10,000 Delhites given literacy by Sewa Bharati (a RSS affil. organisation ) . . . . .

[aneeshm]

. . . . . in just three months , and this is just the first phase .

The history of this thing from the very beginning I present to you .

January 01, 2006

Literacy drive by Sewa Bharati

Delhi unit of Sewa Bharati is going to launch a special literacy drive from February 1, 2006. Under the drive, 1,000 literacy centres will be set up in 480 sewa bastis. Under the first phase, which will be of three-month duration, at least 50,000 illiterates will be taught. There will be three classes in each sewa basti everyday—in the morning before going to work, in the afternoon for women, and in the evening after coming from the work. A total of 1,000 Sangh Swayamsevaks will conduct the classes without any honorarium. About 500 women teachers belonging to various organisations will also be engaged in the drive. Under the drive, both men and women under the age of 14 to 35 years will be imparted education. A unique method developed by Shri Gyanendra Jain for making one literate within three months, will be adopted in the drive. The first phase of the drive will be conducted from February 1 to April 30, 2006.

February 12, 2006

Sangh Samachar

Massive literacy drive by Sewa Bharati in Delhi

According to 2001 census the literacy rate in Delhi is 81.82 per cent. It means about 20 lakh people, out of total one crore population of Delhi, are still illiterate. Sewa Bharati Delhi, an RSS associated organisation working among underprivileged sections of the society for 24 years, has decided to make these 20 per cent people fully literate. The campaign for this vision was formally kicked off by Shri Prem Chand Goel, Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of RSS in New Delhi on January 26 in the presence of Shri K.P.S Gill, former Director General of Punjab Police. Sewa Bharati has undertaken the campaign to commemorate the birth centenary year of Shri Guruji, the second Sarsanghachalak of RSS.

The first phase of the campaign began from February 1 in all the slums and jhuggi jhaupri colonies across Delhi. Over 1200 workers, who take no remuneration whatsoever, are devoting at least one hour every day to work as teachers. The campaign would have four phases. In the first phase, at least 50,000 people are expected to teach three R’s. In contrast to the hugely expensive literacy drives launched by the government agencies from time to time, the Sewa Bharati campaign will incur minimum expense. The cost of making one person fully literate will be merely Rs 42. The total estimated cost of the first phase is about 23 lakh, which is being borne by the society. The Sewa Bharati has adopted a unique method developed by Shri G.P. Jain for the literacy drive and the method was tried in several localities of Delhi where it produced remarkable results.

According to Shri Prem Chand Goel, over 70,000 service projects were being run by various RSS-associated organisations in the country. Besides it 30,000 single-teacher schools were also being run in remote villages where there is no facility for even a primary school. He said at least 20,000 more such schools will be opened this year taking the number to 50,000. He said during this centenary year the total number of service projects would touch one lakh. Shri Goel further said by involving the society in the drive the Sewa Bharati aimed to develop a sense of social responsibility among the people. “We want to develop social harmony by facilitating contact between the haves and the have-nots. It will create a social movement, which will further lead to social integration and all-round development of the society,” he said pointing out that no government help had been sought for the campaign. He said the RSS and other like-minded organisations would act as the force multiplier for Sewa Bharati’s workforce.

Shri K.P.S. Gill said the problem of illiteracy could not be resolved until we did not start thinking about the children who failed to go to school due to economic reasons or lack of time. He appreciated the efforts of Sewa Bharati for inculcating a sense of social responsibility among the people.

( I've included this bit to show that the organisation is actually working for the whole of society , and is not , as some perceive it to be , a "Hindu fundamentalist" bunch of nutjobs . )

March 26, 2006

Delhi has taken up the literacy drive. Its first phase began from February 1. In this phase we would make 20,000 people literate. This programme may also be taken up in some other Prants.

What has been your experience with the Christian community?

They also visit our centres. But in comparison to Muslims, they avoid participating in activities. In literacy centres in Delhi a large number of Muslim children come but the number of Christians is limited. But there is no restriction from our side. Education centres, Samskar Kendras are for everybody.

Sewa Bharati aims to make the society so alert and vigilant that the affluent section itself recognises its duty towards the deprived section and willingly comes forward to help them.

( Personally , I think this is because the Christian community is the most literate in India , so naturally less number of them visit literacy centres . )

May 14, 2006

Sangh Samachar

First Phase Of Total Literacy Campaign
Sewa Bharati’s Drive In Delhi
(FOC)

The first phase of total literacy campaign launched by Sewa Bharati in Delhi to make Delhiites totally literate completed on April 30. This phase had begun on February 1. Under the phase, a total of 10,000 people have been made fully literate. People from all walks of life including scientists, doctors, advocates, etc. joined the campaign and voluntarily taught people in various classes organised mostly in slum areas. A total of 576 literacy centres were set up during the first phase.

Under the second phase, which is scheduled to begin soon, these 10,000 neo-literates will further make at least 10,000 people literate. The cycle will continue until the target of total literacy is not achieved. The Sewa Bharati is also preparing a post-literacy syllabus for the neo-literates so that they do not forget what they have learnt during the campaign.

According to 2001 census, about 20 lakh people are still illiterate in Delhi. The Sewa Bharati has decided to make them all literate. The campaign has been taken up to commemorate the birth-centenary year of Shri Guruji, the second Sarsangha-chalak of RSS.

In contrast to the hugely expensive literacy drives launched by the government agencies from time to time, the Sewa Bharati campaign incurred minimum expenses. The cost of making one person literate is about Rs 42. The Sewa Bharati has adopted a unique method developed by Shri G.P. Jain for literacy drive. The method was tried in several localities of Delhi where it produced remarkable results. This is the largest literacy drive by a non-governmental organisation in Delhi. Besides literacy campaign, the Sewa Bharati also runs1789 service projects in slum areas of Delhi. Through these projects an atmosphere of social harmony has developed in the areas where these projects are being run.

Link

Sewa Bharati Makes 10,000 People Literate In Three Months
(FOC)

Shyam, 40, is beaming. He attended a three-month-long literacy class conducted at Rangpuri Pahari locality in Mahipalpur, Delhi. He didn’t bunk the class for even one day. Today, he can successfully read and write. “I can also do basic calculations,” he says proudly. Preeti, 14, too is a product of the literacy class in Palam Poutry locality. “I cannot tell you how happy I am. I have learnt how to read and write. I am a bit slow now, but with time I will improve,” she says. These are a few samples of the views expressed by neo-literates at a function in Mahipalpur on July 6 to mark the culmination of the first-phase of pan-Delhi literacy campaign, which was launched on February 1 on the occasion of birth-centenary of Shri Guruji by Sewa Bharati, Delhi. Sewa Bharati is also going to conduct a post-literacy programme for these neo-literates.

The literacy campaign is undertaken in phases. In the first phase (February 1 to April 30), about 10,000 Delhiites were made literate through 576 classes. The classes were conducted in 428 slum-clusters/JJ colonies across Delhi. The campaign had been inaugurated by Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of RSS Shri Prem Chand Goyal and former DGP of Punjab Shri K.P.S. Gill on January 26 this year. The second phase of the campaign will begin in 2007.

Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu, former cricketer and MP, while ddressing the neo-literates said, “Our scriptures say that education is like the celestial cow. One who receives it is empowered for life. It makes him confident and self-dependent. This is the gift you received from Sewa Bharati. There can be no better gift. I am sure you will cherish it throughout your life.” He said the service of mankind amounts to service of God. “Sewa Bharati is engaged in this service. I can see that Sewa Bharati’s deeds have left a stamp on all of you,” he added. In his own imitable way, Shri Sidhu regaled the audience with inspiring poetry and anecdotes. He also honoured the volunteer teachers who spent one to two hours daily for three months to impart the gift of literacy. He also presented literacy certificates to the neo-literates.

The function was presided over by Shri Ranbir Singh, former Rajya Sabha MP and former principal of Aurobindo College, Delhi. Also present on the dais were well-known vocalist Shri Jyoti Prakash, Delhi Kisan Sangh’s president Chaudhary Kanwar Singh and Sewa Bharati’s working president Shri Brijmohan Sethi. Jyoti Prakash, who helped collect donation worth over Rs 4 lakh for the literacy campaign, set the tone for the programme by singing a bhajan.

Sewa Bharati runs 1789 welfare projects in slum-clusters and JJ colonies across Delhi. The projects are undertaken with special emphasis on child development, education (including vocational training), health and women empowerment.

Do these people look like rabid Hindu fundamentalists ( as some people accuse them of being ) ? Or do they look like people who want to serve society , and are actually doing it ? Sews Bharati is affiliated to the RSS ( an organisation which many people regard as Hindu nationalist or fundamentalist , but which I know is nothing of the kind ) .

The irony of the whole thing is that once Sewa Bharati makes the whole of Delhi literate ( and I am confident they will manage it - these people are RSS people , after all , whose organisational and executive skills are legendary ) , the Congress government of Delhi ( which opposes the RSS-BJP-VHP combine ) will try to claim all the credit for the work they ( Sewa Bharati ) have done .

Thoughts and opinions on this heartening piece of news ? I though I'd change the mood away from war and terrorism to something more positive that people and doing and actually succeeding on at a massive scale .

 

[aneeshm]

It seems nobody cares about good news around here .

Come on , people ! Haven't you had enough of bickering over war/religion/homosexuality/stem cell research ? Try some optimistic discussion about a mammoth and mammothly successful social work program which brings out the nobility of man instead of the depravity .

 

[The Last Conformist]

RRS?

They sure are quick if they can teach people functional literacy in three months.

 

[jameson]

Interestingly, Hamas also gained a lot of goodwill among Palestinians by providing welfare and social services like hospitals, schools, soup kitchens, orphanages and the like.

I'm sure that counts as good news too.

 

[Stegyre]

Interestingly, Hamas also gained a lot of goodwill among Palestinians by providing welfare and social services like hospitals, schools, soup kitchens, orphanages and the like.

Just what I was thinking, too.

@OP: Ignorant American that I am, I know nothing about RSS, fundamentalist Hindus or Sewa Bharati. If they are increasing literacy, hey, that's a good thing. But as Jameson points out with the Hamas example, that is not clear proof that they are proof against any allegation of some wrong-doing.

 

[aneeshm]

If an Israely chooses to come to Palestine , will Hamas accept him ? Or will they reject him ? The RSS works for the entire nation , irrespective of divisions of religion or money or caste or gender or race or anything else .


Anyway - the pathetic lack of responses in this thread shows that people are not really interested in good news .

I wonder - how do they manage to teach these people how to read and write and do basic mathematics in just three months ?

 

[HannibalBarka]

RSS are fachist hindu nationalists and those kind of action won't change that fact.

 

[aneeshm]

And you are an anti-aneeshm's-threads nutjob with no debating skill , no ability to spell ( "fachist" ? ) , no grasp of grammar ( no capitalisation of the H in Hindu ? ) , no method of substantiating whatever junk you spout ( you have provided no source for your rather blatant assertion ) , no concern for humanity whatsoever ( I bring you good news , you try to denigrate the people who do good ) , and your current pathetic post just confirms that .

 

[HannibalBarka]

And you are an anti-aneeshm's-threads nutjob with no debating skill ,

no, I am just anti-hindu-fachist-nationalist-propagandists

no ability to spell ( "fachist" ? ) , no grasp of grammar ( no capitalisation of the H in Hindu ? ) ,

can't care less

no method of substantiating whatever junk you spout ( you have provided no source for your rather blatant assertion ) ,

google honey

no concern for humanity whatsoever ( I bring you good news , you try to denigrate the people who do good ) , and your current pathetic post just confirms that .

no concern for hindu-fachist-nationalists? you bet

 

[aneeshm]

Take your trolling to another thread . Your last post amply demonstrates your unwillingness to actually talk instead of trying to label and thus dismiss your opposition . Don't try to hijack my thread in the future . This thread was not meant for your kind of people .


@ all thread readers - ignore this little interruption . Hannibal has a bad habit of trying to troll my threads . I've decided that whenever he does that , I'll reply to his junk once ( and just once ) and then ignore him .

 

[Paradigne]

I was going to make a comedic comment about what national wonder they completed to accomplish this, but after reading through, I'll just keep walking...

I think it's great by the way, the more literate people out there, the more knowledgeable we ALL become. Now if we can just get them on the internet to share that knowledge

 

[The Last Conformist]

@ all thread readers - ignore this little interruption . Hannibal has a bad habit of trying to troll my threads .

Given that a) your threads tend to be trolls themselves, and b) you consistently put a space before periods, I find this strangely appropriate.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

Any person who took up an educational role deserved my respect

 

[aneeshm]

Some people are afraid that the RSS may be a socially regressive organisation . That is a common misconception , because of the way the RSS is (mis)portrayed in the media . The following quote , taken from the site of the Hindu Vivek Kendra , should dispel these fears .

In politics, this Hindu philosophy was translated into the philosophy of 'Integral Humanism'. A living example of this approach is witnessed in the transformation of Gonda District of U.P. from a backward area into a world-acclaimed model of ideal implementation of this philosophy

Nothing illustrates this philosophy better than the fundamental change it has brought about in the approach to tribal problems which is a gigantic one. India's tribals were branded as Adivasis (aboriginals), the original inhabitants of this country who were pushed into the jungles by later waves of so-called Aryan invaders. The very name carried the seeds of conflicts. However, the RSS considers the tribals as Vanavasis (forest dwellers) on par with Gramvasis (villagers) and Nagarvasis (city dwellers) Hindus. As a result of this fraternal approach, today there are almost 4,000 service projects run in tribal areas by the RSS volunteers. Although initially, these projects were started by city-dwellers for their tribal brethren, the aim was not to make the tribals dependent on others, but make them self-sufficient. As a result, all these projects are now being run by hundreds of RSS volunteers who have arisen from the ranks of the tribals themselves. Shri Chintaman Vanaga who is now a Member of Parliament is an excellent example of this trend.

The extreme travails faced by the RSS volunteers in this endeavour are best illustrated by the fact that the very RSS centre at Talasari was attacked by Communist activists a few years ago. The head of this Centre, Shri Appa Joshi was severely wounded and was hospitalized where the doctors had to put more than 150 stitches to his head. Still he refused to leave the Centre and this magnificent sacrifice paid in creating a chain of dedicated workers from the Vanavasis themselves like Vanaga. Late Smt. Godavaritai Parulekar, a well known social worker and a legend in her life time with leftist leanings, once visited Shri Balasaheb Deshpande, the Founder-President of Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram who praised her work and expressed his admiration of the work she had done amongst the Vanavasis in Thane district. In her reply, she remarked, she had no doubt created an awareness of their rights and privileges and the spirit to fight against injustice, but she had failed to bring about any basic positive change in their lives, while Madhavrao Kane through his Vanavasi Kalyan Kendra hostel, school and constructive activities at Talasari was successful in this, and that she was a witness to an unbelievable change in the lives of the local Vanavasi youths.

Untouchability is the bane of Hindu Society and great people like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and others have tried to eradicate it in their own special ways on many levels. However, the silent work done by the RSS in this respects has had much more far reaching effect. Hindus from all castes attend RSS shakhas, but nobody is ever asked his caste or given any different treatment. All are considered only Hindus. This approach is bringing about a silent revolution in the rural areas not only in inter-caste relations, but even affecting a fundamental change in the attitudes of hitherto depressed classes.

To narrate a personal example, I myself belong to a nomadic backward tribe in which drinking alcohol is common. Even I was offered a cup of alcohol by my own father when I was still in the primary school. However, the RSS training came to my help. I stoutly refused to drink and till this moment, I have not touched a drop of alcohol. This is a personal example but indicative of a overall change that is taking place among the tribals where RSS is active.

The RSS plan for the eradication of untouchability has three aspects. One is to spread the social awareness (Prabodhan), the second religious awareness of the basically non-Hindu nature of untouchability and third is of course the practical activities of the RSS which bring people of all castes together. The major breakthrough came when the second Sarsanghchalak Shri Golwalkar Guruji brought ail heads of the different sects of Hindus on one platform and all of them proclaimed with one voice that untouchability had no place in Hinduism. 'Na Hindu Patito Bhavet'. This resulted in unprecedented scenes all over the country where prominent sages like Jagatguru Shankaracharya visited Dalit areas and took food with them. Garlanding of Dr Ambedkar's statue at Nagpur by Shankaracharya himself cleared a number of misunderstandings in the minds of Dalits.

Realizing the fact that the Hindu philosophy which is the main source for this all-embracing movement is treasured in Sanskrit, RSS decided to make efforts of reviving this language not on scholarly studies but even in every day use also. Shri Krishnashastri is a Pracharak (full time honorary worker) of RSS totally dedicated to this job. Classes for speaking and writing Sanskrit have been conducted with tremendous success with the result that a number of villages are now using Sanskrit in their day-to-day life.

Another aspect of the silent change brought about by the RSS is the training and appointing of backward class or Dalit persons as priests in temples in increasing numbers even in areas dominated by orthodox elements. When such appointments were contested in the Court of Law, RSS people fought the case on the principle that every Hindu with the knowledge of performing the rites has a right to be a temple priest and got a favourable verdict of the Court. This practice of trained Hindus from all casts is now catching on.