Report on Sevankur Sharam Sanskar Project at Ghanewadi Jalna..........
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“Youth for Drought” SEVANKUR Shram Sanskar Camp, Jalna 24 to 28 April 2013 The Sevankur Shram Sanskar Camp which was organized at Ghanewadi-Jalna from 24-28 April 2013 had been instrumental in generating a positive wave & enthusiasm in Jalna city. It gave new dimensions to the drought relief work, which was going on there, since our first visit of 15-16 March. It was the first Sevankur camp, which was held specifically for a Cause & with 100 % public support & involvement. So it happened to be an important mile stone in the history of Sevankur also. (Sevankur is the open platform facilitated by PRAYAS, since last 6 years for sensitization & motivation of youths towards social change; thereby playing a catalytic role in creating the change makers). One of the major issues we noticed that, the long standing scarcity of water had created lot of negativity in people’s mind about everything. There is a general feeling of helplessness & hopelessness about the situation. In spite of the severe problem, people were not ready to come together for any collective action. There was scarcity of vision, motivation, will power & “YES, We Can” attitude also. So while working on water scarcity by de-silting of the dried up Ghanewadi lake, we decided to remove the mental silt & block accumulated gradually in Jalna people’s mindset, by way of making collective effort towards cleaning the 1650 meters of wall of the Ghanewadi Lake during the camp. And we can do that. The idea of organizing Sevankur Shram Sanskar Camp at Jalna was very much welcomed by the Jalna friends. Big thanks to Ghanewadi Jal Samrakshan Manch, JES College, Rotary Clubs & all other individuals/organizations for the affectionate & warm hospitality. The camp was successful only because of the whole hearted support from all the Jalna friends. They have made all the arrangements of local logistics of the camp including food, residence at JES College Jalna. Transport was also arranged to Shramdan site. We decided to hold the camp from 24-28 April, out of the need for immediate action, though the dates of the camp were not suitable for most of the youths, because of the postponement of all University exams due to strike of University teachers. Still the number of outstation participants was around 100 (from 15 + districts). Sanskruti Samwardhan Mandal-Saroli Nanded & Deepstambh Foundation-Jalgaon helped us actively by sending teams of volunteers to participate in the camp from their own organizations. The time table of the camp was like this. 5.30 am - get ready & departure from JES College to Ghanewadi Lake by buses (distance 10 kms). 6-10 am – Shramdan at Ghanewadi Lake 11-2 – back to JES College - bath, rest, lunch Press Conference at JES College, Jalna on 24 Apr.
Transcript
“Youth for Drought” SEVANKUR Shram Sanskar Camp, Jalna
24 to 28 April 2013
The Sevankur Shram Sanskar Camp which was organized at Ghanewadi-Jalna from 24-28 April 2013 had been instrumental in generating a positive wave & enthusiasm in Jalna city. It gave new dimensions to the drought relief work, which was going on there, since our first visit of 15-16 March. It was the first Sevankur camp, which was held specifically for a Cause & with 100 % public support & involvement. So it happened to be an important mile stone in the history of Sevankur also. (Sevankur is the open platform facilitated by PRAYAS, since last 6 years for sensitization & motivation of youths towards social change; thereby playing a catalytic role in creating the change makers).
One of the major issues we noticed that, the long standing scarcity of water had created lot of negativity in people’s mind about everything. There is a general feeling of helplessness & hopelessness about the situation. In spite of the severe problem, people were not ready to come together for any collective action. There was scarcity of vision, motivation, will power & “YES, We Can” attitude also. So while working on water scarcity by de-silting of the dried up Ghanewadi lake, we decided to remove the mental silt & block
accumulated gradually in Jalna people’s mindset, by way of making collective effort towards cleaning the 1650 meters of wall of the Ghanewadi Lake during the camp. And we can do that.
The idea of organizing Sevankur Shram Sanskar Camp at Jalna was very much welcomed by the Jalna friends. Big thanks to Ghanewadi Jal Samrakshan Manch, JES College, Rotary Clubs & all other individuals/organizations for the affectionate & warm hospitality. The camp was successful only because of the whole hearted support from all the Jalna friends. They have made all the arrangements of local logistics of the camp including food, residence at JES College Jalna. Transport was also arranged to Shramdan site.
We decided to hold the camp from 24-28 April, out of the need for immediate action, though the dates of the camp were not suitable for most of the youths, because of the postponement of all University exams due to strike of University teachers. Still the number of outstation participants was around 100 (from 15 + districts). Sanskruti Samwardhan Mandal-Saroli Nanded & Deepstambh Foundation-Jalgaon helped us actively by sending teams of volunteers to participate in the camp from their own organizations. The time table of the camp was like this.
5.30 am - get ready & departure from JES College to Ghanewadi Lake by buses (distance 10 kms). 6-10 am – Shramdan at Ghanewadi Lake 11-2 – back to JES College - bath, rest, lunch
Press Conference at JES College, Jalna on 24 Apr.
2-5 pm – motivational session for the participants 5.30 - 8.30 pm – visit to different wards of Jalna & nearby villages – study, survey & awareness activities. 6-9 pm - parallel motivational session for the Jalna citizens at JES College.
The enthusiasm of Jalna people gradually built up. Nearly 350 people participated in Shramdan activity on day 1 & 2. This number crossed 1000 on day 3 & around 1500 on last day. The doctors, businessmen, industrialists, teachers, lawyers, school & college students, factory workers, house wives all actively participated in the Shramdan activity. Many of them had done Shramdan for the first time in life & said that it was one of the most memorable & joyful event in their life.
The evening motivational sessions also proved to be valuable in motivating people & creating a positive atmosphere in Jalna city. Dr Avinash Saoji, Kaka Shitole-Pune & Rameshbhai Kacholia-Mumbai, Dr Avinash Pol-Satara & Nilima Mishra-Jalgaon interacted & shared their experiences in these sessions. The feedback was that we never had such an opportunity to see/listen to such kind of amazingly dedicated personalities.
Even we were not aware that such kind of personalities still exists. Shri Annaji Hajare & Dr Vikas Amte could not come to Jalna due to their health problem; still the enthusiasm & the motivation level don’t drop down. That was another challenge for all of us. Many of the audience came just to see on the first day & after the session they get so motivated & became the active participants of the camp. They themselves participated in Shramdan activity & also brought their friends, kids, other family members along with them.
The Jalna people pledged that they will continue doing Shramdan activity every week for two hours on every Sunday. They also demanded such a motivational session at least once a month, which we have agreed upon.
Donations of Rs. 4 Lacs + had been collected in cash at the Shramdan site for Ghanewadi de silting work during these 4 days.
One of the press representatives present in press conference of 24 April was so much impressed, that he called upon Shri. Sunil Raythatta immediately, saying that 50 members from his organization-Jamate Islami will be participating in the Shramdan & they have done it daily till last day.
Bhupendra Mujumdar-Pune & Chotoo Varangaonkar-Amravati had shouldered the responsibility of the Shramdan & other routine camp activities. Dr Girish Kulkarni/Bapujii-Snehalaya, Yajurvendra Mahajan-Jalgaon, Rameshbhai Kacholia, Vishal Shah, Dhiren Dalal –CF Mumbai, Madhukar Dhas/Mahesh Pawar-Yavatmal, Nitin Patil-Mumbai, Sanjay Salunke-Pune & many other friends visited/interacted/joined the camp.
Daily Evening Motivational session for Jalna citizens at JES college
The district collector, Shri. Sham Deshpande was very much supportive & visited during the camp himself twice. He very much appreciated the concept of Sevankur Shram Sanskar camp. He interacted with the participants on one day. He came to Ghanewadi Shramdan site for about three hours on the last day, met & appreciated all the participants. He promised to extend all his help & support to this work.
The local print media has also taken cognizance of the Sevankur camp & propagated very positively about it by publishing the daily happenings. It also helped in creating a positive atmosphere in the city.
Nimeshbhai of Caring Friends-Mumbai with DILASA-Ghatanji Yavatmal, PRAYAS-Amravati, and Dr. Avinash Pol-Satara with the help of Snehalaya-Ahmadnagar, BNGVN-Bahadarpur Jalgaon, and Atul-Prajakta Upadhye-Nagpur visited Jalna for the first time on 15-16 March 2013 & started working for the drought relief work mainly at Ghanewadi lake of Jalna & Akola Dev of Jafrabad tahsil.
The de silting activity was going on at Ghanewadi since last 3 years by the local group “Ghanewadi Jal Samrakshan Manch”on their own, without much of govt. support. But now the district collector has started supporting them actively & we being instrumental in mobilizing Govt. involvement in their activity.
We have been successful in achieving all the 5 basic objectives of the Camp which were as follows. 1. To offer some time, labor, love & affection & mental support to the severely drought affected
fellow Indians of Jalna district. In return to fill our lives with lot of blessings, inspiration, experiences, learning etc.
2. To learn from the experiences of Jalna people, so that such drought situation should not come to our places.
3. To gain the positive self confidence, that we can come & work together & by doing so we can solve any problem in front of us in future also.
4. To strengthen the chain of like minded friends, creating life time relationship & bond. 5. To get the joy & pleasure of GIVING & to learn the real meaning of LIFE.
