Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Corona Pandemic disaster, converted into opportunity
By Shri Madhavendra Singh
National Coordinator Ekal Abhiyan, General Secretary (CEC)
31 years ago, our service started on the Makara Sankranti of 1989, as ‘Ekal Vidyalaya Yojana’ with a view to arouse interest in education. But today as ‘Ekal Abhiyan’, by combining several schemes together, the organizational system is spread over 3.5 lakh villages in the country and several chapter offices in many countries outside India. The unexpected corona pandemic just after the completion of Ekal's ambitious program "Parivartan Kumbh", made Ekal create a system to control its spread in Indian villages. The system is certainly incredible. Through 'Vichar Kranti Yojana', as per the directions of the founding member of the organization Ma. Shyamji Gupta, we created 417,164 Gram Sainiks (Village warriors) in the villages and 69,108 Sanch Mitra (Cluster friends) in the towns in the social media. With the support of this network, firm adherence of all the rules made by the Government of India to protect the corona was implemented in every Ekal and its nearby village. With the whole-hearted support of urban families, latest updates and information were regularly provided to the villagers. With the same network, we got unprecedented help in protecting the villagers from this pandemic. During the lockdown period, many dormant and former karyakarta also became active throughout the day in the Vichar Kranti Yojana of the Abhiyan, by staying at their village. The implementation of the Government's welfare schemes in providing employment in the villages to the migrant laborers after the lockdown, was made possible through this network. We could make Self Reliant India slogan meaningful by successfully organizing the Swadeshi movement against China. In this situation we can proudly say that we succeeded in turning a disaster like the Corona pandemic, into a special opportunity.
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Service by Ekal Arogya:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Service by Ekal Arogya:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Service by Ekal Arogya:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Statistics as of 24th May, 2020:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Statistics as of 19th May, 2020:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Statistics as of 10th May, 2020:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Statistics as of 5th May, 2020:
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Statistical report as on 30th April 2020
Distribution of masks by types of beneficiaries:
Corona warriors like Police, health and administration staff: 44%
Masses, old age homes, small shopkeepers, villagers: 37%
Volunteers of Ekal, teachers, Anganwadi & Asha workers etc: 19%
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Ekal Vidyalaya India Activities
A message from Shri Bajrang Lal Bagra
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Ekal has of late been at forefront of supporting and providing relief to communities in state of any crisis. Be it flood in Kashmir or Kerala, earthquake in Nepal or any local crisis. The challenge thrown by present crisis, Covid 19 Corona pandemic, is totally different both in nature and in proportion. Whole humanity is overwhelmed and has been meeting the challenge at all levels. For a country of size and diversity of Bharat, it is not possible for Governments alone to overcome the crisis. Social organisations have joined the mammoth efforts of Govt. But most such efforts are localised to cities and Metros leaving countryside largely unattended. Ekal has stood up and assessing the needs of times has embarked upon various remedial measures, from spreading awareness to providing masks and guarding villages. Providing food relief to vast number of people from villages stranded in cities and towns has been another way Ekal has taken up in hand all over county. This bulletin seeks to keep Ekal family of volunteers and supporters abreast of these efforts based on reliable and verified data collected from ground. I am sure this sharing the information would keep volunteers and supporters encouraged in equal measure besides promoting them to suggest ways and means to improve upon the relief measures further. |
Ekal's fight against Covid - 19
Statistical report as on 25th April 2020
Ekal Warriors against COVID - 19
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Ekal Making a Large Impact to Keep Rural India Safe
Ekal is leveraging its live and credible presence in over 103,000 rural remote villages in India and Nepal to support the rural villagers in the fight against Coronavirus.
1 Million Masks Initiative
Masks for essential workers like district health authorities and law enforcement personnel are in short supply especially in Rural India. Also Ekal Volunteers who are working tirelessly to bring awareness about the Corona Crisis in the villagers need masks to stay safe themselves.
Ekal has 28 Tailoring Training Centers. They have trained the women in the centers to make masks and hope to have 1 Million Masks made by the end of April. These 2-ply masks are being made to WHO’s stringent specifications and Ekal plans to keep on producing them as long as there is need. The masks are being distributed to Police, Health workers and other essential personnel.
Ekal USA, FAQs
What will happen to the fundraising efforts?|Considering the safety of our artists, volunteers, donors and supporters we had to take the very difficult decision to cancel all our annual musical concert events. The Ekal Kalakars had come all the way from the villages of India for the performance. We are happy to report that the Kalakars have arrived safely at their homes with no untoward incidents and we are very grateful. When things are more settled we will make a decision on the remaining events for the year.
Though there are no events can I still donate?
We thank you for your kindness and compassion. Please donate online at https://www.ekal.org/us/donate.
What are the main concerns for Ekal USA?
Our primary concern is for the good health of our volunteers, donors,supporters, and community at large. We pray that all are safe and this difficult situation passes within a few weeks.
What is the hope for the future?
Ekal supporters have surely accrued much good karma by supporting the most under-served community. We feel confident that all will be well and with the picture of the smile of the Ekal children in our minds we will be filled with great joy.
If you have any questions Please write to ekalusa@ekal.org or call 281-668-5982 or call our local volunteers.
Ekal India, on the Ground FAQs
Are Ekal schools running at this time?
Our paramount concern at this point is the health and safety of our Ekal school children and the Ekal villagers. All Ekal activities including the schools have been shut down until the end of March. There are no known cases of COVID-19 in the Ekal Villages. They are quite isolated and hence would be safe. However there are city volunteers that visit the villages. Keeping in mind the safety of our villagers and volunteers we have shut down all Ekal related activities. Ekal on wheels, Computer lab and Tailoring centers have been shut down until March 31, 2020.
How is the health and hygiene amongst Ekal Children?
Health and hygiene is central to the Ekal curriculum. Washing hands and taking a daily bath is emphasized in the Ekal schools. Yoga, Pranayam (breathing techniques) are also part of the core teachings at Ekal and helps build immunity. It is indeed wonderful to see the visionary nature of the Ekal Curriculum builders become so incredibly useful during this health crisis.
Are there options for using E-learning in the villages?
We have nearly 1200 schools where E-Shiksha, tablet based learning happens. It is times like these that really makes us wish all our villages have tablets. We want to reach all 100,000 schools by 2025.
Are they receiving the directions given by the government and state authorities?
We have a strong infrastructure that comes in very handy at such difficult times. We quickly share all messages with our over 100,000 villages since we have a credible presence in the villages and communication with the district headquarters.
Ekal India Covid-19 Awareness Initiative
Ekal Arogya Sevikas (health workers) are working tirelessly in all the villages to share information on safety during these difficult times. Concepts of Social Distancing, Quarantining villagers who may be returning from the city, Hand Washing, covering the mouth etc are being explained to the villagers. Writings on the walls of the huts in the villages re-emphasize the message.
Food and Other Help
In the villages where farmers have planted nutritional gardens, or Poshan Vatikas, farmers are working in a cooperative manner to share the produce. Ekal is also producing hand sanitizers and distributing it to the needy. In the cities Ekal Volunteers are providing food, masks and other essentials to the needy.
Ekal Vidyalaya is making use of its tailoring training centres run by Ekal Gramothan Foundation for:
Making cloth face masks
Distributing masks free of cost to Govt Primary Health Centres and Govt Hospitals.
Distributing masks to Ekal volunteers engaged in awareness campaigns.
Ekal has 24 such active centres in rural areas of Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP, MP and Uttarakhand, which are being put to this service.
Embassy and Consulates of India in USA-Latest Advisories and Press Release related to COVID-19
1) Advisory for Indian Nationals in USA-COVID-19 [update:26Mar2020]
2) Circular from the Government of India regarding the travel and visa Restrictions related to COVID-19
3) Press Release on OCI and Passport applications.
Advisory for Indian Nationals in USA – COVID 19
Keeping in mind the safety and well being of our community due to the risk of spread of COVID-19, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation has proactively decided to cancel all of its events scheduled until June 2020.
Our utmost priority at this time is to ensure the safety of our donors, volunteers, general public at large in the US and Ekal artists who were specially brought in from India for these events across the US and Canada. We understand that many of Ekal supporters look forward to our annual events and we will do our best to restore the events once the situation improves and restrictions are relaxed.
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