of Bihar, Sewa International is now continuing its support to enable long term rehabilitation, and development for the people. It is planning to select one village in each of the 32 affected areas and provide the affected people with tools, equipment and instruments of trade to enable them to re-establish their trade and become self sufficient again. It also plans to build a hostel to educate the poor children of the affected areas who cannot afford to have any education.
Linking the central message of the Bhagwad Gita of encouraging one to do their duty, and the Hindu prayer Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, Sarve santu niraamayaah, Sarve bhadraani pashyantu, Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet (meaning—May all be happy, May all be free from ills, May all look to the good of others, May none suffer from sorrow!), Shri Mistry explained that it was the duty of everyone to work towards betterment of society and to help others affected by disasters.

Aruna Chetana:

A School for Children With Special Needs

Blessings of Paramapujya Pejavar Swamiji, benovelence of Smt. Indiramma and most valuable guidance and support of its founder Director Late Shri Ajith Kumar, was the source for the inception of Aruna Chetana that trekked the path from 5th Dec 1987. The advisory board consists of Retired executives, industrialists, Businessmen and Social Workers. Trained, experienced and dedicated staff play a key role in the development of the challenged, poor and the differently-abled children.
Normally Nature's gift always goes unnoticed and unacknowledged. It is the plight of these deprived, dependent and desolate children that awakens insight to the invaluable gift of nature.
Focus:
To provide comprehensive service facility under one roof to children with multiple disabilities.

Objectives:
Uphold the fundamental right of every child to access to education irrespective of the disability.
Reduce the burden of parents.
Train the children to become self dependent and respectable citizens.
Service to:
Children with intellectual impairment, Cerebral palsy, Spina bifida, Muscular dystrophy, Austism, Dyslexia, Hearing impairment, Partially visually impaired, Behavioural and emotional disorders and Children with Multiple disabilities.

Services Provided:Theraupatic services, Educational, Recreational, Vocational, Medical services, Food and Nutrition, financial support, Counselling and guidance etc., Activities to enhance and strengthen healthy behaviour, Emotional and Spiritual development.

Projects/Programmes:Ankura - Early intervention programme Home Management services in rural areas and slums in Bangalore Chaithanya - Pre school education programmeChetana - School education Non Formal education programmeSadhana - Vocational Training for Rehabilitation.Saaphalya - Rehabilitation and inclusion in main Stream.Self enterprises, Office assistants, workshop, dairy and horticulture, construction work and factories.Aruna Chetana has the credit of appointing highest number of challenged people.Criteria for AdmissionÞ Children with multiple disabilities.Þ Children from lower social and economic sections of the society.Þ Single parent childrenÞ All girl children.Peripheral Centresà Chaitanya at Kempapura Agraharaà Belaku at Tindlu near Vidyaranyapuraà Pranthi at Peenya 2nd Stageà Dharithree at Narasipura near DabaspetTechnical support to start and run special schools at various places. Presently Functioning - Sirisi, Koppa, Gulbarga, Gadag & Kaiwara (Kolar) Inception: 5th December 1987Project of: Hindu Seva PratishthanaAssociated with: Janata Kalyana Nidhi TrustNature: Charitable InstitutionStaff: 38 (Teachers, Therapists, and Administration)Benificiries:400 Children, 60% children from lower social and economic section.Annual Expenditure: Rs. 40 lakhs.

Fostering of rural-based industries is essential. A massive and integrated programme of rural industrialization is to be promoted. This should be based on the maintenance of the balance between employment and efficiency. As far as possible, local resources should be mobilized for activities and functions oriented to growth and development. -- Jaya Prakash Narayan.

Sewa Sandesh 115: January 8, 2009

2009-01-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk
Rashtriya Sewa Bharati, the apex body for many voluntary service organizations in Bharat, is organizing “Sewa Sangam”- a 3day gathering of officials of more than 500 organizations affiliated to it, from 3- 5th April 2009 in Bangalore. Presidents and Secretaries of all these organizations are expected to participate in gathering- the first of its kind being organized. The conference will have various sessions like effective implementation of programs, standard official practices, educational projects, health projects, women’s programs, children activity, etc apart from an elaborate exhibition on Sewa activities across the country. The display will be on panels as well as audio video presentations from all the states.
This conference is an endeavour towards bringing various Sewa organizations together for exchange and understanding in serving the society.
Local NGOs from Bangalore and Karnataka state are also being invited to spend an evening in the “Sewa Sangam” and interact with activist from various parts of the country.
People who are interested in Sewa or involved in Sewa are invited to Bangalore on those dates for participation and will have to contact this office as the participation in the conference is by invitation.

National Convention of Saksham
Declare eyes national property

National convention of Saksham, formerly known as Akhil Bharatiya Drishtihin Kalyan Sangh, was held in Lucknow recently. More than 600 delegates from different parts of the country participated in the three-day convention. RSS Sahsarkaryavahs Shri Bhaiyaji Johsi and Shri Madan Das guided the workers at the convention. Addressing the convention Swami Harshanand said physically-challenged persons should not be treated as a burden but efforts should be made to integrate them into mainstream. Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi said Saksham now

Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Dr. Dinesh Sharma and Shri Madan Das

would work for all physically-challenged persons instead of working only for the visually challenged. He said the physically-challenged people would be made self-reliant through various projects. National organising secretary of the Saksham Shri Avinash Sagwai and Mayor of Lucknow Shri Dinesh Sharma were also present at the convention. Shri Madan Das said that the physically-challenged persons should get equal rights and respect in the society. Shri KC Pandey, one of the trustees of Shirdi Sai Sewa Trust (Nasik), said the society would be strengthened through the activities of Saksham. The convention demanded the government to declare eyes national property.

Seva Bharati Kamakhya Nagar Charitable and Dharmik Trust, Assam

Seva Bharati Kamakhya Nagar Charitable and Dharmik trust is a service trust affiliated to Rashtriya Seva Bharati and has been working relentlessly among the poor and downtrodden sections of our society for their socio-economic, cultural and educational upliftment.
Seva Bharati Kamakhya Nagar Charitable and Dharmik Trust wasfounded in the year 1990, with the aim of providing guidance and assistance to the poor people of the North-Eastern region of Bharat. The Trust is regularly organizing Helath Care Camps, running hostels for tribal students and imparting professional training to the youths thereby facilitating their exposure with the rest of Bharat. Further in the backdrop of present scenario of social unrest and uncertainty in the North-East, the Trust, has a definite role to play in imbibing a spirit of nationalism among the people through various service activities.

As a part of the socio-cultural activities, the Trust is initiating the establishment of 'SEVA SANKALP' at Adingiri. Situated atop a hillock overlooking the famous Kamakhya temple, Adingiri Pahar where the 'Seva Sankalp' will be constructed in hardly 10 kms away from the city of Guwahati, will have (1) Vocational Training Centre, (2) School, (3) Health Care Centre, (4) Devalaya, (5) Gau -Vigyan Kendra and(6) Boys Hostel.
Vocational Training Centre: Provision will be made for 100 students for training in vocations like Sewing, Garment making, Computer, Masonry, Carpentry and driving etc. etc. enabling them to earn their livelihood.

Vidyalaya: Learning is the medium through which a boy/girl not only can further his/her own intellect for self development but also can utilize it for the development of the society thereby contributing to the process of man-making and nation building. The Shankardeva Vidya Niketan at Seva Sankalp will impart such type of learning so- as to generate the feeling of oneness with our rich cultural heritage.

Gau-Vigyan Kendra: With an aim to protect and improve the quality of cow resource, the trust has proposed the establishment of cow based-agriculture and Panchgavya medicine centre.
In this centre training will be imparted to prepare medicines, fertilizers, pesticides etc. from Panchgavya which will help the agricultural activities of the local villagers.

Apart from that it will help the villagers to get rid of the adverse effects of the chemical fertilizers in agricultural products.
Arogya Kendra: It is a Health Care Centre for the inmates of the Hostel and for the fringe villages.

The inmates will also be provided training to handle the primary health care problems so that their knowledge could be utilized for rendering Medical Care to the people in and around the area and also help their kinsmen at the time of distress while being back home.
Devalaya: Devalayas have been the centers for continuing the rich culture and traditions of Bharat. It is a place where one not only can get mental peace but also a centre for invigorating one's sense of Dharma. That is why the provision of a Devalaya at Seva Sankalp has been made.

Boys’ Hostel: The NE Region consist of a big chunk of the total tribal population of the country. Of them, 75% are educationally underprivileged and cannot even have their both ends meet.

Taking advantage of their ignorance, the Christian missionaries have set up educational institutes in various tribal localities and indulge in large scale proslytisation of innocent people and thereby alienating them from the national mainstream besides destroying their ethnic traditions and culture. The proposed hostel will accommodate 50 poor students, initially.

Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra’s Neurotherapy (LMNT)

Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra's Neurotherapy Academy Providing Health-care at negligible cost for the masses.
Established in 1999, it is a social organisation run and managed by a team of professionals and non-professionals dedicated to the welfare of people, to further the lofty aims and ideals of Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra, for popularizing the spread and research of LMNT in rural and urban areas, both in India & Abroad.
Trustees:
Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra, (the pioneer of LMNT)
Mrs. Brij Mehra
Shri B.L. Gangwani
Prof. Nirmala Bathija
Dr. (Smt.) Kamlesh Chavan
Smt. Surjeet Kaur
Sri. Ratanji Jain
Dr. Nilesh Singhania
(All the above doctors are practicing Neurotherapists, in addition to holding a degree in Naturopahty.)
Objectivs:
- To spread LMNT to rural areas, irrespective of caste, creed, color and religion.
- To help villagers get rid of their ailments at low, affordable cost without side-effects.
- To train/ motivate interested people, in India and abroad, to become practitioners of Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra's Neurotheraphy.
- To participate in free health camps at needy villages/ towns.
- Establish a centre for research in the cures obtained with LMNT using modern scientific research methods.
- To make self-employed Neurotherapist for themselves and their family by giving LMNT treatment and can also do for the welfare of the human being.

Activities:
- Four-month residential course conducted throughout the year for males.
- Training centre for suitable male candidates, complete with residential hostel.
- Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology given in addition to theory and practicals of Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra's Neurotherapy.
- Running a free clinic on Sundays.
- Help trained personnel to establish clinics / training centres elsewhere.
Funding:
The trust does not get any grant-in-aid from the Centre or State Government. Its social activities are run from public donations and donations from its trained therapists / Training centres. Shortfalls are met from personal funds of Dr. Mehra.
Academic Centre:
Location: Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra's Neurotherapy Ashram, 130km, from Mumbai, 30 km from Wada and 40 km. from Kasara.
Situated on a 12-acre table land on the top of a hill, near Suryamal village, having a population mainly of tribals.
The land has been bought and built up into an ashram with the help of Late Sri. B.M. Tikka, former chairman export promotion council.

Free Clinic (On Sundays):
A large treatment hall (30' X 25') for males; 2 smaller rooms (20' X 10') for females, and a separate doctor's room with attached bathroom.
Between 150-200 people from nearby villages, sometimes more than 300km. away, come every Sunday to receive free Neurotherapy treatment at the clinic. Needy patients are also given free lunch at the ashram on that day.
Future Plans:
- Building of a separate hostel and associated facilities at the Ashram for ladies.
- Setting up of a large clinic-cum-research centre (1000-1200) sq. ft.) at Mumbai, along with office staff, with a computer, printer and communication facilities, with a modern pathology lab to assist research activities.
- Additions to the existing store of library books at the Ashram.
- On-going education program to raise the level of former neurotherapists to keep pace with the latest techniques of the therapy.
- Guruji's cherished vision
was to set up a large hospital at Suryamal, where patients, especially mentally challenged children, could stay and receive NT treatment free of charge.

Unique features:
The uniqueness of Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra's Neurotherapy lies in the following:
- It sets right the root-cause i.e., the body's tendency to become diseased, by correcting the internal organs, so that they start functioning normally.
- It has its own methods of diagnosis, but also integrates the knowledge obtained from modern investigations, such as Blood tests, X-Ray reports etc.
- It uses the findings of Medical Physiology, but views them from a uniquely different and refreshing approach, one that negates the use of medicines or drugs.
- Being a medicine-less therapy, it obviously has absolutely no side-effects and is inexpensive.
-The therapy is simple to learn and can be practiced by all.
- It can be tought 'en-masse' to people of all ages.
- The Therapy is scientific because its methods can be repeated over and over again, with identical results.
- The same results can be duplicated - irrespective of the therapist's age, sex, height, body-weight etc.

Sewa International Deploys Medical Van In Bihar

On December 16, Sewa International inaugurated a mobile medical van in Saharasa to serve the flood victims of Bihar. The mobile medical unit has been sponsored by Sewa USA. A team of local doctors turned up for the inaugural ceremony and showed their willingness to volunteer in serving the flood victims. Due to the standing flood waters, many waterborne diseases are being reported. Therefore, the van will visit daily to different affected areas of Saharsa, Madhepura, Araria, Supaul and Purnea. Sewa International has also plans to give a family kit comprising of utensils, clothes and day to day utility goods along with foodgrains in Madhepura district. Sewa Internatonal has identified about 200 families from Chhoti Phatoria under Alam Nagar Block of Madhepura for rehabilitation. It also identified the artisan groups of the village like carpenter, tailor, potter, fishermen, barber, etc, to give them desired tools. The Sewa International has also decided to build a boys’ hostel at Bihariganj under Madhepura district.

Weaving A Success Story

HYDERABAD: It was a skill that literally ran in their blood. But it was an opportunity that was missing for a good 20 years. For these eight rural youth from Kolluru village in Adilabad District, weaving might not have been a natural livelihood choice, but it surely paved a way out of their poverty.
For D. Bhaskar, A. Suresh, D. Damodar, D. Mahesh, D. Chandrashekar, D. Sampath. V. Nagesh and R. Srinivas, the wheel of fortune turned in their favour when they were identified by Dastkar Andhra (DA), a city-based NGO. Aged between 20 and 24, the eight hailing from the weaver community were living in abject poverty. Many had dropped out of school and had been employed in odd jobs.
Motivation
Their condition was brought to the notice of DA in 2006 when an older group of weavers in nearby Chennur informed them. A year's training in weaving and dyeing, and the youth were all set to weave their own fortunes. "They were quick in grasping what was taught," says V. Dharmender, in-charge, DA Production & Design, DA. Apart from appointing a master weaver to train them, DA also paid them a monthly stipend of Rs.1,000. "What motivated us to take up weaving was the fact that we didn't have to work under anybody," says D. Chandrasekhar.
Even after graduation, D. Sampath, a former teacher at a government school, finds weaving a sustainable livelihood optionHere to participate in a DA design workshop, they swear by their new found profession. Now named 'Individual Weavers Co-operative Society' as a group, they now earn anything between Rs.. 6,000 to Rs. 9,000 individually per month.
"They are very confident now and have even paid back their bank loans," says Ravinder of DA. He said they were identifying similar youngsters from backward regions of Andhra Pradesh. "As long as they are interested in learning weaving, DA is ready to assist them," he says. — D.V.L. Padma Priya, From THE HINDU, 12, January 2009

Mobile Medical Van Inauguration Ceremony on 16th December 2008, Saharsa, Bihar - Donated by Sewa International

We should shoulder our responsibility by ourselves and understand the people to takeover these responsibilities. We should not depend upon the Government by understanding the real situation. — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sewa International Delhi Publication.

Sewa Sandesh 114: December 8, 2008

2008-12-08T23:01:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk
Some of the projects in Bharat have reached out to the real needy, may be in villages or tribal areas, may be in urban slums, and have excelled in providing them the right kind of Sewa that enables the beneficiaries to be self reliant. We had a young volunteer from UK visiting one of such projects located in Gujarat known as Dr. Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust which is trying to serve the tribal population as well as the socially backward castes in South Gujarat. We are producing the report on the project in two parts and the impressions of the young volunteer that speaks volumes for the project.
While we expect more and more young volunteers from abroad to come to Bharat and join one or the other Sewa projects, we are trying our best to present our readers with good reports from such exemplary projects. We hope you enjoy reading these and join hands in this noble cause.

Seva Bharati Meghalaya Starts A Library Project In Meghalaya
On Monday, 1st Dec. 2008, Seva Bharati Meghalaya handed over a set of books (library) to the Seng Khasi Riwar School.
The Library Project is sponsored by Akshar Bharati, Pune. The main objective of this project is to provide a channel to the school children through which they could be aware of the literary world.
All the students were present in the function. The Chairman, Secretary and other members of managing committee were also present. Smt. Mira Dkhar, one of the renowned personalities of Shillong addressed the function and told about the reading habit and its advantages. Books of various kinds donated by Akshar Bharati include story books, ancient epic stories like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Science stories, and other books which attract and enhance curiosity of children.
Shri Jefree Khonglam, a teacher by profession, delivered a speech. He told the students that it was the golden opportunity in the vacation to upgrade knowledge. The function was concluded with national song. This library is open for students from 10 December, 2008.

Akshar Bharati Reaches Out With Its Community-Libraries To The Local Kids In Pune, Maharashtra
Driven by a strong desire to help the underprivileged sections of the society, a few engineers from Symantec in Pune started an initiative known as Akshar Bharati. The driving idea behind it was to give something back to the society by setting up small size community library in areas which do not have proper library to cater to the hunger of reading of the local kids. The libraries were to also act as a catalyst in development of the children, help them become good citizens and contribute to the development of the country.
Akshar Bharati libraries are very low cost community libraries. Each of the libraries contains 500 to 1000 books that require just one bookshelf occupying about three square foot of area. Akshar Bharti does not expect a separate room or staff for the library and it could be operated from any office, home or room where the space of keeping the shelf is available.
Akshar Bharati collaborated with various NGOs, who help in running the library on a day to day basis. The activity of raising funds, and organizing various activities at the libraries on a regular basis, was taken up by the Akshar Bharati volunteers. Going by the way it has grown in the last one year, this method has been pretty successful.
Akshar Bharati has gone through an elaborate process to fine tune the list of books provided to the library. The books provided are brand new, colorful, in English as well as in Marathi, and include story books, activity books, biographies, science books etc. The books are rich in content and presentation.
Akshar Bharati was started on 19th of April, 2007 and within a year has set up over 55 libraries with more than 45,000 books around various parts of Pune. A volunteer force of about fifty engineers, Akshar Bharati manages to get things done in the arena of identifying the NGO, identifying the books, procurement, fund collection, cataloging of the books, setting up the libraries, consolidating the feedback received and many more things which come in the operational aspect.
Seva Sahayog has been instrumental in providing the back office support to Akshar Bharati in terms of managing the accounts as well as helping in the networking with various NGOs. Under the guidance of Seva Sahayog, Akshar Bharati has been very successful in running this project.

Training camp of Ekal Vidyalaya full timers
A training camp of full timers of Ekal Vidyalaya scheme was held at Pittapuram Shakti Peetham, Podagaya in Andhra Pradesh from October 14 to 18. A total of 30 workers participated in the camp. Sri M. Bhikshamaiah, Ekal Kshetra Prashikshan Pramukh, Sri H. Veeranna, Ekal Kshetra Vyavastha Pramukh, Sri R. Papaiah Sharma, Prant Yojna Pramukh and Kumari Madhu Mohan guided the workers on various topics.

( Continued… )
Case Study-1
Balubhai Gamit
LLB student: 2004-2006
Currently works as an advocate in a renowned law firm.
Balubhai is originally from Sakardar Thalukuchar, a small district in north Gujarat with a population of around 2000. The district is categorized as a tribal area; his family worked in agriculture and they were not in a position to afford his educational expenses. Balubhai had wanted to be a lawyer right from his young age, and therefore was adamant to come to Surat to study. After many enquiries he met a karyakarta through his local shakha who introduced to him the Dr Ambedkar Trust. He made all his applications to the university in Surat and after securing a place at his chosen university, he was admitted into the hostel. He took an active role in the hostel and was given various responsibilities, and was definitely kept busy. When asked if he could say a few things about his time at the hostel, he said:
‘It was brilliant. When a man has a dream and he cannot achieve it, he is broken. But when I got the chance to stay at the hostel, it meant that my dreams were fulfilled, and, look at where I am now!’
Computer Classes
The computer classes are held at the Dr Ambedkar Trust twice a day. They are being run by volunteers who are trained in computers and have a good amount of experience in the industry. The classes are designed to be tuition classes. There are roughly 12-16 students per class, and the classes are obviously free of charge.
The typical student that attends the class is between year 7 and 10 at school, and is from a slum area. They are taught computer use basics and programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel, as well as programs such as Coraldraw.
Whilst asking the students about their experiences of the class, it became clear to me that the students really enjoyed them. They possessed a genuine interest in computers, which makes it easy for the teacher to teach and the student to pick up any new information very quickly. One student was in year 7 of school, and at the time was making an excellent Powerpoint presentation on the Dr Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust. That presentation will now be used in informing people of the activities that the trust does.

Case study-2
Dipakbhai Khambhe
Attended the computer class on a regular basis.
Has a part time job doing office/clerical work in a office stationary firm.
Lives in a slum area.
Dipakbhai attended the class for 3 years prior to him getting the job at the stationary firm. He has grown up on the slum area on which he lives and came to know of the Dr Ambedkar Trust through karyakartas coming to his area. His mother was getting worried about the activities that he was getting involved in and was worried that he would go in the same direction as many of his friends – into a life of crime and poverty. She pushed him to attend these classes as he was thoroughly enjoying studying computers at school. through the classes he got to know more about the organisation, came in to contact with more karyakartas, who in turn happened to be his present employers.
At his current job he works for a few hours everyday after school. Dipakbhais’ employers pay him a fair wage, which means that he can continue at school for longer – he does not have to drop out to support his family like many other children in his area. He aspires to be able to study for as long as possible and hopefully entering the IT sector in future.
Library
The library opened officially 5 years ago, in 2003. It houses around 2000 books, including reference books and a large variety of other books. Entrance is based upon memberships. Membership fees are nominal charges to prevent any sort of misuse – 50rs/ a year for the library, 125rs/ a year for the reading rooms.
The majority of the users are very local – within a few kilometres of the library. Many people from slum areas come to use the library, to use the usually unaffordable reference books and the study space available.
The library also conducts various programs to kep the local community active and to keep the community spirit alive. Recently, an essay competition was created for all students. The topic was ‘An introduction to my samskaars’. Each essay had to be over 1000 words in length, and of a good quality of writing – written or typed, in any language. Many essays were received, and the winner was given a small prize in a presentation held at the trust.

Case Study-3
Rajalben Chapaneria
Lives 1 km away from the trust.
Has 2 children
Rajalben is a tutor for primary school students in her area. Her passion for reading started from a very early age, and ever since she has been into contact with the trust. She has read so many books and she also uses her hobby to expand her choices to teach the students.
She attends the library around twice a week, and is very active in all aspects of life at the trust. Every year, the library sets up a helpline for students and parents of students who, under the pressure of examinations, become depressed or overly stressed. Rajalben volunteers every year to participate in this helpline, and she also counsel’s students and teacher one to one.
She has also expanded her friend circle greatly. Through the libraries’ activities, she has met many other like minded people who also love to read.
When asked about any special incidents she can recall, she replied:
‘Once there was a public speaking event, in which members could come and speak on a subject they like. I went up, and having previously had serious stage fright, found myself confidently talking on stage about the importance of all round education!’
The library has also come into use for her children. The fact that she can take home books meant that she is able to pass on her passion of reading to her children.
Self Reliant Classes

There are a variety of short term courses available for anyone who is interested. These classes are designed to give the members a skill set so that they can start their own businesses and become self sufficient to improve their socio-economic conditions.
Various courses are offered, and are open to both males and females. Courses vary from Tailoring to mobiles, electrical repairs and candle making. Over 2852 people have come through 124 different classes.
Most people attending these classes are from slum areas. The females who attend are usually just housewives and by coming to these short term courses, they are able to generate a second stream of income for the family through which they are able to lift themselves out of the poverty trap.
Many of the males that attend the classes usually work as unskilled labourers, and therefore by attending these classes are able to raise their level of income.
The different classes that are available are shown below:

As well as just educating people, these classes also bring people together. It brings together new groups of tailorers, electricians, and jewellery makers. People also set up partnerships in business with the new skills they have learnt, and by which they help each other out.

Ahwa Dang
The Dang area is categorized as a Tribal area. Much of it is ‘Jungle’ – untouched greenery and nature at its best. Ahwa is fairly high above sea level, and therefore is naturally hard to reach. It is only in the past few years that proper roads and electricity have been taken to the area.
In Dang, the population is around 186,782; however, much of this population is still illiterate. Education is given a low priority. Instead, children are encouraged to help on the farms along with their parents.
‘Sevadham’ is built on 15000 sq metres of land, just outside of Ahwa. It has a capacity to house around 100 students, providing for their food and accommodation. Sevadham is set to prove to be vital for the communities of Ahwa. It has been seen that already before completion it has provided accomodation to 10 students studying in Ahwa itself. It is becoming a centre for many seva projects around the district.
Currently, there are 20 students living at the hostel facilites. All the students are studying at colleges in Ahwa for various courses.
One seva project being conducted is helping the farmers of the area considerably. Agriculture experts are being brought into the area, and they conduct regular meetings with the farmers, and educate them on how to make most efficient use of their land. They are also helping them improve their crop diversity by giving them different types of seeds to grow in the different seasons, and teaching them how best to plant them. One farmer in particular was given seeds to grow watermelon. On his small farm he earned 15,000 Rs. in that season considerably more than his income from other crops. There are many other seva projects to be set up in the area very soon.

They are listed below:

Whilst I was there I went out with a local karyakarta to the villages surrounding Ahwa. We first visited a family, whose son had gone been to Ahwa to study, and had stayed at Sevadham. When asked about his experiences at the hostel, he sincerely replied that Sevadham had given him the chance to study and help his community and family to maintain a better standard of living. He is currently doing government work in his village. Without studying, he would not have been able to get that job. On a typical day, he would leave for college at 7.30am, Start College at 8, and finish by 1pm. He would spend the rest of the day studying, doing basic duties at the hostel, and any community service he feels necessary.
He had also taken part in the great Sabri Kumbh that took place in 2006. He recalls with great affection that he was given the oppurtunity to go in the procession as Shri Ram Bhagwans brother, Laxman.
The Ahwa Dang project is a large scale project, and in my opinion, will be a huge success if utilised properly. The surrounding areas are relatively untouched – literacy levels are low, and poverty levels are high. Sevadham will be able to provide the confidence to the people of Dang so that they can lift themselves from any difficulties they have to face.

Conclusion: Dr Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust is expanding in numerous ways. It is spreading its sphere of influence into all areas, and I feel that the work that the trust is doing is brilliant. It has built itself a solid foundation and has built upon it, and using the great idealologies it works upon, the Trust is making and is destined to make a massive difference in the weaker section of the society. It has very dedicated workers who are making the whole thing work. The trust is now spreading further into the tribal areas through the Sevadham project, and it would be great to see many more ‘Sevadham style’ projects opening up in other tribal areas and taking the great work it does in Surat to the tribal areas. The tribal areas urgently need a push in the areas of education and health, and in turn, the burden on the bigger cities like Surat will ease off and the slum areas will be taken care of. Likewise, the problem of the slum areas in the cities can also be improved on by education. The government healthcare system in Surat is now of a better quality, especially with the introduction of the ‘108’ service. What needs to be concentrated on now is the education that the new generations coming out of the slum areas are getting. Once the weaker section of the society is given a push in the right direction, the slum areas will soon be a thing of the past, and the whole society will move forward significantly. -- By Ashish Chokshi

Titbits
Meet Shri Ravishankar, B.Sc (Agriculture) graduate of Annamalai University (Chidambatram) . He belongs to a family of agriculturists of Poondiyankuppam village near Cuddalore (Tamilnadu, Bharat).. He got an employment as manager in a garden designing concern in Singapore. While employed there, he finished his MBA at Wales University, London. He visited his native village in 2006 after a long stay abroad. He found the sea change all around. Industrialization had destroyed the sylvan rural ambience; the wealth of cattle was conspicuously absent. His own ancestral farm that had over 50 cows, was barren. The scene prompted Ravishankar to stay back in his village with a view to revive the cattle wealth. As a first step, he launched a Milk Producers Cooperative. Locals joined it. He struck a deal with the state government-owned milk distribution society Aavin and ensured milk procurement. That made many, who were toying with the idea of selling their cows thinking that it was uneconomical, to change their mind. Next, he established a goshala at a cost of 17 lakh rupees. He procured high yield cows from several sources. For fodder, he cultivated grass on 3 acres of land that he bought for the purpose. His ultimate target is to improve the prosperity of his village by augmenting copious milk production.
S S Srinivasa Thatham of Tiruchy has donated blood 138 times and tops the list in the state of Tamilnadu (Bharat). "Blood donation is the greatest sacrifice as a `relationship' is established between the donor and the recipient," he says. "It is medically proved that blood donors do not contract any disease including heart attack. See, I am 60 and I have never gone to any hospital except to donate blood. Still I am healthy." He appeals to youngsters to donate blood at least on their birthdays. Thatham, winner of the Good Samaritan Award, recalls the year when he first donated blood - 1973, for a child. But it was a different experience on July 9, 1975, on the eve of his wedding. "It was a serious call from a recipient and so had I to donate." That was the third occasion and he has not looked back. "I always slept soundly on the nights I donated blood," the 60-year old says.
Smt. Pushpa is an employee at the Sims park at Coonoor in Nilgiri district (Tamilnadu, Bharat). On November 1, as she went about her work in the public park, she spotted a handbag. She found in it a gold chain weighing 3.5 sovereigns, a mobile phone and Rs.30,000 in cash. She promptly handed over the bag to the police. The police, in turn, traced the owners of the bag as Keshubhai Visvasas's family who were on tour of Tamilnadu. DSP Dharmaraj appreciated the honest lady Pushpa.
Rani Amma is a roadside dweller on the 7th Lane in Thillai Nagar, Tiruchy (Tamilnadu, Bharat). She earns around one thousand rupees per month by doing menial jobs sprinkling water on shop fronts and sweeping. Once she found a small crowd around a dustbin in front of the Government hospital. A female infant lay there crying, It was lapping up its own tears in hunger. Rani quickly picked up the child and went around inquiring whose baby it was. She found none claiming the child. She fed the child with milk bought from a tea stall. Rani took the child under her protective wings and gave her the name Gajapriya. Six years rolled by. Today, Gajapriya goes to school. She is a class one student of Puthur Ramakrishna Middle School, thanks to the spirit of selflessness of Rani Amma, whose only expectation from Gajapriya is that she should be enabled to lead a decent life even after her (Rani Amma's) time. — Courtesy: Panchaamritam

"In this mortal world everything perishes and will perish - but ideas, ideals and dreams do not. One individual may die for an idea-but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in thousand lives. That is how the wheels of evolution move on and the ideas and dreams of one generation are bequeathed to the next" — Subhash Chandra Bose

Sewa International Delhi Publication

For pdf version please write us as: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com

Sewa Sandesh 113: 8 November 2008

2008-11-08T05:21:00.000-08:00

From Editor’s Desk

Everyone in the society today seems to be worrying about the future of the youth in Bharat. Everyone talks of the degeneration among the youth and the vices that are encroaching the minds and altering the lifestyles. Well, to some extent it is worrisome. The positive energy that the youth posses is not being streamlined or guided or even challenged at times and the distractions are enormous.
Yet, a simple call to join hands for serving the society is met with huge response from the intelligent and creative band of youth, forcing us to rethink our position about the so called “degeneration”. Some among them trying to devote couple of hours every day, while some devote couple months and few even devote couple of years for selflessly serving the society. Youth for Seva in Bangalore has attracted large number of youth from various colleges and institutions. Seva-Sahyog in Pune is attracting young professionals in good numbers who volunteer lot of their time despite hectic, kind of ‘target bound’ job environment.
The reverberation is experienced which ever city we go and touch the youth. We need to have ‘ears’ to listen to the “hum”.

‘Youth for Seva’ Organises Deepawali
Charity Sale in Bangalore, Karnataka

Youth for Seva organized Deepawali charity sale in more than 10 offices across Bangalore during last week and raised over Rs.50,000/- for NGOs participating in the Drive. All the products in this sale were made by students of NGOs working for mentally challenged and multiply disabled children. Many companies had requested YFS to put up stalls in their premises. It was a good opportunity to showcase the creative and competitive abilities of NGOs and their students. However, due to lack of volunteers to manage the stall, many requests were kept pending .

Dr. Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust, Surat, Gujarat
by Ashish Chokshi, Birmingham, U.K.

Dr Ambedkar trust is based in the heart of Surat, with the aim to ‘uplift the weaker section of the society.’ On 5000 sq m. the trust has built 2 state of the art buildings, complete with hostel faciltites, libraries, computer rooms and much more. The facilities are built to develop the weaker sections of the society – namely the people of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. Those that are living in the slum areas of Surat and the Tribal areas surrounding Surat are in desperate need of development. These people have never really had the chance in life to get much access to education and healthcare, which in turn means that they continue to stay in such circumstances, and never really get a fair chance in the big scheme of things. The potential is there – students have come out of scheduled tribes and castes and achieved good education with – MA and MSc degrees, LLb and MBBS degrees. It has been seen and proven that if they are given a little bit of help; they can go on to do great things.

At the trust, there is a general feeling of there being one family. Most of the staff live onsite – all accomodation is provided for. The staff men come from different areas of Gujarat, and often have been very lucky in coming across the job that they are working in now.
In this report, I will outline what I have seen and thought about in my time at the trust.
Onsite medical Clinic
The onsite medical clinic runs from 9.00am till 8.00pm every weekday and from 9am till midday on Sunday. A General medical practioner attends the clinic everyday except Sunday. Different medical specialists also attend the clinic most days. The specialists give their time voluntarily, and the vast majority has their own practices.
Monday – Gynaecologist, Ladies clinic, Acupressure
Tuesday – Orthopaedic, Ayurvedic
Wednesday – Physician, Child specialist, Acupressure
Thursday – Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, Opthalmologist
Friday – Acupressure
Saturday – No clinic
Sunday – Acupressure
Generally, people from all walks of life attend the clinic; however it is the people from the different slum areas around the centre that benefit the most. The location is convenient – people usually come from within a 3 km radius, and all the consultations and the medicines provided are given free of cost or at a very minimal charge. As explained earlier, the slum areas are impoverished – they usually would not be able to afford such medical treatment, especially not any specialist treatment. It is only because of the onsite clinic that they are able to access any medical care at all.
As well as providing treatment, the professionals here tend to educate all patients coming into the onsite clinic on preventive medicine. Many live in very unhygienic conditions, hence diseases spread much more rapidly. Often, the general public does not know about basics like completing courses of medicine.
All the specialists that attend the clinic voluntarily

give their time and most have their own surgeries. The clinics run by these specialists are always in demand – there is always a queue even before the professional has arrived. The medical clinic has also provided many services at the time of calamities. During the floods in Surat in August 2006, the medical clinic was open around the clock for 8 days, providing people coming in with basic medicines. Doctors volunteered to come from all over Gujarat, and chose to stay at the Dr Ambedkar trust as a base and render their services from here. Doctors also went out from the Ambedkar Trust, taking medicines from here, to set up camps around the city to provide a much needed service that helped to save hundreds of lives. At the trust itself, the doctors provided medicines and consultations to 1050 people, and many more at the camps set up by the trust around the city. Whilst I was at the clinic I witnessed many of the services given by the doctor onsite. High numbers of parents would come in with their children with rather basic cases that have evolved into serious ones through lack of care – one major job of the doctor would be to educate. The doctor would fully explain the situation, and educate the patient on how to prevent the problem in the future.I feel that this education is very much necessary, as without this the problems would persist, and it could drag whole communities down.

Mobile Medical Van: The medical van facility has become an essential for 4 slum districts dotted around the city. The van goes to different areas. Each day it goes out as follows:
Tuesday – Pal Village
Wednesday – Pandesara – Gitanagar
Thursday – Variyav village
Friday – Panas
Each area is identified as a ‘Seva Basti’, or a slum area. There are numerous problems in the areas that are not being taken care of. Here are just a few of them:
1) Dirt and filth lining the streets: This definitely does not help stop disease spreading. Children play in the streets on a daily basis – it breeds hundreds of problems such as skin diseases, breathing difficulties and stomach/digestive problems.
2) Cramped living conditions : This causes disease to spread faster than usual – if one person in the family has a health problem that is contagious, it will spread extremely quickly throughout the family, and generally, there are 4-5 families living in the same cramped builiding, so it is likely to spread to them too.
3) Lack of sanitary education: This means that food/water borne diseases and skin problems are rampant throughout the community – these should be prevented from the very outset.
These areas are economically categorized as poor, and therefore are unable to reach expensive healthcare charged for in Surat city. For that reason, the mobile van proves to be vital for the communities it serves to.
The van provides free health consultations and medicines. It goes directly to the community itself, and therefore it eliminates the barrier of travel for any disabled/bedridden members.

I went with the van to Gitanagar. By the time we had got there, a queue of around 30 people had already formed. This made it clear to me from the very outset that this facility had become vital to the community. As we stopped at the station, more and more people started to queue up at the van. Surprising numbers of women and children were there. The major problems that were to be treated were digestive illnesses, fever, colds, flu, and skin problems. Often, a few people of the same family would turn up with the same illess as each other to be treated. As I took a short walk around the neighbourhood, it really struck me as to what conditions the population of this area were living in. there were cramped, unsanitary conditions. Right outside the house there would be garbage heaps, inside the houses mice would be crawling around. Most houses were made of brick, but with corrugated iron roofing. Each house had typically 3 rooms – one room to cook, one room to sleep in, eat in, and sit in, and one bathroom/toilet. There would be a communal toilet for the building if a toilet was not inside the house. No wonder disease spreads so fast.
Kamdhenu: Onsite there is also a small store selling natural medicines made of cow products such as cow milk, urine and stool. Medicines are produced off site. They boast many advantages over artificial chemically manfactured medicines, and they have no side effects whatsoever. They are sold on site with the intention of generating interest and spreading the knowledge of the benefits of these medicines.
Hostel : The hostel facilities provided are specifically for those of scheduled castes/tribes studying in Surat at University level. Students are able to reside at the hostel all year round without any stress of paying for the accomodation and other bills. There is an in-house kitchen and dining room for the students to use, and all meals are provided without any extra cost. This makes life much easier for all the students.
The hostel does much more for the students than simply providing them accomodation and food. Every morning students are expected to attend daily prayer and exercise at 5.45 am in the morning. Evening meals are taken all together, and each day ends with a prayer. Every Monday there are bhajans and often there are religious discourses. All of these things promote a sense of togetherness – the feeling of being a part of a family. Upon leaving the hostel there are a variety of routes students take. Students always retain contact with each other, and also keep in touch with the Dr Ambedkar Trust. Most students tend to find professional jobs in the city, and go on to do very well. Many of the students are so inspired by the activities at the hostel, they embark upon ‘Samaj Seva’ – they give a few years in service to the community. Without this hostel, many of the students would be unable to continue their studies due to lack of funding.

Inspiring Personality: Vinoba Bhave

Once India gained its independence, that nation’s leaders did not take long to abandon Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.Nonviolence gave way to the use of India’s armed forces. Perhaps even worse, the new leaders discarded Gandhi’s vision of a decentralized society—a society based on autonomous, self-reliant villages. These leaders spurred a rush toward a strong central government and an industrial economy as found in the West.Yet Gandhi’s vision was not abandoned by all. Many of Gandhi’s “constructive workers”—development experts and community organizers working in a host of agencies set up by Gandhi himself—resolved to continue his mission of transforming Indian society.

Leading them was a disciple of Gandhi previously little known to the Indian public, yet eventually regarded as Gandhi’s “spiritual successor": a saintly, reserved, austere individual called Vinoba.
As Vinoba later said, he found in Gandhi the peace of the Himalayas united with the revolutionary fervor of Bengal.
Gandhi greatly admired Vinoba, commenting that Vinoba understood Gandhian thought better than he himself did. In 1940 he showed his regard by choosing Vinoba over Nehru to lead off a national protest campaign against British war policies.
After Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948, many of Gandhi’s followers looked to Vinoba for direction. Vinoba advised that, now that India had reached its goal of Swaraj—independence, or self-rule—the Gandhians’ new goal should be a society dedicated to Sarvodaya, the “welfare of all.”
The name stuck, and the movement of the Gandhians became known as the Sarvodaya Movement. A merger of constructive work agencies produced Sarva Seva Sangh—“The Society for the Service of All”—which became the core of the Sarvodaya Movement, as the main Gandhian organization working for broad social change along Gandhian lines.
Vinoba had no desire to be a leader, preferring a secluded ashram life. This preference, though, was overturned by events in 1951, following the yearly Sarvodaya conference in what is now the central Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. At the close of that conference, Vinoba announced his intention to journey through the nearby district of Telengana.
He couldn’t have picked a more troubled spot.
Telengana was at that moment the scene of an armed insurrection. Communist students and some of the poorest villagers had united in a guerilla army. This army had tried to break the land monopoly of the rich landlords by driving them out or killing them and distributing their land.
At the height of the revolt, the guerrillas had controlled an area of 3,000 villages. But the Indian army had been sent in and had begun its own campaign of terror. Now, many villages were occupied by government troops during the day and by Communists at night. Each side would kill villagers they suspected of supporting the other side. So most villagers lived in terror of both sides.

The government had clearly shown it would win, but the conflict wasn’t nearly over by the time of the Sarvodaya conference. Vinoba hoped to find a solution to the conflict and to the injustice that had spawned it. So, refusing police escort, he and a small company set off on foot.
On April 18, the third day of his walk, Vinoba stopped in the village of Pochampalli, which had been an important Communist stronghold. Setting himself up in the courtyard of a Muslim prayer compound, he was soon receiving visitors from all the factions in the village.
Among the visitors was a group of 40 families of landless Harijans. (Harijan was Gandhi’s name for the Untouchables, the outcasts from Hindu society. Literally, it means “child of God.”) The Harijans told Vinoba they had no choice but to support the Communists, because only the Communists would give them land. They asked, Would Vinoba ask the government instead to give them land?
Vinoba replied, “What use is government help until we can help ourselves?” But he himself wasn’t satisfied by the answer. He was deeply perplexed.
Late that afternoon, by a lake next to the village, Vinoba held a prayer meeting that drew thousands of villagers from the surrounding area. Near the beginning of the meeting, he presented the Harijans’ problem to the assembly. Without really expecting a response, he said, “Brothers, is there anyone among you who can help these Harijan friends?”

A prominent farmer of the village stood up. “Sir, I am ready to give one hundred acres.”
Vinoba could not believe his ears.
Here, in the midst of a civil war over land monopoly, was a farmer willing to part with 100 acres out of simple generosity. And Vinoba was just as astounded when the Harijans declared that they needed only 80 acres and wouldn’t accept more!
Vinoba suddenly saw a solution to the region’s turmoil. In fact, the incident seemed to him a sign from God. At the close of the prayer meeting, he announced he would walk all through the region to collect gifts of land for the landless.
So began the movement called Bhoodan—“land-gift.” Over the next seven weeks, Vinoba asked for donations of land for the landless in 200 villages of Telengana. Calculating the amount of India’s farmland needed to supply India’s landless poor, he would tell the farmers and landlords in each village, “I am your fifth son. Give me my equal share of land.” And in each village—to his continued amazement—the donations poured in.
Who gave, and why?
At first most of the donors were farmers of moderate means, including some who themselves owned only an acre or two. To them, Vinoba was a holy man, a saint, the Mahatma’s own son, who had come to give them God’s message of kinship with their poorer neighbors. Vinoba’s prayer meetings at times took on an almost evangelical fervor. As for Vinoba, he accepted gifts from even the poorest—though he sometimes returned these gifts to the donors—because his goal was as much to open hearts as to redistribute land.
Gradually, though, the richer landowners also began to give. Of course, many of their gifts were inspired by fear of the Communists and hopes of buying off the poor—as the Communists were quick to proclaim.
But not all the motives of the rich landowners were economic. Many of the rich hoped to gain “spiritual merit” through their gifts; or at least to uphold their prestige. After all, if poor farmers were willing to give sizeable portions of their land to Vinoba, could the rich be seen to do less? And perhaps a few of the rich were even truly touched by Vinoba’s message.
In any case, as Vinoba’s tour gained momentum, even the announced approach of the “god who gives away land” was enough to prepare the landlords to part with some of their acreage.
Soon Vinoba was collecting hundreds of acres a day. What’s more, wherever Vinoba moved, he began to dispel the climate of tension and fear that had plagued the region. In places where people had been afraid to assemble, thousands gathered to hear him—including the Communists.
At the end of seven weeks, Vinoba had collected over 12,000 acres. After he left, Sarvodaya workers continuing to collect land in his name received another 100,000 acres.
The Telengana march became the launching point for a nationwide campaign that Vinoba hoped would eliminate the greatest single cause of India’s poverty: land monopoly. He hoped as well that it might be the lever needed to start a “nonviolent revolution”—a complete transformation of Indian society by peaceful means.
The root of oppression, he reasoned, is greed. If people could be led to overcome their possessiveness, a climate would be created in which social division and exploitation could be eliminated. As he later put it, “We do not aim at doing mere acts of kindness, but at creating a Kingdom of Kindness.”
Soon Vinoba and his colleagues were collecting 1,000 acres a day, then 2,000, then 3,000. Several hundred small teams of Sarvodaya workers and volunteers began trekking from village to village, all over India, collecting land in Vinoba’s name. Vinoba himself—despite advanced age and poor health—marched continually, touring one state after another.
After breakfast, the Bhoodan workers would fan out through the village, meeting the villagers, distributing literature, and taking pledges. Vinoba himself would be settled apart, meeting with visitors, reading newspapers, answering letters.
In late afternoon, there would be a prayer meeting, attended by hundreds or thousands of villagers from the area. After a period of reciting and chanting, Vinoba would speak to the crowd in his quiet, high-pitched voice. His talk would be completely improvised, full of rich images drawn from Hindu scripture or everyday life, exhorting the villagers to lives of love, kinship, sharing. At the close of the meeting, more pledges would be taken.

As the campaign gained momentum, friends and detractors alike watched in fascination. In the West, too, Vinoba’s effort drew attention. In the United States, major articles on Vinoba appeared in the New York Times, the New Yorker—Vinoba even appeared on the cover of Time.
By the time of the 1954 Sarvodaya conference, the Gandhians had collected over 3 million acres nationwide. The total eventually reached over 4 million. Much of this land turned out to be useless, and in many cases landowners reneged on their pledges. Still, the Gandhians were able to distribute over 1 million acres to India’s landless poor—far more than had been managed by the land reform programs of India’s government. About half a million families benefited.
Meanwhile, Vinoba was shifting his efforts to a new gear—a higher one.
After 1954, Vinoba began asking for “donations” not so much of land but of whole villages. He named this new program Gramdan—“village-gift.”
Gramdan was a far more radical program than Bhoodan. In a Gramdan village, all land was to be legally owned by the village as a whole, but parceled out for the use of individual families, according to need. Because the families could not themselves sell, rent, or mortgage the land, they could not be pressured off it during hard times—as normally happens when land reform programs bestow land title on poor individuals.
Village affairs were to be managed by a village council made up of all adult members of the village, making decisions by consensus—meaning the council could not adopt any decision until everyone accepted it. This was meant to ensure cooperation and make it much harder for one person or group to benefit at the expense of others.
While Bhoodan had been meant to prepare people for a nonviolent revolution, Vinoba saw Gramdan as the revolution itself.
Like Gandhi, Vinoba believed that the divisiveness of Indian society was a root cause of its degradation and stagnation. Before the villagers could begin to improve their lot, they needed to learn to work together. Gramdan, he felt, with its common land ownership and cooperative decision-making, could bring about the needed unity.
And once this was achieved, the “people’s power” it would release would make anything possible.
Vinoba’s Gramdan efforts progressed slowly until 1965, when an easing of Gramdan’s requirements was joined to the launching of a “storm campaign.” By 1970, the official figure for Gramdan villages was 160,000—almost one-third of all India’s villages!
But it turned out that it was far easier to get a declaration of Gramdan than to set it up in practice. By early 1970, only a few thousand villages had transferred land title to a village council. In most of these, progress was at a standstill. What’s more, most of these few thousand villages were small, single-caste, or tribal—not even typical Indian villages.
By 1971, Gramdan as a movement had collapsed under its own weight.
Still, the Gramdan movement left behind more than a hundred Gramdan “pockets”—some made up of hundreds of villages—where Gandhian workers settled in for long-term development efforts. These pockets today form the base of India’s Gandhian movement. In these locales, the Gandhians are helping some of India’s poorest by organizing Gandhian-style community development and nonviolent action campaigns against injustice.
As for Vinoba, he returned to his ashram for the final time in June 1970, after thirteen years of continual marching and five more of presiding over the “storm campaign.”
During his final years, Vinoba continued to inspire new programs—for instance, Women’s Power Awakening, a Gandhian version of women’s liberation. He also launched an ongoing campaign against “cow slaughter” to try to halt the butchering of useful farm animals, a practice destructive of India’s traditional agriculture.
Vinoba died on November 15, 1982. In his dying, as in his living, he was deliberate, instructive, and, in a way, lighthearted. After suffering a heart attack, Vinoba decided to “leave his body before his body left him.” He therefore simply stopped eating until his body released him.
Another Great Soul had passed.

Titbits

Twenty years after his release from the Puducherry Central Prison, Pandiyan (76) continues his association with the jail. Shri Pandiyan, a cook, saves a part of his earnings to provide free lunch to the inmates of the Central Prison on Gandhi Jayanthi day, year after year, without failing ever since he was acquitted in a murder case in 1976. His one-and-a-half- year prison life made him "humane and compassionate. " Among the things prisoners crave for is homely food, he said. On this Gandhi Jayanthi, he spent a lot of money to provide lunch to 261 prisoners and jail staff. "Every year when I visit the jail, several inmates would tell me that they intend to do such a noble service. I know several ex-convicts who provide food to orphanages", Pandiyan said.
Meet `Ambulance' Ganesan, a former taxi driver of Mettur in Salem district (Tamilnadu, Bharat). He now owns 5 ambulances. He came up in life because of his honesty, say his friends. 15 years ago, he helped two Bengaluru businessmen in a road accident struggling for life, to get medical aid. They persuaded him to accept Rs 15 lakhs, because Ganesan had ensured that the cash of over Rs 2.25 crore that he found in their car that met with the accident, reached them intact. With the money Ganesan bought an ambulance to save lives. Every time an accident occurs, Ganesan's help is sought. He arranges decent funerals for unclaimed bodies. Above all, he keeps a tidy sum in his shirt pocket to be handy, just in case he meets someone in need. — Courtesy: Panchaamritam

“All Indians are children of the same motherland. There could be no spiritual and moral defence of untouchability. If God were to tolerate untouchability, I would not recognize Him as God at all.” -- Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.