Vanavasi KalyanRemembering Our Forgotten Brethren

AgendaWho are Vanavasis?What is the problem with current state of affairs?What are the solutions?Role of Vanavasi KalyanCase studies

VanavasisVanavasis = Forest Tribals, Janajatis

8% of Indian population, spread across India.

Wide spectrum of Hindu forms of worship (Sun, trees, forests, idols, stones, various gods and goddesses, and even the formless God)

LivelihoodForest products, small scale cultivation, daily wagers in farming, hunting, etc.

Glimpses of Vanavasis in Our EpicsAditi

Mother of All Gods, Worshipped by VanavasisBelieved to be a form of Durga

ShabariBelonged to Shabara forest tribe, was a disciple of Rishi Matanga Offered tasted fruits to Lord Rama with love, hailed as a great example of Bhakti

GuhaChieftain of Shringaberapura, a forest dwelling on the banks of Ganga as per Ramayana Guha helps Rama to cross the river in his boat, Rama embraces him and declares Guha to be his brother-like

Ekalavya A prince of Nishada (hunter) tribe in the Mahabharata An expert archer and a valiant fighter Cut his thumb as an offering, as demanded by his master, hailed as an example of devotion to Guru

Glimpses of Vanavasis in our History

Glimpses of Vanavasis in our HistoryRani Durgavati

Fought against Mughals alongside with her young sonPreferred kill herself (24th June 1542) than being captured by enemy, when an arrow pierced her ear and another arrow passed through her neck.Govt, of India released a stamp in her name on 24th June, 1988.

Rani GaidinliuBorn in Manipur, joined freedom struggle at the age of 13.Was awarded life imprisonment for raging war against British rule.Was released when India became free.

Current State of Affairs with VanavasisLack of Education and Infrastructure

Lack of awareness about “true” History of BharatVanavasis are termed ‘Adivasis’ by Colonial rules.Modified history of Bharat is presented.

Side-lined by our own intellectualsKeeping ourselves distinct from the VanavasisLack of brethren treatment towards Vanavasis

Unemployed Youth

What Needs to be Done?Infrastructure

Provide leak-proof houses, clothes and other basic facilities

Health SupportAt least one doctor per tribal area

EducationAt least one school per tribal areaBring awareness amongst Vanavasis to get educated

Employment GenerationProvide vocational training to meet industry requirements

The list only grows endless…

Vanavasi Kalyan

A non-profit voluntary organizationstriving for

the comprehensive development of Vanavasis.

Objectives of Vanavasi Kalyan• To be one with the Vanavasi brethren and make them

feel that they are an inseparable part of our society. • Instill pride in their glorious past, their art, customs

and social values. • Provide the basic education to vanavasi children.• Provide basic health care.• Provide platform for the development of potential

power in sports among Vanavasis.• Identify, Plan, execute and facilitate sustainable

economic development projects in the Tribal Areas.

Objectives of Vanavasi Kalyan

• To develop community leadership among their society.

• Create social awareness among the citizens on the needs of  Vanavasis.

• Bring about overall improvement in the lives of Vanavasis while retaining their cultural identity and their social value systems.

• Finally, enable the Vanavasis to play major role in Environment protection, National Integration and Nation Building.

Snaps from Vanavasi Kalyan Activities

Statistics on Vanavasi projects (Bharat)Project statisticsNo. of service projects 9,737Service Center 6,037Lok Mandals 434Total villages in our county 5.50 lakhsVanavasi Villages 1.34 lakhsVillages contacted by Vanavasi kalyan 32,149

Full TimersTotal number of Full Timers 1,290Men 1,040Women 250

Statistics on Vanavasi projects (Bharat)Education:Primary schools 327One teacher schools 984Middle/Higher schools 18Non-formal education centers 1,476Bal Sankar Kendras 729Satsang Kendras 2,918Libraries and reading rooms 62No. of Hostels/Hostellers:Boys: 127 / 3,925No. of Hostels/Hostellers:Girls 30 / 965

Statistics on Vanavasi projects (Bharat)Health Care:Medical Centers & Hospitals 924

Economic Development:Agri.-Development Centers 63Craft Training Centers 40

Sports:Sports Centers 1,811No.of Sports Authority of India sports persons, who are trained in Vanavasi Kalyan's sports projects.

71

Statistics on Vanavasi projects (Karnataka)Free hostels 4Shishu Mandirs 9Bala Vikasa Kendras 46Libraries 9Evening Schools 3Bhajan Centers 20Sports centers 4Self Help groups 183Tailoring Training centers 1Krishi Kendra 1Veterinary centers 20Total projects 300Total places where projects are run 265

Statistics on Vanavasi projects (Karnataka)Activity Centers

Belgaum, Dharwad, Karwar, Chamarajnagar, Kodagu, Mysore

Tribes that Vanavasi Kalyan is working withSuliga, Jenu Kuruba, Yurav, Valmiki, Siddi, Danagar, Gauli, Kumbri marathi, Halakki, Gond

Total number Full Timers : 31Total number of Par Timers : 7

Case Study 1 – EducationSunita Bichluke finds a home in one of Vanavasi Kalyan volunteers’ houses to stay and get educated.

Moves to Girls’ Hostel (Dandeli) along with few other girls.

Cultural values learnt in the hostel spread from Sunita Bichluke to other girls and families in their tribe. Another such name is Seeta.

From this one success story, today we have four girls studying in college. From zero literacy some years back to the current four girls studying in college in just few years.

Case Study 2 – Economic EmpowermentSelf Help Group

Aim: Women EmpowermentHow it works?

A group of around 25 women save on monthly basisThese women borrow from this corpus fund on need basis

Advantage: Protection from money lender’s monopolyOther advantages: Leadership and administrative qualities are built amongst women

This also brings unity in community to address other social problems.

Ex: liquor shop in one of the tribal areas was kicked out!

Case Study 3 – Employment PreparationBeeru and his reluctant friends and family had observed illiteracy for many decades.

Beeru stayed in Boys’ Hostel in Dandeli to complete his education.

Today Beeru holds Diploma (Automobiles) and has a job to support his family! Other such names are:

Bagu (B. Com, working in Goa)Kondu (Diploma in Dairy)Vittu (B. Com, working in bank)

Vocational training like tailoring for tribal women are also undertaken.

Case Study 4 – Hita RakshaVittu Shalke was saddened when his wife died in an accident caused by a bus.

The transport organization denied to pay compensation.

Vanavasi Kalyan fought for Vittu Shalke’s rights and ensured that Vittu Shalke received his part of compensation.

There are many such instances.

Case Study 5 – Sports ActivitiesMangala Siddhi stayed in Vanavasi Hostel while studying.

Received medals in All India Vanavasi Sports Meet in Shot Put and Running.

Mangala Siddhi is now a full-time volunteer.

Limba Ram (the Olympian archer) is a product of Vanavasi Hostel at Rajasthan.

Vanavasi Kalyan is the sole organizing agency for Central Govt. sponsored “Vanavasi Olympics” held once in four years.

Birds Eye View of AchievementsInstrumental in building small bridges in vanavasi hamlets with the help of government bodies and local vanavasi women.

Starting schools in un-reached areas.

Coordinated with Govt. organizations in providing electricity and drinking water to vanavasi areas.

Provided medical help to critically ill Vanavasis by admitting them in specialty hospitals.

Persuaded Vanavasis to keep themselves away from alcoholism.

Community leadership and many more …

Demography of Vanavasi Areas – No. of districts (Karnataka)

75

3

Effective Areas Started In Remaining

You are right…….

Seeing is believing !!

Vanayatraa unique wayto experience our projects and vanavasi life !!!

Vanayatra 1 - Chamarajnagar, Bandipur, Gundlupet 

This place is near Mysore. the hilltop is around 30 kms from Chamarajnagar town.The area is a reserved forest and the Soliga community is living there for ages, surrounded by thick rain forest and wild animals.Bandipur is a famous wild life sanctuary in Karnataka. This can be a hectic trip of one day from Mysore.Start before 8 am from Mysore and start the return journey from forest before 4.30pm. There is no public transport to the hills. VKK arranges for the Vehicle.

Ideal group :5 to 15 members.Ideal time  :Through out the yearExpense     :Rs. 500/- per head 

Accommodation and Food :Provided by Vanavasi Kalyan

Vanayatra 2 - Dandeli, Ambikanagar

The place is around 400Kms. from Bangalore. It is a overnight journey by train or by bus to Hubli on Friday night visit the places, night stay at Ambikanagar.Here is the famous Kali River Hydal power project which generates around 40% of Karnataka’s power requirement.This is a reserved forest area and a trekking place. Sunday morning again visit the Vanavasi villages in the remote forest areas and return back to Bangalore by night train from Hubli.

Ideal group :5 to 15 members.Ideal time  :October to March (June to September  if you want to

experience the heavy rains through out the day and the  tribal life during rainy season make up

your mind with rain coat, warm cloths and gum boots)

Expense     :Rs. 1000/- per head 

Accommodation and Food :Provided by Vanavasi Kalyan

Possible Areas to Extend HelpElders

Youth

Children

Women

Hope lies on you …Sponsor Education of a Child

PrimaryHigh SchoolDegree Courses

Monthly Expenses of a Full-Time WorkerAnnual Hostel Expense of a StudentSewing Machine for WomenAnnual Expenses of LibraryDonating Clothes to Vanavasi FamilyGet associated with Vanavasi projects

Please refer Vanavasi Kalyan brochure for details.

Money matters .…A moped to a Volunteer 30,000Yearly honorarium of a Volunteer 18,000Yearly traveling expenses of a Volunteer 12,000Yearly expenses of a library 10,000Yearly hostel expenses of a student 9,000Yearly College education expenses  of a student 6,000Half yearly Hostel expenses of a student 4,500A sewing machine 4,000Yearly High school expenses of a student 3,000A bicycle to a volunteer 2,500Yearly primary education expenses of a child 2,000Monthly honorarium of a full time worker 1,500Monthly traveling of a full time worker 1,000Set of blankets to a family 1,000Set of dhothis to a family 1,000Set of sarees to a family 1,000Monthly college education expenses of a student  500

Thanks for your time…

Contact for Vanayatra and other detailsVenkatesh Nayak 94800 75149Dr. Suresh Babu 98445 74436Balasubrahmanya 98445 94422

Vanavasi Kalyan‘Vanasri’, 1435/36, 2nd Cross, 5th A Main, ‘D’ Block, Rajajinagar 2nd Stage,

Bangalore – 10Phone : 080 – 23420844, 9449776782

Email : info@vanavasikalyan.org

Please visit us at http://www.vanavasikalyan.org/