Sewa Sandesh

SEWA INTERNATIONAL
DELHI PUBLICATION

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Circulation Only

I S S U E 1 2 7 M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 0

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
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.
ITT & Van- 1
Late Shri Nanaji Deshmukh is an exemplary person who decided to retire from the ac-
vasi Kalyan tive politics at the age of 65, to utilize his rest of the life for the rural upliftment. All his
Ashram 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
Sevabharathi 3 Deendayal Research Institute as the villages where DRI has been working are the stand-
Tamil Nadu ing 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
Seva Sangam 4 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 down-
trodden 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
Bhutanese 6 Sangh, adopting to the politics some way, only to prosper as a Sewa Vrati. Om Shanti.
Empower-
ment Confer-
ence USA IIT Delhi and Kalyan Ashram join hands for
Titbits 6
rural development
RURAL development de- will be camps in Assam Madhya Bharat and Ma-
partment of IIT Delhi and from April 2 to 3, Sundar- hakaushal regions will be
Food For 7 Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi garh (Orissa) from April held in June.
Thought
Kalyan Ashram have 10 to 11, Jashpur A joint meeting of both the
joined hands for strength- (Chhattisgarh) from April organisations was organ-
ening the process of devel- 12 to 13, Babhani (Uttar ised in New Delhi on Janu-
opment in rural areas. As Pradesh) from April 14 to ary 30 to start the process
Contact 7 a follow up, they have de- 15. The dates of the camps in a systematic way. Kalyan
cided to organize village in Purulia (WB) and Lo- Ashram workers from As-
development camps in hardaga (Jharkhand) will be sam, Orissa, Maharashtra,
Vanvasi villages beginning declared later. While the Madhya Pradesh, Ma-
from April this year. There camps in Karnataka, hakaushal, Chhattisgarh,
 IIT…
PAGE 2
Jharkhand, Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan and
Jammu & Kashmir par-
ticipated in the meeting.
The meeting was inaugu-
rated by joint general
secretary of Kalyan Ash-
Prof. SS ram Shri Kripa Prasad
Singh and Dr Rajendra
Krishnamurti
Prasad as well as Dr SN
presented the Nayak of IIT.
Both, Dr Rajendra
model of Picco Prasad and Dr SN
Hydle project Nayak, explained the
new technology available
which hardly costs for rural development.
Shri Kripa Prasad Singh
Rs 1.5 lakh and can elaborated on the sad
supply power to condition of rural areas.
He said 45000 revenue
100 houses. villages in Vanvasi areas
do not have basic facili-
ties and there is a dire
need to initiate the ef-
forts of development
there. "Connectivity of
villages with roads is nec-
essary but providing
Sevabharathi, Tamil Nadu:
Sevabharathi, Tamil Nadu
is a socio-cultural sewa
organisation striving to
bring about the integra-
tion and all-round devel-
opment of society. It en-
sures that caste, class
and religion do not stand
in the way of social cohe-
sion. Its service activities
SEWA SANDESH
electricity, transport fa-
cility, educational facility
and drinking water is the
immediate needs. When
the state governments
have failed to take initia-
tives 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 re-
quired 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. Simi-
larly, the experiment of
using solar energy in vil-
lages has also been very
reach out to the weaker
and neglected sections of
the society living in re-
mote villages, forests,
hills and slums.
It focuses on five areas of
service – Education,
Health-care, Social Wel-
fare, Self-sustenance and
successful and Govern-
ment provides subsidy
for it to BPL families.
Shri Jagdish Joshi, an en-
gineer from Rajasthan,
who has done experi-
ments in Banswara, Dun-
garpur and Udaipur dis-
tricts, said the invest-
ment 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 Jag-
dish Joshi and Shri
Prakash Kamath for this
project. All these work-
ers are from engineering
background and are suit-
able for the village devel-
opment programmmes.
Disaster Management.
Over 7,000 Seva Projects
are being implemented
all over Tamilnadu.
Whenever and wherever
a natural or man-made
disaster occurs, Sevab-
harathi volunteers are
often the first to arrive
ISSUE 127 PAGE 3

Sevabharathi… 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
at the scene and the last to depart from Health Care
A little help, it. It is one of the very few NGOs with Medical Centres 19
guidance and end-to-end disaster management Mobile Medical Services 4
inspiration from (rescue, relief and rehabilitation) capabil-
Blood Banks 2
it can go a long ity, with over 25,000 disciplined and
way in dedicated volunteers who can assemble Blood Donor Directories 15
transforming the at short notice at the disaster site. Blood Donation Camps 7
scene. These As it looks around, it sees an increasing Neurotherapy Centres 14
people will not need for broadening and deepening its
Ambulances 2
only catch up Seva activities. These millions, mostly
Social Welfare
with the rest of from villages and slums, are languishing
people, but not for lack of talent, ambition or perse- Bhajan Mandalis 35
make a verance, but because they have far fewer Anbu Illams (Orphanages) 14
substantial opportunities and vastly inferior infra-
Women’s Forums 257
structure – schools without teachers,
contribution Deepa Pooja Groups 1,179
the nearest hospital miles away, lack of
through their
identity because of zero contact with the Adolescent Girls’ Counselling Centres 2
own vigour and
mainstream culture... Maintenance of Temples (Uzhavarappani) 151
skills when their
A little help, guidance and inspiration
self-esteem is Senior Citizen’s Forums (Sanjeevani) 5
from it can go a long way in transform-
bolstered. Self-sustenance
ing the scene. These people will not only
catch up with the rest of people, but Tailoring Training Centres 77
make a substantial contribution through Computer Training Centres 5
their own vigour and skills when their self-esteem
Typewriting Training Centre 1
is bolstered.
Self-help Groups 3,761
Sevabharathi Tamil Nadu is seeing the miracles
happening everyday, as it engages with these chil- Handicrafts Training Centres 14
dren, youth, mothers and elders.
Total Projects 7,275
PAGE 4
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 San-
gam and decided to have a reality
check on the ethics that were
presented from the podium.
Participants, I could understand,
were from large voluntary organi-
sations 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 under-
stand 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) work-
ing in the village Kolda of
SEWA SANDESH
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 Inte-
grated 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 quin-
tals of Neem seed kernel powder
last year to earn Rs 48,000 and
this year could produce 60 quin-
tals to earn Rs 90,000, making the
women participants of the SHG
self-reliant, enhancing the confi-
dence 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 eco-
nomic resources needs to be
listened to.
Namdev Atmaram Koli, a small
farmer from Hatmohida village in
the same district had been culti-
vating 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 en-
hance 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 Nandur-
bar has doubled his rice har-
vest. 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 vil-
lage has gathered the courage
and conviction to offer his own
farmland for experimenting to
the agricultural university. Any
person with integrity, just can-
not ignore what the Sarsang-
hachalak was talking about and
will have to trust his word
Dr Hedgewar Sewa Samiti
Nandurbar accomplished the
self reliance in the remotest
 ISSUE 127
villages through the SHGs and the
agricultural innovations. Can we
have a look at the urban slums and
the much talked about city of Ben-
galuru?
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 ac-
commodated the young kid but the
supporting family was also part of
the slum and had economical re-
strictions. 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 ex-
change 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
PAGE 5
A Search for the …
around while she walks up to her hachalak Ramya
school from Nivedita Nele home. was
This is amazing to understand that talking is now
a girl, who was destitute herself, about?
that too within a short period of Turning 13
just 5 years, is dreaming of serving the
studying
others. Ramya is not alone for benefici-
singling out. Saumya, a 4th grade ary into the 5th
student from Nivedita Nele a benefactor, appropriately!
topped her class with 100 per Well, a Ramya from Bengaluru
standard and
cent marks while Netra, a 10th streets, a Kantilal from the re-
standard student, excels in tradi- has a dream
mote Vanvasi village in Satpura,
tional Rangoli art and a compere the Annapurna Mahila Bachat Gat of serving the
of programmes par excellence. SHG group from Nandurbar, the
Let me also talk about a village Perumal SHG from Kanyakumari aged people
and this is from the southernmost district of Tamil Nadu, are just a
district of the country- few examples of the change that
whom she
Kanyakumari. Perumal Self Help is being brought in the minds of watches
Group-a women group-has influ- the beneficiaries by the dedicated
enced the life of their village abso- band of activists. Not bothered around while
lutely. Caste differences are done about someone watching them or
away-women representing all not, someone cares for them or she walks up
castes in the village are members not, they have raised the flag of
of the group-no discrimination. development and that they would
to her school
Drinking water tank-which hap- carry till they achieve the goal. from Nivedita
pens to be the bone of contention The urge to serve and the urge to
in every other village-is open to all develop are innate and concur- Nele home.
villagers. The members of the rent among the people who vol-
SHG initiated cleaning process of unteer and the people who are This is
the tank themselves offering being offered some kind of sup-
karseva, following which whole port through this movement. This
amazing to
village participated. ‘Anganwadi’ is something different, I realise understand
centre for the young kid’s educa- from what I see otherwise.
tion was brought into the village Are they not the "grass roots that a girl,
from a neighbouring village as the leaders" joining hands for devel-
who was
students had to walk long. An opment of the underdeveloped
enterprising unit using the green and yet do not cater any ego,
technology to manufacture plates
destitute
totally selfless shunning name,
and bowls out of Areca nut leaves fame or anything else, and sowing herself, that
has been established-from micro the seed of self reliance in the
finance to micro enterprise devel- minds of people who would have too within a
opment. The local village Pancha- been otherwise?
short period of
yat and Banks, observing the impe-
Probably, these are the people
tus, have joined hands with this
SHG offering funding to various
who made the Sarsanghachalak just 5 years, is
speak out for their action.
schemes in the village. dreaming of
(To be concluded)
Well, can not this be called the
serving others.
metamorphosis that the Sarsang-
ISSUE 127 PAGE 6

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 treatment in India . Jayakumar said van fell into a 30 – foot deep pond
that anti-diabetic activity of cow at Panayadikuthagai in Katripulam
1. Good news for millions
urine was tested on rats with ex- village of Vedaranyam in Nagapatti-
of diabetic patients. Cow urine,
perimentally induced diabetes. He nam district (Tamilnadu, bharat).
which has many medicinal proper-
said rats were orally administered The pond was full to the brim.
ties, can also cure diabetes.In a
small doses of cow urine daily and Twelve children were rescued
significant development, a three-
there was marked difference in from the water by the 22-year-old
member team of researchers in
blood sugar levels in these animals. teacher M . Suganthi, who died by
Bangalore has found that cow
But in the case of diabetic rats drowing while saving the kids. But
urine contains certain molecules
which were not administered cow for two who were in Class IV, the
that can fight diabetes. Led by Dr
urine, sugar levels remained the children were in kindergarten
K Jayakumar, professor and head
same. The cow urine is used in the grade. Most of the rescue work
of the Department of Pharmacol-
preparation of Ayurvedic medi- was undertaken by local people,
ogy and Toxicology of the Veteri-
cines for centuries. This scientific who jumped into the pond and
nary College under Karnataka Vet-
study promises to give a ray of forced open the van. One family
erinary, Animal and Fisheries Sci-
hope for millions of diabetic pa- lost two boys in the accident.
ences University (Karnataka,
tients in the country. Based on a Later, on Republic Day, Chief Min-
Bharat), the team is in the final
report by Smt. Kestur Vasuki in ister gave away the Anna Medal
stages of identifying the molecule
THE PIONEER, February 19, 2010. for Gallantry 2010 to Suganthi for
that secretes insulin. This is the
2. Nine children and a saving the lives of 12 children from
first ever scientific study on cow
teacher were killed on Thursday drowning. It was presented post-
urine and its properties and its
December 3, 2009 when a school humously to her father Mariappan.
findings can change the diabetes
The award carries a medal, a
 SEWA INTERNATIONAL DELHI
PUBLICATION

"Man is not a detached spectator

Plot Number 49,
of a progress immanent in human
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg,
New Delhi-110002, Bharat history, but an active agent re-
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E-mail: sewainternationaldelhi@gmail.com ideals".
— Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
“Sewa Hi Parmo Dharmah”
(Service to Mankind is the Supreme Dharma)

Sewa International
A Registered International
Charity

Titbits…
cheque for Rs.25,000 and a cita- learner support centres and some behind Navashakti Vinayaka tem-
tion. Based on media reports and the 52 overseas centres, the university ple) in Myalpore , Chennai
Tamilnadu government press release. offers 175 certificate, diploma, de- (Tamilnadu, Bharat) promptly re-
3. Ms Irina Bokova, during gree and doctoral programs, com- ceive a bottle of water every
her first official visit to India as prising around 1,500 courses. morning, thanks to the thoughtful
Director-General of UNESCO, IGNOU's staff consist of 380 fac- school going kids of the Enclave.
delivered the IGNOU Silver Jubilee ulty members and academic staff in As part of New Year celebrations,
lecture on "Building inclusive headquarters and regional centres instead of dinner and dance, the
knowledge societies in a globalized while some 36,000 counsellors children of this community planted
world". Ms Bokova's visit to India from conventional institutions of saplings of various trees. The
has drawn attention to IGNOU, higher learning and professionals Owners' Association president Dr.
the largest university in the world, from different spheres. With the A.M. Jayaraman led the activity.
as well as to distance education in launch of EduSat (a satellite dedi- Association auditor Shri Raman,
general. Almost three million stu- cated only to education) in 2004, impressed with this campaign, an-
dents in India and 33 other coun- and the establishment of the Inter- nounced a gift of Rs, 250 to each
tries study at IGNOU which is also University Consortium, IGNOU of four well-maintained saplings to
India's National Resource Centre has ushered in a new era of tech- be given at the end of the year to
for Open and Distance Learning nology--enabled education. the child who planted it.
and a world leader in distance edu- 4. Each of the 50 plus sap- — Courtesy: Panchaamritam
cation. Through its 21 schools of lings girding the Luz Garden En-
study, 59 regional centres, 2,300 clave (the High Income Group flats