Rural Entrepreneurship

admin — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 20:19:31 +0000

“Mein Apne Liye Nahin, Apno ke liye hoon
Apne Ve Hain Jo, Peedit Aur Upekshit Hain”

– Late Shri Nanaji Deshmukh

It was a refreshing morning on the banks of Mandakini River, discussing the numerous projects on rural development started by Late Shri Nanaji Deshmukh at the Deendayal Research Institute in Chitrakoot, while enjoying a sumptuous breakfast meal of parathas and sabzi. The principles put forth by Nanaji Deshmukh on rural entrepreneurship and sustainability are so comprehensive that they serve as torchlights for organisations and individuals willing to work on rural development.

We started our tour from a small & beautiful village, Kutaha. The presiding couple (dampatti) of the village, Mr Shukla detailed us on the numerous projects and initiatives. Cleanliness being the characteristic feature of this village, and the roads and the drainage system designs were accordingly maintained. While on our way, we asked an old lady on why she was carefully pouring the waste water in the drainage gap that was provided instead of just throwing it away. She replied by saying that their village has taken a vow for cleanliness and it’s her duty to abide by the same. Her response was indeed heart-warming, to see such level of sensitivity and consciousness about cleanliness amongst the elderly, this was something beyond imagination. Another interesting incident happened at the village school where we were interacting with the school kids, and amongst them was Annapoorna, an 11-year girl who answered all the questions confidently, when almost everyone was feeling shy. Her confidence was worth a sight!

Deendayal Research Institute has nicely maintained the Biofertilizer unit, Vermicompost plant and Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the village. The dampatti has deployed rural youth preraks in five sections like agriculture, healthcare, employment, etc. Deep Yagya is special ceremony performed by the youth to offer their reverence for the elderly. This way, the villages preserves their culture and traditions.

We then visited the holy shrine of Lord Shri Ramachandra, located near to the Gramoday Vidyapeeth of DRI. It has beautiful paintings with quotations that depict the character and persona of the Lord, the words are powerful even to this day. Nanaji Deshmukh is observed to abide by the words of scriptures in creating his model of rural development.

In the interest of time, we had to limit our visit and Aarogydham was therefore the last place for the day. The pristine centre of Aarogyadham has Gaushala, Rasashala, student hostel, Guest house, Aahar sadan and Vanaaushadhi park. The ayurvedic treatment, medicines and even the operations are offered completely free of cost in the Aarogyadhaam. Th gaushala has different breeds of cows from various locations of India, these cows are being nicely looked after by the people. There is a setup to utilise cow urine, and produce biofertilizer and 2/20, Vishnu Nagar, Aurangabad, MH pdfindia.org@gmail.com www.pdfindia.org +91 8855860250, +91 7387141591 vermicompost from the waste products. The Vanaaushadi park has nearly 350+ varities of medicinal plants and herbs, with a unit to synthesize medicines from these plants.

It is really difficult to understand and analyse this whole village model, created under the vision and guidance of Shri Nanaji Deshmukh in a single day. More such visits would indeed be helpful in studying this comprehensively, so that this model can be replicated throughout India.

PDF India would like to share some suggestions on the Deendayal research Institute

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One youth bring the change in his village

admin — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 20:18:44 +0000

Please don’t mind. I too didn’t know him, even a day before I stumbled upon his kind abode where he is, in simplest of terms, serving goodness in his single-dimensional, selfless and charity-driven way of life.

We, the young fellows of the young program ‘Sarpanch Leadership’ under Praas Development Foundation who have stationed in Mandvi near Surat, drove to village Karutha to witness the marvel. Karutha is small village under local governance of the Sarpanch of village Mahudi, and municipality of Mandvi near Surat. Although the village is a neighbor of ecological tourism centre Kevdi, it still lacked a workable road nexus till a few years ago. It has a picturesque location and pleasant climatic condition throughout the year. In spite of the gifts by nature, the village lacked the basic facility of primary education institutions in a radius of 6km, nearest being Pipalwada facilitating a junior high school.

Mr. Ashok Chaudhary completed his post-graduation in the year 2007 from Gujarat Vidhyapeeth with critical financial constraints, still he chose to pave a way in development of education in a village (Karutha) where no previous attempt to educate the needy has been put into action either by a government or private entity. Ashok bhai started his social services immediately after completing his education, starting as a Gram Shilpi (Gram Shilpi was a project by Gujarat Vidyapeeth for its pass-outs in social service sector.) After his initial years as a Gram Shilpi, he continued to work hard to help develop the village he chose, a village he had no previous connection to.

Five years ago, he started the Karutha Ashram Chatralya which provides free of cost- education, nutrition and housing to about 60 students, girls and boys alike. Children from villages around Karutha, but Ashok bhai select the neediest and down-trodden of them due to his limitations. He chooses those who are off-springs of the landless farmers, single parents and those who have migrated and have no apparent way to reach out to education.

He remembers his early days and tells, “I started out without any assistance or funds, I had nothing except the view of my goal on the horizon. I am a follower of Gandhi and his teachings of self-respect held me from asking for help. I don’t seek for help in pursuance of my dream, I work hard alone and those who agree with my ideas, join me in my journey. My parents and my wife did not adhere by my ideas previously; I had to leave them behind. It is only recently that I have been joined by them.”

Ashok bhai tells us that he visited Surat in initial days but he could not ask for financial aid in an outright manner. His host, a businessman asked him of his problems and at the end of a small conversation agreed to help Ashok bhai with cash Rs. 5000 and materials of daily need including utensils and food items. He received the land grant as a gift deed from the villagers and ever since he has chosen against holding his hands out to ask for aid. His good deeds have been his marketing and advertisement. Every person who comes to know of Ashok bhai mechanically helps him in any and every way they can.

He started teaching in the community hall with 17 students but now has over 2.5 acres of land, received as per charitable acts of the villagers. He provides primary education in Gujarati, Science, and Mathematics. In addition to this, he teaches skill development. There is ample provision for education of computers. The students are even taught to sew and cook.

Ashok bhai had nothing of his own when he began, he has nothing even now. But every life he has touched has changed for the better. He still uses the same phone he bought during his days of post-grad. He is a man of little means but he has big dreams which he is determined to achieve. He is a good man, of great self-respect and has a vision that promises to change the landscape of rural education not only in Gujarat but in the entirety of India. His righteousness becomes evident when he tells us about his experience of not paying for electricity he stole for his students and then going to the officials and telling the truth to them, the officials in return chose against punishing him and installed an electricity meter on their own expense.

His works have been recognised by the government recently, receiving the Governor’s award in 2014. He has also been nominated for Rashtrapati Puraskar (President’s Award) in 2016.

Written by – Sarpanch Fellow (Batch – 2016)

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