By Deepak Kumar Rath
Ahimsa Gram?a unique multi-purpose project to promote the economic and personality development of the poor in rural areas?was recently inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The 55,000 sq.ft. 100-residence Ahimsa Gram is the brainchild of Shri Chetanya Kashyap, Chairman, Chetan Kashyap Foundation, to eradicate poverty and 100 families living below poverty line will be settled in this project for more than 10 years at Ratlam.
Babulal Gaur highly appreciated the unique experiment for social change by young thinker and social worker Shri Chetanya Kashyap. Shri Gaur invited the Chairman of the Foundation Shri Kashyap to construct many such Ahimsa Grams in other parts of Madhya Pradesh. The government would provide land and necessary infrastructure and resources. He added that the project was not an ordinary social contribution but a great service to the mankind. Shri Kashyap'sthinking follows the thoughts and philosophy of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Shri Gaur said that even governments rarely undertook such type of welfare projects. Referring to the Ayodhya and Gokul Gram projects of the state government for the benefit of the poor, Shri Gaur also invited Shri Kashyap to collaborate with the state government to serve the society with such projects.
Rashtrasant Jainacharya Shri Jayantsen Surishvariji Maharaj blessed the Foundation and suggested that political leaders should utilise Foundation'sunique project in national interest. He inspired industrialists and businessmen to undertake such projects to narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots.
Welcoming the dignitaries and thousands of citizens of Ratlam and nearby villages Foundation Chairman Shri Kashyap recalled that he had vowed to construct Ahimsa Gram on 25 April, 2004 in the benign presence of Acharya Shri Mahapragyaji and RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri K.S. Sudarshan while releasing the Ahimsa Ghosna Patra. Shri Kashyap said that with rapidly growing poverty there might be explosive situation in the next 20 years. Stating that no one would remain happy and peaceful at that time, he suggested that anticipating the danger, a national movement for poverty eradication was urgently required and all welfare projects would have to be oriented by giving new directions.
The Foundation sources informed that all the 100 residences in the Ahimsa Gram comprises of two rooms with a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet. Hundred families of Ratlam living below poverty line will be settled in those homes. The Foundation would encourage them for changing their lifestyle, raising the families income and making them follow a cultured life. Their progress would be reviewed at the end of one year, three years and ten years. These homes will be allotted without any discrimination of caste, religion or community based on recommendation of a three-member committee comprising of a retired judge, a civil servant and a renowned administrator.
Madhya Pradesh Industry Minister Kailash Chawla, former Union Minister Dr Satya Narayan Jatia, Thawarchand Gehlot, MP, Himmat Kothari, Legislator and Raj Purohit, Legislator, Maharashtra also expressed their satisfaction over this exceptional and exemplary project.
