NYHETSBREV 2006

Nyhetsbrev från Jagriti Vihara   2006-05-22

Informationsgruppen på Jagriti Vihara, har bett mig informera Er om den senaste tidens utveckling.
   Vi har jobbat mycket med att få flera kvinnor involverade i våra ”self help groups”. Vi har upprättat flera träningscentra för att träna dem i olika hantverk t.ex att göra pickles, soltorkade tomater, soltorkade medicinala kryddväxter och liknande.
   Projektet med champinjonerna har utvecklats i stort sett bra, men vi har haft en del problem med för hög temperatur, som har förstört en del av skörden. Vi tänker dock fortsätta produktionen och kanske sälja den genom våra ”self help groups”
   Vi har tidigare haft en grupp med flickor som var analfabeter, på Jagriti Vihara, och vi fick då en liten ersättning från staten. Försöket var mycket lyckat och många andra flickor vill börja.
   Staten har lovat att ge lite stöd igen till en ny grupp, men den har inte kunnat starta på grund av så mycket byråkrati. Flera flickor har kommit till oss och bett att få börja och vi gör vårt yttersta för att försöka få igång detta projekt i juli detta år.
   Vad beträffar skolan i McCluskieganj, kan vi berätta att alla våra elever har klarat sin examen, varav 12 av våra elever har fått högsta betyg. Detta är det bästa resultatet någonsin i vår skola.
   En annan god nyhet är, att efter att ha väntat i tjugu år, så har vi fått det första utlovade bidraget från staten till skolan. Det är 30 000 rupier (ca 6000 SEK). Staten vill bidra med detta belopp varje månad. Vi har planer på att anställa ett par lärare till, och även öka lärarlönen lite.
   I  vår grannby Dumaro väntar man fortfarande på att få elektricitet. Utrustningen har kommit, men arbetet är ännu inte utfört på grund av försening av installationen, som kräver en tekniker från staten.
   I år har bönderna i vår region åter haft det mycket svårt på grund av torkan. Därför är det brist på mat, och en del sjukdomar har ökat på grund av nedsatt motståndskraft. TBC har ökat kraftigt den senaste tiden, och det oroar oss mycket. Även på Jagriti Vihara är vi drabbade av torkan, och en hel del av våra fruktträd har tyvärr dött.
   Vår nya generator och pump fungerar bra, och vi har därför haft dricksvatten och vatten till hushållet. Våra hus på Jagriti Vihara börjar nu bli i stort behov av reparationer, och det bekymrar oss att vi har tak som läcker, även efter diverse reparationer förra året. Det skulle vara bra med en insamling till detta ändamål, eftersom det inte ryms i vår vanliga budget.
Jag passerar just Sverige på min väg till Norge där jag skall delta i flera möten. Jag skall tala om dialog kontra terrorism. Åhörarna är människor från folkhögskolor samt internationella fredsarbetare.

Med varma hälsningar från Jaya
och alla medarbetare på Jagriti Vihara.

Nyhetsbrev från Jagriti Vihara   2006-07-05

Dear friend,
The activities carried out during the first half of the year 2006 can be briefly mentioned as follows:

All of us, the core group, field workers, resource persons and Self Help Groups from the target villages, have been very much concerned about the deteriorating socio- political climate of our region. Besides poverty and violence the disunity among the political representatives of the people has been on the increase. The acute shortage of water causing decrease in the production of food grains, the lack of dialogue and meeting point between the Administration and the extremists and at the same time the quarrels among the political representatives including some members of the Government do not promise the expected reward and encouragement to the people struggling to face the challenge of the time. Anyway, we must go ahead with our activities in solidarity with the people cooperating with us to alleviate the problems.
  Peoples' RIGHT TO INFORMATION for bringing about transparency in the use of public funds was the main topic of a three days' seminar held during the period between 25th and 27th February, 2006. It was our long cherished desire to make the villagers aware about this very significant right obtained by the peoples of our country. By observing the interests ands enthusiasm shown by the participants we felt that our effort was successful. Villagers, including Self Help Groups of Women, have started visiting the Block Development Officers of their areas to make enquiries regarding the funds allocated for the development work to be undertaken in their villages, We are hopeful of some improvement in the work culture of the public servants.
  In accordance with the schedule contacts were made with the villagers and the training of (a) the batches of village resource persons, (b)village entrepreneurs (SHGs) and (c) field workers took place at Jagriti Vihara.
  Both women and men took part in organized visits to different rural and urban markets in the districts of Ranchi and Lohardagga.
  The second three days' seminar was held at Jagriti Vihara during the period between 15th and 17th April, 2006. The topics were (i) food preservation in rural areas (ii) identification, production and marketing of medicinal plants and (iii) the concept and purpose of Fair Trade.

Greetings from
Rajesh, Sushil and Suman
on behalf of Jagriti Vihara

Newsletter from Jagriti Vihara   2006-09-15

Monsoon rains, which completely destroyed crops standing in the fields and killed a very large number of people and animals in the villages of the vast areas of the western states of India, brought green peace to the forests and fields of Jharkhand. The rural poor who starved and suffered from malnutrition and several diseases caused by it during the last very hot summer  are now full of expectancy waiting for a good harvesting season.
   The Govt. of Jharkhand which has been unstable since the oath taking day  was forced out of power yesterday. The National Democratic Alliance, in a very tense political situation, had it’s much expected downfall  when the Chief Minister, Arjun Munda, submitted his resignation just before the time to face the trial of strength on the floor of the House.
   The Government has not been functioning properly up to the expectation of the people. Law and order situation has deteriorated in the State. Extremists so far have been out of the control of the Administration. Violence and crimes against women continues. People exist with the feeling of insecurity. Under the circumstances our tasks to work in the rural areas are more difficult than ever before. Anyway, with the support of the innocent and hard working people of our target villages we keep working up to the expectations of the beneficiaries of our projects. In order to face the tense sociopolitical situation we are in close contact with very many likeminded individuals and quite a few voluntary organizations extending their moral support to us.
   Recently we had visits of some friends who advised us to open a women’s college for imparting higher education to the girls who have completed their education in the Secondary School run by us and in certain other schools having pedagogical approaches similar to ours. We have been trying our best to create suitable conditions for protecting human values among our pupils.
   Being a voluntary organization devoting a lot of time in educating children and adults belonging to families existing below the poverty line we are unable to become financially self - supporting. Therefore we continue to expect all kinds of support from our friends.

Thanking our friends with a feeling of gratitude,
Jagriti Vihara information group

Rajesh, Suman, Sushil  and Lucy

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