Newsletter March 2023

Ekal National Sports Meet

Under the Gram Swaraj Yojana of Ekal Abhiyan, in order to prepare talents to bring laurels to the country in the sports world at the international level, a national level "Khel Maha kumbh" was organized from 4th to 7th February at D Singh Babu Stadium, Lucknow in collaboration with Abhyudaya Youth Club.  

program started with prayers with flowers followed by Vandana by the honorable guests. Our greetings was accepted by Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Hon. Shri Keshavprasad Maurya who hoisted the inaugration flag. The founder member and guide of the Ekal Abhiyan. Shri Shyam ji Gupta, Hon. Shri Girish Chandra Yadav (Minister of State for Sports and Youth Welfare), Shri Viraj Sagar Das, President, Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association, Hon. Shri Bhupendra Aggarwal, Shri Ashish Aggarwal, Shri Ramesh Shah (Ekal Global Coordinator), Shri Neeraj Raizada, Shri Madhavendra Singh (General Secretary Ekal Abhiyan) Shri Manoj Mishra (in-charge of sports events), Shri Umashankar Halwasiya, Shri Akhil Gupta were present.

On this occasion Hon. Shri Keshavprasad Maurya while addressing the gathering, mentioned the value of work being done by Ekal, appreciated its wide reach and felt proud to be a former worker of Ekal.

In this national level competition, the children from different states, who got the first position at the divisional level, showed their mettle in the sports of Kabaddi, high jump, long jump, running event and wrestling. Prizes and certificates were given to the winning children.

- Sanjay Malviya
Central Publicity Department Head

 

Makar Sankranti Uphar Vitran by FTS Surat Mahila Samithi

Ekal FTS, Surat chapter Mahila Samithi celebrated Makar Sankranti Uphar Vitran.

Ekal full timers under the chapter were given Makar Sankranti bags containing chadar, saree, jacket, shawl and steel tiffin box as gift.

 

IVD visit by the IVD team

Donors from USA  Shri Mahesh Navani, Smt Asha Navani alongwith Shri Ramesh Shah, Shri Ashok Tapadia and all the committee office bearers, president, vice president, workers, IVD heads, trainers, teachers, health workers, full-time workers visited the IVD center in Jogmodi near Nashik

 

Ekal Kisaan mela drives farmers towards organic farming

Ekal Gramothan Foundation initiated Kishan Mela- sah- Krishi Pradarshani to promote Organic Farming and Nutritional Garden in the surrounding areas of GRCs and IVDs. Successful farmers in the field of organic farming who underwent training in Ekal GRCs and IVDs were honoured by EGF with Dharati Rakshak Samman Patra.

In this event hundreds of organic farmers participated and exhibited their agricultural products such as organic vegetables, fruits, tubers, oilseeds, pulses and millets along with some handicrafts too.

Government officers from agriculture and horticulture departments and large number of general public visited the exhibition. The event was organised completely by the local support. The event has certainly inspired the farmers to adapt to organic farming.

 

Vanyatra by Kochi Mahila Samithi

Vanayatra was organized by Kochi Mahila Samiti on February 4th, with two members from Kochi Chapter, Keral and ten members from Mahila Samiti to visit Munnar, Idukki Anchal. Ekal Vidhyalaya children welcomed all members by applying Tilak and programme started with lighting the lamp, Saraswati Vandan and Gayatri Mantra.The Gram Panchayat Pradhan with thirty Acharyas and sixty children from three sanchs assembled together in a hall.

Sarees, shirts and dhoti were distributed as Sankranti gifts to the Acharyas and karyakartas and different sports items like carrom boards were also distributed.

Games were organized for Karyakarthas, Acharyas and children. Prizes were distributed for the participants. Chocolates, biscuits, books and pencil boxes were also distributed.

The members were happy to see some children who could communicate in English. They were inspired by the enthusiasm shown by the children in all the activities and discussed about kutir udyog with Acharyas.

 

Vanyatra to Amritsar by Shri Vikas Jain from US

I had the pleasure of visiting an Ekal school in Chawinda Devi village in the Amritsar district of Punjab state of India. I was in Amritsar for a radiology conference (IRIA) in February 2023, and had previously expressed my desire to see the school by filling an online form on their website www.ekal.org. Mrs. Parminder Kaur and Mr. Balwant ( Ekal supervisors) came to pick me up for an hour-long journey. We drove through the fields and reached a single room community center of the village which offers the space to run the single teacher school for 20-25 young kids for two hours, six days per week. I observed the children reciting poems, and math multiplication tables. Teacher, Sumanpreet Kaur showed me some books and the attendance records. Many parents and members of the Village committee had also come to meet me. They are instrumental in close supervision and support to the local school. They spoke highly about Sumanpreet Kaur and the impact of Ekal on the children. I was overwhelmed by the respect and warm welcome by the villagers. They thanked me for supporting Ekal schools. I would humbly request you to learn more and support ekal by visiting the website.

 

Vidyalaya and Poshan Vatika Dharshan

Smt Kalpana Footwale from Surat went on a vanyatra on 6th February with her friends Smt Nita Parmar, Shri Rajesh Parmar from London and Smt Bhavna Parmar from USA. They visited Ekal Vidyalaya and the Poshan Vatika in Hadar village of Dolvan Sanch in Tapi Anchal. The vanyatra was organised well by Shri Vikram Vavi, Anchal Abhyan Pramukh.

 

Ekal children can outperform the children from metros says Kanishka from Australia

My long association with Ekal in Australia had continuously fanned my desire for an actual experience of an Ekal Vidyalaya in India. On a recent visit to my homeland, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity of obtaining a very interesting Ekal Vidyalaya Darshan. This was in Gram Alipur, near Faridabad, Haryana, where I was accompanied by my family, including my parents, aunt, and cousin.

We arrived first of all at the Anchal office in Machgar Village, where we were received by OP Dhankadji, Sanjay Malviyaji, and Budhpalji. From there we proceeded to the residence of Sri O.P. Dhankad, where we were welcomed warmly by his entire family. It was great to meet them, and especially heartening to see the grandchildren interacting with us, being part of the cause, and being great hosts to other Ekal members as well.

The next part of our Vanyatra consisted of a visit to the 20-years old organic farm of Sri Dharampal, It was great to see that his son, who worked with a Corporate, also assisted him in the farming. The knowledge and experience Dharampal Ji shared with us during the walkthrough in his farm made it an extremely interesting and informative session for all of us. We came to know that sustainable organic farming requires less resources compared to chemical-based farming. At the same time, its yields outperform conventional farming, less energy is used, and no toxic chemicals are leached into the soil and waterways.

Sri Dharampal did not only run a successful and sustainable organic farm; he made sure he shared this valuable knowledge with farmers and others interested in organic farming, by running classes on a frequent basis. I would strongly recommend to one and all to visit his field, and taste some organic, healthy, and nutritious produce from his field. 

The next leg of our visit was to the Ekal Vidyalaya in Alipur, where we received the warmest welcome by the village people and the school children. The amazing song “Swagatam” sung by the school kids was the best live song we have ever heard. The level of energy of Ekal’s children was completely out of the world! I can say confidently that these children can outperform the children from any metro or private school. More than 25 children performed for us with beautiful poems and songs on topics ranging from educational and nationalistic, to social messages, etc. Each one walked like a boss, but with humbleness and gratitude. They also managed the coordination of the whole group, including the orchestra.

We were amazed at the way the children were making the most of the limited resources available to them. They were sitting on the floor with a thin carpet underneath in an open-walls classroom, that too in severe winter conditions. We wish that some exchange programs should be organized, (if not happening already), where other children can learn from Ekal students.

I don’t have words to express my gratitude to the Ekal Acharya Smt Lakshmi Devi, who has taken up the noble cause of teaching these underprivileged kids, and creating a bright generation for our great nation Bharat. It was a privilege too, to meet previous Acharyas of Ekal Vidyalayas, who are now working at high positions with government organizations.  

The entire Ekal Vidyalaya Darshan was extremely well organized and coordinated by Sri Sanjay Malviya, Sri O P Dhankad, Ekal volunteers and the villagers. Organizing a visit with only two days’ notice, with overall attendance of over 100 Ekal Parivaars in the program was no mean achievement. Still, the stars of our visit were, no doubt, the children of Ekal Vidyalaya!

I don’t have words to express what we experienced during our visit to Ekal Vidyalaya. We were just left wishing that we could prolong it for a much longer time. In those few hours, I learned a lot. I only hope that I will be able to implement at least a fraction of what I have experienced in my personal and work life back home.

-Kanishka Goel
EVF, Jt Secretary, Melbourne, Australia

 

Vanyatra by Shrikant Bhave, Newzeland

A Vanyatra was organised for me today at the Ekal School in Village Pathari, Sanch Karanji, Anchal Pandharkavda by local karyakarta Rajesh ji Thikare and Romanch ji.

It was very well organised and I was immensely leased with what I saw.

I can take back my experiences to the Ekal Team in New Zealand and we will work with renewed vigour to increase the number of sponsors from NZ

Once again thanks to the Ekal Global team and the local Karyakarta here.

- Dhanyvad
Shrikant Bhave (New Zeland)