Saturday, 31 May 2014
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Fwd: Rare Pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Living as a Sadhu in his Youth
IndiaDivine.org:
The following are some rare pictures of prime minister Narendra Modi living as a sadhu in himalayas in his younger age. According to Lord Krishna, the spiritual knowledge of Bhagavad Gita was originally meant for the raja-rishis, the saintly kings, who would help guide society with that divine knowledge.
WHAT THE INDIAN POLITICIANS CAN LEARN
No wonder Putin was selected by
Forbes as the most powerful person in the world
Subject: Putin and Russia One for All & All
for One
This is one time our elected leaders
should pay attention to the advice of Vladimir Putin. I would suggest
that not only our leaders but every citizen of India should pay attention to
this advice. How scary is that? It is a sad day when a Communist makes more
sense than our erstwhile LEADERS but here it is !!!
Vladimir Putin's speech - SHORTEST SPEECH EVER
On August 04, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian
president, addressed the Duma,(Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about
the tensions with minorities in Russia:In
Russia, live like Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live
in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, it should speak Russian, and should
respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, and live the life
of Muslim's then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state
law. Russia does not need Muslim minorities. Minorities need Russia, and
we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to
fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell 'discrimination'. We will not
tolerate disrespect of our Russian culture. We better learn from the suicides
of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation.
The Muslims are taking over those countries and they will not take over
Russia. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack
of culture or the primitive ways of Sharia Law and Muslims. When
this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have
in mind the Russian national interest first, observing that the Muslims
Minorities Are Not Russians. The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a
five minute standing ovation.
|
Acknowledgement :
Internet.
Dear Sir/Madam, Vigyan ashram is pleased
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Vigyan ashram is pleased to announce opening of admission for "Diploma in Basic Rural Technology" (Batch 2014-15). This course is recognized by
National Institute of Open Schooling and useful for students interested to
learn by hands.
This is a multi-skill program in which training is given in the area of:
- Engineering- (Fabrication & construction & Basic Carpentry,Engineering Drawing Costing )
- Energy & Environment - (Electrical, Motor rewinding, survey techniques, solar /biogas
- Home and Health (Sewing, food processing and rural lab)
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (polyhouse, poultry, goat farming, dairy nursery techniques)
Beside this computer, meditation, sports, Adventure etc. are parts of the
program.
Features of the program:
1. Multi-skill program
2. Course is based on "Learning While Doing" philosophy.
3. Educational methodology- which can train students, who are not
interested in learning through books.
4. Training will be given in real life environment.
5. Useful for those- who want to start their own enterprises.
6. Hostel facility available
7. Limited loan scholarships are available for deserving students.
Students are expected to repay back the amount after completion of course.
8. Students are expected to observe discipline. Morning Prayer,
exercise, meditation, discussion in English are compulsory.
9. Students failing to attend may be fined.
10. Medium of communication: Marathi / Hindi / English
DBRT 2014-15
Course Duration: 10th July, 2014 - 25th June, 2015
Admission for DBRT will start from 5th May 2014
Minimum qualification: 8th STD pass, willing to work by hand, preferably
from rural areas.
A] Course Fees: Rs.8600/-
B] Hostel & kitchen charges: Rs.14400/-pa (Rs. 1200 per month)
It includes breakfast - 1 time (with milk), lunch (bhakari, /chapati rice
and, sabji), Dinner (chapatti, rice, dal, subji, curd),
Total Fees for a year = A + B = Rs.23, 000/-
Please send M.O of Rs.50/- to ask for prospectus in Marathi.
Non Marathi speaking students must ask for form in English.
To secure admission:
1. Please purchase prospectus and understand the program. If possible
visit Pabal.
2. Show Vigyan Ashram documentary to student.
It is also available on Google video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7244987184341990763#<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7244987184341990763>
3. Let student make their own decision to join the course. Do not
impose on them.
4. Fill up the application form and send it along with tuition fees.
5. Sponsored candidates should pay tuition fees plus hostel and
kitchen expenses in the beginning.
6. Contact Director, Vigyan Ashram for loan scholarship.
The program is supported by Asha for Education, Dept of science and
Technology, INDUSA, Mr.Dia Meghji, Mr.Prabhu Dayal Narang and many others.
Kindly contact us for other short term Courses.
Contact:
Vigyan Ashram*At Post- Pabal
District- Pune 412403
Phone: 02138 292326
e-mail: vapabal@gmail.com
For any queries/doubts / information, please contact
Dy. Director Mr. Ranjeet Shanbag - 09579734720
Director, Dr. Yogesh Kulkarni - 09730005016
Thanking you,
via: Dr. Yogesh Kulkarni
Sunday, 25 May 2014
சந்ததி விருத்தி-குடும்ப வாழ்க்கையில் தேவ பூஜை, அதிதி பூஜை, பந்துக்களுக்கு உதவி இல்லறம் நடத்த வேண்டும்
சந்ததி விருத்தி
மனித வாழ்க்கை சில நற்காரியங்களுக்காக ஏற்பட்டது. அவரவர்களுக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்ட நியம, அனுஷ்டானங்களை சரிவர செய்ய வேண்டியது கடமை.
கணவனும், மனைவியும் குடும்பம் நடத்தி, சமைத்து, சாப்பிட்டு, ஏதோ மனம் போன படி குதூகலமாக வாழ்க்கை நடத்திக் கொண்டிருந்தால் அது இல்லறம் அல்ல. குடும்ப வாழ்க்கையில் பல தேவ பூஜை, அதிதி பூஜை, பந்துக்களுக்கு உதவு வது, நல்ல காரியங்களுக்கு உதவி செய்வது என பல விஷயங்கள், “தர்மம்’ என்று சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது.
இதில், “சந்ததி விருத்தி’ என்பதும் முக்கியமானதாகச் சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது. கணவன்- மனைவி என்றால், அவர்களுக்குக் குழந்தை பிறக்க வேண்டும். அதிலும், ஒரு புத்திரன் உண்டாக வேண்டும். “புத்திர பாக்கியம்’ என்று உயர்வாகச் சொல்வர். அப்படிப் பிறக்கும் புத்திரனால் பித்ருக்கள், பித்ருலோகம் போவதாக நம்பிக்கை. வாழை யடி, வாழையாக வம்சம் விருத்தியாகிக் கொண்டே போனால் தான் பித்ருக்களுக்குப் புண்ணியலோகம் கிடைக்கும்.
அதனால், புத்திரனில்லாதவர்கள், புண்ணிய தீர்த்தங்களில் நீராடுவதும், பிரசித்தி பெற்ற ஆலயங்களுக்கு சென்று வருவதும், விரதங்கள் அனுஷ்டிப்பதும் வழக்கம். எவ்வளவு செல்வமிருந்தாலும், எவ்வளவு போகமிருந்தாலும் ஒரு மழ லைச் செல்வத்துக்காக ஏங்கு பவர்கள், கடவுள் அருளால் ஒரு குழந்தை பிறந்து விட்டால் மகிழ்ச்சிக் கடலில் மூழ்குவர். இதில், மற்றொரு விஷயமும் உள்ளது. அப்படி பிறக்கும் புத்திரன், “சத்புத்திர’னாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இது ரொம்பவும் முக்கியம். அதற்கும் புண்ணியம் செய்திருக்க வேண்டும். பஞ்ச பாண்டவர்களைப் போன்ற சத்புத்திரர்களும் உண்டு; துரியோதனாதியர்களைப் போன்ற துஷ்ட பிள்ளைகளும் உண்டு. சத்புத்திரர்களை அடைந்தால் அதுவே பெரிய பாக்கியம்.
புத்திரனை வேண்டி பரமேஸ்வரனைக் குறித்து தவம் செய்தார் மிருகண்டு முனிவர். அவர் முன் தோன்றி, “பதினாறு வயதுடைய சத்புத்திரன் வேண்டுமா, நூறு வயதுடைய துஷ்ட புத்திரன் வேண்டுமா?’ என்று கேட்டார் பரமேஸ்வரன். முனிவர், “நூறு வயதுடைய துஷ்ட புத்திரன் வேண்டாம்; பதினாறு வயதுள்ள சத்புத்திரனை அனுக்கிரகம் செய்யுங்கள்…’ என்று வேண்டினார். அதன்படி மார்க்கண்டேயன் என்ற சத்புத்திரன் உண்டானான்.
அவன், பதினாறு வயது வந்ததும், தன் பெற்றோர் கவலையுடன் இருப்பதைப் பார்த்து, கவலைக்கான காரணத்தை அறிந்து, பரமேஸ்வரனை ஆராதித்து, அவனருளால் காலனை வென்று, என்றும் பதினாறு வயதுடையவனாக விளங்கும்படி வரம் பெற்றான். பிறகு, மார்க்கண்டேய மகரிஷி என்று பிரகாசித்தான்.
புத்திரன் என்றால், சத்புத் திரனாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இப்படிப்பட்டவர்களால் தனக்கும், பெற்றோருக்கும், குடும்பத்துக்கும், கீர்த்தியும், கவுரவமும் ஏற்படும். குடிகாரப் பிள்ளையையும், திருட்டுப் பிள்ளையையும் பெற்று வாழ்நாள் முழுவதும் வேதனைப் படும் பெற்றோருக்கு அவனால் என்ன பயன்? தாயாரின் மண்டையை உடைக்கிறவனையும், தந்தை மீது வழக்கு போடுகிறவனையும் நாம் பார்க்கிறோமல்லவா!
இவர்களெல்லாம் பிள்ளையாகப் பிறந்த கடன்காரர்கள். கடனை வசூல் செய்து கொண்டு போக வந்தவர்கள் என்று தான் விவரித்துள்ளனர் பெரியோர்.
இல்லறம் நடத்த வேண்டும். நற்பண்புகள் வாய்ந்த மனைவி கிடைக்க வேண்டும். சத்புத்திரன் உண்டாக வேண்டும் இதுதான் ஒருவனுக்கு கிடைக்க வேண்டிய பெரிய பாக்கியம். இப்படி கிடைத்தவன் புண்ணியவான்; கிடைக்காதவன் பாவம் செய்தவன்!
பசுவும் புண்ணியங்களும்
பசுவும் புண்ணியங்களும்
குழந்தை பாக்கியம் பெற......
கோமாதா பூஜையினால் தரித்திரம், துக்கம் விலகுகின்றன. கோபூஜை செய்து வந்தால் வியாபாரம் விருத்தியடையும். நிலையான லாபம் கிட்டும். குழந்தை பாக்கியம் பெற விரும்புபவர்கள் கோபூஜை, கோதானம் செய்தால் சிறந்த அறிவுள்ள நல்ல குழந்தைகள்பிறப்பர் என்பதற்கு நமது புராணங்களும் வரலாறுகளும் எடுத்துக் காட்டாகும்.
திருமணம் நடைபெற....... நவக்கிரக பீடை, நவக்கிரக தோஷம் உள்ளவர்கள் கோபூஜையைச் செய்வது சிறந்த பலனைத்தரும். விவாகம் நடை பெறாதிருந்தாலும், காலதாமதமாகிக் கொண்டே சென்றாலும், நல்ல வரன் அமைய வில்லை என்றாலும் இந்தக் கோமாதா பூஜை அவற்றிற்கு ஒரு நல்ல தீர்வினைத்தரும்.
ஆணுக்கு நல்ல பெண் மனைவியாகவும், பெண்ணுக்குச் சிறந்த நற்குணமுள்ள ஆண் கணவனாகவும் கிடைக்கச் செய்யும் பூஜை இந்தக் கோமாதா பூஜை. பிரிந்த கணவன் மனைவி ஒன்று சேர வும்,கணவன்- மனைவிக்குள் ஒற்றுமை ஓங்கவும் இந்தக் கோபூஜை செய்வது அவசியம்.
வியாதி நீங்க:- ரோகம்,வியாதி ஆகியவை கோமாதா பூஜையினால் நீங்கி ஆரோக்கிய வாழ்க்கை உருவாகிறது. செல்வச் செழிப்பு எற்படுகிறது. தரித்திரம் நீங்குகிறது. சிறந்த பசுவை, உயர்ந்த பசுவை ஸ்ரீசுக்தம் சொல்லி பூஜை செய்து, தானம் செய்ய வேண்டும். இந்தக் கோபூஜை யினால்,கோதானத்தினால் கோர்ட் விவகாரங்கள், வழக்குகளில் வெற்றி ஏற்படும்.விரோதம் நீங்கும்.
பிதுர் சாபம் தீர:-. பிதுர் சாபம், ரிஷிகள் சாபம், மூதாதையர் சாபம் ஆகியவை நீங்குகிறது. பித்து, பைத்தியம் போன்றவை கோதானத்தினால் குணமாகி நல்ல கதி கிடைக்கிறது.
பசு மடம்.......... கோமாதா என்று அழைக்கப்படும் பசு பூவுலகில் லௌகீக ரீதியாகவும், ஆன்மிக ரீதியாகவும் பலப்பல நன்மைகளைத் தருகிறது. கேட்ட வரத்தை நல்கும் பசுவை எவ்வாறு பராமரித்து போற்ற வேண்டும் என்பது பற்றி சிவதருமோத்தரம் கீழ்கண்டவாறு கூறுகிறது:-
பழங்காலத்தில் பசுக்களைக்கட்டும் தொழுவத்தினை கோயிலாகவே கருதினர். இதனை "ஆக்கோட்டம்'' என இலக்கியங்கள் குறிப்பிடுகிறது. பசுமடம் என்றும் வழங்குவர். அப்பசுமடத்தினை விதிப்படி செய்விக்க வேண்டும். அதாவது,ஆற்றுமண், ஓடை மண், புற்றுமண், வில்வத்தடி மண், அரசடி மண் என்பவைகளால் கொட்டிலின் தரைப்பகுதியை அமைக்க வேண்டும்.
முதிர்கன்று, இளங்கன்று, நோயுற்ற கன்று ஆகியவற்றிக்கு வெவ்வேறு இடங்களை அமைக்க வேண்டும். நாள் தோறும் கோசல, கோமலங்களைப் புறத்தே நீக்கி சுத்தம் செய்ய வேண்டும். துர்நாற்றம் வராமல் தூபம் இட வேண்டும். தீபங்கள் ஏற்றவேண்டும். சாலையினுள் சுவத்தி என்னும் சொல்லைச்சொல்லி, மெல்ல மெல்ல பசுக்களை புகுவித்து, சிரத்தை யோடு புல்லைக் கொடுக்க வேண்டும்.
நோயுற்ற பசுக்களுக்கு தனியிடம் அமைத்து, மருந்து அளித்து பேண வேண்டும். அஷ்டமி தோறும் பசுக்களை நீராட்டி,பூச்சூட்டி, அன்னமும் ஜலமும் ஊட்டி, தீப தூபம் காட்டி வணங்க வேண்டும். வேனிற் காலத்தில் பசுக்களை சோலைகளிலும், மழைக்காலத்தில் மலைச்சாரல் வனங்களிலும், பனிக் காலத்தில் வெயில் மிகுந்த வெளிகளிலும் மேய்க்க வேண்டும்.
பால்கறத்தல்....... கன்று பால் உண்டு காம்பை விடுத்த பின், தண்ணீரால் காம்பை கழுவி பாலைக்கறக்க வேண்டும். ஆசை மிகுதியினால் கன்றுக்கு பால்விடாமல் கறந்தவன் நரகத்தில் விழுந்து நெடுங்காலம் வருந்தி, பூமியிலே பிறந்து கடும் பசியினாலே வீடுகள் தோறும் இறப்பான். கபிலை இனப்பசுவின் பாலைச்சிவபூஜைக்கு கொடுக்க வேண்டும் என்று வேதம் கூறுகிறது.
அதனை மனிதர்கள் தங்கள் தேவைக்கு எடுத்துக் கொள்ளக்கூடாது. மலட்டுப் பசுவின் மீதோ, இடபத்தின் மீதோ பாரம் ஏற்றினோர் நரகத்தில் வீழ்வர். பசுக்களைப் பகைவர் கவர்ந்து சென்றால் தங்கள் உயிரைக் கொடுத்தேனும் அவற்றைக் காக்க வேண்டும் என்று சான்றோர்கள் கூறியுள்ளனர்.
பசுக்களுக்குத்தீமை செய்தல் கூடாது........ பசுக்களை ஓட்டிச் செல்லும் போது சிறிதும் வருத்தம் செய்யாமல், இரக்கத்தோடு பலாசங்கோலினை மெல்ல ஓங்கி போ போ என்று ஓட்டிச் செல்ல வேண்டும். இரக்க மின்றி கோபித்து அதட்டி அடிப்போர் நரகத்தில் வீழ்வர். பசுக்களை இடர் நீங்கக் காக்காதவர்களும்,பூஜை செய்யாத வர்களும்,காக்காத பாவிகளைத் தண்டியாத அரசனும் நரகத்தில் வீழ்வார்கள்.
பசுவின் குருதியானது ஒரு துளி இப்புவியில் விழுந்தாலும் அதிலிருந்து பல கோடி அசுரர்கள் வந்துதித்து உலகை நாசம் செய்வர் என்று வேதம் கூறுகிறது. எனவே பசுக்களுக்கு எவ்விதத் தீங்கும் செய்தல் கூடாது. ஆவுரிஞ்சுக்கல் நாட்டுதலும், சிவனுக்கும், ஆச்சாரியருக்கும் பசுவைத்தானம் செய்தலும் வேண்டும்.
குற்றமற்ற பசுக்களை இடபத்தை சிவசந்நிதிக்கும் தானம் செய் தலும்,சிவனது திருப்பணியின் பொருட்டுச் சகடத்திற்கு எருது கொடுத்தலும் வேண்டும்.இளைத்த பசுவை வாங்கி வளர்த்தலும் பெரும் புண்ணியம் தரும். பசுவைக் கொன்றவனும், கொலைக்காகக் கொடுத்தவனும், அதன் இறைச்சியைத்தின்றவனும் துயரில் அழுந்துவார்கள்.எனவே பசுக்கள் இறைச்சிக்காகக் கொல்லப்படுவதை நாம் தடுக்க வேண்டும்.
கோயிலுக்குச் செல்பவர்கள் கோயிலிëன் பசு மடத்திலுள்ள பசுக்களுக்கு அகத்திக் கீரை,பசும்புல், பழங்கள் உள்ளிட்ட தீவனங்களை அளிக்க வேண்டும். நோயுற்ற பசுக்களுக்கு சிகிச்சைக்கான செலவினையும் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டால் நாமும் ஆரோக்கியமான வாழ்வைக் பெறலாம்.
பசுவும் புண்ணியங்களும்........
*பசுவை ஒரு முறை பிரதட்சணம் செய்வதால் பூலோகம் முழுவதும் பிரதட்சணம் செய்த புண்ணிம் கிடைக்கும்.
*பசுவைப் பூஜித்தால் பிரம்மா, விஷ்ணு, ருத்ரன் முதலான அனைத்து தெய்வங்களையும் பூஜை செய்த புண்ணியம் உண்டாகும்.
*பசு உண்பதற்கு புல் கொடுத்தாலும்( கோக்ராஸம்), பசுவின் கழுத்துப் பகுதியில் சொறிந்து கொடுத்தாலும்( கோகண்டுயனம்) கொடிய பாவங்கள் விலகும். இதனை உணர்ந்தே நம் முன்னோர்கள் ஆங்காங்கே ஆவுரஞ்சுக்கல் அமைத்தனர்.
*பசுக்கள் மேய்ந்து விட்டு வீடு திரும்பும் சந்தியா காலம் கோதூளி காலம் (லக்னம்) என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. இது மிக புண்ணியமான வேளை ஆகும்.
*பசு நடக்கும் போது எழும் புழுதியானது நம் உடலில் படுவது எட்டு வகை புண்ணிய ஸ்நானங்களில் ஒன்றாகும். பசுவின் கால்பட்ட தூசியைத்தான் ரகு சக்ரவர்த்தி, அஜசக்ரவர்த்தி, தசரத சக்ரவர்த்தி போன்ற மாமன்னர்கள் பூசிக்கொண்டார்கள்.
*`மா' என்று பசு கத்தும் ஓசை அப்பகுதிëக்கு மங்களத்தைத் தருகிறது.
*பசு வசிக்கும் இடத்தில் பசுவின் அருகில் அமர்ந்து செய்யும் மந்திர ஜபமோ, தர்ம காரியங்களோ நூறு பங்கு பலனைத் தருகின்றன.
*மனிதனின் கண்ணுக்குப் புலப்படாத ம்ருத்யு, எமன், எமதூதர்கள் பசு மாட்டின் கண்களுக்கு மட்டுமே புலப்படுவார்கள். எனவே தான், ஒருவர் இறக்கும் போது பசுமாடு சத்தம் போடுகிறது.
*ஒருவர் இறந்த பின் பரலோகத்திற்கு அழைத்துச் செல்லப்படும் ஜீவன், அஸிபத்ர வனத்தில் வைதரணிய நதியைக் (மலம், சலம், சளி, சுடு நீர் ஓடும் நதி) கடக்க இயலாமல் தவிக்கிறது. பூலோகத்தில் பசுதானம் செய்தவர்களுக்கு இத்துன்பம் நேர்வதில்லை.அவர் தானம் செய்த பசுமாடு அங்கு தோன்ற,அதன் வாலைப் பிடித்துக் கொண்டு வைதரண்ய நதியைக் கடந்து விடலாம் என்று கருட புராணம் கூறுகிறது.
*உலகம் எத்தகைய விஞ்ஞான வளர்ச்சியடைந்தாலும் அதன் தொடர்ச்சியாய் எத்தகைய பாதிப்பு நிகழ்ந்தாலும் பசுக்கள் வசிக்கும் இடங்களுக்கு மட்டும் எவ்விதப் பாதிப்பும் நிகழாது என்பது ஆன்மிக ஆராய்ச்சியாளர்களின் கருத்தாகும்.
*கறவை நின்ற வயதான பசுக்களைக்கூட நாம் பேணிக் காக்க வேண்டும். *பிரம்ம ஹத்தி தோஷத்திற்கு இணையாக பசு ஹத்தி தோஷத்தையும் நம் வேதங்கள் குறிப்பிடுகின்றன
ஸ்ரீராம துதி-இதை தினமும் பாராயணம் செய்தால் ராமாயணம் முழுவதும் படித்த பலனைப் பெறலாம்
ஸ்ரீராம துதி
ஒன்பது வரியில் உள்ள இந்த வரிகளைப் பாராயணம் செய்தால் மன அமைதி, மகிழ்ச்சி நிலவும். இதை தினமும் பாராயணம் செய்தால் ராமாயணம் முழுவதும் படித்த பலனைப் பெறலாம். எல்லா காரியங்களிலும் வெற்றி கிட்டும்.
“ஸ்ரீராமம் ரகுகுல திலகம்
சிவதனுசாக் ருஹீத சீதா ஹஸ்தகரம்
அங்குல் யாபரண சோபிதம்
சூடாமணி தர்ஸன கரம்
ஆஞ்சநேயம் ஆஸ்ரயம்
வைதேஹி மனோகரம்
வானர ஸைன்ய ஸேவிதம்
சர்வ மங்கல கார்யானுகூலம்
சத்தம் ஸ்ரீராமசந்த்ரம் பாலயமாம்”
ராமன் நாமத்தை தினமும் சொல்பவர்களுக்கு சகல ஐஸ்வரியங்களும் பெருகும்
Saturday, 24 May 2014
Making body donation a movement
Making body donation a movement
Delhi advocate Alok Kumar pledges to wipeout
waiting list for cornea transplantation in Delhi within three years
At the time when lakhs of people die every year in the country in want of organ transplant, one million wait for cornea transplantation and about 30 to 35 young medical professionals are forced to study on one cadaver only, senior advocate of Delhi Shri Alok Kumar has taken a step to change this scenario. Through Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti, he has so far provided 83 human bodies and 365 pair eyes to different Government Medical Colleges of Delhi. With the help of like-minded people and organisations he has now pledged to wipeout the entire waiting list for cornea transplantation in Delhi within 3 years.
DO you know around five lakh
people die in our country every year because of non-availability of organs and
two lakh of them die of liver disease only? Equally, about 50,000 die from
heart disease and out of 1.5 lakh people waiting for kidney transplantation
hardly 5,000 get one. Not only this about one million people suffer from
corneal blindness and await transplantation. The reality is that just 0.08
persons Per Million Population (PMP) donate organs in our country. This is an
incredibly insignificant number as compared to the organ donation statistics
around the world. There is one more fact. Four medical students need a cadaver
to complete their studies, but today 30 to 35 students have to study on one
cadaver only.
On the other hand the countries
like USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, etc have seen the organ donations double
per million population averaging between 10-30 PMP. Other countries like
Singapore, Belgium and Spain have seen the rate of donations double averaging
between 20-40 PMP. This all indicate to the speed that we have to move for body
or organ donation. In such a situation the efforts of Shri Alok Kumar seem to
be making a big impact in the lives of both, those who are waiting for organ
transplantation and the young medicos who need cadavers for understanding the
human body for advancing science.
“The seed of this
initiative basically germinated during 1974-75 when I was a Sangh Pracharak in
Amritsar. I frequently visited the Medical College there. The very first
exhibit in the anatomy museum there was of a retired Head of the Department,
who had written in his ‘will’ that ‘all my life I have been teaching my
students on other persons’ bodies. Now, I wish that after my death my body is
donated to this place’. I wrote to Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was then in Kanpur
Medical College, about the wonderful idea of body donation. He wrote me back
enthusiastically endorsing the idea. Later, the Emergency was imposed and we
both were engaged in other things,” recalls Alokji while sharing his experience
on February 10, 2014 in Delhi.
In 1994, when the Transplantation of the Human Organs Act was passed, Alokji and some of his friends decided to donate their bodies. They did it by registering their wills with the Sub Registrar. “My wife was in the court as a witness. On that day I had a wonderful experience. Sub Registrar was sitting on his seat. He called my name and I walked five-six steps towards him. In those steps I, in my mind, visualised as if I am dead. I saw my dead body and the friends, family members assembled there. Some of them were weeping, sobbing and some were satisfied that now they could work in politics free of me. And then I visualised a medical college van coming and taking my body away. The will was registered. Next morning as I just sat out, the meaning of it unfolded before me. I saw my dead body being taken away. But I am not the body. I am different form. Who am I? And then the answer came to me Main shuddha, buddha mukta atma hoon. I am not the body I am spirit and soul,” Alokji added.
Alokji believes that body
donation is a spiritual work. He shared one more interesting experience: “When
Yamuna inundated, I was assigned for the relief work that year. Naturally, it
kept everybody busy 24 hours. I caught some infection in my eyes and they
swelled. Everyday my father would ask me to go to a doctor and every day I
would tell him that I have no time. One day he said, Alok! ‘you have donated
your eyes’? I said, ‘off course’. ‘They have to be given for transplantation’?
I said, ‘Yes’. Is it not that you are a mere trustee of your eyes now? ‘Yes’.
‘Is it not your duty to keep them good and usable’? That was the second idea
that I got. In fact, we are just trustees of our bodies.”
Around 1997, when Nanaji
Deshmukh expressed the wish to register him for body donation that the Dadhichi
Dehdan Samiti came into existence. Alokji recalls: “When I was doing the
documentation for Nanaji’s will, he said he is a Pracharak and remains on
tours, what if death came outside Delhi. I said that will be the God’s will, as
we cannot operate outside Delhi. Nanaji was very anxious on my answer. He
thought for sometime and called for cheque book. He made a cheque of Rs 11,000
in our favour and said ‘I am paying you the expenses. Now wherever I die, you have
to arrange for bringing my body to Delhi and give to the AIIMS. This is how
Nanaji became the Samiti’s first body donor. Later, when Nanaji left his body
at Chitrakoot, it was brought to Delhi and donated to the AIIMS.” Other
prominent body donors include two former MLAs, Bodhraji and DK Jain, and former
BMS national president Rajkrishna Bhakt.
The Samiti accepts the
pledge for body or organ donation only in a prescribed form having signatures
either of a close family member or the person of the donor’s choice. It also
asks the donor to donate at least a sum of Rs 150. “Like 16 samskars in
our culture, we have made body donation also a samskar. Every year
we hold a festival of body donors, in which the donors come with their
witnesses. We executive their will and give them identity card and certificate.
The event prominently has four presentations—one by a person who has donated
the body in his family that year, second the person who pledges for body
donation, third a top person from spiritual field, and four a top person from
medical field. The whole exercise firms up an understanding in the donor and
his family that this donation is a pious obligation,” Alokji adds.
So far, 83 whole bodies
have been donated to Maulana Azad Medical College, AIIMS, Nehru Homeopathy
College, University College of Medical Sciences, Hamdard Medical College, etc.
The eyes were prominently donated to Gurunanak Eye Centre. “We have resolved
that within three years we would wipeout the waiting list for eye
transplantation in Delhi. The RSS Delhi Prant has also decided to take it as a
common endeavour with us,” he points out.
The initiative has received
the blessings of many big personalities like RSS Sanghachalak Shri Mohan
Bhagwat who attended a function in Patna. Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara, on 80
birth anniversary of her guru, decided to gift 80 pledge forms for body
donation. But the number of forms that were actually given was 126. Around
3,500 people including VHP patron Ashok Singhal, senior leader Acharya Giriraj
Kishor, former Dy CM of Bihar Sushil Modi are now registered with the Samiti
for body donation.
When asked how the bodies
are collected after death, Alokji says: “When the death takes place all that
the family members have to do is to call our helpline number. The entire
subsequent arrangements are made by us, which include coordinating with the
family, arranging a vehicle to collect the eyes or body ensuring that the body
is delivered to a medical college in time.”
Changing the mindset is the
biggest challenge in such cases. Replying the queries of some mediapersons, who
asked how one would get salvation if the body is not cremated, Didi Maa said Shastras prescribe
methods for it. One can do his pindadaan in his lifetime. If
somebody does it and his body is not cremated then non-cremation is not an
abstraction to body donation. “Former RSS chief Rajju Bhaiya once pointed out
that the Ayurveda has proper methods of studying the human body. It even
provides for the instruments by which it is cut and the way it is to be studied.
It shows body the donation has been a long practice in our country,” points out
Alokji.
The Samiti works in the
National Capital Region only. Some people in Patna, Pune and Mumbai have formed
separate units. “It is the work which needs timely action. If the eyes are not
taken within four hours they become useless. Equally, if the other organs are
not taken in time they cannot be transplanted. That is why we cannot operate
outside Delhi,” concluded Alokji. When we see the human organ rackets flourishing
in different parts of the country, this initiative shows the way.
Veteran Sangh Pracharak Shri Sitaram Kedilaya on 15000 km walk to wake up villages
Veteran Sangh Pracharak Shri Sitaram Kedilaya on 15000 km walk
to wake up villages
Mapping rural Bharat by foot
The mindset of depending upon government for everything is
believed to be the biggest barrier in rural development today. Contrary to it,
the villages, which abridged dependence on government agencies, have registered
notable growth in different spheres. In order to awaken the villagers for
self-development, 67-year old RSS Pracharak Shri Sitaram Kedilaya is on a
15,000 km long Bharat Parikarma Yatra since August 9, 2012. On March
9 he traversing around 6000 km distance was at Domet village of Dehradun
in Uttarakhand. During this walkathon he mainly focuses on six points—love your
village, love the mankind, conserve the water, help elders, promote village
artisans and join hands for uplift of your respective village. Know Bharat, Be
Bharat and make Bharat Vishwaguru is the tag line of this unique walkathon.
He is short in size but thinks high—normally beyond the box. He
looks weak but has amazing vitality to face any challenge—more than any modern
youth. At the age of 67, he walks to invigorate the villages. Everyday he walks
10 to 15 km from one village to other, educating villagers to join hands for
development of their respective villages and dump the habit of always depending
upon government for everything. Till March 9, 2014 he had completed 575 days of
his journey traversing around 6000 km distance. The voyage will continue for
more three and half years. During the whole expedition, which he calls Bharat
Parikrama Yatra, he has no personnel belongings, takes single meal in
the noon through bhiksha only and stays only in a
village.
The stalwart is Shri Sitaram Kedilaya, RSS Pracharak for more
than four decades and former Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh. Since the day he
stepped out for this walkathon, some call him Sant Sitaramji or Babaji, while
some call Bapuji, Mahatmaji, Maharajji or Swamiji. Though as a Sangh Pracharak
he is no less than a saint. Wherever he goes people bow before him with respect
and salute his conviction of mapping rural Bharat for a great mission. “I am
still a Sangh Pracharak. It doesn’t matter if somebody calls me a Sant or
Maharaj,” he says. His discourse on village development impressed the people so
much that in many states where he visited the people have formed permanent
committees to continue the tasks he assigns. One should not wonder if this
follow-up action in Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Punjab brings about a big
change in the days to come.
Beginning on the anniversary of Quit India Movement (on August
9, 2012) from Kanyakumari, the Yatra daily begins with thegoupooja unfailingly
in the village Sitaramji happens to be in. At 6.30 am the Yatra
begins with a walk for the next village. Visiting the nearest temple and
offering prayers is always part of the Yatra. After entering a village, he
takes rest for a few minutes, following which he plants a tree in the temple
premises or in its proximity. Lunch is a moderate affair, which is always at a
villager’s home, irrespective of caste, creed, language, colour or way of
worship.
Then he goes for ‘Gram Sampark’, where he interacts with select
individuals, mostly the school teachers, Gram Vaidyas, village heads,
traditional artisans, differently abled, etc. This is followed by a mass
gathering known as Gram Sankeertan, where he addresses the
villagers on development issues—protection of land, cows, individuals,
families, conservation of trees, biodiversity, water, preservation of native
village culture, rural employment and rural medicines available in kitchen or
the vicinity.
“All these help create a bond of great depth with the people,
which ultimately help the villagers realise that the villages are a single
encompassing family. However, this feeling has taken a back seat now, which has
led to emergence of a whole lot of problems everywhere. This has now escalated
to national and international levels. The feeling of unity, along with creation
of family bonds, if brought back to villages ensures restoration of harmony to
a great extent. This can be instrumental in rekindling the concept of Vasudhaiva-kutumbakam,”
explains Shri Kedilaya during a discussion at Sadhna Ashram of Dehradun on
March 9, 2014, the 576th day of his Yatra.
When asked why he started the Yatra ‘alone’ at this ripe age, he
replies, “What makes you feel that I am alone? I have the thoughts and ideas of
as many as 121 crore people with me.” But he makes it clear the endavour is a
follow-up action of the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra conducted in 2009, which
exhorted the nation for protection of villages, cow and the nature. Prominently
the people and the organisations which joined hands with the Gou Gram Yatra are
now managing the whole affairs in this Yatra.
Sharing the experience and the response he received in 576 days,
he says: “Not a single incident of opposition was reported anywhere and people
from all sections, communities willingly listened to us. It is the experience
of pure love (shuddha satvik prem), which is still alive in our
villages.”
When asked in which state the response has been as per his
expectations he said: “Comparison is not good. Every state worked as per its
capacity. If you want to know which states drew maximum benefit of this endvour
I name Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Punjab, as they formed receptions
committees in advance and after the Yatra they converted those committees into
the teams to start follow up activities.”
To apprise the policymakers and political leaders of his
experience Sitaramji writes a comprehensive letter to Chief Minister and
Governor of the respect state after completing the Yatra explaining what he saw
and what needs to be done. When asked how many Chief Ministers replied his
letters he names only one —Maharashtra. He is very clear on certain aspects of
village development. He wants to restore the ancient values of life in villages
but he is certainly not opposed to any modern facility. He focuses on a
blending of ancient and modernity.
During my decade long association with Sitaramji I have seen
whatever task he takes up, he does not leave it without completion. He was
mastermind of the Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra, which initiated a solid
beginning of cow protection activities all over the country. Needless to say
that this walkathon too will prove to be equally fruitful, generating a sense
of self-development and change in mindset.
Box
The walkathon began on August 9, 2012 from Kanyakumari with the slogan ‘Know Bharat, Be Bharat
and Make Bharat Vishwaguru
10 to 15 km walking every day, target to walk more than 15000 km
in five years
States covered so far are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa,
Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab,
Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Now taking rest at Sadhna Ashram,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand since February 28
Takes only single meal a day and that too through bhiksha only
No possessions or belongings during the whole journey
Single point agenda to rejuvenate the villages strengthen
the feeling of unity and
family bonds among villagers
Ahilya Mahila Mandal transforms the lives of over 1,500 Vanvasi and rural women in Pen near Mumbai
Housewives turn social reformers
Ahilya Mahila Mandal transforms the lives of over 1,500
Vanvasi and rural women in Pen near Mumbai
Housewives are regarded the best managers at home, but their potential and skills are hardly used for social cause. A group of housewives in Pen, a small town in Raigad district of Maharashtra, broke this tradition and set a precedent by transforming the lives of over 1,500 Vanvasi women. After finishing their family responsibilities they run girls hostel, old age home, blood storage centre, garment manufacturing centre, spice based products and papad making, Tiffin service, primary school, pathological lab, medical centre, providing nutritious meal to over 2,000 children, micro finance, train purohits and even prepare dancers. All these activities are conducted under the banner of Ahilya Mahila Mandal. The interesting fact about these activities is that they are all managed only by the housewives.
The management skills of housewives have wondered even the
top management gurus. But their expertise is hardly used for social cause.
Breaking this tradition, a group of housewives in Pen town, about 100 km from
Mumbai in the heart of Sahyadri ranges has set an inspiring precedent by
extending a helping hand to the local needy people through multifarious sewaactivities.
They conduct 15 major activities including an old age home, blood storage
centre, a garment manufacturing centre, a spice based products and papad
manufacturing unit, a Vanvasi girls hostel, a primary school, a catering
service centre, a Sanskrit school, a pathological laboratory, free treatment
and awareness to Vanvasi women and children, nutritious meal to 2,000 children
every day. The number of beneficiaries of all these activities is more than
70,000.
“The housewives associated with us contribute in these activities as per their convenience, skills, interest and talent. We have work for everyone whether highly educated or illiterate. After finishing their household works they join us and devote their free time for the welfare of the needy people. Beginning in 1996, the initiative has so far involved thousands of women,” says Smt Vasanti Dev, the torch-bearer of the initiative.
When asked how the idea of starting the initiative clicked,
Smt Shulbha Joshi, former president of the Mandal says, “While attending an
awareness programme organised for women in 1996, the fourth centenary year of
Ahilyabai Holker, we thought of starting this initiative focusing on improving
the socio-economic conditions of rural and Vanvasi women in Pen Taluka.”
Since Pen is fast emerging as a higher education centre, these women started supplying home-made nutritious tiffin to the engineering students. The initiative later was named as Swad Bharati. Then many new avenues continued to be added as the need was realised. “Change is inevitable in the society. However being proactive in managing change is the most difficult part. The Mandal was started in 1996 with just 12 members and small projects like family counselling, medical camps and training to women. However, I always believed that we could do things on a larger scale. Today, we have 15 on-going projects including landmark projects,” adds Smt Vasanti Dev.
The women associated with the Mandal have tried to touch
every problem of the society. The family counselling centre has saved many
families from breakage. The counselling centre also provides valuable inputs to
the Vanvasis by addressing their issues like migration and its effects. They
also organise health camps in Vanvasi hamlets and readmit the school drop-outs
in schools. “This enables us to identify patients afflicted by the kind of
diseases they suffer from and act as a referral point for advanced treatment.
The major afflictions identified are anemia, malnutrition, ENT, ophthalmic and
till date 2,100 patients out of which 1,840 have been referred for advanced
treatment,” says Smt Ashwini Gadgil, president of the Mandal.
For social cause, these women do not hesitate to fight
against the administration. They started a primary school at Hetawane for the
children of Hetawane Dam displaced people. The school was started in the
premises provided by the Irrigation Department. But after about five years the
authorities asked to close the school. But the firm commitment of these women
forced the authorities to continue the school at the same location.
There are about 200 Vanvasi hamlets around Pen. One of the
Vanvasi communities there is “Katkaris”. The women of the Mahila Mandal noticed
that the level of education among the girls of this community there was close
to zero. They analysed the causes of illiteracy and decided to starte a girls’
hostel in Pen. Thus came into being the Anandi Chhatrawas. The girls here are
studying from 3rd to 12th standard. Similarly, started in 2003, the
Indira Sanskrit Pathshala has trained over 300 purohits, who now
practice and conduct various rituals. Some of thesepurohits are
women, who perform traditional rituals on various occasions. Nearly, 40,000
students have been taught Ganpati Atharvashirsh Shloka.
The self-reliance activities by these women have impressed
one and all. Through Swad Bharati they have set-up a common kitchen to provide
midday meal to school children, old age home and also to others on social or
religious functions. Under Swayamsiddha project, they collected sewing machines,
tables and other required materials from various resources, and started
stitching clothes. The women employed under this unit are from underprivileged
class. In last 14 years, nearly 500 women have been trained under this
initiative, out of which 60 women have started their own business.
The initiative by Ahilya Mahila Mandal, if imbibed by the
housewives across the country, can change the picture of the entire nation.
They have potential, skills and expertise. What is needed is just the
determination to bring a change. Ahilya Mahila Mandal has shown the path.
Milk Bank for Vanvasi children by Sewa Bharati activists in Ranchi
Fighting malnutrition with a difference
Milk Bank for Vanvasi children by Sewa Bharati activists in
Ranchi
With 44 per cent underweight children, India faces the
severe level of child malnutrition in the world. One in three of the world’s
malnourished children live here only. It is the disease which not only limits
child’s development and capacity to learn, but also costs lives—around 50 per
cent of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition. About 46 per cent
of the children below the age of three years are too small for their age, 47
per cent are underweight and at least 16 per cent are wasted. It is the state
of affairs despite the government launching many schemes to fight it. In this
situation the method adopted by Sewa Bharati activists in Ranchi to fight
malnutrition has attracted many. Involving about 170 women of the city they
formed a Milk Bank to feed milk to over 300 rural Vanvasi children everyday.
Instead of offering the mid-day meal, which proved to be ‘mid-day murder meal’
in certain cases, this initiative by Sewa Bharati activists has drawn a good
response from one and all.
Malnutrition has emerged as a major child killer in our
country. It is more common in India than in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to
UNICEF, one in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India
and at least 44 per cent children are underweight. Malnutrition for young
children has serious and long-term consequences, because it impedes motor,
sensory, cognitive, social and emotional development. Their immune system
remains weaker, leaving them more vulnerable to disease. For instance, they are
five times more likely to die from diarrhea. Poor nutrition is also associated
with nearly half of the deaths for children under five years (about 3.1
million) each year.
Inadequate care of women and girls, especially during
pregnancy, results in low- birth weight babies. Nearly 30 per cent of all
newborns have a low birth weight, making them vulnerable to further
malnutrition and disease. The future of rural India, where the highest
concentration of poverty prevails, depends upon overcoming the challenges
causing it. To counter the trend, the Government of India started many schemes
under the banner of Integrated Child Development Services, but the picture on
the ground is still disturbing.
In this situation the Sewa Bharati activists in Ranchi
started a unique initiative to fight malnutrition. Instead of offering any
mid-day meal they provide cow milk to the children studying upto 5th standard.
The work began in 2012 by forming a group of 17 women. Today, there are 170
women in this group and the number is growing everyday. Around 300 children
studying in Saraswati Shishu Mandir at Jonha are provided around 100 mg milk
everyday during the lunch break. They belong to 20 villages, mostly situated
near the famous Jonha Fall. The milk is taken from a goushala run
by Birsa Sewa Prakalpa. This group of women has pledged to feed milk to at
least 1000 children by the end of this financial year.
The idea of feeding milk to school children studying up to
5th standard clicked to Rashtriya Sewa Bharati joint general secretary
Shri Gurusharan Prasad, when he visited Birsa Sewa Prakalp goushala last
year. The entire milk of the goushala was then sold in the
market. When he proposed to stop the sale of milk and provide it to the school
children, the first question raised by the activists was how to meet the
espenses of the goushala. But the remedy to the question was
suggested by some activists only who proposed to involve some women of the city
and collect some amount in the form of gousewa. Finally, the
Vatsalya Dugdha Yojna was launched and the responsibility to take up the cause
ahead was entrusted to Manjusha Deshpande, an activist. She has worked hard to
develop 10 groups having ten members in each group.
“In the beginning we focused on Satellite Colony of Ranchi
and a good number of women joined us in the endeavour. Then women from many
different colonies started joining us. The annual fee for this group has been
fixed Rs 300. This amount is provided to the goushala, which
provides milk for the children. Now we have owned up the expenses of the goushala and
in turn the goushala has owned the responsibility of providing
milk to the children without fail. The response is so overwhelming that the
women from many other colonies including Rashmirathi Apartment, Ganesh
Apartment, Tirupati Mansion, Himalaya Apartment, Nivaranpur Jaishree Apartment,
Court Sarai Road, Haramu Housing Colony etc. are also joining the groups. “The
biggest benefit of the scheme is that the goushala gets
adequate money to meet its daily expenses and the children also get milk daily
without fail,” says Manjusha Deshpande, convener of the Vatsalya Dugdha Yojna.
“Malnutrition cannot be fought through lip service. It needs
sound and sincere work on the ground. Since the level of malnutrition is very
high in rural areas, we found it inappropriate to provide mid-day meal to the
school children. There is no parallel of milk in fighting the deficiencies in
human body. It is complete food, especially when it comes from a desi cow.
That is why we have focused on it. All the cows in the goushala are
of indigenous breed and the milk provided by them is rich with all necessary
vitamins,” said Shri Gurusharan Prasad, adding that the scheme has proved a big
hit and there are plans to start it at the state level.
Apart from providing milk to the school children, the
members of the Dugdha Yojna have also started providing lunch to the patients
in Ranchi government hospital. They provide around 100 tiffins to
prominently the child patients every day. “In the evening the tiffins are supplied
to 100 families and they are collected at around 10 am every day along with
rupees five per tiffin. The amount collected with the tiffin basically helps in
meeting the expenses of the workers engaged in their transportation and
distribution, etc. The amount is deposited in the Sewa Bharati account. “By and
large both these projects are self-reliant. We hope to form a group of around
1000 women for this project also,” added Shri Gurusharan Prasad.
“Though, we have not conducted any scientific study, anyone
can see the good impact of the scheme in the form of improved health of all the
children. Not only us, the parents of the kids too see this improvement,” added
Manjusha Deshpande.
At the time when the government efforts at fighting
malnutrition are not drawing the desired results, this initiative by Sewa
Bharati activists in Vanvasi region can prove to be an eye opener for the
policymakers and other voluntary organisations, which are seriously fighting
against malnutrition.
An inspiring initiative for rehabilitation of rag pickers and lepers by Latur based Janadhar Sewabhavi Sanstha
Ensuring a dignified life to garbage
collectors
An inspiring initiative for rehabilitation of rag pickers
and
lepers by Latur based Janadhar Sewabhavi Sanstha
lepers by Latur based Janadhar Sewabhavi Sanstha
Human beings generate about 0.2 to 0.6 kilogrammes of waste
daily, which is maximum among all living beings. In order to keep the human
localities clean and healthy this waste is collected by human beings only. But
in this process many of the garbage collectors get infected to various
communicable diseases, which ultimately affect their entire life. Does it not
our responsibility to care for them, look to their well being, alleviate their
sufferings and offer them a respectful livelihood? Shri Sanjay Kambale of Latur
took up this challenge about 18 years back and made the waste collection
process easy so that these people can live a dignified life. He has so far
transformed the lives of 250 rag pickers and 42 leprosy cured people.
Majority of us living
in urban areas must have come across the situation when the garbage was not
collected from our homes or localities for just few days inviting huge hue and
cry due to the foul smell. But we hardly think of the sufferings of the people
who collect this waste from the homes, streets, hospitals, etc. to keep us
clean and healthy, and get afflicted to various communicable diseases while
picking the infected waste in unhygienic conditions. In Latur city alone,
hundreds of garbage collectors got infected with leprosy and suffered
throughout their life. This reduced their average life to about 35 years only.
Shri Sanjay Kambale in Latur made a dent in 1995 by starting
care for these people. Under the banner of Janadhar Sewabhavi Sanstha he
started organising health camps at Kushth Dham and Vilasnagar slums for these
people. Later, some initiatives to make them self-employed were started, but
they turned out to be a failure. He then started Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in
Vilasnagar, where the majority residents earned their livelihood by picking
waste articles like broken glass, papers, metal scrap and the like from the
garbage and selling them to the wholesale scrap merchants. In order to find a
lasting solution, Janadhar started an innovative programme based on the
principle of self-employment, co-operation, education, protection and dignity.
The results of all these initiatives are now worth emulating.
Shri Kambale started Jansewa Solid Waste Management
Co-operative Society with 165 women in 2003. Today, a total of 450 women under
70 SHGs are engaged in collecting waste in Latur city alone. The
experiment of ‘Ghanta Gadi’ (a waste collection vehicle ringing its bell on
arrival) rationalised the work to a great extent. The people are requested to
keep their trash ready and preferably segregated in organic and non-organic or
wet and dry waste, specially the left over foods, vegetable and fruit wastes
etc.
In this process, the waste collectors were imparted training
for personal presentation viz wearing of neat clothes and aprons, masks,
protective hand gloves, neat and clean hair keeping, soft gentle language. One
worker with one ‘Ghanta Gadi’ collects waste from about 300 houses. This
service is not free. “After all only those who generate the waste have only to
pay for its disposal,” says Shri Kambale.
The collected waste is brought to a common point where it is
further segregated. The waste material, which can be recycled, such as
glassware, metals, plastic bags and packing material is sold through Sheshak
Kharedi Vikri Kendra (Remnant Purchase Sale Centre). The organic matter, which
is decomposable, is used for making fertilizer in vermi-compost pits. The
vermi-compost pits are the compost pits charged with a population of specific
type of earth worms, which convert organic matter into very fine and best
quality manure. Besides all these waste materials, there is material such as
stumps of the tree, coconut shells, banana peels, tree leaves, and crop wastes,
which cannot be decomposed readily. This material is used for Briquette
formation.
As a child Shri Sanjay Kamble used to visit the leprosy
afflicted people out of compassion. But when grew he, with the help of some
physicians, started conducting medical camps for them. With frequent and
continuous contact and discussion with the people he sold an idea of founding a
voluntary organisation for their development. As first major step, he focused
on capacity building of these people. By consulting the experienced and
educated people from waste management an outfit, Jansewa Ghan Kachara
Vyavasthapan Sehakari Sanstha Maryadit (Janseva Dirty Waste Management
Co-operative Ltd), was formed in December 2003.
Janadhar has now obtained a coal manufacturing furnace from
Pune’s Aarti Research Institute to manufacture kandi coal from
garbage. This ‘coal’ is utilised in many industries. The furnace is located in
the colony of leprosy patients. Family members of leprosy patients were trained
in coal manufacturing. Women collecting garbage bring leaves, grass, etc fallen
on the road to the furnace workers. The coal manufacturers pay these women for
this material and make money by selling this coal manufactured in the
furnace. The Sanstha has also started gaining grounds in nearby Ausa
city. More than 40 garbage collectors have joined there. Many societies in the area
have lauded this model of sanitation. A sanitary napkins disposal project has
been started in Pune.
A regular school and also bridge course for the school
dropouts are also run in the locality of the garbage collectors. Apart from
starting insurance scheme for garbage collectors, identity cards have been
issued to every garbage collector. Identity cards proved to be a strong tool to
justify themselves, as most white collar individual suspects these people as
wrongdoers. The experiment of SHGs proved such a hit that a group has a bank
balance of more than Rs. 48, 000. A women SHG has started a grocery shop. The
estimated turnover of the shop is about Rs. 2 lakh per month, which fetch them
revenue of Rs 20,000 per month. Supported by Vishwa Super Market, Latur, the
grocery shop was inaugurated by noted saint Acharya Kishor Vyas.
Since every waste collector’s contribution
towards waste management solution is noteworthy, the Janadhar makes them
realise the huge impact of their daily contribution, which in turn makes them
feel proud and satisfied.
Inclusive Innovations
Indian develops world’s first engine to run on mix fuel
Dr Abhay Jere
It all started in the year 1986 in Durgapur (West Bengal). A
professor was teaching working of an Internal Combustion (IC) engine at the
National Institute of Technology, in a class of Mechanical Engineering. Whilst
he was teaching, a student asked the professor if the piston could be used in
revolving motion, instead of using in vertical motion. The piston revolving
around itself will make the engine small, easy to use and more efficient. After
listening to this question a wave of laughter spread in the class and the point
got lost as the topic’s seriousness. But this inquisitive student, who had
asked the question, did not get disheartened. In his quest to find the answer,
he made a wooden model of an engine with revolving motion at home and started
studying more about it. This proved as a precursor to the making of a
revolutionary innovator, who developed the RVCR engine technology that can work
on any type of fuel. This innovator was Das Argi Kamat.
This radical innovation by Kamat can give a new direction to
the Global Automobile Industry. This Indian innovation is patented in over 51
countries. America’s research organisation - Lockheed Martin Corporation had
organised Global 1500 Best Innovations recently, where this technology was
positioned in first 8 best innovations and on behalf of an organisation
ICSquare of Texas University, this technology was elected to develop America’s
Commercial Schemes. Kamat can very well be regarded as the first Indian
technologist to achieve this laurel. Besides that, this technology will also be
presented in Engine Expo 2013-14 to be held in October at Automobile Industry’s
alma mater– Detroit. University of Maryland has also proposed to use the RVCR
technology in wind energy sector.
Born in Kerala and raised in Bhilai (Madhya Pradesh) Das
Argi Kamat applied for an intellectual property right or patent in the year
1999 and today this technology is patented under his name in 51 technologically
developed countries across the globe. Vehicles like cars, motorcycles, trucks,
tractors, as well as power generators, ships, and defence related machineries
can use this technology. This not only saves around 30 per cent of the fuel but
also reduces the engine size.
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