Those who work in the media often say that after coming at Yavatmal they get a first had experience of farmers’ suicides. However, the self-esteem awakened by the Deendayal Seva Pratishthan can be seen in families afflicted by suicide, asserted senior thinker Dr Uday Nirgudkar. He was speaking at a programme organised by Deendayal Seva Pratishthan at Nilona near Yavatmal on the occasion of the 107 birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, the pioneer of Ekatma Manav Darshan .This programme was chaired by Dr Surendra Padmawar. It saw the participation of Ashish Kumar Khare, Chief General Manager, Bharat Prakashan, Vilas Deshmukh,Vice President of Deendayal Jyoti Chavan, Dr Manoj Pandey and Secretary Vijay Kadre.
Rendering Social service
In this programme Dr Uday Nirgudkar said that the British ostracised the tribal by branding them as thieves, robbers and murderers. The situation has changed a little in 75 years of independence. In this ceremony, which started with lamp lighting, Deendayal President Narhar Dev presented an overview of the 25 years progress of the organisation. Dr Surendra Padmawar explained Antyodaya concept in his words in his presidential address. Gajanan Parsodkar and Madhura Verdukar conducted the programme. Dr Lalita Ghode introduced the guests, while Rakesh Mate performed a song. The programme was concluded with the pasayadana of Richa Gadhikar. Sunilji Deshpande, MLA Madan Yerawar, MLA Dr Sandeep Dhurve, MLA Advocate Nilay Naik, District Superintendent of Police Dr Dilip Bhujbal Patil, Provincial Service Chief Sunilji Meher, Dr Ashok Giri, Sulabhatai Goud along with citizens from different walks of life were present.
Deendayal’s support to farmer
One of the Ashtavinayak of Vidarbha is the Chintamani Ganesh temple located in Kalamb taluka of Yavatmal district, which is the centre of Deendayal Seva Pratishthan. It is said that during the mythological period, sage Gritsamada invented cotton and provided textile culture to the world. Perhaps with his blessings, Yavatmal came to be known as a white gold-growing district. Cotton from this district is in great demand across the country. But the first suicide of a farmer in the country was recorded in 1986 in Mahagaon taluka of the district here. Farmer suicides reached a peak in the region in the early 21st century. Yavatmal district recorded the highest number of farmer suicides in India and the world. In 2006, Mukundrao Fanshikar, the western region pracharak of the Sangh and Sunilji Deshpande, the provincial ‘pracharak’, expressed their views on what the organisation could do to solve this problem. Taking inspiration from him, agriculture became the field of activity of Deendayal Seva Pratishthan. Baburao Dev, a senior activist of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, donated to the institution to work on farmers’ issues on the occasion of Sahasra Chandra Darshan Samaroh. From that, the Farmer Development Project of the institution was established.
It was very important to make the families aware at that time. The institution decided to provide emotional and social support to these families. For this Diwali was an occosion to make farmers self reliant. Today around 400 families have goats, sewing machines, flour mills, vermicelli machines, fall pico machines, cows and vegetables.
Deendayal’s steps for Agricultural Productivity
Distressed by farmers’ suicides, the schemes launched by Deendayal Seva Pratishthan to support suicide-affected farmers’ families have started getting success. The farmers’ family, who thought of committing suicide, now took a new leap with new resolve and new hope; But on this occasion, the question was also raised as to what can be done to prevent suicide. Bhaiyyaji Joshi, the former Sar Karyavah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had presented this concept in front of workers of Deendayal. This gave the organisation a new dimension of its work. Initially, the organisation chose the path of counselling of farmers to save them from suicide.
The organisation started efforts to encourage such industries. Under him, a goat rearing certificate was developed by implementing the World Bank project. This project was useful in bringing professionalism among the farmers. Of course, these were all superficial measures. Deendayal Seva Pratishthan took another step in 2014, with the Sustainable Agriculture Project. As a result, although production appears to have increased, the debt burden increased. To get rid of the debt burden, the organisation decided to promote organic farming at a very low cost.
Efforts for upliftment of Pardhi Beda
Deendayal’s efforts have changed the appearance of the Pardhi fleet of Yavatmal. Organisation has taken steps to provide food to the vulnerable people of the Yavatmal. The institute worked for the upliftment of the children of the families residing in Pardhi Beda. The institute connected with the families of the children through Diwali Milan. People were encouraged by the institute to work in horticulture, cleanliness, etc. Many programmes were organised through the Diwali Milan. Apart from this, clothes were distributed to needy people. Sanitation efforts have resulted in the reduction of filth in the entire area. To provide better health facilities to the people of the area, the ‘Keshav Health Protection Scheme’ was started. The youth of the centre established Hamonta and started the Hanuman festival. All these works provided education and health facilities in the area. It had become a temple, study facilities, and a system of drinking water. According to the police report, result of the work done by the institution is that crime in the society has come down. People were not recognised even 50-60 years after Independence. There was no ration card; no one was going to listening to them.
Source of Inspiration for Public
Everyone has an idea but a step needs to be taken to start the real work. In 1997, Sunil Deshpande, Prachar Pramukh RSS was greatly influenced by Deendayal Upadhyay Ji. At that time Sunil Ji was a division pracharak in Yavatmal. The sensitive workers of the Sangh felt that their service would lead to the development of society. People will be aware of education and health. The big challenge for Deendayal Upadhyay Ji was to awaken the awareness of ‘Self’ of the country and his aim was to awaken social consciousness in the minds of the people. Deendayal Upadhyay Ji accepted these challenges and started removing them from education. Deendayal Upadhyay Ji started Vivekananda Chatrawas with 5 children. Here children were inspired to live a better life through rites, songs, and games.
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