venu madhuri
TRANSCRIPT
Author : Sriman Rupa Vilas dasE-Mail : [email protected] Produced : AprilL, 2007Edited : Sriman Prafullakumar SeelamSerial No. : 24 of 54
VENU MADHURI VENU MADHURI
I wish to open centers in the villages… Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami, Perth,
I am very much pleased ----- that we do not stick only to the cities, but we train people in the remote villages also. Letter to Brahmanand Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
So if you can organize in the villages, they are interested in chanting Hare Krishna mantra and getting nice prasädam
Room conservation, Sept-12th, 1976 Vrindavan
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
My beloved sannyasi disciple Swami Pusta Krishna has promised to give me a car, and as soon as I get it I shall move from village to village along with some selected assistants and organize this farming village development program
Letter to Kartikeya Mahadevia
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
The immediate program should be village organization as Mahatma Gandhi contemplated. In India the majority of the population is in the villages. The difficulty is that there is no sufficient supply of water to produce food grains.
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
The mass problem at the present moment in India is actually a food problem. I have therefore decided to start some village organization program--I shall arrange for the irrigation of the land and the people living there should give their labor for their own food and clothing, and then chant Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and cultivate Krishna Consciousness. ----
Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami, Perth,
Australia, 10th May 1975.
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
–In India, they are not less than 95% villagers and Mahatma Gandhi wanted this village organization. I think this is a solid program
Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami, Perth, Australia 10th May 1975
So peaceful atmosphere can be attained only when there is large-scale village organization, actually village life.
Letter to Rayarama
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
Srila Prabhupada on village organization
If we establish such projects (village
organization projects) all over India, we shall be the proprietors of India..
Letter to Mahavirya Vrindavan 7th Sept 1975
Aims and Objectives
� Use as a tool and conduit for preaching
Krishna conscious philosophy in rural India
� Develop ideal villages based on Vedic principles
� Promoting Sustainable Development through
Traditional Wisdom
� Work with existing villages to make a model village
aiming towards self sufficiency
Mission statement
We shall strive with sincerity, to promote integrated, sustainable rural development that is based on traditional, time-tested wisdom, which aims towards local self-sufficiency with special emphasis on preservation of indigenous breeds of cattle and which foster the highest human values.
Key Result Areas
Watershed development Organic farming Animal husbandry (Cow protection) Cottage industry Education Culture & Health
Selection of Project Area
� Survey of few villages was started in year 2000 based on the need for development
� Village named Ramanwadi (Site no.1)
� Located in Radhanagari taluka of Kolhapur district, state-Maharashtra
Village Ramanwadi from distance
Our vision for Ramanwadi
� Work towards development of Ramanwadi and its community into a self-sufficient unit
� A model village for other villages to follow
� Target time of 12 years
Key Result Area – an interim report
� Watershed development� Organic farming� Animal husbandry (Cow protection)� Education� Cottage industry � Health� Spiritual Culture
Watershed Management
Aim: Making adequate water available for drinking and irrigation
Till date 3 Projects
1] Percolation tank - May-20032] Gravity scheme 1 - March- 20043] Gravity scheme 2 - December-2006
Watershed Management - results
Percolation tank - May-2003� Under the guidance of Venu Madhuri, villagers worked
together and constructed a 40 feet long and 15 feet high mud check dam
� Villagers rallied months together to contribute money and free labor
� The dam was constructed using locally available construction material
� In first rains, the dam was partially washed away due to the force of water
� Villagers have rallied once again to repair the dam
Watershed Management - results
Gravity scheme-1 (2004)
� 3000 feet pipeline to carry water from stream to farms
� Villagers contributed in cash,free labor and grains.
� Contribution of villagers 50% to project cost
� 10 acres of land under perennial irrigation
� villagers recovered their money in first 3 months � 40 Families benefited from project
Watershed Management - results
Gravity scheme.2 (2006)
� 9500 feet pipeline to carry water from stream in deep forest to farms
� Villagers contributed in cash,free labor and grains.
� 23 acres of land under perennial irrigation
� 18 Families benefited from project
Survey
Action
Hand in hand we stand
Villagers Participation Free Labor + Grains/ Cash
Agriculture before irrigation projects
Total village had 1 hectare of land under irrigation
Agriculture after irrigation projectsNow 33 acre of irrigated land
Water Basis of development (Village produce for imp. crops)
I shall arrange for the irrigation of the land-S.P
Year Sugarcane(in tones)
Wheat(in Quintal)
Groundnut(in Quintal)
2003(Before irrigation
project)
80 - -
2004(Before irrigation
project)
75 - -
2005(After irrigation
project)
75 - -
2006 150 - 7
2007 200 - 25
2008 400 8 45
2009 650 25
With successful irrigation projects, migration to cities is being reduced
Organic Farming
� Awareness through regular training program � Villagers have realized the damage to their farmland
due to chemical fertilizers and pesticides
� More than 15 farmers have started their shift by utilizing cow dung, urine slurry, vermicompost and doing “bija samskara”
� 35 Vermicomposting units distributed� Various demonstration plots � 1000 + horticulture plants were distributed amongst 55
families
organic farming Pump provided for herbal /cow urine spray Sapling distribution
Vermicomposting
Towards self reliance in farming
Animal husbandry (cow protection)
In India everyday more than
60,000 cattle are
slaughtered Animal Welfare Board
“--keep a careful eye on the cattle wealth of village. If we cannot use this wealth properly India is doomed to disaster and we also shall perish. For these animals will then, as in the West, becomes an economic burden to us and we shall have no option before us save killing them”. - M.K. Gandhi,
The barometer of the spirituality of any society is how happy and protected the cows are - Srila Prabhupada
Cow Protection (Animal Husbandry)
� A young devotee from Ramanwadi sponsored by Venu Madhuri completed two year diploma course in Veterinary Science
� Villagers are getting cows back from the forests� 3 youths have taken vows for cow protection� A full time vet taking care of cows in five villages � A veterinary clinic set at Ramanwadi � Tooth powder developed is in demand � Cow Protection awareness film developed. Watched by
more than 1 lakh people. � Villagers decided to care for cattle as family member
Revival of culture and tradition of Bendur (Festival to worship oxen)
Cows naming ceremony
Some Inspiring stories
Gobar gas
• 22 plants constructed for individuals
• Cattle became more productive
• Benefits from local to universal level
Impact of intervention Immediate (personal) Impact Reduce drudgery of household woman for fuel wood
collection. On an average 2-3 km daily
Immediate (personal) Impact Freedom for family (6 heads) from Indoor Air Pollution*
Agriculture (Personal) impact Good organic fertilizer for fields
Local Ecological Impact Approximately 93.6 tones of fuel wood saved every year (because of 18 plants)
Local Gene bank Impact Local cow breed will get preserved and developed as dung gained importance.
Universal Impact 169.2 tones of Carbon Dioxide causing green house effect will not be emitted per year. Other wise that would have emitted by burning fuel wood by 18 families
*Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) is a major health threat for women and children under five in the developing world. According to W.H.O, annually, 500,000 women and children in rural India die prematurely due to diseases linked to long term exposure to IAP. A major cause of IAP is smoke in the rural kitchen, due to use of firewood, agrowaste as biofuels in traditional cookstoves. (Source ARTI)
Dark nights to . . . . . .
Sustainable gobar gas light
Traditional yet scientific • Entrepreneurship development – Satisfied
youth • Happy women – because of smokeless,
faster, clean and fuel efficient cooking
Cattle rise at lower hamlet (8 houses)
05
10152025303540
No.of
cowsin
2001
No.of
cowsin
2008
No. of cows
Cow Protection (Animal Husbandry)
• Ex. of Yuvraj’s family with no cow in 2002 and in 2008 have four cows and two bulls
Researched posters developed
for awareness Promoting organicjaggery as importantpart of cow protection
Cow Protection (Animal Husbandry)
“It’s sinful not to engage the bulls in service” – S.P
� Bull powered Flourmill (An successful R&D experiment)
Efforts recognized
Daily Sakal on the occasion of ‘Maharastrian Bendur’ covered VMT’s bull
power experiment
Times of India, Punecover the news in detail
Star TV (Marathi) called with a desire tocover the story
Education “Samskara Varga ” (7th year)
� Instill spiritual and moral values, ethics, culture, community spirit environmental awareness and value-based non-formal education
� Impart knowledge of traditional sciences and certain skills required as part of modern educational curriculum
� Provide tuitions to village school students
� Daily training for 5 days a week
� Special training programs/ activities during school vacations
Our simple temple
Mangal arti
Tulsi Arti
Morning activities
Learning traditional science
Education “Samskara Vargas” - results
� Children are influencing their parents
� Prince of Kolhapur visits the school
� Children win prizes at taluka level by singing devotional songs
� Inspiring example of Usha’s determination
Cottage Industry
� Special training in Handloom at Ramanwadi
� Profitable business of striping Bamboo
� Mataji from 3 villages trained in Papad making
� Mataji trained in bead bag stitching
� Self Help Group Formed
Health – “Annamrita” (7th year)
Free, nutritious, sumptuous lunch prasad for rural school children for the development of physical and spiritual health
Health – “Annamrita”
� Every day 40 school children are served hot, nutritious prasadam (program going for last 6 years)
� After every Tuesday satsang program around 60 devotees are served with Dinner Prasadam
� Once in a month feast to whole village
� Villagers constructed a kitchen
� Villagers regularly contribute rice & fuel wood for this program
Annamrit –Kitchen and temple room
Regular health checkups
Hygiene & environment drive
� Toilet for every house scheme of Govt.. stimulated
� VMT introduced 1st toilet and guided all
� Because of this Ramanwadi is selected as ideal village and villagers were awarded by President in Delhi
� Environment awareness activity consisting of rally & several activities conducted for villagers and school students on behalf of Ministry of Environment and Forest, GOI.
Toilets constructed
Free dental camp
Annual Dental camp with help of K.L.E.S-Belgaum
Photos
Annual Free Dental Camp
� Weekly satsang program on Tuesday attended by around 65 villagers
� Preaching programs in neighborhood villages� Vedic marriages� Every Ekadashi kirtan in evening � Spiritual festivals celebrated� For major festivals, villagers visit Kolhapur ISKCON
center
Cultural Results
Simple temple
Cultural Results
� Most of the political and caste groups dissolved creating
an atmosphere of unity and love
� Meetings and programs start with harinaam kirtan
� Animal slaughter during social festivals stopped
� Once in every month whole village get together for a
cultural program, consisting of traditional games,
dramas by youth and children, sumptuous meals and
much more
Village meal program
¥ 50 devotees chanting
¥ 15 devotees wore kanthi & chant 16 rounds
¥ Three marriages as per vedic culture
¥ Land donated for trust activities by police Patil of
Ramanwadi
¥ Villagers have unanimously chosen their leader for the
post of Sarpanch, avoiding election process
Cultural Results- Village Ramanwadi
Cultural Results- Village Ghosarwad
ℓ Twenty seven devotees are chanting 16 rounds and are wearing kanthi. ℓ Twenty plus devotees are chanting less than 16 rounds.
ℓ Six families have altar at home that includes one who welcomed Gaur Nitai deity
ℓ Four devotees are cleared and waiting on list for Harinaam initiation
ℓ First VTA (Vaishnava Training Academy) started by ISKCON-Kolhapur, under the observation of H.G Radha Gopinath Prabhu has 7 members of which 6 are from Ghosarwad congregation and 1 from Ramanwadi
ℓ Visiting Preachers: Among the regular visiting preachers are
1] Krishnanand Prabhu 2] Radha Gopinath Prabhu
3] Gopijan Vallabh Prabhu 4] Nitaipaad Prabhu
ℓ All major Vaishnava festivals celebrated are attended by hundreds of villagers
Cultural Results
� For all trust activities excellent support from
villagers
� Active participation of women and youth
� Village meetings (Gram sabha) on regular basis
� Regular meeting of Village development committee
� Neighboring villagers are inviting Venu Madhuri to start activities
in their villages
� Staff nominated and selected for various courses offered by well
known organizations in India NIRD,ANTHRA, PRINCE, NWA.
� Staff member selected as free seat, for 12 day Permaculture training
at Sri Lanka. The selection was from amongst several candidates
from Asia and Australia
TEAM achievements
Success story
VMT’s Ramanwadi success
story goes to national scientist,
policy makers and high rank
Govt. officers from
Nation workshop at Hyderabad
in Dec-2008.
For people with people
� Connection with prominent personalities in rural
development like Anna Hazare, Rajendra Singh,
Anupam Mishra, Max Lindiger and many more
Team achievements
Additional Projects in the pipeline
� Rural Technology center (Vedic based)� Quarterly newsletter on rural development� Goshala � Irrigation project in village Bharibhambar � Gobargas for 100 houses� Ambulance for cows
Presently working with
Four villages
1] Ramanwadi
2] Bhari Bhambar
3] Ghosarwad
4] Khotwadi
& invited by few other villages
Our struggle
� 12 false police cases were filed against the staff under the heading of atrocity, fight, misleading people, etc
Our some Visitors
Photos with title Mohit - New Mexico (USA)
Dr Suresh-Hyderabad
Shrayas, New York-USA Sameer, Pennsylvania-USA
Nitin from Dallas
VISITORS
Major Supporters� Sriman Arvindbhai Mafatlal
� Sriman Krsnacandra Prabhu
� Sriman Krsnanaam Prabhu
� Sriman Srigaurang Prabhu
� Sriman Krishna Kumar Prabhu
� Sriman Radha Giridhari Prabhu
� Sriman Amala Bhakta Prabhu
� Sriman Rakesh Mahapatra
Major Supporters .. Cont.. � Er. Sadashiv M Khatakalle � Rajesh Bajaj� Association for India’s Development - USA � Global Ecovillage Networking - Australia � Sri Dagdulal Marda Charitable and Research Foundation � Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals � Sri Walwalkar Kapad Dukan Trust� Siddeishwar Krishi Va Gramin Vikas Samstha � National Institute of Rural Development � National Water Academy � ANTHRA - Pune� Promoters & Research in Non-Conventional Energy� Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (K.L.E.S)� Department of Animal Husbandry� Rotary Club � Ministry of Environment and Forest
Keep your self updated by visiting us on www.venumadhuri.com
Hare Krishna Thank you very much
[email protected] vilas das- 09372 208 108