Fighting out the drought in Maharashtra

2016 has come down heavily on the farming communities of Maharashtra.  The state experienced drought to abominably serious levels as the months rolled out this year.  By March, the sacred Ramkund pond in Nasik Dist, where thousands bath in pilgrimage, went dry - an act that had never happened in the past 130 years.  By April, over 30,000 farmers were on the street pleading for loan waiver and compensation for crop failure.  By May, the number of distressed farmer suicides in the Nasik division  alone had gone beyond 60.  As we watched, the life support system  was crumbling and the rural sustainability was being destroyed by the planetary elements on which we have neither control nor an absolute understanding.

Drought relief is not in any way a part of the functional domain of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).  Neither do we have a mandate for it nor the resources, wherewithals and instruments for drought relief.  However, since the welfare of rural communities is our shared moral responsibility, we in  KVIC swung into action wherever we possible and in whatever humble ways we could.

We realised that when farming has failed, rains have deserted and resources have become a mirage, we should try and bring in enablement of another kind to people.  We put together a novel training programme to empower the farming community in trades that would not so much depend on water and nature's waning mercy. KVIC  on 15th April 2016 launched a special training program for farmers of draught affected families  at KVIC Nasik and Dhanu Training centres. Special training programs  duration are ranging from 15 day to 30 days.  

From  April 15th   till 10th june,  we trained 452  farmers  at Nasik and 750 farmers at Dhanu  training centres in vocations such as Agarbatti making, baking, soap and detergent  making, Pickle making,Stitching   etc., thus giving them another opportunity to dare the famine and survive with skills.  In coordinating this novel programme, both KVIC and the famine stricken ill fated community realised how important is the vision of 'Skill India' articulated by Prime Minister Modi.  It is also a collective learning as well as a valued demonstration that life skills could help people to survive nature's disfavour and no matter what the official mandate of your organisation is, you could still contribute to community development and human empowerment at times of distress and human insecurity.  We also dug 3 bore wells  in the Nasik  campus and opened the water resource for public sharing in a gesture of goodwill and brotherhood.  Down the line in two months, we are seeing the fruits of these efforts and the smile on the face of those who had nearly resigned to an unkind fate.

At KVIC, we continue to raise to the occasion and stretch our limits of mandate in serving the nation and our distressed communities.  We realise that establishing sustainability is like building a mountain that needs coordinated efforts of different organisations.  And whether it is our direct purpose or a moral responsibility, we look for opportunities of community empowerment and community enablement in ever newer ways.

KVIC is more of a mission than an organisation it is.

V.K.Saxena      

Chairman

Khadi & Village Industries Commission

New Delhi

Phone no- 011-23724690

Fax No-011-23724693

Email ID- chairmankvic2015@gmail.com

Two years of BJP in power: Un-breaking our national integrity

When the people of India overwhelmingly elected BJP to power in the summer of 2014, we were a broken nation.  Our national security had been challenged by our neighbors,  the Government in power had fractured our backbone with corruption, our strength had been weakened by policy paralysis and inaction and to top it all, the western vested interests had infiltrated in the form of NGOs that were breaking our ligaments from inside.  Forget making any progress in a fast paced world, we were incapable as a Nation in holding ourselves in an integrated oneness.  That is when and why people voted BJP to power in May 2014.

Remember the prolonged agitation of Medha Patkar in undermining development and the water security of the central and western parts of India?  Remember the Greenpeace sponsored agitations that were trying to stall power generation capacity building and development in many parts of the country?  Remember Teesta Setalvad who in connivance with large multinational donors was promoting communal disharmony under the mask of social work?

India was mushrooming with NGOs and activists, who ate from the palms of western donor agencies and were breaking the nation from within.  Not a day had passed without the Media reflecting their voice and lionizing their unjust stands.  They were being showered with international awards and recognition for breaking the nation from within, in the name of civic movement.

It is two years of BJP in power now with a singular focus of development of this great nation.  The vested interests have been plucked out of their niches and dumped into the dustbin of history.  The perpetrators of these double faced NGOs have been exposed and neutralized.  

And, two years have passed without an unjust agitation by NGOs or dubiously funded vested interests.  Even this week, an NGO of a well connected person has been exposed and is being brought to justice.  A nation that was being broken by divisive forces has begun its journey on a rapid path of development with an uncompromising and unbroken stance.  It is a pity that this has not been conveniently  recognized by the so called Political commentators, Political psychologist ,Social theorist, critics and including Media and made aware of to the people. 

It is also true that in the past two years, most projects have progressed as scheduled, without the opposition of the vested interests backed by western lobbies.  The financial over-run on the projects is a thing of the past and today; the nation is witnessing cost-effective implementation of infrastructure projects, which had become milking cows of easy money for the previous Govt. 

These very significant achievements need to be accepted and publicized by all concerned, regardless of political or professional ideologies, as they have a direct bearing on our well being as individuals and as a nation.

We need to make people of India aware of these benefits of Acche Din.  We need to feel proud that the nation is on the path to progress.  We need to feel happy that the lives of our children will be better than ours.  As a nation, we need to realize that 'hope' has come to be a meaningful word.

V.K.Saxena      

Chairman

Khadi & Village Industries Commission

New Delhi

Phone no- 011-23724690

Fax No-011-23724693

Email ID- chairmankvic2015@gmail.com

'A silent revolution of soil, sanitation and social security'

As a Member of the Empowered Committee on "Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Implementing priority program" I recently had an opportunity to review some excellent work done by district administrations on four main areas of incremental development, namely - Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, Swachh Vidyalaya and Swachh Bharat Gramin.  I was very pleased to note that enormous progress has been achieved under these program in the country. 

 Under Soil Health Card scheme has provided an opportunity for the rural communities to get expert assistance on assessing soil productivity and effectively enhance its quality.  This would gradually support the budget announcement that within the next five years, the income of farmers would be doubled.  Like the 'white revolution' that occurred decades ago through enhanced milk production, the soil health card scheme has ushered a 'brown revolution' that would enhance India's soil productivity and food security in the coming years.

Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, financial literacy, women's emancipation, insurance coverage and a broad general monetary accountability have been established. This has not only empowered the rural communities, but also has made it possible for the Governmental schemes to reach out the last mile in terms of distributing the monetary benefits.  This has initiated a strong 'monetary revolution' in the country.

The Swachh Vidyalaya scheme has established clean toilets in the school and ushered a 'sanitary revolution' by way of inculcating the spirit of cleanliness among the children.  Particularly for the girl students, this has been an endeavour of guarding their honour.  This has been a silent revolution, firmly having foothold in the most important sector of our young generation.

Under Swachh Bharat Gramin, cost effective toilets have been constructed in rural areas with adequate water supply and complete waste management, thereby subduing the open defecation habits.  This is a scheme of fundamental importance to our national life and is a part of the steadily strengthening 'sanitary revolution'.

I have seen substantive supporting data on all these schemes and am convinced that India is changing from the foundation level of our social cultural life.  These schemes and their enthusiastic implementation have begun to change India from within.  I am particularly encouraged by the fact that women administrators have excelled in implementation and deserve recognition and professional rewards.  What is far more important is that the achievements of these processes are to be adequately publicized.  People's representatives, social change agents, media, publicity machinery, political workers and relevant governmental entities are to be effectively engaged in spreading the message of this success in order to motivate all stakeholders in the country.

The media and the people are normally engaged in simply sensational news, rather than with the information of positive development.  This situation needs to change.  A campaign needs to be sustained for this purpose, regardless of political considerations.  Bringing national and international visibility to this foundational change in the country will come a long way in transforming India into a clean, productive and socio-economically vibrant country.  And a proper broadcast of this kind of positive information will also enthuse those who are lagging behind on these schemes.

The Government of India should initiate a well structured campaign to publicize this 'silent revolution of soil, sanitation and social security' among the masses as these programmes have taken India strongly on the path of Millennium Development Goals and the post 2015 MDG agenda, thereby heralding a new era of Indian rural resurgence.  The national and international campaigns should highlight these aspects, as well as the role the women administrators have played in this direction.  

V.K.Saxena      

Chairman

Khadi & Village Industries Commission

New Delhi

Phone no- 011-23724690

Fax No-011-23724693

Email ID- chairmankvic2015@gmail.com

Khadi - our Foundational Strength to build Modern India‏

We are increasingly talking about building a modern nation.  While it is important to develop infrastructure, scientific spirit, technical strength, military might, artistic excellence and all those diverse faculties that characterize modernity, it is more important for us to recognize our foundational capacities, going forward.  A nation owes much to the grain it is made of.  And building a dream depends much on the foundations that have stayed with us for long.

Even after centuries of British rule, we as a nation remained distinctly grooved to the cultural and traditional ways of lives.  Mahatma Gandhi was quick to perceive that our future lies in our core strength at the grass root level and that it cannot be built on a foundation of imported values.  In the year 1920, in the middle of British imperialism in India,  Gandhi ji launched 'Khadi' as a political weapon of nationalism within the Swadeshi Movement.  By calling it 'the livery of freedom', he brought the eternal symbolism of self sufficiency to India.  He demonstrated to the British that India can sustain on its own, while at the same time, gave the pride to Indians that they are free to weave the prosperity of their own lives from the fabric of their daily lives. 

Khadi and the village productivity became a grand source of nationalism and India demonstrated to the world that our society is uniquely founded on the efforts and contributions of the rural masses.  As such, Khadi came to be known not just a piece of cloth.  It came to be a harbinger of peace and an icon of our freedom and national existence.

After the independence, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)  was established as a statutory body by the Government of India under the KVIC Act 1956.  This was a tribute to the power of self sufficiency that built a nation.  A nation that had a huge human resource that was willing to work but was bereft of economic resources had to channelize the collective human power and talents to produce useful national products, while also supporting individuals to earn livelihood and prosper.  And India could never have pursued anything more significant and suitable than this aspiration of encouraging Khadi and Village Industries.

Production of Khadi is by far the largest rural productivity program in the world, wherein thousands of families directly reach their produce to the consumer without the menace of middlemen or complex marketing apparatus.  It provides the rural communities a high value for their effort while providing the consumers a great value for money.  For the nation, it is undoubtedly an invaluable asset of heritage.

Over 5,000 institutions and 30,000 societies form the vast network machinery, implementing the objectives and programms  of KVIC in India.  Over 12 lac people are engaged in productive activities under KVIC's various schemes, a majority of which (over 80%) are women.  KVIC generates over Rs. 31,000 crores, a major part (40%) of which flows back to the rural communities as livelihood support.

At a time now when the world is talking very seriously about the ill effects of climate change and the enlarging carbon foot prints of industrialization, India needs to establish on world stage the zero carbon footprint of Khadi industry, against the inadequately studied environmental harm being done by the synthetic textile industries.  Based on estimated annual global textile production of over 60 billion kilograms (KG) of fabric, the estimated energy and water needed to produce it is:  1,074 billion KWh of electricity (or 132 million metric tons of coal) and between 6 – 9 trillion liters of water.  The synthetic textile industry is one of the largest green house gas emitter, amounting to about 1/20th of the total carbon produced.  However, Khadi is hand spun and hand woven, using no electricity in the process of production.  It is completely organic and carbon neutral.  In many ways than one, Khadi should occupy a coveted place in the fabric industry as the yarn of future.  This is the fundamental basis on which, we need to take Khadi to the global stage and demonstrate its modern relevance and future role for a cleaner and sustainable world.

Prime Minister in his recent "Mann Ki Baat" has rightly said that " We want to establish Khadi Gramudyog network in the villages of India. Khadi has potential to generate employment for millions."   

With this background, KVIC has an onerous responsibility of engaging the poorer and rural masses in productive employment. KVIC has thus been mandated to serve as one main vehicles for rural development in India, by way of creating, promoting, encouraging and sustaining village enterprises of a very large diversity, among which, Khadi is the prime product.

One of the main missions of KVIC is to generate employment in the rural areas.  Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is an important platform of KVIC, under which a nominal investment by rural communities will entitle them to institutional funding to enable and empower them to start village industries.   Over 2 million employment opportunities have been created by PMEGP since its inception in the country.  One of the main contributions of the employment schemes of KVIC is to halt the urban migration of rural people, thereby encouraging the indigenous talent to prosper in rural areas.

Besides the many programs and initiatives being pursued by KVIC, my current aspiration as the Chairman of the Commission is to revive sick village industries, double the sales and develop a mechanism of providing higher remuneration to the artisans.  We also wish to utilize solar energy to run the weaving units, thereby reducing the dependence on physical labour.  Bringing insurance to weavers, including them in a reliable network of health services, enhancing their educational capacity and bringing recognition for them and their efforts in the global mainstream of life are the most coveted objectives we are presently pursuing in KVIC.

In all, the Khadi and Village Industries are increasingly proving their high relevance to modern India and the modern world as one of the most sustainable socio-economic models developed in human history.

V.K.Saxena 

Chairman

Khadi & Village Industries Commission

New Delhi

Phone no- 011-23724690

Fax No-011-23724693

Email ID- chairmankvic2015@gmail.com

NCCL completes project “Rainbow Hills” in village VANAJ in North Gujarat

My NGO, National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) on 21.11.2014 launched its new Project “Rainbow Hills” from village VANAJ, in Taluka Vijayanagar, District: Sabarkantha in North Gujarat.

In a simple Ceremony, Taluka Mamlatdar,  Mr Prajapati, in the presence of NCCL Volunteers started the work of re-construction and modernization of houses in the picturesque Vanaj village which is situated on a small hillock facing a huge lake. Project completed in three months time.

After necessary survey, NCCL selected 12 houses in village: Vanaj, for reconstruction and repair.  The selected houses are on the hillocks constructed by the Adivasis using mud for walls and local wood for ceiling.  Adivasis in  Vijaynagar Taluka are living in dilapidated  dusty houses  in an unhealthy conditions and uncontrolled element of their routine misery.

Under the scheme  the NCCL has done  Repair of walls, floor, roof, Varendas etc, Plastering of mud walls & floor with Cement , Laying Cement Sheet on the roof for protection from rains, heat etc and putting tiles (Nadiya) on it for long lasting roof protection  including colouring of roof top and Construction of toilets. Transparent PCV sheets have also been fixed in each house in the middle of the roof top for providing natural light during the day. 

Since the tribal people cook food inside the room,using local wood, PVC pipes of 6" diameter have been fixed as Chimneys in the room's roof to provide enough air circulation.

NCCL is helping local Adivasis of the selected houses and guiding them to maintain clean & hygienic surroundings and also to stop using plastic products, causing maximum damage to the Environment. The entire cost of repair/reconstruction is borne by the NCCL. The total budget for this project was Rs 15 lacs however work completed in      Rs 12 lacs only.

The aim of this scheme was to provide basic amenities to the poor Adivasis, without disturbing their lifestyle, traditions and surroundings. Further, these Adivasis will also be guided to rent out one room in these neatly repaired and Re-constructed houses to the tourists interested in eco-tourism, which will generate income for them.

NCCL in the past successfully implemented Mission ENDURE, in Ahmedabad City to reduce dust pollution by constructing footpaths from pre-cast Cement Concrete blocks, which was a unique practical, positive and participatory project  implemented in association with Ahmedabad Muncipal Corporation (AMC).

News Links: 

1. The Poineer:

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/12-houses-repaired-in-vanaj.html

2. Hindu Business Line:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/blink/know/true-to-their-roots/article7035981.ece

3. Deccan Herald:

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/471136/changing-lives-tribals-gujarat.html#

V K Saxena

President 

NCCL

Ahmedabad

Foreign funding of Indian NGOs - a hidden pathway of foreign interference

The action of the Government of India in cancelling licenses of 9000 NGOs that have been violating FCRA is an act of judicious law enforcement.  And suspending FCRA permission of Green Peace and putting Ford Foundation on the watch list is an act of safeguarding the political and socio-economic sovereignty of the nation.  It is disappointing that world powers like USA and Germany are voicing concern on this matter, thereby interfering in the internal matters of our Republic.  It should not be conceivable by any stretch of imagination that India would allow foreign influences to ride on the back of NGOs to enter our sovereign space and begin eroding us from within, colluding with internal betrayer individuals and organizations. Our nation has to march ahead and not fall behind.

The very countries that have voiced against India's action on NGOs have very stringent view on NGO activities in their own country.  For example, it is not possible in the USA for either a local NGO or a multi-national NGO to engage itself in political activism or polarized political support.  And any violation of financial rule would be heavily dealt with and people sent to jail for inordinately long years.  For example Gulam Nambi Fai, founder of “Kashmir American Council” (KAC) , an NGO, was arrested by the FBI from Virginia, Washington DC and later sentenced for 4 years Jail by a US Court in 2012 on the charges of receiving money from Pakistan and its spy agency ISI to influence American policy on Kashmir. Political activism by foreign NGOs is perceived in the USA and Germany as acts of war against the nation, while financial irregularities would be dealt as money laundering for dubious purposes. 

But when it comes to India, thanks to the inaction and spineless silence portrayed for years by the previous Govt, foreign NGOs such as Ford Foundation were accorded respect similar to what the diplomatic missions command.  And it has been proven over and over again that these NGOs had their political masters in the countries of their origin, who had strong interest in influencing the political process and impeding the national development of India.  Colluding with them, their Indian partners have worked as termites, wrecking India from within. We all know that foreign funds are always attached with hidden condition.

It is time that this anomaly is set right once and for all.  It is time that a self respecting India stands tall against these medieval machinations.  It is time that we as Indians feel proud that at last, we have a leader and a Government that is immensely patriotic and is dedicated to the integrity and development of the nation.

V K Saxena

President

National Council for Civil Liberties

Ahmedabad.

Yemen Rescue Operation: Time to Rejoice in National Pride

The struggle for dominance in Yemen between the Sunni and Zaidi Shia sects has accentuated into a civil war and has now turned into a Regional conflict.  Fearing Iranian dominance on the situation, Saudi Arabia launched an extensive air raid, killing people indiscriminately.  When the danger to life escalated, most western embassies closed shop and left the country with their staff.  By mid March 2015, Yemen had become a lawless land and the fate of thousands of Indians working in the country hung in a delicate balance.

The Government of India made a historic decision of risking the odds and attempting to rescue the compatriots.  On March 31st, Gen. V.K. Singh was sent to Yemen to coordinate operation 'Rahat'.  Air India, Indian Air Force, two merchant vessels, warships Destroyer Mumbai and stealth frigage Tarkash, INS Sumitra and Indian Shipping Corporation's Kavaratti and Corals were all pressed into service to save the lives of Indians caught in the conflict.  Prime Minister Modi called the King of Saudi Arabia to halt the air strikes at the time of critical rescue.  Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj monitored the situation minute by minute.  Gen. V.K. Singh roamed the streets in Yemen personally to locate and pull out Indians in trouble. Looking at Indian determination, 26 nations reached out to India, including USA, Germany and France to help rescue their citizens.

While a host of commercial airlines in India were vying to book profits, Air India carried 488 people through special flights from Sana'a to India on April 5th.  On one haul, it evacuated 574 people from Sana'a to Djibouti, described as the single largest evacuation by air anywhere in the world in a single day.  Indian Air Force helicopter C-17 on April 2nd, brought back 358 Indians.  The lifeboats of the ships went into the harbour under constant cross-firing and bombing to ferry thousands of Indians into the ships, so that they could be brought to India.  At the end, Indian Railways offered free trips to the evacuees to reach home safely, besides receiving appropriate financial support.

This is a matter of immense national pride and is unprecedented in the history of free India.  Most nations took a bow at the courage, valour, determination and timely action of India.  But it is a crying shame that sections of Indian media and the political opposition would not celebrate this grand display of patriotism and humanitarian concern.  It is a shame that many of them continued to bathe in negativity and trivial pursuits of populism, even in this situation of grave concern and commendable nationalism.

Most of India has felt honoured to share the historic national pride. But some in the Media and in the Opposition have shamed themselves with their irrational neglect.

V K Saxena

President 

National Council for Civil Liberties

Ahmedabad