Newsletter

Newsletter March 2018

Ekal volunteer saves kids lives

An Indian-American math teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Mrs Shanthi Viswanathan, Ekal volunteer who has helped coordinate several Ekal events was hailed for saving the lives of her students during the shooting rampage at a Florida high school that left 17 high school students dead.

When an alarm went on for the second time on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs Shanthi Viswanathan shut the doors and windows to her algebra classroom, made the students crouch on the floor and covered the windows, keeping them out of the reach and sight of the gunman, and refused to open it until law enforcement forced it open. Her actions helped save lives of Children.

Nice gesture from Ekal Kids!

Kids from Ekal helping hands visited Luther Oaks senior living in Bloomington IL. Kids sung and played musical instruments. They were also interacting with the senior residents by giving cards and balloons. Senior residents enjoyed their visits.

Mansi - a success story

This story is of one Mansi, a teenager who started her studies from Ekal Vidyalaya. Mansi is from village Bhajrala in the Joginder nagar block of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh.

She is of short stature, may be mistaken for a middle school student, but wants to achieve big in life. Her mother, Saroj Kumari, was selected as teacher in the village Ekal Vidyalaya and she got Mansi enrolled there. Mansi started her education in the Ekal Vidyalaya and continued coming there even when she had enrolled in the nearby government school later. In the board exams of Class X she secured 78% marks and later took to the Commerce stream. Presently she is pursuing BBA from Sri Santraj College and would do MBA thereafter.

Her future plans are to take up a respectable job after completing her MBA. Mansi is simultaneously studying to appear for various entrance examinations. Her younger sister, now in Class VIII and younger brother in Class V, have also started their education in Ekal Vidyalaya.

Presently, Mansi, 18, looks after the household work also with great confidence. Her mother, Saroj Kumari, has been promoted from an Ekal teacher to a full time volunteer.

Ekal on Wheels in Gujarat

In order to spread computer literacy in rural areas, Ekal Abhiyan launched a mobile van service in Songadh, Gujarat. Ekal On Wheels was inaugurated by MP and local MLA in the presence of Shri Vinod Agarwal, President, EGF Surat, Shri Shyam Garg, President, FTS Surat and many members of business community, Surat. The project is being sponsored by Gateway Distriparks Ltd.

HEALTH EDUCATION AND EKAL ABHIYAN

The second Ekal Study Circle Meet organized by ‘Ekal Sansthan Lucknow’ at ‘Kalam Centre’ of King George Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, on 25th January 2018. The topic of discussion was ‘ Health Education and Ekal Abhiyan. The panelist for the discussion were Dr. MLB Bhatt, Vice Chancellor, KGMU, Lucknow, Dr Mukul Bhatiya, Kendriya Pramukh Arogya Yojna, Ekal, Professor Manju Shrivastava, President ‘Ekal Sansthan’, Shri Madhawendra Singh, National General Secretary, Ekal Abhiyan.
 
The aim of this Study Circle was to seek views and discuss ways and means to improve the basic Health and Hygiene of the students studying in ‘Ekal Vidyalayas, and their parents.
 
Professors and teachers of Lucknow University and students of KGMU attended this meet. The topic being of common interest, intellectuals from all walks of life, including Armed Forces personnel, attended this meet taking the total strength to about 250 delegates.

Bapuji's Dakshin Bharath yatra

As a part of the drive to restructure and strengthen the Friends of Tribals Society’s Southern Chapters  Padmashree Sri Rameshwarlalji Kabra, Patron, National FTS; Smt Ratni Devi Kabra, Patron, FTS National Mahila Samiti, Shri Shyam Sunder Damani, Chairman, FTS South Zone and Sri Anil Kumar, Sah-Abhiyan Pramukh (Nagar Sangathan) visited Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur in Tamilnadu. They had purposeful meetings with all FTS chapters and motivated the members to participate actively.

Technology for Livelihood in Rural India

Ekal Sansthan, Mumbai’s First Ekal Study Circle Meet was organized on 2nd February, at Samudramahal, Worli. The topic for discussion was “Technology for livelihood”. The distinguished speakers were Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Dean, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai, Dr.Chetan Singh Solanki, Professor, Department of Energy, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai and Mr.Parag Naik, CEO, Sankhya Labs. Shri Pradip Goyal, Smt Nayan Tara Jain were among others who graced the occasion.
 
Chetanji impressed upon the need for the local communities to be involved in any technological solution to be brought in rural areas. The involvement of local community instils confidence in them about the viability of technology and increases the availability of the project points. IIT Mumbai has been working on this project where local communities are involved in the assembly, distribution and repair of solar lamps which have already been distributed to 1.5 million students across many states. Further, they are also getting involved in manufacturing of solar products. For example, a module manufacturing factory has been installed in Dungarpur, Rajasthan which is owned and operated by tribal women themselves. This proves that a sustainable energy ecosystem by local people, for local needs can be created.

Study Tour by college students

51 students along with their professors and Principal from “Swami Vivekanand College of Social Work, Nagpur” visited Ekal office on a ‘one day study tour’. The students comprises mainly of Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) and Master in Social Work (MSW). The activities of Ekal Abhiyan and Ekal Gramothan Foundation were presented through interactive session, videos and a short PPT. They were described about the elements of Ekal Abhiyan and its multidisciplinary domain, it has been working for last 27 years. The activities of Ekal Gramothan Foundation were elaborated which was the main area of interest among the students. They were given a brief description about innovation, intervention and opportunities that can lead to a positive change in the development of rural and tribal areas.

All of them were enthusiastic and seems to have keen interest in exploring more. Many of them showed interest in volunteering with the organization. Some of them found to be interested in career opportunities with Ekal / Ekal Gramothan post completion of their education.

Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad (BLSP) expanding its chapters in U.P

In the reputed brass city Moradabad, Shri Vineet Lohia, Trustee, BLSP and Shri Vinay Lohia, renowned Industrialist of Moradabad organized a luncheon meeting where they invited noted industrialists, friends and colleagues to introduce them with Ekal Movement.

The meeting was attended by 40 distinguished guests who took keen interest in formation of a new chapter of Ekal in Moradabad.

National President of BLSP Shri N. K. Agarwal, chairperson Shri G. D. Goyal and Ekal Sansthan’s National President Prof. Manjushree from Delhi participated in the meeting. After the impressive presentation of Ekal working and operations in villages by Manjushree, Shri Agarwal and Shri Goyal spoke about Ekal, its importance and merits in the interest of Nation’s progress. They appealed the august gathering to support and contribute for Ekal’s expansion of schools in villages. Everybody appreciated Ekal’s meritorious work, tremendous reach and cost effective module for rural India. Many came forward and offered their names. Now Moradabad is ready to launch its chapter of BLSP with great enthusiasm.

FTS Mumbai at Rotary Utsav

FTS Mumbai recently participated in the Mumbai 3141 Rotary Utsav at JW Marriott Hotel. The stall received overwhelming response from 90 clubs across Mumbai. The two days event witnessed lively interaction with all the enthusiastic participants and visitors exchanging their thoughts and sharing ideas towards tribal upliftment in our society. Dignitaries like Rotary International (RI) sitting Director Brian A E Stoyel, Smt Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, social activist and Deputy Vice President – Corporate Head (west India) with Axis bank and Shri Aditya Thackeray, appreciated the magnitude of work being done in tribal villages that focused on nurturing and supporting people to live life to the fullest.

Vanyatra to Ekal Schools in Dahod Anchal, Gujarat

On February 8th Shri Jayendra Smt Shaku from Chicago suburb and Shri Chandresh Mamlatdarna from Columbia visited 2 schools in Kharsana Sanch and Dahod Anchal. They were received with Diya, Aarti and Tilak and were touched with such reception. During their interaction, when the students were asked as to why they come to the school and getting educated, the responses were ‘to get job’ and ‘to help bring social change’.  The students were questioned in Math, Sanskar, local crops and its use in food and few students narrated stories. They also recommended such a Vanyatra  to all Ekal volunteers and supporters in USA to see the results of their support to Ekal.

Vanyatra by FTS Bhopal Chapter

On 26th Jan’18, Dr. C K Chud & Sri Jayaprakash Porwal  were welcomed by the Ekal villagers of Dehgaon, Anchal bareli in traditional way of drums, garland and tilak. The children exhibited their skills in Math, Yoga, storytelling and poetry. They gifted the children with education materials and chocolates. The visitors were impressed on the awareness of education and health of the children.

Vanyatra by NRI's to GRC in Gujarat

Shri Hasmukh shah, Shri Anil bhatt and his wife Smt Darshna bhatt from Chicago visited songhad on 29th January 2018 in Taapi Anchal.They visited GRC Songhad where stitching classes were in progress.They had interaction with ladies for about an hour. All of them were very happy explaining the benefits and how this has changed their daily life for good.

Under digital education yojna, tablets were distributed in 3 sanch in Gujarat in December 2017. Visitors visited 2 schools - Hiravadi and Banderpads. Visitors spent lot of time with the children and played games with them.