Author: projects@brainoidtech.com
पहिला
वरील सूत्र शास्त्रीय वाटत नाही ना ? कारण आम्हाला सवय झालेली आहे की विज्ञान एवढे साधे, सोपे कसे काय असेल ? विज्ञान म्हणजे काहीतरी लवकर न समजणारे, अवघड, तांत्रिक असा आमचा (गैर) समज झालेला असल्याने असे होते. मुळात विज्ञान हे सर्वांना सहज समजणारे व सामान्य लोकांच्या आवाक्यात असते. पण दुर्दैवाने ते एकतर प्रयोगशाळेत (लॅबोरटरीज) वा तज्ञांच्या डोक्यात अडकलेले दिसते. प्रत्यक्ष जीवनात ते कमीच आढळते.
ं १८.५ ते २१ दरम्यान असेल तर चांगले. हृदयविकार, डायबिटीस इत्यादी आजार होण्याचा धोका कमीत
कमी.
ं २१ ते २५ असेल तर बॉर्डर लाईन वजन, विशेषत: डायबिटीस होण्याचा धोका वाढतो. पर्यायाने
हृदयविकाराचा ही.
ं २५ ते ३० असेल तर, वजन जास्त व लठ्ठपणाची सुरुवात. आजारांचा धोका जास्त. वजन लगेच कमी
करायला हवे.
ं ३० पेक्षा जास्त असेल तर लठ्ठपणा, ताबडतोब उपचार सुरु करायला हवेत. आजारांचा धोका सर्वाधिक.
वजन का वाढते व ते कसे कमी करायचे ते आता आपण पाहू या.
==================
माणसाला आपले आयुष्य कसे लांबविता येईल व तारुण्य दिर्घकाळपर्यंत कसे टिकविता येईल यासंदर्भात आज जगामध्ये भरपूर संशोधन सुरू आहे. माणसाची आर्युमर्यादा तर एकीकडे बरीच वाढलेली आहे. या वाढत्या आर्युमर्यादेसोबतच उच्च रक्तदाब, मधुमेह, हार्ट अटॅक यासारख्या आजारांचे प्रमाणसुध्दा वाढते आहे. त्यामुळे मिळालेले जास्तीचे आयुष्य निरामय कसे जगता येईल हा जगभरातील संशोधकांच्या संशोधनाचा महत्वाचा विषय बनलेला आहे. यासाठी काय करायला हवे याचे स्पष्ट दिशा दिग्दर्शन, आतापर्यंतच्या संशोधनाद्वारे करण्याच्या स्थितीमध्ये आता विज्ञान येवून पोहचलेले आहे.
या संदर्भामधील संशोधनातून असं लक्षात आलं की, जगामध्ये सगळ्यात जास्त शतकवीर, म्हणजे शंभरी पार केलेल्या व्यक्तींची संख्या, दक्षिण रशियामधील जॉर्जिया या प्रांतामधील अबखासीया या, कॉकेशस पर्वत रांगानी व्यापलेल्या पर्वतीय प्रदेशामध्ये राहणार्या जनजातीय लोकांमध्ये आहे. जगातील इतर कोणत्याही ठिकाणापेक्षा या लोकांमध्ये शंभर वर्षापेक्षा जास्त जगणार्या व्यक्तींची संख्या काही पटीने अधिक आहे. त्यामुळे संशोधकांचं आणि डॉक्टरांचं लक्ष या विशिष्ट जमातीकडे वेधल्या गेलं. या लोकांच्या जीवनशैलीमध्ये अशा कोणत्या गोष्टी आहेत, ज्यामुळे ते दिर्घकाळपर्यंत आणि निरोगी जगतात, यासाठी त्यांच्या जीवनशैलीचा अभ्यास केला गेला. या अभ्यासामधून या लोकांच्या दिर्घायू जगण्याचं आणि तारूण्य टिकविण्याचं रहस्य लक्षात आलं. त्यांच्या जगण्यामध्ये प्रामुख्याने चार तत्वं शास्त्रज्ञांना आढळली.
ही चार तत्वे जगामध्ये इतरत्रही दिर्घकाळ जगणार्या व आपले तारुण्य टिकवून ठेवणार्या लोकांच्या जीवनशैलीच्या अभ्यासातून स्पष्ट झालेली आहेत. अगदी आपल्या गावातील ८०-९० वय गाठलेल्या व्यक्तीच्या जीवनाचा अभ्यास केला तरी, या तत्वांची पुष्टी आपल्याला स्वत:ला करुन घेणे पण सहज शक्य आहे. त्या तत्वांचा आपल्याला आपल्या जीवनामध्ये अवलंब ज्या प्रमाणात करता येईल, त्या प्रमाणात आपल्यालाही दिर्घकाळ पर्यंत निरामय जीवन जगता येईल व तारूण्यसुध्दा टिकविता येईल ही खात्री देता येवू शकते. ती तत्वे कोणती हे आपण समजून घेऊ या.
१. शास्त्रज्ञांना हे आढळून आलं की येथील लोकांचा आहार हा ताजा व स्वच्छ आहे. (Clean & Fresh Diet) दिर्घायू बनण्यासाठी आणि तारूण्य टिकवण्यासाठी ताजा आणि स्वच्छ आहार हा अतिशय महत्वाचा मुद्दा आहे. शेतामध्ये पिकलेला भाजीपाला वा फळे, कुठल्याही प्रकारे साठवणूक न करता वापरणे, म्हणजे ताजेपणा होय. याचा अर्थ निसर्गामध्ये खाण्याची वस्तू तयार होणे व आपल्या आहारामध्ये तिचा प्रत्यक्ष समावेश होणे, यामधील कालावधी हा कमीत कमी असणे म्हणजे ताजेपणा. दिर्घकाळपर्यंत ताजेपणा टिकवून राहण्यासाठी वेगवेगळ्या रसायनांचा, प्रिजर्वेटीव्हचा वा अन्य निरनिराळ्या पध्दतींचा वापर करणे, म्हणजे ताजेपणा नव्हे. आज बहुतेक सगळ्याच खाद्य पदार्थांवर वेगवेगळ्या प्रक्रियांचा अवलंब मुख्यत्वे वाहतुकीच्या सोयीसाठी आणि दिर्घकाळ पर्यत टिकवण्यासाठी केला जातो. त्यामुळे त्यांचे पोषणमूल्य तर कमी होतेच. शिवाय या सर्व रसायनांचे मानवी आरोग्यावर विपरित परिणाम होतात. म्हणून अशा प्रक्रियायुक्त पदार्थाचा वापर कमीत कमी करायला हवा. अगदी फ्रिजमध्ये ताजे दिसत असणारे पदार्थ सुध्दा ताजे नव्हेत.
निसर्गामध्ये ज्या अवस्थेमध्ये खाद्यपदार्थ तयार होतात, तेथून प्रत्यक्ष मानवी वापराची सुरवात, यामधला कालावधी कमीत कमी असण्यासाठी गरजेचं असेल की, आपले खाद्य-पदार्थ हे आपल्या परिसरातच तयार झालेले असावेत. कुठेतरी दूरवर जगाच्या कोपर्यात पिकविले गेलेले फळ किवा अन्य खाद्यपदार्थ, शेकडो-हजारो किलोमीटर लांबवरच्या लोकांना वापरता यावे यासाठी कराव्या लागणार्या प्रक्रिया मानवी आरोग्यासाठी हानीकारक असतात. त्यामुळे आपल्या परिसरात तयार होणारी, पिकविल्या जाणारी फळे व भाजीपाला, तसेच ज्या सिझनमध्ये ती तयार होतात त्याच काळात ती वापरणे म्हणजे ताजेपणा होय.
गांधीजीनी यासंदर्भात एक फार सोपे सूत्र सांगितले आहे. त्याहून सोपे आहार शास्त्र काही असू शकत नाही. गांधीजी असे म्हणतात की, ज्या वस्तू नासतात, सडतात, खराब होऊ शकतात त्या वस्तू आरोग्यासाठी चांगल्या असतात. ज्या वस्तू खूप दिवस न नासता, न खराब होता टिकून राहतात, बहुधा त्या गोष्टी आरोग्यासाठी चांगल्या नसतात. उदा. आज तयार केलेली पोळी, भाकरी, भात उद्या शिळा होतो व त्यावर लगेच बुरशी येते व ते खाण्यालायक उरत नाही. म्हणजेच पोळी, भाकरी, भात खाणे आरोग्यासाठी चांगले आहे. या उलट कारखान्यात तयार झालेले बिस्कीट किंवा वेगवेगळ्या पॅकींगच्या वस्तु ज्या खूप दिवस पर्यंत चांगल्या राहतात, खराब होत नाही अशा गोष्टी आरोग्यासाठी चांगल्या नसतात. त्या ताज्या दिसत असल्या तरी त्यातील ताजेपणा संपलेला असतो.
आपल्या ताजेपणाच्या संकल्पना अर्धवट आहेत. बहुतेक घरांमध्ये अशी पध्दत दिसते की, नळ आलेत की, पिण्याचे पाणी भरताना कालचे भरलेले पाणी हे सांडून दिल्या जाते व ताजे पाणी भरल्या जाते. जर पाण्याच्या संदर्भामध्ये ताजेपणाची अशी संकल्पना आपण वापरतो तर ती आपल्याला आहाराच्या बाबत सुध्दा वापरायला पाहिजे. अशा पध्दतीचा ताजा आहार माणसाचे आयुष्य वाढविते व तारूण्य टिकवते.
आहारा संदर्भात दुसरा मुद्दा म्हणजे स्वच्छ असणे. स्वच्छ याचा अर्थ केवळ दिसायला स्वच्छ असा नाही. तर ज्यामध्ये मूळ पदार्थाशिवाय इतर कुठल्याही गोष्टी नाहीत ते अन्न म्हणजे स्वच्छ होय. आज ज्या वस्तु स्वच्छ दिसतात त्या बहुदा स्वच्छ नसतात; (उदा. बहुतेक सर्व पॅकींगच्या वस्तू) कारण त्या स्वच्छ दिसण्यासाठी त्यांच्यावर खूप सार्या प्रक्रिया कराव्या लागतात वा त्यामध्ये वेगवेगळी रसायने वापरावी लागतात. असे अन्न म्हणजे अस्वच्छ अन्न. त्यामुळे नैसर्गिक अवस्थेमध्ये कोणत्याही रसायनांशिवाय तयार होणारा भाजीपाला व फळे वापरणे मानवी आरोग्यासाठी चांगले आहे. वेगवेगळी रसायने वापरून पिकवल्या जाणार्या, शेतीमधील धान्य, डाळी, भाज्य-फळे हे स्वच्छ नाहीत. त्यामुळे रसायनमुक्त अन्न म्हणजे स्वच्छ अन्न हे आपण लक्षात घ्यायला पाहिजे. अशा रसायनमुक्त व नैसर्गिक पध्दतीने तयार होणार्या खाद्य पदार्थाच्या सेवनाने माणसाचे आयुष्य वाढविता येते व तारूण्य टिकवता येते असं आज विज्ञान सांगते आहे.
२. दिर्घायू होण्यासाठी आणि तारूण्य टिकवण्यासाठी दुसरे महत्वाचे तत्वजे शास्त्रज्ञांना आढळले ते म्हणजे, तेथील समाजातील लोक अखेरपर्यंत शरीरश्रम करतात. अगदी एकशे दोन वर्षाचा म्हातारा सुध्दा, तास-दोन तास शेतीमध्ये काम करतो. शंभर वर्षाची म्हातारी सुध्दा तास दोन तास घोड्यावरून रपेट मारून येते; घोड्यावर बसणे हा तेथील लोकांचा छंद आहे. याचाच अर्थ घाम गाळल्याशिवाय माणसाला आयुष्य वाढविता येत नाही वा तारूण्य टिकवता येत नाही. दुदैवाने आज आमचे सगळे प्रयत्न हे घाम कमीत कमी निघावा या दिशेने सुरू आहेत. आजच्या विज्ञान व तंत्रज्ञानाच्या युगामध्ये मानवी शरीरश्रम दिवसेंदिवस कमी होत चालले आहेत. त्यामुळे मानवी आरोग्यावर विपरीत परिणाम झालेला आहे. आजच्या जगाचे मुख्य आजार म्हणजे हार्ट अटॅक, ब्लडप्रेशर वाढलेले असणे, डायबिटीस, वजन प्रमाणापेक्षा जास्त असणे व लठ्ठपणा, हे सर्व शरीरश्रमाच्या अभावामुळे निर्माण होणारे आजार आहेत. शरीरश्रम केल्याशिवाय माणसाला दिर्घायू होता येत नाही व तारूण्य टिकवून ठेवता येत नाही. त्यामुळे आपल्या जगण्यामध्ये शरीरश्रमाचे महत्व लक्षात घेऊन आपल्या दिनचर्येमध्ये ते नियमाने कसे करता येतील हे ज्याचे त्याने ठरवायला पाहिजे.
आज शरीरश्रमापेक्षा बौध्दिक श्रमाला जास्त महत्व व किमत आलेली आहे. शरीरश्रमाला हलके मानले जाते. हा फरक कमी करणे एकूणच मानवी आरोग्यासाठी गरजेचे आहे. खासकरुन प्रत्येकाने जर उत्पादक श्रम आपल्या दिनचर्येचा भाग बनविला तर, आज समाजामध्ये दिसणारी वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारची विषमता सुध्दा कमी होईल. सर्वांचेच आरोग्य सुधारेल.
बैठी जीवनशैली असणार्यांसाठी शरीरश्रम हे अमृत व संजीवनी देणारे औषध आहे. त्यामुळे दिनचर्येमध्ये शरीरश्रम करत राहणे वा तशाप्रकारची जीवनशैली शक्य नसेल तर, जाणिवपूर्वक व्यायामासाठी वेळ राखून ठेवणे अतिशय महत्वाचे आहे. असे केले तरच आपल्याला वाढत्या वयासोबत होणारे आजार टाळता येणे शक्य होईल.
३. तिसरा मुद्दा जो त्या समाजाच्या अभ्यासामधून लक्षात आला तो म्हणजे त्या समाजामध्ये पारस्पारिकता आहे. परस्परांमध्ये घट्ट संबंध व एक-दुसर्याच्या सुख-दु:खामध्ये सहभागी होण्याची वृत्ती मोठ्या प्रमाणावर आहे. त्या जमातीच्या दिर्घायू जगण्याचे आणि तारूण्य टिकवण्यामागचे हे तिसरे रहस्य आहे. इंग्रजीमध्ये ज्याला ‘शेअरींग ऍन्ड केअरींग’ म्हणतात ते केल्याशिवाय माणसाला आपले आयुष्य वाढविता येत नाही वा तारूण्य टिकविता येत नाही असं आज आपल्याला विज्ञान सांगते. दुदैवाने आज आम्ही ना तर सुख वाटून घेत, ना तर दु:ख; प्रत्येकजन आपापल्या स्वार्थी आणि आत्मकेंद्रित वर्तुळात जगण्यामध्ये मशगुल झालेला आहे. अशाप्रकारच्या आत्मकेंद्रित जगण्याने आपले आयुष्य कमी होते व म्हातारपण लवकर येवू शकते हे लक्षात घ्यायला पाहिजे; आणि मग आमची इच्छा असो वा नसो, आम्हाला जर मग लवकर मरायचं नाही आणि लवकर म्हातारं व्हायचं नाही, तर मग स्वत:ची व इतरांची सुख-दु:ख वाटून घ्यायला शिकावं लागेलं. हे केलं तरच आमचं आरोग्यसुध्दा टिकविता येऊ शकेल.
आज वाढत्या औद्योगिकरणामुळे शहरीकरण वाढत आहे. एकूणच जगणे सुपरफास्ट होत चाललेले आहे. जागतिकीकरण व मुक्त अर्थव्यवस्थेच्या रेट्यामुळे व वाढत्या चंगळवादापायी मानवी जीवनातील सहजता संपत चालली आहे. मानसिक तणाव वाढत चालला आहे. मानवी नात्याची वीण पार उसवून चुकली आहे. त्यामुळे आयुष्याची लांबी वाढूनही, वाढीव आयुष्यात सुख भोगणे माणसाच्या नशीबामध्ये दिसत नाही. या सगळ्यांचा विचार करता माणसाला आपल्या आयुष्याची लांबी वाढवितांना, आयुष्याची खोली कशी वाढविता र्यईल याचासुध्दा विचार करणे अगत्याचे झाले आहे.
४. चौथा मुद्दा जो लक्षात आला तो म्हणजे त्या लोकांच्या जगण्यामागे दिर्घकाळ आणि निरामय आयुष्य जगणे हा हेतू आहे. म्हणून ते लोक दिर्घायू होतात व तारूण्य टिकवितात. याचाच अर्थ माणसाला दिर्घायू होण्यासाठी आणि तारूण्य टिकविण्यासाठी जगण्याचा हेतू शोधायला हवा. ज्यांच्या जगण्यामागे काही हेतू आहे तेच लोक जास्त काळपर्यत जगू शकतात व म्हातारपण दूर ठेवू शकतात. मग माझ्या जगण्याचा हेतू काय आहे ? असा प्रश्न आमच्या पैकी किती लोकांना पडतो ? केवळ मरत नाही म्हणून जगतो आहे, अशाप्रकारचे जगणे आज आमच्या पैकी अनेकंाचे सुरू आहे. त्यामुळे आम्हाला आमच्या जगण्याचा हेतू शोधता येणं अत्यंत जरुरीचे बनले आहे. ते करता आले तरच आम्हाला आमचे आयुष्य वाढविता येईल व म्हातारपण दूर ठेवता येईल असं आज विज्ञान सांगते.
त्यादृष्टीने आम्हाला आमच्या जीवनामध्ये दोन प्रकारे शोध घेता यायला पाहिजे. एक म्हणजे जसे आपल्याला माहिती आहे की या जगामध्ये राहणार्या सहाशे कोटी लोकांपैकी कोणत्याही दोन व्यक्तींच्या अंगठ्याचे ठसे सुध्दा सारखे नसतात. मग जर एवढ्या लोकांमध्ये दोन व्यक्तींचे अंगठ्याचे ठसे सुध्दा सारखे नाहीत, याचाच अर्थ माझ्यामध्ये काहीतरी वेगळेपण आहे, जे जगामधील अन्य कोणत्याही व्यक्तीमध्ये नाही. (देअर ईज समथींग स्पेशल इन माय सेल्फ) त्यामुळे माझ्यामध्ये काय वेगळेपण आहे, काय स्पेशल आहे, याचा शोध घेणे हा माणसाचा जगण्याचा हेतू असू शकतो. एका बाजूने माझ्यामध्ये असे काय आहे की, जे जगामध्ये इतर कोणामध्येच नाही याचा शोध घेणे आणि दुसर्या बाजूने एवढ्या सगळ्या विविधता असतानांसुध्दा आमच्या सगळ्यांमध्ये काहीतरी समान आहे; (देअर ईज समथींग कॉमन अमँगस्ट अवरसेल्फ) मग हे कॉमन, हे समानत्व कोणते आहे याचा शोध घेणे. अशाप्रकारे एका बाजूने माझ्यामध्ये स्पेशल, माझ्यामध्ये काय वेगळेपण आहे याचा शोध घेणे आणि दुसर्या बाजूने आपल्या सगळ्यांमध्ये काय समानत्व आहे याचा शोध घेणे माणसाच्या जगण्याला अर्थ देतो. कदाचित हा माणसाच्या जगण्याचा हेतू असावा. असा शोध लागणे इतर प्राणीमात्रांना शक्य नाही. माणूस मात्र असा शोध निश्चित घेऊ शकतो. असा शोध जर घ्यायला सुरुवात केली तर आमच्या आयुष्याची लांबी आणि खोली सुध्दा आपोआप वाढेल.
या सगळ्या तत्वांचे आपल्या जीवनशैलीमध्ये जागरुकतेने व डोळसपणे पालन करता आले तर, दिर्घायू बनने व तारूण्य टिकवून ठेवणे पूर्णपणे आपल्या हातामध्ये आहे असे आज विज्ञान आपल्याला सांगत आहे.
This is a brief report with some photos of Sevankur Motivation camp, held at Aurangabad, on 27-29 May 2011. This was the first Sevankur camp held at Aurangabad. It was organised at “Chatanya Agro Tourism Centre” 25 kms from Aurangabad, near Ellora, a very natural & lovely place. All the logistics had been taken care of by Shri Harish Jakhete & his close friends Shri Sushil Pipada, Manoj Somani & others with their family members. All the arrangements including the finances have been taken care by them. They have done everything with so much of love & affection that everybody felt as if they are at their maternal uncle’s home. Association of Shri Harishbhai & friends is the greatest achievement of this Sevankur camp. They are all successful businessmen & very compassionate & ever ready to support social cause. We enjoyed all the natural living with clean & fresh air, simple food prepared & served with full of love & affection, lot many fresh ripen mangoes, given directly by the mango trees, all the meetings held in the mango trees garden.
In this 3 days residential camp, there were around 50 participants from Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Buldana, Akola, Washim, Jalgaon, Pune, Mumbai, Latur, Nanded & Kolhapur districts. This was the first Sevankur camp with such a small no. of participants. Otherwise all the 11 camps held till now had more than 150 participants. Though the no. was small, they are very selective & also from the diverse background. There were three blind friends also amongst them.
All the sessions were very much insightful, as the resource persons are from different background. Each one of them had done a great contribution to the society in their respective fields.
1. Shri Ramchandra Bhogale, Aurangabad – A leading industrialist, who is leading one of the prominent group of industries “NIRLEP”. They are having yearly turnover of around Rs. 350 crores & having around 800 direct employees & around 2000 indirect. He is a very down to earth person, having great vision & multidimensional cheerful personality. He is also involved in various social organisations. He told the stories of how his most of the new industries started out of the obstacles they faced. He had given many tips for leading a successful & enriched life.
2. Dr. Girish & Prajakta Kulkarni, Snehalaya, Ahemadnagar – A wonderful, complimentary, “made only for each other” kind of couple, both are having deep respect & strong bond of faith about each other. The participants get moved by all these & realised the importance of this important aspect of life. Both of them shared the present activities of Snehalaya & what & how the interested Sevankur participants can contribute for social cause. They are closely associated with Sevankur since beginning. Snehalaya is the organisation known for the splendid work for the welfare & rights of Commertial Sex workers, their children, HIV & AIDS sufferors & many other areas in Ahemadnagar district.
3. Shr. Rajesh Thombare, Chalisgaon, Dist. Dhule – 42 years young miracle, who is alive inspite of 32 poisonous snake bites. He is most compassionate & very much friendly about Snakes. “Both the Snakes & Human Beings should remain alive” is his life mission. Though an arts graduate (BA), having experienced a very bad poverty, had been successful in establishing a 20 bedded Intensive Care Unit with 6 Ventilators at a small town like Chalisgaon with people’s participation. This center had treated 25000 cases of snake bites with Zero mortality. He trained thousands of rural & urban people regarding the Snake science, first aid & treatment of snake bites. Many doctors call him for guidance. He is a reference manual of the subject.
4. Dr. Sanjiv Saoji, psychiatrist, Aurangabad – A leading psychiatrist of Aurangabad with strong social attitude & contribution. He has worked for creating awareness regarding the mental health by writing in mass media, public speeches, workshops & training programs etc. He is associated with many social organisations at Aurangabad. He discussed various issues regarding the mind & the mental health & answered the questions raised by the participants. These were quite useful while working for social change.
5. Santosh Garaje, Gevrai, Dist. Beed – A 26 years young IDOL of Sevankur, parent of 35 destitute children of “Sahara Parivar”. He is from a migrant sugar cane labour family. His elder sister died leaving back her small kid of one year, when Santosh was 19 years old. This incidence touched & moved him to undertake his life mission of working for such destitute children. He started with 6 children in 2004 & now running a hostel for 35 children. He is living with them for 24 hours by 365 days. He takes care of all the developmental needs of the children. He has to work very hard for raising the necessary resources for the running expenses of the hostel. He have a dream of having their own building of hostel in future.
Because of the comparatively small group size, we could have deep interaction amongst the participants. We could learn about their challenging life journey. These were the most moving moments of the camp.
Rajesh Jaibhaye (Sindkhed raja, Dist. Buldana) 20 years boy, from a small village, educated upto 8 standard, with wonderful skills of singing, communication etc. He had been to 100 + schools till now & had presented a program to make children aware regarding good habits, national pride etc.
Our immediate next Sevankur camps are proposed on July 27-28-29 at Jalgaon/Dhule & in August (first or second week end) at Beed.
In addition to this I had been to the following youth camps organised by different organisations.
1. Youth camp at Hasegaon, Latur by Sevalaya – 1 May – 50 participants
2. Shram Sankar Camp, Somnath, Chandrapur district 15-22 may – 750 participants
3. Shram Sankar Camp by Sane Guruji Smarak Trust, At Amalner, Dist Jalgaon – 26-31 may – 150 participants
4. IAS Academy, At Amravati – 11-19 May – 400 participants
Saksham-Sevankur Motivation Camp, Akola
21-24 April 2011-04-30
Brief Report
This is a brief report with some photos of Saksham-Sevankur Motivation camp, held at Akola, on 21-24 April 2011. This was the special Sevankur with focus on Differently able youths. This was a very special camp for every participant, resource person & organisers also. Everybody was so moved by the live stories of the differently able Heroes present in the camp as participant.
The camp was organised by the local Akola group of SAKSHAM which is working with visually impaired group since last few years. This group is led by Smt Manjushri Kulkarni, who is a core team member of Sevankur. Many of our Sevankur members are also involved in this activity since last 6 months.
In this 4 days residential camp, there were 32 blind, 5 hearing impaired, 12 physically challenged, 2 mentally challenged & 60 + normal youths & volunteers, from different parts of Maharashtra.
All the arrangements including the finances have been done by the local SAKSHAM group with contributions from many of the individuals of Akola.
There were resource persons who are themselves differently able & still had done something great.
1. Jaysing Chauhan, Nagpur – Physically challenged but a successful industrialist started from 200 Rs. & reached to 5 crore turnover company.
2. Tillu Tiwari, Akola- physically challenged, very good artist, self employed
3. Dinesh Rathi, Akola – lost his sight at the age of 29. But then became a successful businessman fighting all challenges.
4. Sarojtai Tole, Pune – Brail Publisher.
In addition to these external resource persons, this time some of the participants were interviewed, learn about their challenging life journey. These were the most moving sessions of the camp.
1. Kanchanmala Pande (Amravati) who is known as Golden Girl, 20 years old cheerful & energetic girl, secured 50 + gold medals in National/international events in swimming. She had represented India in commonwealth games at Millburn, Australia, then at Malaysia, Germany, Asian games 2010-China, Asian games 2011-Turkey. She had received Eklavya Award, Kridarantna award & many others.
2. Paneri Pasad (Amravati) 17 year girls with cerebral palsy, known as JALAPARI (Angel of Water). She secured 19 gold & 6 other medals in national swimming events till now. Even to stand on her feet or to walk few steps on ground is a great activity for her due to her physical disability. To speak few words is also an exercise for her. But she is having a very positive attitude towards life. She had given SSC exam this year & wants to learn more. She spoke few sentences with the participants, which was a very inspiring moments of the 4 days camp.
3. Saleem, 24 years for Kalyan, Mumbai, blind by birth is struggling without any family support. He had grown up & lived few years of his life on railway platform with all kinds of odds & bitterness, but had been able to keep smiling face always. He learned singing on Flute & now is known for that. He could earn his living with the help of his Flute. Now he had been able to get a life companion also.
4. Chetan Uchitkar (Washim) 6 years boy, blind by birth is nothing less than miracle. He is from a very marginal family background of a small village, without any learning facilities till now. But still he can tell 100 + stories on mike with full confidence. His GK is amazing, He knows all the GHOTALAs (scams) going on, many of the political & other happenings, he is very sharp in maths & can perform sums of two-three digits without pen & paper. He was the youngest resource person of the Sevankur camp.
There were many more stories to speak about.
One of the objectives of this special camp was to create more social support for these differently able youths & also to encourage them. But the level of motivation the normal participants got was tremendous. Instead of giving support to differently able youths, we felt that we need to take their support & inspiration to live with smiling faces in our life.
We have decided to integrate the differently able group in all the Sevankur camps henceforth.
Our immediate next Sevankur camps are proposed on May 27-28-29 at Aurangabad & in June (third or fourth week end) at Jalgaon/Dhule.
There are youth camps organised by different organisations. You may participate at suitable places. Some of them are
1. Sevankur at Aurangabad – 27-29 May
2. Sevankur at Jalgaon/ Dhule – 3 rd or 4 th week end
3. At Amalner, Dist Jalgaon – 26-31 may
4. At kolupur, Melghat, Dist. Amravati – 2-8 June
The list of Role Models of SEVANKUR
76. Shri. Laxman Gole, Pune
77. Padmashri. Bhavarlalji Jain, Jalgaon
78.
Some major Developments
Now a core team of around 150 youths evolved over the period & facilitates the process all round the year by reaching to more no of new youths, leading the small initiatives at their places, connecting with other networks.
- The contribution for participating in Sevankur camp which was Rs. 50 in first camp, is gradually increased to Rs. 100, 150, 200 & then to 300 for the students & 500 for others. We also see that, no one should miss the opportunity only because he can’t contribute. We offer complete or partial discount to nearly 20 % participants, who really can’t afford the travel cost plus the contribution. Gradually we are moving towards the self sustained system for the logistic expenses of the camp, so that we should be able to continue it without any external support.
- Now the no. of senior non student youths is also increased to nearly 15-20 %. Many of them are engaged in some or the other kind of social activities. They also act as the mentors for the youngsters. So overall the maturity level of Sevankur is increased a lot.
- We started with participants from 7-8 districts of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Now the participants of Feb 2011 Sevankur were from 32 districts of Maharashtra. (So have reached to almost entire state) We began with mainly medicine, engineering students, but now they are from all kinds of academic background.
- “Sevankur” evolved as a brand over the period at the state level. There is wide spread mouth to mouth publicity amongst the youths, various youth networks, NGOs, etc. We are known for commitment, down to earth approach, strong voluntarism & internal bonding, working very informally & with minimum external financial inputs.
- Sevankur members get priority at many places due to their strengths. 5-6 Sevankur members have been selected for each of the three batches (out of total of 70 selected participants from Maharashtra State) of “NIRMAN’ course, run by famous social activist Dr. Abhay Bang. NIRMAN is graded exposure & training & fellowship program for youth volunteers, for social action. We encouraged Sevankur members to participate in NIRMAN. We are also having a very close association with the participants of the NIRMAN.
- Eight Sevankur members (out of total of 400 selected participants from all India) have been selected for Tata Jagriti Rail Yatra this year. This is also another youth forum promoting social enterpruneership by way of exposure through all India train journey.
- Few Sevankur members started opting for career in social sector, out of the exposure & the motivation they received. Krishna has joined the “GOONJ”, Mukesh joined the “Vidnyan Ashram”. In coming days more Sevankur members will come forward for this. In fact many NGOs started looking towards Sevankur, as the storehouse of committed youths. So hence forth the Sevankur members will have more job opportunities in social sector & NGOs will get quality human resource.
- Networking of various youth activities & organizations taken place by the initiative of Sevankur. NIRMAN, TJY, SHIVAM, Snehalaya, Anandwan, GOONJ, Netaji Competitive exam academy Sangli, Matrubhumi Foundation, Buldana, Rashtra Seva Dal are some of the youth networks working for youths. Now we have been able to connect all these informally. Some of them have adopted few Sevankur concepts in their youth activities.SHIVAM is one of such big network in South-western Maharashtra. They used to organize youth camps at many places with huge no. of participants. Their annual camp used to be in Satara district in Jan. which is three days residential camp, with no. of participants around 4000-5000. Now we get associated with them since last three years. Many of the Sevankur approaches have been welcomed & get incorporated in their camps.
- We have evolved a one day non-residential module of Sevankur & tried it at three different places this year with success. It is low input screening activity, which we are planning to expand extensively.
- We have developed a database of about 2000 youth & senior friend with their contact details, area of interests/expertise etc. We are in regular touch with them by using different communication channels like sms & email, social networking sites, phone calls & actual face to face interaction.
- Sevankur is now emerging as the supporting platform for new upcoming social initiatives. Two classical examples are a) Santosh Garaje, 26 years, from Gevrai of Beed district of Maharashtra, is running hostel for orphan & destitute children, since last seven years. He is from a migrant labor family. His sister died 7 years ago, when he was 19 years old. She had a small kid of 1 year age. The agony of the kid who lost his mother, touched his heart & he get moved & decided to dedicate his life for such children. He was not having any social background, nor any knowledge of running NGO. But sheer out of that incidence his empathy converted in action & he started looking for such destitute children. He started with six children 7 years ago & now he is the guardian of such 35 children. He lives with them for 24*365 days, taking care of all their development needs of education, food, lodging with full of love & affection. Though he had registered an NGO for this, he was struggling hard for getting support. Many times he used to get fade up with his limited resources. He participated in Sevankur camps last year & the scene has changed totally. Now Sevankur members came forward & had taken responsibility of giving all kind of support in terms of time, skills, finance etc. Some of them go to his place & help him in accounting, documentation & other things. Some started contributing & collecting donations for him. Now there is a tremendous boost in the morale of Santosh & he started planning of scaling of his activity. B) Another example of Smt Manjushri Kulkarni of Akola, who started “day care center” for the blind children, with some of her friends. This year Sevankur members had joined in her venture & now it is expanding in many directions.
- Because of the exposure to various role models & the nurturing atmosphere in Sevankur, the motivation level of Sevankur members is increased. Many of them developed a penetrating vision of looking for needy individuals/organizations, around them. They also started giving helping hand & offering every possible support in terms of time, skills, finances. It helped in relieving sufferings of many of such individuals like the blind, or physically challenged, senior citizen, poor children etc.
- We have prepared a calendar of the youth camps organized by various NGOs, organizations at different places & started widely publisizing it.
15. Scrap Bank : Now this became a regular activity at many places. The used but usable things which are otherwise waste at homes, are to be converted into the useful things to the needy one. The scrap bank evolved as a system of collecting, sorting, if required repairing, packing, storing on one side & dispatching & distributing to the needy one on other side. Amravati, Wardha, Washim, Akola, Nagpur, Satara, Sangali are some of the districts where it had started. We got bicycles, sewing machine, beds, furniture etc. apart from the clothes this year. Now we stared helping to new social initiatives by providing these resources in kind.
16. Yavatmal group helped in the “Helping Farmers project”. Our area is suffering from an agrarian crisis & many farmers are committing suicides during last 3-4 years. Many organisations are working towards this problem. Sevankur members have participated in some of the awareness campaigns held for farmers. During summer vacations training camps were held in many villages in watershed management, organic composting etc. Sevankur members took active part in these summer camps. They got the rural exposure & have an opportunity to study the problems of the farmers.
17. We have been invited as resource for NSS camps by many colleges at different places.
18. We have organized Rural Sevankur at GSMT Jalka, DILASA Ghatanji, Wadgaon in Yavatmal district, Kinwat in Nanded district.
19. We also started the Junior Sevankur wing for younger children. We organized Residential/ Non residential camps at Amravati & other few places.
20.One inspiring example of Sevankur volunteering is of Shri. Dhavale from Amravati. He is youth of just 72 years age & associated with Sevankur since Oct. 2009. He is a retired office superintendent from Govt. department. He was so excited about Sevankur, in the first meeting only, that he offered to give a monthly donation of Rs. 1000 for Prayas-Sevankur. He is continuing it since last 18 months. Another amazing offer he kept, that he will be devoting three hours daily for Prayas-Sevankur. Since then he is working on that line & became a self designated PRO of Sevankur, propagating the activities by going house to house. He participated in all the Sevankur camps with full enthusiasm with the youths. He became the loving grand-father & the Idol for all the Sevankur members.
Sevankur Report 2007-11
Sr. No.
|
When
|
Where
|
No. of Participants
|
1
|
Feb. 2007
|
Anandwan
|
225
|
2
|
Feb. 2008
|
Anandwan
|
275
|
3
|
Feb. 2009
|
Anandwan
|
450
|
4
|
July 2009
|
Sevagram
|
150
|
5
|
Feb. 2010
|
Sevagram
|
300
|
6
|
July 2010
|
Ahemdnagar
|
150
|
7
|
Aug. 2010
|
Anandwan
|
275
|
8
|
Sept. 2010
|
Ambajogai
|
150
|
9
|
Dec. 2010
|
Akola
|
150
|
10
|
Feb. 2011
|
Anandwan
|
300
|