Sulabh Swachh Bharat - VOL: 2 | ISSUE 14

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Book Launch

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President Ram Nath Kovind launched the book ‘Fulfilling Gandhi’s Dreams’

Sanitation in Africa’s second largest country has come a long way since the 1990s

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Founder of ‘The Art of Living’ speaks on the importance of ‘satsangs’

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Vol - 2 | Issue - 14 | March 19 - 25, 2018 | Price ` 5/-

FULFILLING BAPU’S DREAMS

Modi in the footsteps of Gandhi

This pictorial spread with archival pictures from Gandhi’s life juxtaposes with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at different Gandhi spots, along with quotes from the Prime Minister’s speeches on the Father of the Nation

President of India Ram Nath Kovind receiving the first copy of ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams - Prime Minister Modi’s Tribute to Gandhiji” at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 9, 2018.

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Modi in the footsteps of Gandhi

FULFILLING BAPU’S DREAMS Prime Minister Modi’s Tribute to Gandhiji BlueKraft Digital Foundation/ Sulabh International Centre for Action Sociology

Quick Glance The book’Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams’ shows the connective thread that forms a narrative Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, has written the Foreward The authors draw parallels between Gandhi’s ideals and PM Modi’s actions

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The underlying theme of the book is the authors’ perception about the close parallels between the ideas and actions of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Modi

n SSB Bureau

his is a unique book which weaves in the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the policy initiatives and thoughts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with pictures juxtaposing those of the Mahatma with that of Mr Modi, accompanied by text which comprises excerpts from speeches of the latter. In his Foreword, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, a sociologist, social reformer, and the Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, explains the concept of the book: “This book beautifully charts a parallel trajectory of Mahatma Gandhi’s universal ideas and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions to realise Bapu’s dreams.”

The authors who have put the book together in the Author’s Note show the connective thread that forms the narrative: “Time and again, Prime Minister Modi has invoked Bapu’s teachings to mobilise people’s power for the nation’s growth.

Through his speeches, Prime Minister Modi has spread Bapu’s message, and in his work, he has actualised Gandhiji’s principles.” And they further explain the idea of the book: “Through this book, we attempt to bring forth the congruence of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision and Prime Minister Modi’s mission towards a developed, compassionate and prosperous nation.”

The publishers, BlueKraft Digital Foundation is a not-for-profit think-tank which is engaged with policy and governance issues, and Sulabh International Centre for Action Sociology which is spearheaded by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak who is

well known for his innovative two-pit pour-flush ecological compost toilet (Sulabh Shauchalaya), are inspired by Gandhian ideals and they see the close linkages between the developmental agenda of Prime Minister Modi and the ideas of Gandhi on this issue.

The result is a lavish book with a profusion of photographs and quotations from the Prime Minister’s speeches. In the second section of the book, the authors have given a string of Gandhiji’s pronouncements in his own words with regard to sanitation, villages and Khadi.

The underlying theme of the book is the authors’ perception about the close parallels between the ideas and actions of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Modi. In the first chapter of the first section called “Transforming India Through Jan Bhagidari”, the authors write: “If Mahatma Gandhi successfully embedded the masses, the concept of Jan Bhagidari for the freedom struggle, Narendra Modi, in his own times, is intent on and has been successful at, awakening and channelizing the aspirations of people towards the development and growth of the nation.”

Through the pictures and the extended quotes from the speeches of Prime Minister Modi, the authors reinforce the message of cleanliness and the Prime Minister’s mission of making India clean by 2019 when the country celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. The authors quote from Prime Minister Modi’s speech of April 10, 2017 marking the centenary of Champaran Satyagraha: “Under

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the leadership of Gandhiji, Satyagraha won us our freedom. However, realising his dream of a clean India through Swachhagraha is a collective responsibility.”

The authors also cite Prime Minister Modi explaining the significance of the spectacles of Mahtam Gandhi as the logo of Swachh Bharat Mission: “The Swachh Bharat logo of Mahatma Gandhi’s spectacles conveys his vision of a Clean India. This is not just a logo, but a reminder of one of the most important teachings of Pujya Bapu – the mantra of cleanliness.”

This section also included the image of the prizewinning essay of Ravisha Abhay Kudchadkar, a class IX student of Fatima Convent High School in Goa, which was shared by Prime Minister Modi on his Twitter. In this essay titled “How Can I Make India Clean”, young Ravisha writes, “As a citizen of India I will work to keep my house, school, surroundings clean and encourage the same around me, and thus make India ‘A Clean Beautiful Country’ to live in.”

The themes covered in the book are interesting and comprehensive in terms of the focus of attention of Mahatma Gandhi and how these are the same themes that Prime Minister Modi emphasies.

In Part I of the book, under the rubric, “Gandhiji’s Reflections through Modi’s Recollections” the issues covered include, “Transforming India Through Jan Bhagidari”, “Swachhchata Hi Seva”, “Khadi for Nation and Khadi for Fashion”, “Women Empowerment to Women-led Development”, “Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday”, “The Sage of

Sabarmati”, “Five Nectars of Champaran”, “Ahimsa & Gau-Suraksha”, “Nature: ‘For Everyone’s Need, Not Greed’”, “Gandhiji as a Vishwa Maanav”. In Part II, the rubric is “Gandhiji’s Ideas, Modi’s Actions”.

What emerges then is a deep insight into Gandhi’s political idealism and how Prime Minister Modi is updating them as it were, showing how Gandhiji’s ideas remain relevant in the India and world of early 21st century. The reader also is able to get a glimpse of the moving phases of the freedom struggle as well as Gandhiji’s personal commitments and engagements. Of the Champaran Satyagraha, Modi observed in 2013 when he was chief minister of Gujarat: “Mahatma Gandhi’s unique methods of protesting against unjust practices took shape on the land of Champaran, Bihar. It was the first time the British, who, till now, only knew the language of guns and lathis, felt unequipped to respond to passive resistance put up by Gandhiji.

People were observing the manner in which a barrister from South Africa was ready to go to jail for them. His actions ignited their minds and the ‘Jyot’ (flame) for freedom movement and Swaraj was lit in Champaran, Bihar.” Regarding Khadi, which was another major weapon wielded by the Mahatma in the freedom struggle, Modi observes, “Khadi played an invaluable role during the freedom struggle, and now, Khadi apparel has become fashionable.” And towards the end of the book, from among the quotes from Gandhi, we have these two about Khadi, which are moving.

The first is, “Khaddar brings a ray of hope to the widow’s broken-up home”. The second is, “Khaddar delivers the poor from the bonds of the rich and creates a moral and spiritual bond between the classes and the masses.”

There is clear evidence here that Modi was drawn to Gandhian principles and ideals much before he became the prime minister of India.

Modi was constantly drawing inspiration from the work of Gandhi.

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The book ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams’ was released by President Ram Nath Kovind, sociologist Dr Pathak, and spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

There is clear evidence here that Modi was drawn to Gandhian principles and ideals much before he became the prime minister of India

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president’s speech

“A turning point in the development journey of Gandhi’s India” President Ram Nath Kovind says maintaining cleanliness is true service to the poor

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am very pleased to receive the first copy of this book.

This book related to Bapu’s dreams reminds me of the book ‘Mere Sapno Ka Bharat’ (India of my dreams) which contains an essay by the same title.

In that essay Gandhiji had said, “I strive for an India where poor people will feel that this is their own country and holds importance to their voice in its creation.

I strive for an India, where there will be no difference between upper and lower classes ... women will have the same rights as men.”

In his book, Gandhiji had separately expressed his views on different aspects such as cleanliness of villages, and country’s health, sanitation and diet. It is the responsibility of every Indian to clean India, and this is the lesson Mahatma Gandhi tried teaching everyone 100 years ago.

In the post-independence era, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak has been a valuable contributor in promoting sanitation as a well planned social campaign. Rising beyond castes, religions and classes, Dr Pathak took up the initiative of providing convenient management and disposal of manual excreta. In an era where sanitation was not given its due importance, he established his organisation ‘Sulabh International’ to work in the field of cleanliness, which today receives international fame and respect.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev ji is making invaluable contributions through his efforts to morally and spiritually reconstruct the nation, and preserving and conserving natural resources.

Explaining the inexhaustible relationship of nature and humanity, he is spearheading initiatives like ‘Green Hands’ and ‘One Shri’. His ‘Rally for Rivers’ campaign generated a wide-scale awareness which will have an effective impact on water management. Conservation of nature is the first step towards spirituality, and that is seen in his efforts.

Quick Glance The book reminded President Kovind of books authored by Gandhi himself President Ram Nath Kovind acknowledged Dr Pathak’s contributions Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has also been making invaluable contributions

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought together the nation to fulfill the visions of Mahatma Gandhi”- President Giving ‘swachhata’ the shape of a national movement and setting the target to the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2018, for ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought together the nation to fulfill the visions of Bapu. He has made it clear that only by achieving the goals of this mission, we will be able to express our true devotion to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

It is a known fact that many diseases spread through open defecation.

According to an estimate, due to such diseases around 1000 children die every day in India, and/or have adverse impacts on their physical and mental development. These diseases also impact the earning capability of the poor section.

That is why it can be said that working for cleanliness is truly a service to the poor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort towards realising Bapu’s dreams is truly a tribute to the Father of the Nation.

This book, given to me today, highlights those aspects of post-independence India which have emerged in the last few years. These aspects are – linking the process of development of the country with broad mass participation, making it a mass movement, giving central importance to the practical needs of the citizens through policies, and by firmly establishing the moral ideals amongst public. In these aspects of development, the views and practices of Mahatma Gandhi are reflected.

With the inclusive development

efforts, the lowest segment in the economic pyramid of the society has been linked to the mainstream today.

Women and daughters are also experiencing a change in their daily lives. Today, as a result of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, girls are encouraged to continue their studies in the schools of the villages.

Many problems related to the justice and dignity of women are being solved with the sanitation drive.

Sanitation is a basic need to take a nation forward. The Prime Minister has given cleanliness the highest priority and has given it a form of mass movement.

After independence, the Prime Minister’s effort to connect the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi to a large scale, on the practical ground with nation-building, emerges as a turning point in the development journey of India. This book is a commendable effort to underline this change.

Gandhiji had said, “I want to see India become independent and strong”.

As a step to realise this dream of Bapu, our country is moving ahead with a new energy. This book details the efforts of the Prime Minister, on the path shown by Bapu, in sectors like sanitation, villages and women welfare.

I congratulate the team of ‘BlueKraft Digital Foundation’ associated with the publication of this book and give my best wishes for the success of this book.

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sadhguru’s speech

“Transforming ordinary into extraordinary like Bapu is what we need” Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev calls Swachh Bharat as a mission of every Indian

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ur beloved bird (India) has born many a great beings – sages, seers, yogis, mystics, kings and emperors, men and women – of great vision, bravery and sacrifice.

Above all these great beings, one man - Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi - revered as a ‘Mahatma’ and our beloved ‘Bapu’. He stands out and will stand out for time and memorial.

This is a man who made ordinary into extraordinary, simple into sublime.

He not only had the honourest job of vacating an occupation from the country, a wellentrenched occupation, but he also had the necessary vision and commitment, and above all ‘time’ to commit himself to many simple but profound dimensions which were about the making of a nation.

When someone is fighting a war without arms, where do you get time to talk about cleaning toilets? When someone is being oppressed in a serious way by a very organised force, where does someone get time to talk about liberation or emancipation of women?

When you are part of a terrible war outside the country where a huge number of our people are involved and, though there are admirers there are millions of detractors, at a time like this where do you get the time and the energy to focus on the oppressed classes and take up the cause of the Dalits in such a huge way?

Of course, he has worshippers, admirers and detractors, probably in equal proportion, but nobody can ignore his relentless commitment which set him apart

Quick Glance Sadhguru talked about Gandhian ideals at the event He mentioned fulfilling Bapu’s dream and PM’s goal of a Swachh Bharat The goals of SBM can be accomplished if every Indian is committed

“Mahatma Gandhi was a man who made the ordinary into extraodinary, simple into sublime”- Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev in a way that he walked this globe like a colossus, irrespective of culture, political affiliations, nationality and race. People bow down to him even today because of his relentless commitment to what he saw as the truth.

We can always debate about everything, but one’s relentless commitment to truth that you see as truth and what it has caused to the nation and to the consciousness of the world.

2019 is the 150th year of his Jayanti while, still, many of his dream we have left unfulfilled.

Talk about cleanliness – we’re still not there; talk about women’s

empowerment – we’ve done many things but still not there; talk about equality in the country – we’re still not there; talk about inclusive economics – we’re still not there. But, it is fantastic to see that once again the dreams of Mahatma, the values to which he committed himself, are once again reverberating in the consciousness of nation.

Thanks to our Prime Minister that he has brought this to the forth and this book is just a manifestation of that Mahatma’s dreams, though not fulfilled, at least they’re once again reverberating in the consciousness

of this nation, which is a significant step.

All the other things even if we cannot fulfil in a years’ time, this one thing of having this nation clean – a ‘Swachh Bharat’ – is a possibility if only all of us understand that this is not the Prime Minister’s mission nor is the Government of India’s mission, this must become the mission of every citizen of this nation. Only then we will make it happen.

This is one thing that we can definitely fulfil in the coming years, if every Indian is committed to this. Let us assure at a least little bit of this relentless commitment which Mahatma represented.

This very right here, he stands in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was not a man of great talents, nor was he a superman, he was a man who was capable of transforming ordinary into extraordinary. This is what we need in this country.

This will be our salvation if we understand how to transform every ordinary dimension into an extra ordinary possibility.

Thank you very much for giving me this honour of releasing this fantastic book because it is important that these values are once again reverberating in the nation’s consciousness.

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dr pathak’s speech

“Swachh Bharat dreams will come to life” Sulabh International founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak appeals to the nation to support PM’s cleanliness drive

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t is a pleasant co-incidence that both the crusaders of cleanliness, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were born in Gujarat. One envisioned a ‘Swachh Bharat’ (clean India) and said that freedom should be sought later and cleanliness first; and the other took the lead in sweeping the entire nation clean.

In 1901, Mahatma Gandhiji picked up a broom in his hands to sweep off the surrounding dirt and human excreta, during a Congress session in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Similarly Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi too appealed from the Red Fort in 2014 of the importance of cleanliness and toilets and said that every school should have toilets because its absence raises difficulty for girls. He also urged that all houses should have toilets by 2019 and people should abandon the practice of open defecation. He took to the streets of Delhi October 2, 2014, the birth anniversary of Gandhiji, and himself swept off the dirt with a broom. Benaras’ ‘Assi Ghat’ was covered with dirt for over 50 years; he initiated its cleanliness drive with a spade in his hands.

An other pleasant coincidence is that the first copy of this prestigious book will be accepted by a devoted Gandhian President. We are obliged. We are also thankful to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev ji for launching this book with your blessed hands.

In the photo published on the cover of the book, the prime minister wants to assure

Quick Glance Dr Bindeshwar Pathak addressed the attendees at the book launch Dr Pathak drew parallels between Gandhi’s vision and PM Modi’s actions The book includes the various social works of the PM

“The PM’s vision of Clean India has reached even the small children and the entire nation is heading towards cleanliness” - Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Gandhiji whilst paying homage to his statue that he will fulfill his dreams of a clean India. Today there is a wave of cleanliness in the entire country.

People strive to keep the places clean instead of littering here and there. There is a girl, who, if any member of her house throws garbage here-there, she picks it up and dumps it in the dustin and says that if we litter, Modiji will see. The PM’s vision of Clean India has reached even the small children and the entire nation is heading towards cleanliness.

The Prime Minister not only wants broom-cleaning, but also wants to change the culture of cleanliness through it, so that the people neither litter nor let others do that.

Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ignited the spirit of cleanliness among Indians for a ‘Swachh Bharat’. He has urged the nation to revive the culture of cleanliness, which was here during the Harappacivilization. We should put in all our strength to support the Prime Minister in his regime.

The country has to be cleaned and made open defecation free (ODF). We should come together, be civilized, cultured and clean, making India a leader in the world ranking of culture and cleanliness. With our collective efforts, the dream of a Swachh Bharat will be achieved.

This book is very nicely done.

It includes various social welfare works of the Prime Minister, such as – ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ (sanitation is service), ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (public participation), women empowerment, selflessness and cow protection, providing gas cylinders to poor women, rising India with ‘Gram Uday’, ‘Khadi for Nation’, etc.

I consider myself fortunate to get an opportunity to participate in the publication of this prestigious book. I hope the readers will benefit by reading this book and also be able to know how Mahatma Gandhi envisioned a clean India, and that how Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been able to drive India towards cleanliness so that Bapu’s dreams are fulfilled.

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“PM Modi ensuring to keep Bapu’s dreams alive” BlueKraft Digital Foundation’s Director Hitesh Jain briefs about ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams…’

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n October 2, a person was not born in Porbandar but an era was born. We firmly believe that Mahatma Gandhi is as relevant today as he was during his time. But how does he remain relevant? One way he becomes relevant is when we fulfill Bapu’s dream and thereby make him relevant. Since 2014 we are seeing the way the dreams are being fulfilled. From the ramparts of Red Fort, an idea of mission to end open defecation is discussed. On August 15, 2014, and thereafter September, there comes a big idea about Quit India and Clean India – Bapu’s half

dream unfulfilled. From there you are seeing the launching of ideas from ‘Jan Dhan’, promotion of Khadi, taking development to the last mile, to speaking about ‘jan bhagidari’ (mass participation) and financial inclusion, various programmes have been implemented. And the person who is implementing these programmes on the mission mode is none other than our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In this book, we have explored the universal ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and their reflections in the actions taken by our prime minister.

About the book

This book is divided into two parts the first part lists out the underlined Gandhian spirits and thoughts, and the second part is the underlined spirits of the Gandhian into thoughts and

actions of honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The first part is divided into 10 themes and each theme contains the thoughts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s catching-up on the various facets of Gandhiji’s thoughts and life.

The second part of the book showcases realisation of Gandhiji’s vision through the effective and collective endeverance of the Government and the citizens, i.e. the ‘jan bhagidari’.

Gandhiji also emphasised on the absolute significance of sanitation.

This government, taking inspiration from the life, has made ‘swachhata’ (cleanliness/sanitation) the central point of its agenda. It has worked on the mission mode to make our villages open defecation free (ODF).

Another important part which you will see in the second part of the book is about the Khadi. Gandhiji said Khadi brings a ray of hope to a poor person’s house. Our honourable

prime minister Modi has taken leaf out of him and has worked to revive the Khadi industry that employees the poor and needy, result of which has been that Khadi sales have seen an unprecedented growth. There are many such examples depicted in the book of the Government working in a determined fashion in the mission mode to fulfill Gandhiji’s vision.

To conclude, as Mahatma Gandhi said, the future depends on what we do in the present. It is when we realise the unfulfilled dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, i.e. about a clean India, to ensure that we have a defecation free India (ODF), and to put India on the mission mode to ensure that the development reaches to the last mile. We are fortunate that we are living in the era where we have an inspiring leadership in the form of our honourable prime minister who is trying to ensure to keep Bapu’s dreams alive, and thereby keeping Bapu alive.

“The dreams of Bapu are transforming into reality” Abha Kumar said that the concept of ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams…’ stems from PM Modi’s work on path shown by Gandhi

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t is a special day for us. At this event in the presence of our President, we witnessed the release of ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams – Prime Minister Modi’s Tribute to Gandhiji’, published by Sulabh

International and BlueKraft, right under the central dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan – the ceremonial ‘Durbar Hall’ – by the pious hands of Sadhguruji who also presented the President with its first copy.

Capturing the dreams of Bapu and the successful efforts of Honourable Prime Minister Modi in this direction, the book beautifully reflects the visions and missions of the two great leaders. Like Bapu, Prime Minister Modi also dreams of progressing the nation on the path of development and glory. Following the path shown

by Gandhij, the Prime Minister implemented several policies from ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ to ‘Gram Uday’. His way of paying homage to Bapu is unprecedented. All these incredible moments have been collected and stored in this historical

book.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to Honourable President and Sadhguruji, that despite their busy routines, they spared time and showered us with their affection. Your presence is one of the most glorious moments of our life. This will inspire us to do better. We express our heartfelt gratitude towards them.

The concept of this book stems from the popular developmentrelated works and policies done and brought about by the Honorable Prime Minister. Every policy and scheme implemented by him has taken the country several steps forward on Gandhiji’s dream-path.

We are extremely grateful to the Prime Minister’s dedication towards taking the entire nation on way to prosperity and development.

Describing various public welfare

policies, this special coffee table book is a direct proof of the hard work of the Honorable Prime Minister and his highly skilled ministers. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has played an important role in giving this book an authentic look. It was their quick and helpful cooperation that we could bring out the book in the form it has taken. I express my special gratitude.

The presence of Sulabhrehabilitated women of Alwar and Tonk, who now live a life of prestige with their heads held high as ‘Brahmins’, and Vrindavan widows in the Rashtrapati Bhavan today is a testimony to the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi transforming into realities. It is a priviledge for all to get the blessings of the Honourable President.

(Senior Vice President, Sulabh)

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excerpt

Modi Echoes Gandhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has closely followed the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi which is reflected in his own speeches. Gandhi emphasised on sanitation, Khadi, women power and the importance of villages for the development of India

Swachhata Hi Seva

Sanitation is more important than independence

Mahatma Gandhi takes on cleaning work at Maganwadi, Wardha

Mahatma Gandhi

He once said, ‘If I have to choose between freedom and cleanliness, I will choose cleanliness first and freedom later.’

Do you know what Mahatma Gandhi used to say?

Cleanliness was more important for Gandhiji than even freedom. This conveys the importance of cleanliness and inspires us to come together and realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean India. He helped us win freedom. Now, let us all work towards fulfilling his wish. *

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wields a broom at the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission in New Delhi, India

*Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mann Ki Baat, September 25, 2016.

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Khadi For Nation and Khadi for Fashion

A plea for the spinning wheel is a plea for recognizing the dignity of labour

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi spins a Charkha, promoting Khadi as a way of life

Whenever we think of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the things we are instinctively reminded of, is khadi. Your family members would be wearing a variety of clothes made of different fabrics and brands.

But shouldn’t you include khadi too? I do not ask you to wear only khadi. All I am saying is that you may use at least one khadi product, like a handkerchief, or a bath towel, a bed sheet, a pillow cover, a curtain or any other useful textile product. If there is fondness for all kinds of fabrics in the family, then khadi should also be a part of your collection.*

Prime Minister Narendra Modi surveys handloom exhibits on the first celebration of the National Handloom Day, 2015

*Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mann Ki Baat, October 3, 2014.

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Women Empowerment to Women-led Development

I am uncompromising in the matter of woman’s rights. In my opinion she should labour under no legal disability not suffered by man. I should treat daughters and sons on an equal footing of perfect equality.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi prepares women volunteers for Satyagraha

We are in the 21st century. Yet, our mothers and sisters, especially those belonging to poor families, do not have facilities for safe sanitation. Isn’t ensuring dignity of women a collective responsibility?

Women have to face great embarrassment due to the lack of access to safe sanitation.

The difficulties and the health risks that they face are appalling. Shouldn’t we just make arrangements for toilets to safeguard the health and dignity of our mothers and sisters?

The poor must be given respect and it begins with ensuring cleanliness and access to sanitation. I, therefore, will launch Swachh Bharat Mission from 2nd October 2014. One important task is ensuring the construction of toilets in all schools of India and a separate toilet for girls. Thus, girls will not be forced to drop out of the schools.*

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first Independence Day address at the Red Fort, 2014

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 68th Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 2014.

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Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday

In the scheme of reconstruction for Free India, its villages should no longer depend, as they are now doing, on its cities, but cities should exist only for and in the interest of the villages Mahatma Gandhi Gandhiji addresses a village panchayat

Why is it that Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of ‘Gram Swaraj’ has been ignored? What is the reason

that people have migrated from villages and are living in the cities instead? What were the issues relating to village life that concerned Gandhiji? Can we revive that dream? Can we do something more for the poor farmers, dalits, and the deprived class?

These questions concern not just a single individual or a group but everyone. *

Narendra Modi interacts with farmers during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat

*Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha on 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, August 9, 2017.

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Sanitation: Congo

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congo

Sanitation In The DRC

Africa’s second largest nation has come a long way since the 1990s in terms of sanitation

Mihir Paul

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he Democratic Republic of Congo is a country characterised by both challenges and tremendous potential.

It is the second largest country in Africa. It borders nine countries and has developed significantly since the 1990s. The rate of access to improved sanitation has improved by 14 per cent since 1990, coverage remains slightly above average, estimated at 23 per cent.

The DRC is endowed with abundant water resources and has Africa’s largest internal renewable water supply.

Since proper sanitation and waste disposal are paramount for optimal health, it becomes imperative to analyse how sanitation functions especially in countries that have been economically challenged due to years of conflict.

Water Supply and Sanitation Sector In DRC Overall, the DRC’s water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector is dominated by a maze of overlapping bodies of the United Nations.

In addition to this broad need for institution building, the DRC’s infrastructure is deteriorated and under-utilised, funding is inadequate, and water service providers are weak in terms of human resources and the ability to manage and operate systems.

Access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities in the DRC is assisted by coordination of, and accountability for, sector activities

Quick Glance Sanitation has DRC has significantly improved since 1990 DRC has implemented many programmes like ‘Healthy Schools’ Many UN bodies are involved in the sanitaion sector of DRC

The rate of access to better sanitation has improved by 14 per cent since 1990, coverage estimated at 23 per cent is above average with responsibilities spread among at least twelve ministries and public bodies.

Service delivery focuses on urban and rural areas, with very little coverage in growing peri-urban areas. Only 40 percent of the required funding necessary to meet the DRC’s water and sanitation goals is available through planned public investments each year.

Such a large funding gap can only be alleviated by bilateral and multilateral donors.

WSS FRAMEWORK While the WSS sector has several ministries and organisations with overlapping jurisdictions and responsibilities, the National Water

and Sanitation Committee (CNAEA) has primary responsibility for coordination of water management activities at a high level. It is under the supervision of the Minister of the Plan (MINPLAN) and draws its members from six ministries with responsibility in the water sector. The Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Forestry (MECNE) has overall responsibility for water resource management. The National Sanitation Program Agency (PNA), under MECNE, only functions in Kinshasa, while other areas are served by private providers. PNA is responsible for handling domestic and industrial waste, and it operates without a cost recovery mechanism,

thereby jeopardizing the sustainability of existing systems. The National Company for Water Supply in Urban Areas (REGIDESO) is the public water utility responsible for supplying drinking water to 94 urban centers, including major cities, administrative centers and towns. Drinking water in rural areas falls under the National Rural Water Service (SNHR).

SNHR is responsible for making an inventory of water resources in rural areas, constructing drinking water structures, and training the population in servicing and maintenance. SNHR has 17 offices throughout the country, but has neither the resources nor the institutional status to provide direct service.

Integrated Health Project (DRC-IHP) The Integrated Health Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCIHP) has been working since 2010 to improve the health of the Congolese

March 19 - 25, 2018 people in 78 health zones in four provinces. Funded by USAID and led

by Management Sciences for Health, with partners International Rescue Committee and Overseas Strategic Consulting, Ltd. (OSC), the project focuses on maternal, newborn, and child health; family planning; nutrition, malaria ,and tuberculosis; HIV and AIDS; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)—applying many proven, lowcost, high-impact innovations on a large scale. DRC-IHP stresses low-cost, highimpact innovations that can be used by providers at all levels of the health system. This project has improved health services for more than 12 million people—17 percent of the Congolese population. Data modelling shows that DRC-IHP interventions saved the lives of more than 150,000 children over just three years. Now replaced by DRCIHP plus, the project has recently been expanded to 83 health zones through June 2016, with partners OSC and Pathfinder/Evidence to Action (E2A) DRC-IHP supported the Ministry of Health’s “healthy village” strategy, mobilizing citizens to develop safe water sources and sanitation facilities.

DRC’s health and environmental strategy embraces a vision of the “village assaini,” or “healthy village.”

Standards for a village assaini include at least 80% of residents with access to potable water and sanitary latrines DRC-IHP promotes “community-led total sanitation”—a globally recognized system of scaling up water and sanitation facilities that people will use.

First, DRC-IHP trains trainers among health zone officials and community leaders, and teaches local masons how to build latrines. The local facilitators spark awareness among families and communities about the links between

Sanitation: Congo

13 07

hygiene and health. The community then develops its action plan for improving and maintaining water and sanitation points, including organizing a local committee to take responsibility for hygiene and sanitation. Community members also contribute local materials and labor to assist the artisans. Since sanitation facilities require new habits, community sessions use dramatic demonstrations to overcome inertia: ■ Community mapping and strolling the village so residents take a good look at the places where people defecate ■ Calculating how much people spend on diseases that can be prevented by good hygiene and sanitation ■ The water glass test: presenting a glass of water with fecal contamination—and asking who wants to drink it. After such eyeopening activities, residents are usually motivated to own their hygiene and sanitation effort.

Healthy Village Programme The village of Mbimbi, 40 km from Kinshasa, has recently been deemed a ‘Healthy Village’ through this programme. The status means that the fundamental health and sanitation improvements have been made, such as the installation of a clean water source and proper latrines, and the provision of soap or ashes to wash hands.

The villagers have elected a committee to regularly discuss and address the village’s sanitation needs.

Odon Charles Kufunda, secretary of the Mbimbi Healthy Village committee,

works with other committee members to ensure villagers are applying the recommendations of the Healthy Villages programme.

“We see how the population handles the messages we deliver, so that the village remains clean and sanitized,” he explained. “We also sensitize the population to be responsible on their own, to handle things so that tomorrow will be better in our village – for us, our children and the surrounding areas.”

Once a village is certified ‘Healthy’, UNICEF and partners regularly visit

Programmes like the ‘Healthy Village Programme’ have improved the fundamental health and sanitation in villages across DRC

to ensure that sanitation improvements are being maintained and hygiene messages are being disseminated.

UNICEF Water and Sanitation specialist Robert Geilmo regularly comes to Mbimbi to inspect sanitation facilities. “The main purpose of our visit here is to give a sense of responsibility to the community because they have to be in charge of their sanitation,” he said. “That can only be achieved if someone comes to inform them of the importance of their actions. So we’re here to accompany them and to raise awareness so that the community can fully seize the gains of this programme.”

Today, more than 3,275 villages throughout the country have begun the process of becoming Healthy Villages.

Healthy schools To reach children with these lifesaving health messages, UNICEF has extended the Healthy Villages programme to schools, creating the ’Healthy Schools’ programme.

The students of Kikimi School, near Mbimbi, are proud that their school has been awarded ‘Healthy School’ status. Here, children are regularly taught the basics of proper hygiene and sanitation, and are engaged in maintaining the cleanliness of their school.

Among the pupils are several ‘brigadiers’, children in charge of verifying that the school is properly looked after. Aimek Bakachika is the chief of the brigadiers, making sure her peers clean up the classes.

“If I see that the classroom hasn’t been swept, I order one of my classmates to do it, or I do it,” Aimek said. “Even in the school’s courtyard, I make sure the garbage has been picked

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Sanitation: Congo

March 19 - 25, 2018

The activities of the Red Cross of DRC in the area of water and sanitation have achieved significant progress

up. The cleanliness of our school is very important to me, to help avoid diseases and help take care of the environment.”

Sanitation and Water for all SWA is a global initiative that was launched in 2010, aiming at bringing together once a year, the local governments, the bodies of the civil society and of the private sector, education and research institutions, external support agencies that need to deliver universal and comprehensive access to water and sanitation to the populations, with a view to sustainability. The meeting was this year held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in March 2016 with the participation of the Minister for Planning and Institutional Entity in charge of the water and sanitation sector in DRC. The initiative is strongly supported

by UNICEF, considering that communities’ (women and children) access to basic services of water and sanitation is a major concern for UNICEF. The DCR became this year an official member of the partnership, by signing its accession agreement a few weeks ago. DCR is willing to be officially recognised as a fully-fledged member in order to benefit from the whole structure that is being offered by the SWA. This membership will also enable the country to benefit from solid technical expertise whenever necessary, to officially take part in meetings and to fit into a global framework of access, to benefit from the resources that can be specifically allocated to this sector in order to develop access to sanitation and drinking water structures for the population.

Red Cross In DRC The activities of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the area of water and sanitation have achieved significant progress. One such example is the Congo Initiative Programme (PIC), which seeks to involve the community in solving its problems and multiply its successes by duplicating the programme in other places.

Although there are a number of waterways around Mbandaka (Equateur province), the city has always had serious problems with drinking water. There are two water sources two hours from the city centre, and there are unprotected wells, although these are more often used for domestic chores.

Many people living in the city drink water from the river. “It is a cultural tradition; the river water has a special flavour and the preference is clear,” explains Marie Jeanne Bofosa, a housewife from Mbandaka.

As people in Mbandaka are in the habit of drinking untreated water from the river, they are exposed to all kinds of waterborne diseases. A survey conducted by UNICEF before the programme was implemented revealed that 76 per cent of the people living in Equateur did not have access to safe drinking water, 61% did not have access to sanitation facilities and infant mortality from diseases caused by dirty water was 146 per 1,000 live births.

It is difficult to dig wells down to the water table because the soil is very loose and tends to cave in. Therefore, the traditional latrines covered by tree trunks instead of stone slabs usually collapse before they are replaced. The main marketplaces in the city were a focus of infection, because there were no latrines and no water supply nearby.

Indiscriminate defecation occurred in the areas around the marketplaces, and fecal material was collected into bags and dumped in the river.

Thanks to the achievements of the Congo Initiative Programme in Mbandaka and Bumba, a total of 7,000 people (5,000 in Mbandaka and 2,000

in Bumba) now have access to safe drinking water. Awareness campaigns promoting good health and hygiene practices have reached a hundred thousand people in these two cities.

In Mbandaka, 21,700 people now have access to hygienic latrines, 20,000 of them to household latrines and 1,700 to public latrines.

“We applaud this successful initiative, which gives people their own identity and ensures more respect for their dignity from the authorities,” remarks Prince Elikandani, a communications officer with the Equateur Red Cross branch and a facilitation team member of the programme to disseminate the Fundamental Principles and humanitarian values in the city of Mbandaka for the past two years.

Thanks to a partnership with the Swedish Red Cross, various works have been completed by the community in Mbandaka and the surrounding areas with the help of Red Cross volunteers.

In the month of April, the community constructed 78 household latrines, a school latrine, three wells and 200 slabs in the districts of Air Congo and Ipeko.

Thanks to all these achievements, the

Equateur branch of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been elected the provincial focal point for water and sanitation. The partners of the Water and Sanitation Cluster, which it has led for over two years, meet at its headquarters each month. All the water and sanitation projects are submitted to the Red Cross for technical assistance. The provincial authorities have included it in the Water and Sanitation Commission to formulate a provincial development plan.

In order to play a more effective supportive role, the Equateur Red Cross branch has mobilized volunteers to carry out door-to-door campaigns to raise awareness about healthy practices and promote the construction of household latrines. It intends to reach at least 250,000 people in Mbandaka in 2007. “We are up against the resistance of those who live along the river, who are reluctant to use public latrines, but we are determined to overcome this challenge by increasing awareness,” said Matthieu Sekalo, coordinator of the Congo Initiative Programme in Equateur. The philosophy of the Congo Initiative Programme is to encourage people to help themselves.

On the basis of this approach, the community of Equateur has decided to pay a contribution of CDF 3,000 (approximately USD 6) per household to ensure the maintenance of the wells and the production of slabs for the household latrines.

“I am impressed by the degree of involvement of the communities in the maintenance of the wells and latrines,” observes Andrei Neascu, head of the Swedish Red Cross programme for Central Africa. “We are eager to continue supporting the work of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the International Federation and we hope to see other Participating National Societies invest in similar projects,” he concluded.

The water and sanitation project supported by the International Federation in this part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is therefore a pilot project that should be extended to other places. There is still a long way to go in the area of water and sanitation in this vast country.

Self Employment

March 19 - 25, 2018

15 07

Rural Reconstruction

Empowering Women Via Financial Independence About 15 women in Kanchanpur Kuia village in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh joined hands together to make a successful career in broom making n SSB Bureau

F

inancial independence is the biggest impediment in women empowerment. To remove the hurdle, women in Uttar Pradesh are exploring careers in trades which many of them would not have ever thought of pursuing.

About 15 women in Kanchanpur Kuia village in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh joined hands together to make a successful career in broom making. Initially, village elders did not allow their women going into a business which is usually seen with disrespect in the society. But when these women showed steely resolve and formed a self-help group named Maa Durga Jhadu Udhyog, they gave in.

Majority of the women in the self-help group are poor and their husbands struggling to arrange two meals for the family by working as labours. Women were usually confined within the four-walls of their households doing cooking, cleaning and raising kids who had crossed boundaries of any schools yet. “In the beginning my husband, who is a labour, and other family members rejected the idea outrightly but when I convinced them the economics of the profit-making trade to supplement the family income for shaping the future of children, they agreed,” said Nainawavti Devi, the group’s leader.

Naina shared that she faced similar challenges when she approached other women in the village to start the business. “My husband got so furious after I showed my willingness o join hands that he even slapped me.

But I did not give up and fought back and finally he allowed me,” recalled Pushpa. The Self-Help Group leader Naina, who is a little literate among group members, claimed that she got the idea after listening and seeing stories about the success story of Lizzat Papad. A little hesitant in the beginning, she approached a social activist in Maharajagnj Sunil Pandey who helps and promotes self-help groups in the district.

Before

meeting the Social Activist, Naina had done a lot of homework working out economics of the new business, procurement of raw material on cheaper rates and marketing strategy to push their own brand on rates less than other brands.

“I was really impressed by her homework on her Startup project and business acumen. After working out details of the project, a thorough training to women involved in broom making was arranged. The capital and initial project cost was worked out and Rs 20,000 was collected to launch the project,” said Pandey.

Pandey claimed that after seeing the enthusiasm of Naina and self-help group members he was confident that the project will be a great success and will become an example for other women to follow and improve financial status of their families. Naina said that she had already spoken to a few vendors for supplying the raw material (cane, bamboo etc) from nearby district of Kushinagar and Gorakhpur where they were available easily on cheaper price. Once the raw material chain was in place, they took

a room on nominal rent in the village to set up the production unit to begin the business last year.

Since they did not require any machinery except for sharp knife for cutting twigs from the raw material, the production of Maa Gurga brand of brooms started from day one.

The work was allocated to group members as per their talent. Naina was entrusted with the task to keep accounts, Maina was given the charge of marketing, Urmila was to look after the supply chain and assist Maina in taking orders and making ensuring timely delivery. But it was mandatory for all group members to participate in the production when they were not working on special duties assigned.

“We produced about 75 brooms on the first day and then calculated the cost which came at Rs 11- 13 including the labour, material, packaging and transportation cost. After discussion with group members, we decided to sell our product with Maa Durga as the brand name in the market at the rate of Rs 20 a piece to make profit of Rs 7 to 9,” said Maina, the group marketing head.

Startup projects like these empower women by making them financially independent

Quick Glance ‘Maa Durga Jhadu Udhyog’ is giving financial independence to women Rs 20,000 was collected to launch the operation Their startup has been successful The group members decided to pay Rs 3 per piece as the cost of labour to members involved in broom making and the remaining amount goes into the group bank account for future expansion and to meet any emergency financial requirements of any group members.

Within a week the group doubled the production as demands started pouring in from local shopkeepers once their brand of brooms hit the market. “They are cheap and sturdy in comparison to other brands. Each and every twig of their broom is nicely carved to enhance the cleaning experience of those using it,” said Durga Prasad, a shop-keeper, who proposed to be their stockists.

Instead of involving middlemen, Naina and Maina did a marketing survey in Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Ballia and other nearby districts with their product and got a good response. Soon they developed a supply chain across all districts in Gorakhpur Zone. “Today you will find Maa Durga brand of brooms in almost every kirana and other stores,” said proudly Amravati. “The business is growing each week and we are thinking of roping in more members to meet the demand from the market,” said Rita Rani. Within a year of launching their Startup, Maa Durga Jhadu Udhyog made a mark in the markets of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and became a point of discussion how these village women set-up a business succdessfully.

“We are now thinking of setting up one production unit in Gorakhpur to help and empower more women and increase our production to take our product to other markets across Uttar Pradesh,” said Naina about her future plans. After writing a successful Startup story, the group members have only one wish to accomplish. “We want to meet AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and request him to promote our brand of broom (which is his party symbol) as a goodwill gesture to empower women,” said Maina.

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March 19 - 25, 2018

urooj fatima

“The Happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts”

Urooj Fatima is an emerging journalist and a post-graduate in Media Governance from Jamia Millia Islamia

VIEWPOINT

Marcus Aurelius

WATER, The DNA Of Life Happiness Depends Upon Ourselves “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”-Jim Rohn

W

hat is the International Day of Happiness? It’s a day to be happy, of course! Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness on March 20 as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.

It is to promote happiness as a universal goal and an aspiration in the lives of the human beings around the world.

The meaning of happiness is contentment and satisfaction.

Finding true happiness is a worthy goal.

Happiness doesn’t just happen – it has to be made, it has to be produced, created, discovered, built from the ground up. And it has to be a decision in one’s mind: the decision to be happy. It is really simple, believe it or not. One must have a conviction to be happy, no matter what trouble life throws at them; because life can certainly disrupt a person’s happiness, getting in the way of them enjoying their own life, with all the countless and never-ending mishaps and suffering. Happiness is something that comes to those who expect it and therefore deserve it.

Happiness can most certainly be obtained – and not just momentary happiness, either, but true, long-lasting happiness, which is not something that just comes to a person. In fact, most people have to work very hard for a very long time to be happy, to create and produce it. But it is something that a person can create on their own. It is not unattainable. Happiness can happen to anyone, mostly because everyone deserves to be happy.

Editor-in-Chief

Kumar Dilip Edited, Printed and Published by: Monika Jain on behalf of Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation, owned by Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation Printed at: The Indian Express Limited A - 8, Sector -7, NOIDA (UP) Published at: RZ - 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam - Dabri Road, New Delhi - 110045 (India) Corporate Office: 819, Wave Silver Tower, Sector - 18, NOIDA (UP) Phone: +91-120-6500425 Email: editor@sulabhswachhbharat.com, ssbweekly@gmail.com

This year’s theme – Nature for Water – explores how we can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century

T

hree most essential things for Humans to survive on this planet may be easily identified as Air, Water and Food. As our population increased, the pressure to tap more and more resources also increased which lead to the overuse and exploitation of all the Natural resources. As a result of this human greed over centuries, today, communities across the world face acute water shortages. Today, we are left with a crisis where over 663 million people are living without a safe water supply close to their homes, spending countless hours quenching or trekking to distant sources and trying to cope up with the health impacts of using contaminated water.

World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water-related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating March 22, 1993, as the first World Water Day. It has been held annually since then.

Water plays a vital role in our daily lives.

Now, it’s one thing to say, “of course we know how crucial water is in our lives, we need to drink it to stay alive,” but to do so is to potentially overlook all the ways that water has a role in nearly everything we do.

“Celebrating” World Water Day is really about taking the time to appreciate the role water plays in our day-to-day life, beyond simply quenching our thirst.

World Water Day Theme 2018

There is a theme associated with every World Water Day and that theme showcase is the purpose of the day. The theme for 2017 World Water Day was “Waste WaterThe campaign, why wastewater?” which was about the reducing and reusing of wastewater. Since 1994 to 2018, each year

has a significance of its own and the theme denotes that.

The theme for World Water Day 2018 is “Nature for Water.” This year’s theme focuses on finding nature-based solutions to face and solve the challenge associated with water conservation. Nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many water-related problems such as floods, drought, and water pollution.

Environmental damage, together with climate change, is driving the water-related crises we see around the world. Floods, drought and water pollution are all made worse by degraded vegetation, soil, rivers and lakes.

When we neglect our ecosystems, we make it harder to provide everyone with the water we need to survive and thrive.

Nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many of our water challenges.

We need to do so much more with ‘green’ infrastructure and harmonise it with ‘grey’ infrastructure wherever possible.

Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.

Water is one of the basic necessities of human beings. We cannot live without water. Nature provides sufficient so that human being can eat and survive. But the greed of having more than what we have, human beings have started to harass nature for own benefits. So to raise awareness about the conservation of nature, and

March 19 - 25, 2018

We cannot afford to

neglect something so essential to our very survival. We must defend our most important natural resource – water especially water, there was a need to observe an international day on which people would be alerted of the rising problems in the nature and the world, how the Earth is polluted every day, and the ways by which we can reduce that pollution and conserve our nature.

“Water, water everywhere When all the boards did shrink; Water, water everywhere, But not a drop to drink” Man’s misery in the absence of the availability of drinking water is very appropriately highlighted by the renowned English poet, S. T. Coleridge in his celebrated poem, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Although over 97 per cent of water on Earth is part of the world ocean and a further 2 per cent is ice, neither of these is easily transformed into usable water. Day by day the increasing scarcity of water is an alarm that though we are surrounded by water but in near future, we won’t be left with a drop to drink.

The demand for water is always a necessity and as population increases the need for water increases. The lack of safe drinking water and sanitation varies from country to country.

It is the essence of life in all respects and has a vital role in regards to the central life of humanity and its development.

There is no substitute for water. We cannot afford to neglect something so essential to our very survival. We must defend our most important natural resource—water.

This world is not only for us. This is also for our future generations. It’s important that we not only live here but also leave a warm and fresh environment for our future generations. We should play our part in building up this awareness among the society.

Today, lets’ celebrate that water is as precious as Gold and we will not waste it unnecessarily. Let’s encourage water conservation techniques like rainwater harvesting and water recycling for sanitation and gardening. Let’s be vigilant about water pollution. Let’s not allow our freshwater bodies to be used at dump yards for waste. It is the responsibility of every citizen around the globe to be a part of this exercise so that we can make this world a better place.

OpEd

17

LAUGHTER, THE VERY ESSENCE OF RELIGIOUSNESS

Osho Rajneesh, also known as Osho, Acharya Rajneesh, or simply Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh or simply Bhagwan, was an Indian spiritual guru

Laughter brings some energy from your inner source to your surface. Energy starts flowing, follows laughter like a shadow

upfront

S

eriousness is never religious, cannot be religious; seriousness is of the ego, part of the very disease.

Laughter is egolessness. Yes, there is a difference between when you laugh and when a religious man laughs. The difference is that you always laugh about others; the religious man laughs at himself, or at the whole ridiculousness of man’s being. Religiousness cannot be anything other than a celebration of life. And the serious person becomes handicapped, he creates barriers: he cannot dance, he cannot sing, he cannot celebrate. The very dimension of celebration disappears from his life. He becomes desert-like. And if you are a desert you can go on thinking and pretending that you are religious, but you are not.

Even laughter is not just laughter.

All purity is lost. You cannot even laugh in a pure way, in a simple way, childlike. And if you cannot laugh in a pure way, you are losing something tremendously valuable.

You are losing your virginity, your

purity, your innocence. Watch a small child; watch his laughter – so profound, comes from the very centre. When a child is born, the first social activity that the child learns – or maybe it is not right to say “learns” because he brings it with himself – is smiling. One should go on laughing the whole of one’s life. If you can laugh in all sorts of situations, you will become so capable of encountering them – and that encounter will bring maturity to you. I am not saying don’t weep. In fact, if you cannot laugh, you cannot weep.

They go together: they are part of

one phenomenon, of being true and authentic. You may not have observed, but Jews have the best jokes in the world. And the reason is because they have lived in deeper misery than any other race. They had to create jokes, otherwise they would have been dead long before. They have passed through so much misery, they have been tortured down the centuries so much, they have been crushed, murdered – they had to create a sense of the ridiculous. That has been a saving device. Hence, they have the most beautiful jokes, the funniest, and the profoundest.

Laughter brings some energy from your inner source to your surface. Energy starts flowing, follows laughter like a shadow.

When you really laugh, for those few moments you are in a deep, meditative state; thinking stops. When you really laugh, suddenly the mind disappears.

And the whole Zen methodology is how to get into no-mind. Laughter is one of the beautiful doors to get to it.

letters to the editor 08 Foundation Day

Sulabh recently celebrated its 48th foundation day at Sulabh Gram, Delhi

28

12

10 Vrindavan Widows

Shanti educated her kids, later they abandoned her to starve on streets

The Making of a Legend

Sanitation in Nigeria

A continuation of the ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ from March 2014

Sanitation in Africa’s ‘giant’ has come a long way since its independence

t.com sulabhswachhbhara FIND US

ONLINE

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Vol - 2 | Issue - 13 /2016/71561

RNI No. DELENG

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| March 12 - 18,

2018 | Price ` 5/-

WEE KLY

DIN KHAN MAULANA WAHIDUD

l ‘Islam’s Spiritua orld’ W e Th To Ambassador

na Wahiduddin Khan 93-year-old Maula cause r based in New Delhi, ly engaged in the owned Islamic schola ue and is still active Internationally-ren te peace and dialog for decades to promo n UROOJ FATIMA has been working

Wahiduddin Khan, S quoted by Maulanais achievable only by

A

“In this world, unity spite of differences, in es. learning to unite on unity without differenc ility. rather than insisting ion is an impossib e of For their total eradicat peace in life is toleranc The secret of attaining peace.” disturbance of the towards that. With heading we’re think I accessible, g more and more information becomin to identify with people and it’s easier for people ly thought had nothing to do cultures they previous

with them. now that two different We have to realise to determine which one to fight nding cultures don’t have we should start understa in nature is “right”. Rather, (which we cherish the beauty of diversity human cultures). . but not yet fully in in diversity of opinions wrong nothing is There has many positive quality that In fact, this is a garden of life the of beauty advantages. The

Quick Glance Khan is one of the most Maulana Wahiduddin ls on Islam respected Intellectua they than 200 books and He has written more into sixteen languages have been translated was given Padma Bhushan In the year 2000, he highest civilian honour award, India’s third

respect Parents “I Want To Go Back, But Not To My Children”- how difficult would it be for a mother to say that. Caring for one for such a long time,

almost the entire life, is not an easy job even when they are not getting or asking for much but care, love and respect. The article is a piece of art that takes you to the inside and makes you draw similarity between the reader’s life and his behavior towards his parents, and the way his young ones behave with him.

Mithilesh Kumar, Delhi vision of universe It was so unfortunate that after reading “Nothing Was Around Before Origin Of Universe” within a few days we hear the news

that Stephen hawking’s no more. In the article it was mentioned that his theory lies upon the assumption, which was true. This was why many of us couldn’t recognise his talent and didn’t even care to understand his theory at once. Until he came up with the theory that black holes can disappear. His book “A Brief History Of Time” is a must read. 14th March has something to do with Science and Math is now confirmed. It would be nice if we are able to read more about his work and be a part of his vision of the universe.

Ratnesh Kumar, Patna

Please mail your opinion to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712

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Photo Feature

March 19 - 25, 2018

Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, words, and actions - all clearly show his commitment to Gandhian ideals. Like the Mahatma, the PM also wants the villages to be developed

Mahatma Gandhi in a public gathering

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a light moment with the Panchayat representatives from villages of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017

Narendra Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at an exhibition organised to mark the 100th anniversary of the Champaran Satyagraha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the commencement of Swachh Bharat Mission in New Delhi, India

March 19 - 25, 2018

Mahatma Gandhi planting a tree during his visit to London, England, United Kingdom

Photo Feature

19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in a cleanliness drive at Assi Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Mahatma Gandhi accepts a gift of hand-woven cloth from a tribal woman in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, India

A woman weaver presents a khadi memento to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

A large crowd of admirers greets Mahatma Gandhi, London, United Kingdom

Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a warm welcome in Xi’an, China, 2015

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excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend”

March 19 - 25, 2018

Narendra Modi Rallies

The crowd build-up at rallies addressed by the charismatic BJP prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, has been described by media as “mammoth.” It is undoubtedly the largest mass outreach in India’s

BJP has described the campaign as “historic” and “unprecedented” in its intensity and scale, in addition to being innovative and precise.

Huge welcome for Narendra Modi during a public rally in Raja Talab area at the Khajuri ground in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on

Narendra Modi holding a Vijay-Sankalp rally in Ranchi, Jharkhand

BJP supporters during the Vijay Shankhnad rally at the Ramabai Ambedkar ground in Lucknow, Uttar

BJP supporters of Narendra Modi trying to get a glimpse of their leader during a rally at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on February 2, 2014.

March 19 - 25, 2018

Sarees bearing images of Narendra Modi at a shop in Mumbai.

Supporters of Narendra Modi at a temple in Ahmedabad, praying for his victory.

excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend�

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A roadshow bus plastered with images of Narendra Modi reflected on an onlooker's sunglasses in Ahmedabad.

Decals bearing portraits of Narendra Modi on stainless steel buckets at an industrial estate in Ahmedabad.

Supporters of Narendra Modi crowd around his convoy at Varanasi on May 8, 2014. The rally was prohibited by local authorities.

An Indian vendor displays kites printed with portraits of Narendra Modi ahead of the Makar Sankranti in Hyderabad, on January 8, 2014.

A supporter waves a placard at a rally to be addressed by Narendra Modi in Mumbai on December 22, 2013.

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excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend”

March 19 - 25, 2018

The Acknowledgement “India has won” tweeted Narendra Modi while acknowledging the mandate of the people. The Tweet instantly became a hit with over 61,000 re-tweets and nearly 38,000 marking favourites within a short span of time. “Ache Din Aa Gaye” (Good days have arrived), said Narendra Modi in his thanksgiving rallies after being elected

Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on April 24, 2014.

Narendra Modi gestures to the crowd on his way to filing his nomination papers on April 24, 2014 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The people awaiting news about Narendra Modi's election result in Varanasi, Uttar

Narendra Modi waves to supporters as he rides on an open truck on his way to filing his nomination papers on April 24, 2014 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

March 19 - 25, 2018

excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODAR MODI: the making of a legend”

23

State-wise break-up of seats won

by BJP & NDA partners STATEs

Narendra Modi’s record-breaking win in Varanasi Narendra Modi won the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat by a massive margin of 3.37 lakh votes, polling almost half of the total votes

Even if we have a clear majority to run the government, it is our responsibility to take everyone along in running India. To live free to determine our future is our dream.

India’s 1.25 billion people today should not be thinking about giving their lives for their country, but living for it! If 1.25 billion people decide to live like this, then my country will take 1.25 billion steps forward.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

TOTAL CONSTI TUENCIES

WON WON BY

BY BJP NDA PARTNERS

Uttar Pradesh

80

71

2 (APNA DAL)

Madhya Pradesh

29

27

----

Telengana

17

1

1 (TDP)

andhra PRADESH

25

17

2 TDP

Arunachal Pradesh

2

1

Assam

14

7

Bihar

40

22

Chhattisgarh

11

10

Goa

2

2

Gujarat

26

26

Haryana

10

7

Himachal Pradesh

4

4

Jammu and Kashmir

6

3

Jharkhand

14

12

Karnataka

28

17

Maharashtra

48

23

Manipur

2

Meghalaya

1

Mizoram

1

Nagaland

1

Odissa

21

1

Punjab

13

2

Rajasthan

25

25

Sikkim

1

Tamilnadu

39

1

Tripura

2

1

Uttrakhand

5

5

West Bengal

42

2

Andman Nicobar

1

1

Chandigarh

1

1

Dadra and Nagar Haweli

1

1

Daman and Diu

1

1

Delhi

7

7

Lakshadweep

1

Puduchery

1

6 (LJP)

2 (INLD) 3 (J&K DEMOCRATIC PARTY)

18 (SHIV SENA) 1 (NATIONAL PEOPLE’S PARTY) 1 (NAGA PEOPLE’S FRONT) 4 (Shiromani Akali Dal) 1 (Sikkim Democratic front) 1 (PMK)

1 (ALL INDIA NR CONGRESS)

Narendra Modi victory being celebrated across the country.

24

Fellowship

March 19 - 25, 2018

Sri sri ravi shankar

‘You are a part of the Infinite’

Spiritual leader and humanist Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains the importance of ‘satsang’ in life, at an event organised in New Delhi

File photo of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, when the former visited Sulabh Gram

Quick Glance Sri Sri talked about the significance of life itself

n SSB Bureau

“T

he true flavour of life is in its congeniality, living in an informal way. Pranayama, yoga, meditation, and devotion, become a viable solution for all the problems in life. Gandhiji united the entire nation through ‘satsang’ (an association with truth and good accompaniment) and ‘kirtan’ (devotional songs assembly).

Satsang had a noteworthy contribution to the freedom movement of India.”

These were the words of The Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, while addressing an event in Dwarka, New Delhi. At this event, Sulab International Social Service Organisation’s founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, West Delhi MP Pravesh Verma and East Delhi MP from Mahesh Giri, were also present.

The essence of life in Dwarka

Explaining the meaning of Dwarka, Sri Sri said that it means - Where there is no door, there is no limit. This way, Dwarka symbolises infinity. The mystery of life

itself is hidden in its name. We all are one; there should be no barrier among us. I am a part of infinity -- this is what one should believe. This is what monism is and this is where are vision originates.

Sri Sri said that our senses are the doorway to the soul. Knowledge, meditation and service should be the three most important elements of a life, only then would we truly utilise it and make the best out of it. He said that problems are a natural course of life, they are bound to arise. One just needs to learn how to rise above them. We need to lead a life of optimism to satisfy our conscience.

Stressing upon the importance of meditation and ‘satsang’, he encouraged

On this occasion, the spiritual guru kept his side on the temple dispute

Sri Sri praised the work of Sulabh’s founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak

Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. He said that Dr Pathak has worked for bring about a change in the society. He said that everyone ought to learn from his actions. He said that Dr Pathak worked for that section of the society that went largely unnoticed for a very long time up until he took charge to spearhead the awaited change.

We all need to work with the same dedication as Dr Pathak did, and continues to do, if we want to develop our nation in true sense and bring it at par with the world.

A true friendship the audience gathered to meditate whilst chanting the ‘shlokas’ (verses from Vedas). He then told that a recent research done in England showed that when Sanskrit words are spoken out aloud, our neuro-linguistic systems of the brain perform much better.

Saluting the work of Dr Pathak

Sri Sri praised the work of Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of

“Knowledge, attention, and service should be the three most important elements of a life, only then would we truly utilise it and make the best out of it” - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Explaining the meaning of a true friend, Sri Sri said that a true friend is the one who lessens your worries and helps you in your time of need. No matter how big your problem is to yourself personally, if on sharing it with someone you strike with the realisation that the problem was in fact not as big a deal as you were thinking it to be, but instead a miniscule issue, then understand that you have found a true friend.

Message of peace

Speaking on the occasion, West Delhi MP Pravesh Verma warmly welcomed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and said that your presence always inspires us. He said that Sri Sri is spreading the message of peace all over the world and to make his dreams shape into reality, we all will also work better in our sectors.

Total-Recall

March 19 - 25, 2018 Stephen Hawking

The cosmologist who explored the universe on a wheelchair Stephen Hawking was the romanticised public figure who reached out to infinity

“

25

Quick Glance Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist and a public icon

He was diagnosed with incurable neuron disease with short life span

n Swastika Tripathi

Hello. I am Stephen Hawking.

Physicist, cosmologist, and something of a dreamer. Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.”

In the vastness of the Universe, Stephen Hawking was a star that shone brighter than others. A theoretical physicist by profession and a public icon as recognisable as any A-list actor or rockstar, Hawking was a living embodiment of mind over matter, the triumph of spirit over form, and of resilience over trying adversity, which he faced with optimism, humour and understatement.

Despite the debilitating condition, he lived decades of wit and humour

A long-time NASA pal

Early days and short life expectancy

Born in Oxford on January 8, 1942, Hawking did not particularly distinguish in early academic life, and it was only while an undergraduate at Oxford, did he begin to make his mark. Despite being diagnosed in his first year as a doctoral student with incurable motor neuron disease that left him crippled and with a very short life expectancy, he did not despair.

The debilitating condition, which caught hold of him when barely out of teens, spared him mere two years to live but Hawking went on to live a productive life for a further halfcentury. He in fact married twice and had three children.

A Brief History of Time, The Big Bang & black holes

Hawking came to the notice of the wider public with his first book, “A Brief History of Time” (1988), in which he attempted to explain the structure, origin, development and eventual fate of the universe as well as a range of subjects in cosmology, including the Big Bang and black holes, to lay-man. In its

A man of witty-humour

“L

ife would be tragic if it were not funny” – These are the popular words of Stephen Hawking who was a perfect blend of smart, witty and funny. And he himself made sure his life were that of funny moments. Here are a few such popularly hilarious quotes by him:

On God and predestination:

“I have noticed that even the people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.”

On government governance:

On insurance and the end of the world

“When I gave a lecture in Japan, I was asked not to mention the possible re-collapse of the universe, because it might affect the stock market. However, I can reassure anyone who is nervous about their investments that it is a bit early to sell: even if the universe does come to an end, it won’t be for at least twenty billion years.”

On women and the unsolved mystery “My PA reminds me that although I have a PhD in physics women should remain a mystery.”

and

its

“If governments are involved in covering up the knowledge of aliens, then they are doing a much better job of it than they seem to do at anything else.”

later editions, he also discussed time travel, ruling that it was impossible for various reasons, including the law of conservation of mass. It is black holes that Hawking was most concerned

On plausible alien invasion on Earth

“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

with. He did pioneering work in the field, though later admitting his theory of information loss was a “blunder”, though his hypothesis that they emit radiation was data-wise correct.

Hawking was associated with NASA in some or the other way for a very long time. In 2007, Hawking took his first flight in microgravity from NASA’s Kennedy Spaceflight Centre.

On April 21, 2008, Hawking and his daughter Lucy delivered a lecture as part of NASA’s 50th anniversary.

Speaking of the importance of human spaceflight, Hawking concluded, “If the human race is to continue for another million years, we will have to boldly go where no one

The first to set out a theory of cosmology, Hawking was also one of the scientists who did not rule out the existence of God has gone before.”

The first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, and an enthusiastic supporter of the manyworlds interpretation, he was also one of the scientists who did not rule out the existence of a creator, expressing his realisation the idea of a God was not incompatible with scientific theory.

An inspiration to many across the world, Stephen Hawking set out a spirit of positivity in the minds of all those whose lives he touched in some way or the other. He once said, “My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus”. Through his books, lectures and movies – as well as the occasional cameo on TV – Hawking motivated people for decades to never stop learning more about the universe.

And thus the quest of universe continues…

26

Inspiration

March 19 - 25, 2018 Balidan Diwas

Inspiration for today’s youths: Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev & Rajguru March 23 is the Martyrs day or the ‘Balidan Diwas’ of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev & Rajguru!

Quick Glance Bhagat Singh was only 23 when he went to the gallows He strongly believed in rationality He had grand political plans for the youth of India

W

n SSB BUREAU

hen power is misused, it translates into violence; but when it is used for achieving one’s Righteous goals, it amounts to justice.’ This revolutionary ideology was stated by the great revolutionary Bhagat Singh. ‘Any sacrifice will be inadequate to accomplish the greatest aim of freeing the motherland’, was the inspiring outlook of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, his associates in the freedom fight. These three great revolutionaries laid down their lives in their effort to achieve their goal.

Nearly eighty-seven years ago, on March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar marched to the gallows of Lahore Jail with smiles on their faces and “Inquilab Zindabad” on their lips.

Bhagat Singh is not just a martyr but an idea that we all need to think deeply about. Here is what Bhagat Singh taught us about expressions, freedom and much more.

Explore and expound your ideas and share them with the world: Bhagat Singh was sent to the gallows when he was only 23. But by that time he had created such a monument of work that it still continues to serve as a guiding principle, for anyone willing to seek inspiration from it. Bhagat Singh

believed in the maxim that revolutions happen when ideas are tossed around, practiced and debated upon – as he had written: “The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas.”

In this age of the 150-word syndrome, there is a malaise of copypaste and forward, but the ideas are not germinating and proliferating. In an age when online platforms to share the ideas abound, it is ironical that ideas are still difficult to come by.

Use every medium in your reach to communicate with the masses: Of particular importance here is the use of posters and theatre to speak to the general public. While this may hold a smaller appeal to the present generation, but if we really want to expand and expound an idea then there is no better way to pitch forth the relevant issues into the public domain, as matters of concern are getting pushed to the periphery. One has to use one’s imagination to bring notice to the issues plagued by the society in the most effective way possible.

Do not depend on others to deliverdo it on your own: There is a very famous quote of Bhagat Singh – “ Zindagi to apne dum pe jee jaatee hai, doosron ke kandhey par to sirf janaze uthaye jaate hai.” (Life is lived on one’s own strength, other’s

shoulders are used only for carrying the coffin.)

If we start believing and practicing this idea, the ‘recommendation syndrome’ that plagues the growth of our society may start getting checked to a certain extent.

Do not wallow in status quo. Thrive in chaos and enjoy it: We have developed this syndrome of being happy and sanguine in an evenpaced life that should not be disturbed at any cost. But in the bargain, it has really annulled our thinking process. To revive and resurrect it, it is often instructive to quote Bhagat Singh: “The people generally get accustomed to the established order of things and begin to tremble at the very idea of a change. It is this spirit of lethargy that needs be replaced by the revolutionary spirit. Otherwise degeneration gains the upper hand and the whole humanity is led astray by the reactionary forces. Such a state of affairs leads to stagnation and paralysis in human progress.”

Sukhdev Thapar (15th May, 1907 – 23rd March, 1931) was a Bharatiya revolutionary from Punjab.

He was an active member of the HSRA, being one of its senior most leaders. He is known to have started study circles at the National College (Lahore), in order to delve into Bharat’s past as well

as to scrutinise the finer aspects of the world’s revolutionary literature. Along with Bhagat Singh and others he started the ‘Naujawan Bharat Sabha’ at Lahore.

The main aims of this organisation were to activate the youth for the freedom struggle, inculcate a rational scientific attitude, fight communalism and end the practice of untouchability.

His letter to Mahatma Gandhi, written just prior to his hanging, protesting against the latter’s disapproval of revolutionary tactics, throws light on the disparities between the two major schools of thought among Bharatiya freedom fighters at that time. We pay obeisance to this invaluable son of Bharat.

Shivram Hari Rajguru (1908 – 23rd March, 1931) was born in an average middle-class Hindu Brahmin family at Khed in Pune District in 1908. He came to Varanasi at a very early age where he learnt Sanskrit and read the Hindu religious scriptures. He had a great admiration for Shivaji and his guerrilla tactics.

At Varanasi, he came in contact with revolutionaries. He joined the movement and became an active member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA). Rajguru had a fearless spirit and indomitable courage. The only object of his adoration and worship was his motherland, for whose liberation, he considered no sacrifice too great. He was a close associate of Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh and his field of activity was UP and Punjab, with Kanpur, Agra and Lahore as his headquarters.

Rajguru was a good shooter and was regarded as the gunman of the party.

He took part in various activities of the revolutionary movement, the most important being Saunder’s murder.

On 17th December, 1928, while Saunders came out of his office and started his motor-cycle, he was shot dead in front of the police headquarters at Lahore by Rajguru. At the time of his martyrdom, Rajguru was hardly 23 years of age.

We pay obeisance to this invaluable son of Bharat.

Vrindavan Widows

March 19 - 25, 2018

27

Shanti Karmakar

“It’s okay. It’s fine. Radha Rani, Thakurji and Lal Baba are all here for us” Shanti Karmakar gave up after she was abandoned with paralysed legs. Then, Sulabh happened n Swastika Tripathi

Quick Glance

“M

y legs are paralysed.

It is impossible for me to move without any assistance. Someone has to constantly be by my side to ensure the basic human needs, even excretion. It must be a very difficult task. Probably that is why my daughters got rid of me. It’s okay.

It’s fine.”

This is the story of Shanti Karmakar who has reached the point of helplessness because of her paralysed legs. Born, brought up, married and abandoned by husband in Malda village of West Bengal, she is now stationed at the first bed to the right as we enter the Sulabh-assisted widows’ ashram in Vrindavan of Uttar Pradesh.

Shanti Karmakar was only 12-years-old when she got married.

Her husband was a labourer of minimum wages. She gave birth to five girls and a boy of which she lost the son and two daughters at very early stages of life. Fulfilling the needs of the remaining family of five was still a burdensome task for Shanti’s husband who eventually called quits and ran-off to lead a life of ‘sadhu’ (monk).

Now it was Shanti’s turn to completely take up all the responsibilities of her family and households. She started labouring her way to wages and with whateverlittle-income raised the three daughters and married them off.

She recalls how much she cared about her daughters with all her heart. These three were where her life revolved. So she was confident a life of comfort awaits her now that the three were married off into stable families. But the daughters had no such plans.

Busy in their married lives, Shanti’s daughters showed hesitance to take-in their mother.

Shanti would switch from daughterto-daughter’s places on a monthly rotation. And this wasn’t it. She had to earn her two-square meals in her own daughters’ homes by sweeping, mopping and other such household chores. On not doing this, she had

Shanti Karmakar was only 12-yearsold when she got married

Her husband called quits on failure to sustain a family of five

Later her daughters abandoned her too when paralysis attacked her legs

“Had ‘Lal Baba’ not supported, God knows how horrible my ending would have been. Vrindavan is the support system of us widows and Lal Baba is the fuel to its engine” to face the circumstances – often in form of scoldings, beatings and a day of fasting.

After all these heartbreaking hardships, the fate had worse in store for her. She started staying ill and her legs were slowly not in sync with her actions anymore.

Eventually, both her legs were diagnosed paralytic.

The worse had arrived. Foreseeing

the nursing requirements falling in their court, one of the daughter and son-in-law brought her to Vrindavan and left-off without her.

She was clueless where to go, how to gather food. She heard of the temples where on singing ‘bhajans’ (devotional songs), one would be offered free food as ‘prasads’. But that was a one-time affair in the entire day. She fasted at nights.

Nobody was there to look after her ailing situation and on falling ill she couldn’t even perform the bhajans for food. Such hardship often compelled her to beg God for putting her to rest.

Things tuned a note-better when Sulabh International Social Service Organisation initiated its widows assistance regime and after struggling almost three decades on the streets of Vrindavan, Shanti finally has roof over her head and an access to regular meals and constant nursing at one of the Sulabh-assisted widows’ ashram here.

It’s been three years now since Shanti is living at the ashram. While recalling the story of her life, one could hear her mutter every few minutes, “It’s okay. It’s fine.”

She would often well-up telling how her daughters seldom visit her now but still never utter a single word of home-coming. “I won’t go, even if they decide to take me back,” she adds immediately, not letting a single tear trickle down.

“I had given up on my life. Had ‘Lal Baba’ (Dr Bindeshwar Pathak) and his Sulabh Foundation not happened, only God knows how horrible my ending would have been.

Vrindavan is the support system of us widows and Lal Baba is the fuel to its engine. Radha Rani and Thakurji (Lord Krishna) have their hands upon us. We are all fine here. It’s okay.

It’s fine,” she concluded, with misty eyes.

28

Gender

March 19 - 25, 2018 rights

The invincible: A disabled woman’s relentless fight for accessibility “I will keep raising my voice till I can contribute to making the country fully accessible,” resolved Virali

N

n IANS

ever give up -- these were the simple yet profound words that kept Virali Modi, 26, fighting on after a deadly bout of malaria had her comatose for weeks and left her paraplegic and wheelchairbound at the age of 14. In coma for 23 days, she miraculously opened her eyes on the day the doctors decided to remove her life-support and has not stopped since then, fighting for her rights -- and those of other disabled people.

Manhandled and groped by railway porters when she had to board a train, Virali made “accessibility for everyone” her life’s mission in a country that is supremely indifferent to the plight of the disabled.

“I’m a disabled woman from Mumbai who loves to travel. I’ve been groped and manhandled three separate times by porters who were helping me board the train because Indian trains are not wheelchair accessible.

“I’ve had to wear a diaper because I couldn’t use the train’s lavatory. My fight is to ensure human dignity for the disabled,” Virali wrote in a public petition about a year ago that caught the attention of tens of thousands of

netizens across the country, including Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, who responded to Virali, assuring accessibility in trains.

Addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, her brutally honest petition on the platform change.org shared her ordeal as a disabled person on an Indian train.

“Most people with disabilities are restricted to their homes because our roads, public transport and most of our infrastructure are not wheelchairfriendly. The disabled don’t know where to go and how to get there, making disability almost an invisibility in our country,” Mumbai-based Virali told IANS in an interview.

While her petition and campaign -- which she named “My Train Too” -- garnered massive support in the digital world with over 200,000 people standing by her, not much translated into reality until she decided to take matters into her own hands.

“Several railway officials who read

my petition contacted me, wanting to work on making trains accessible.

Together, with the help of a few nongovernmental organisations, we have set up portable ramps and foldable wheelchairs at railway stations in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam in Kerala, and Chennai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu,” informed Virali, who is also a motivational speaker.

The portable ramps and aislesize foldable wheelchairs enable the wheelchair-bound to board the train and access the train toilets with minimum or almost no additional help.

“I’m also working with the railway officials in Mumbai to make its railway stations accessible. This was all possible without any government help. Imagine how much easier the life of those with disabilities in this country will be if the government was also keen on accessibility,” quipped Virali.

“Many who read my petition were not sure if it was going to change anything, but my mother (Pallavi Modi) stood by me in my fight, along with thousands of people who actually wanted to work towards better infrastructure for the disabled.”

Virali, who currently works with Mumbai-based travel portal Enable Travel that curates holidays for people with all kinds of disabilities, dismisses any alternative terms for the disabled like “differently-abled” or “divyang” (divine body). “ Why do we Indians have to mask the disability and introduce new terms?

The term might sound liberating to someone who is not disabled, but it covers up all the struggles we face to get through each day. Such terms need to be abolished,” she asserted.

“India needs to acknowledge the elephant in the room and call it a disability. As a country, we need to be more open about disabilities.”

Having lived in Pennsylvania in

Virali made “accessibility for everyone” her life’s mission in a country that is supremely indifferent to the plight of the disabled

Quick Glance Her petition and campaign was named “My Train Too” Virali made “accessibility for everyone” her life’s mission “My fight is to ensure human dignity for the disabled”

northeast US for over a decade since she was four, where her father Jitesh Modi worked with a hospitality firm, Virali lamented that India’s position in accessibility is “alarming”.

“The accessible infrastructure in the US made me so independent -I was comfortable going anywhere on my own. In comparison, I feel extremely dependent and scared to go anywhere without assistance in India,” said Virali, who holds dual citizenship of India and the US. In 2006, when she was 14, Virali had visited India for a holiday during the monsoon month of July, when she contracted malaria, and returned to Pennsylvania to her school, when the illness began to surface.

“The doctors couldn’t diagnose it as malaria and over time I began having seizures in my body which led to a respiratory and cardiac arrest and I was comatose for 23 days. I miraculously opened my eyes on the day that the doctors had decided to remove my life-support,” recalled Virali.

With years of therapy and hard work after a near-fatal condition that paralysed her neck down, she regained sensation and movement capabilities in the upper body and is currently working towards being able to walk without any support.

Hailed by her doctors as a “miracle”, Virali is now a motivational speaker delivering talks around the world, through which she emphasises on never giving up hope in life.

“I was always keen on modelling and acting since childhood. But I realised that my wheelchair is seen as a hindrance by many, as many casting directors would discourage me from pursuing it. But I overcame my fears to be the runner-up at the Miss Wheelchair India in 2014,” Virali added.

The stigma around disability in the country is “shattering, but very slowly”, she averred.

“I will keep raising my voice till I can contribute to making the country fully accessible,” resolved Virali.

Gender

March 19 - 25, 2018 ngo

Be A Part Of Real Solution- MAYAHealth Going Door-To-door, MAYA Is Making Over 50,000 People in Karnataka Healthier

T

n SSB BUREAU

he non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, accounts for 70% of all worldwide deaths, which means that every year, 40 million people every year die, to illnesses which could have been averted. It is a wrong perception that lifestyle diseases like diabetes occur only in urban areas.

Villages need to prevent chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD’s) as well.

MAYA(Movement for Alternatives and Youth Awareness), is a Karnatakabased NGO, which is working with

villages to prevent chronic NCD’s.

Usually, when a rural healthcare drive occurs, urban doctors are sent to treat villages. While this tackles the immediate problem, it isn’t a sustainable solution. Working with the Channapatna community located in the Ramnagar district of Karnataka, the team discovered that an alarming 40% of people screened suffered from diabetes and hypertension.

The NGO decided to train local

Quick Glance The NGO decided to empower local women in public health The women who are trained, are known as ‘Health Navigator’ The Health Navigators have a tremendous impact on the people

rural women in public health, and empower them to provide affordable doorstep preventive health education and services in their community. The women who are trained are known as ‘Health Navigator,’ and they have overcome personal trails, societal pressures, violence and poverty, to reach their present position.

Empowering local women as Health Navigators has many favourable effects.

Being known in the community, these Health Navigators are accepted and trusted readily. Also, since these women are residents, they aren’t going anywhere, and are accessible when required.

“Clients”, as the villagers are classified, had no clue about NCD’s. They had not heard of diabetes or hypertension. Today, thanks to the Health Navigators, they understand the importance of managing their diets and lifestyles.

The program is relatively simple.

Screening, testing and personalised care is at home, and the villagers

29 07

home.

The entrepreneurs work in conjunction with allied government health staff to promote health education. They track child nutrition, growth, immunization and provide nutritional supplements at the doorsteps.

The data collected by the Health Navigators in real-time is very accurate. Every healthcare worker reaches out to more than 2000 people by foot, goes door to door and does surveys, to understand what the healthcare need is.

Over the past three years, the project has had a tremendous impact.

It has managed to empower 45 Health Navigators, who cover a population of 50,000 people or 15,000 households, from low-income families in 90+ villages, in both rural and urban areas.

The project has established 3 collective enterprises of Health Navigators. Registering a client base of 9069 clients who are availing and paying for the services. This includes 7611 clients who are availing regular hypertension and blood sugar management services.

The range of services now includes primary screening for hypertension, diabetes prevention, and supply of sanitary pads.

The Health Navigators earn good revenue, in small-town urban areas it goes up to Rs 2000-2500 per month, and Rs 1000-1500 per month in the villages.

Going forward the project wishes to properly establish the microentrepreneurship model that creates tremendous value to the community.

They wish to include more services, like maternal care, eye care, wellness for children and bettering the screening facilities, to enable

Every healthcare worker reaches out to more than 2000 people by foot, goes door to door and does surveys, to understand what the healthcare need is are comfortable because the Health Navigators are well known to them.

The Health Navigators have financial freedom and social standing as entrepreneurs within the community. Going door to door, and reaching out to over 50,000 people, they are armed with handheld devices, to enable screening, testing, diet monitoring, lifestyle counselling, referrals and delivery of products efficiently to the client’s homes.

Women can order sanitary napkins at

early detection. The project aims to increase the Health Navigator’s income, to Rs5,000-7000 per month.

The project also wishes to compile all training modules into an audio/ visual format, so prospective Health Navigators can be trained more efficiently, and quickly, to absorb them into the community. The NGO aims to better the quality of health and to deliver health services, to transform the public health landscape.

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Literature

March 19 - 25, 2018

moral fable

A LETTER FROM SATAN

I

saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without stopping to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn’t even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine.

Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don’t love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I’m going to use you as long as possible to pay him back. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and I’m going to make your life a living hell. That way we’ll be together twice. This will really hurt God. Thanks to you. I’m really showing Him who’s boss in your life. With all of the good times we’ve had..... We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people, out partying, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, indulging in fornication, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, back

stabbing people, disrespecting adults and those in leadership position, NO respect for the mosque, bad attitudes: SURELY you don’t want to give all this up.

Come on, Fool, let’s burn together forever. I’ve got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I’d like to say “Thanks!” for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life.

You look 20 years older, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin.

All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that. Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now.

I’ll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, ask forgiveness from Him, live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It’s not my nature

STAY SHARP

to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it’s becoming a bit ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I still

O

nce upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason,the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

“Congratulations,” the boss said.

“Go on that way!” Very motivated for the boss’ words, the woodcutter try harder the next day,but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he try even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

“I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?”

hate you...IT’S JUST THAT YOU’D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR GOD.

the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees.”

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the axe.” In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that?

Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?

There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But God doesn’t want us to get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like taking time to pray, to read. We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow.

If we don’t take time to sharpen the axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. So start today. Think about the ways by which you could do your job more effectively and add a lot of value to it.

Events

March 19 - 25, 2018

events & more...

ACROSS

79 & 80, Meharchand Market, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

10 March 2018 12PM - 10 April 2018 11PM

SSB crossword no. 14

events

Diva Spiced - Asian Street Food Festival Venue: DIVA SPICED

SOLUTION of crossword no.13

Alliance Francaise De Delhi Venue: Alliance Francais 72, KK Birla Marg, Lodi Estate, New Delhi

Friday to Sunday -March 16 to March 18, 2018.

Friday | Sufi NIght Ft DJ Pankaj Venue: THE VELVET ROOM Local Shopping Complex, Building 3, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash 3, New Delhi 2 March 2018 9PM - 24 March 2018 1AM

1.Sindhi 2.Nasik 3.London 4.Jamuna 5.1911 6.Kuwait 7.1935 8.1979 9.Nepal 10. 1935

solution of sudoku-13

Single’s Night W/ Your Party App Venue:

New Year Bhonu Venue:

March 17, 2018 Time: 9pm Onwards

18 March 2018 11AM - 1 April 2018 11PM

Elemenopi, One Horizon center Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 5 Sector 43, Gurugram

31

11. USA 12. Geneva 13. Mercury 14. Japan 15. Bombay 16. Pluto 17. Tokyo 18. Punjab 19. Brazil 20. Blood

2. Over 200 scientists simulate tests for 1st manned mission to Mars in ___________.

6. Maharashtra government ties up with ___________ to promote Marathi.

7. This company has launched ‘#SecurityCheckKiya’ campaign in India to create awareness around Internet safety recently.

11. As per the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2018, what is the rank of Mumbai?

14. IndusInd Bank and ____ tie-up for cross border remittances.

17. Virat Kohli has been name as the first ambassador for __________.

18. The world’s tallest hotel developed by the Al Attar Group was opened in __________.

19. World ATM (Air Traffic Management) Congress WATMC 2018 held in _____ 20. The 2018 cultural festival ‘India by the Nile’ will be held in _________ DOWN 1. Which of the following launched the first ever Chat Based Job Search App recently?

3. This country launches World’s Longest Zip Line.

4. Which bank launches global customer service centre in Kochi?

5. Which organisation plans to build ‘igloos’ on Moon for astronauts?

8. Which state government has launched the ‘Gobardhan Yojana’ to support farmers?

9. Happay and this bank join hands to help firms manage T&E expenses.

10. When was Amateur Athletics Federation of India established?

12. The world’s first 5G commercial chip is unveiled by ___________.

13. K S Dwivedi has appointed as DGP of ____.

15. Which city will host the 2018 World Cup Event?

16. This bank has initiated a pilot scheme of credit cards for farmers recently.

sudoku-14

SODABOTTLEOPENERWALA 73, Khan Market, New Delhi

on the lighter side by DHIR

Please mail your solution to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712, One Lucky Winner will win Cash Prize of Rs 500/-. Look for the Solution in the Next Issue of SSB

32

POSTAL REGISTRATION NO. DL(W)10/2240/2017-19

Newsmakers

March 19 - 25, 2018

Country’s best drone flyer

B

engaluru youth Rohit Dey completed a seven-minute task of carrying ammunition to soldiers in a war zone in just 51 seconds. This lad is now the country’s best drone designer and operator.

Dey is a first year BSc student at Christ University who has been developing and flying drones from a very young age, bagged the first place along with a cash prize of Rs 75,000/- at the ‘Technex 2018’ of IIT (BHU) Varanasi for designing and flying

ia d n I f o n a M The Ice Rohit Dey a quadcopter with the mission objective of supplying payloads containing ammunition, medical kits and food to soldiers at ground zero in a war zone.

The participants in the competition had to design a radio controlled multi-rotor (tricopter, quad- copter, hex-copter, etc.) whose size was less than 25 cm. There were 120 participants from all over the country and they had to accomplish the task within seven minutes. Dey came first as he accomplished the mission in a mere 51 seconds.

Yathaarth M

The 11-year-old ‘Anthemologist’ Yathaarth knows 215 National Anthems and aims a place in Guinness Book of World Records

T

his young boy has in his memory National anthems of 215 countries and he can sing all of them. The interesting thing is out of these about 100 are not in English.

11-year-old Yathaarth M of Bengaluru has a special hobby, and he is hoping to create a record soon. He is only in sixth standard, but has memorised the National Anthems of 215 countries.

The son of architects Shilpa and Spoorthy N M, Yathaarth got into this strange hobby after the following incident. His music teacher had taught him the tunes of national anthems of Japan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

When he asked the teacher to teach anthems

People called him ‘pagal’ but that did not deter him from solving Leh’s water crisis

of other nations, the teacher refused. That was it. Yathaarth started learning the other anthems on his own. He would practise the anthems every day for an hour and also give importance to the anthems of lesser known countries.

Yathaarth says he wants to become an ‘anthemologist’. And he is already on his way to becoming one. He entered the Limca Book of Records for singing the nationals anthem of 112 countries in 2017 and now he aims to find a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

He is the world’s first, youngest individual who can sing national anthems of all UN member countries.

Chewang Norphel

Bengaluru’s Rohit Dey did what normally takes seven-minutes in just a matter of seconds

unsung hero

Y

ears back, on a harsh winter morning in Ladakh in the northernmost Himalayas in India, a young and curious boy in a remote mountain village of the cold desert observed water coming out of a semi-frozen pipe, collecting in a small crater on the ground and freezing, just like a glacier.

A few decades later, in 1986, the boy, Chewang Norphel -- as a civil engineer with the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Development Department -- took inspiration from his childhood observations and made a breakthrough by devising the first artificial glacier in picturesque Leh, thereby solving a water crisis faced by the local community, of which at least 80 per cent were farmers growing barley and wheat.

Spurred by the success of his experiment, he went on to create 17 such artificial glaciers across Ladakh, thereby earning his nickname – “The Ice Man of India”.

Most of his projects received financial aid from several state-run programmes, the army and various national and international NGOs. Winters are severe in Ladakh due to which there are no winter crops. Whatever water flows during this time is wasted while during the sowing season, there is hardly any water available because natural glaciers, situated some 5,000 feet above and 20-25 km away from the villages, only melt after June.

Norphel has built glaciers at the toughest terrains in Ladakh with a technique to harvest winter waste water in the form of ice. And by creating artificial glaciers at relatively lower altitudes, it was possible to get water when it was needed. Close to his heart is the 1,000-feetwide glacier that he built at the Phukte valley which supplies water to five villages. The glacier was built at the cost of approximately Rs 90,000/- only while normally it goes up to Rs 15 lakh, depending on its size and capacity. Now an 80-year-old source of inspiration, Norphel’s journey was not easy, as people initially used to laugh at him and called him “pagal” (crazy). But that did not deter him as all he saw was a grave problem which needed a solution that he could provide. A hero for those who know him, Norphel wishes he had more energy at his age.

RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 14 Printed by Monika Jain, Published by Monika Jain on behalf of SULABH SANITATION MISSION FOUNDATION and Printed at The Indian Express Ltd., A-8, Sector-7, NOIDA (U.P.) and Published from RZ 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi – 110 045. Editor Monika Jain