Chapter 1.

I Sewa International in Action: Ongoing Projects
Building self reliant society is a challenge for Sewa activists. “Once a beneficiary always remains a beneficiary” is the thumb rule for everyone around. SI stands out differently on this issue having turned beneficiaries into benefactors and the beneficiaries start serving the society as well

1. Empowering Women Through Micro Enterprise Development in Kutch, Gujarat.


Handicraft women artisans at work.
The economy of Kutch suffered a severe blow on account of the devastating earthquake on 26th of January 2001. Clusters of industries, households and cottage industries disappeared, not just disrupted. The earthquake also had major adverse impact on the rich traditional handicrafts of the region. After the devastating earthquake, about 19,000 handicraft artisans in the district of Kutch were left in the lurch; the death of about 20,000 cattle caused heavy loss of earnings of many people. The most important challenge faced by the developmental organizations was that of restoring their lives and livelihood.

As a joint initiative of Sewa International and Centre for Bharatiya Marketing Development (CBMD), supported by India Development & Relief Fund USA, a project on “Micro Credit to Micro Enterprise Development through Entrepreneurship Development Training” at Kutch, Gujarat was envisaged and initiated. The year 2005 was designated as the Year of micro enterprise development by the United Nations and this is why SI launched this project in the same year. Remarkable achievements have been made so far in the last three years journey.

Training Workshop and Products.

Project Operational Area: Sewa International & CBMD are working in Kutch district of Gujarat with its offices and Staffs located at Bhuj and Lodai. The project is operational in 10 villages of Bhuj taluka, 5 villages of Rapar taluka and 3 Villages of Nakhatrana Taluka of Kutch District, selected on the basis of level of poverty and backwardness. Some of the villages are Lodai, Dhrang, Khengarpar, Kotey, Zikadi, Mota Varnora, Bhirindiyara, Hodka, and Sanosara of Bhuj Taluka. Navi Dhamay, Vyaar Village of Nakhatrana Taluka and Gagodar, Khirai, Bidada of Rapar taluka.

The selected self help groups after initial training have further been clubbed into a producer group. Each group has its own skills and capabilities. The whole group is divided according to their expertise. Each group takes care of procuring raw materials, tracing on the cloth, Inspection while working, quality checking, packaging etc. At present, 150 women are directly & 150 indirectly associated with the project. Rise in income of the beneficiaries could be seen clearly from the amount of work they do presently. Earlier they didn’t get proper returns for their embroidery work because it had become out of fashion. After the proper training through this program they have now bulk orders from the exporters and wholesale dealers and are receiving reasonable profit for their work. A woman earns about Rs. 1000 – Rs. 1500 per month by doing embroidery work apart from attending their daily chores at home. Three of the SHGs so far have availed loan of Rs. 25,000 from Kutch Gramin Bank & all the three groups have paid back their loan within stipulated time. Apart from embroidery work 10 women are now experts in tailoring and are engaged in production. Likewise, SI has developed other producer groups in other villages too.
Objectives Achieved Through…………
“Training Programs”: The main objective of these training programs was up-gradation of technology and skill of artisans in this sector so as to improve their efficiency, productivity and their income. The trainings were on design development, colour combination, market friendly products etc. The impact of Training Programs could be seen easily in the work quality of beneficiaries as compared to the day when SI had started this project.“Capacity Building & Legal Literacy Workshops” had a deep impact on the beneficiaries as they helped them to develop their hidden talent & skills.
Capacity Building Workshops at Gagodar, Lodai, Keshav Nagar, Hodka, and Sanosara showed an active participation of the beneficiaries."Exhibition Exposure” helped the beneficiaries to provide marketing linkages by way of connecting to the customers, eliminating middlemen and providing direct technical, financial and marketing facilities, creating a market network for their products and developing a proper enterprise for them. SI organized exclusive exhibitions at Hyderabad, Thane, Mumbai and Delhi to provide the artisans an opportunity to explore the immense opportunities for their overall growth and development, information on current trends and likely changes in the future. Exposure to four “Swadeshi Melas” helped them to know the present market trend and demand and to produce accordingly. Apart from these activities CBMD-SI in association with Rural Technology Institute, Gujarat organized three training programs at Lodai for the skill up-gradation of the artisans.
The above mentioned diagram shows the progressive working process of women employees in the last three year. Apart from their skill up-gradation, their socio-economic condition has also improved.
2. Promotion of Alternative Energy Sources:
Bio diesel: It is cheap and renewable alternative energy source. There are about 20 species of trees whose seeds can yield acceptable Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) and of these, Pongamia (Karanj) has many advantages.
Recently, Dr. Robin Joseph Abraham of Sewa International, Delhi traveled to rural tribal villages of Jharkhand, where Karanj trees are found in large numbers. His aim was to create awareness among the tribal people about bio-diesel as an alternative fuel. The response of the tribal people was very encouraging and it was decided to take this movement to more villages in Jharkhand and Orissa, two least developed states of Bharat.
Advantages of Bio-Diesel:
a. Bio-Diesel plants are found in abundance in many parts of the countryand can be grown with minimum investment.
b. A large number of people can be benefited by this.
c. Bio-diesel is safer to store (less inflammable).
d. It requires no new technology to run engines.
e. Bio-diesel plants do not release much carbon dioxide.
f. Bio-diesel plants have a long shelf life.
g. Bio-diesel suites to the engines.
h. Bio-diesel is biodegradable.
Apart from promotion of alternative energy sources among people, Sewa International is engaged in providing consultancy through media and meetings with an objective to bring this issue to the mainstream.

3. Sewa International in Quest of Alternative Energy
Energy crisis world over is a challenge, especially in the developing and underdeveloped countries. While the energy sources are drying up, experts are looking for alternative and eco-friendly sources of generating energy. Searching for such alternative energy source, Sewa International decided to put in efforts for relatively unknown technique of Biomass Gasifier. Active cooperation of Shri Naresh Sharma from USA and aided by Sewa USA & IDRF USA, the dream of generating power locally has turned into reality.
Karansinghji Ki Khedi, an obscure remote village in Bhilwada district of Rajasthan with a population of less than thousand, became an ideal venue for the experiment. People of the village responded positively to the inspiring call by Shri Rameshwarji.
Dr. Robin Abraham of Sewa International did the whole exercise well to convince the concerned. Officials of Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources recognized the importance of the project instantaneously with an offer of subsidy.
The first phase of a bio-mass gasifier project was inaugurated by the local MP Shri V. P. Singh at Karansinghji ki Khedi in Bhilwada district of Rajasthan on 16th of October, 2007. The project has been setup by the Sewa International with the help of Madhav Gau Gigyan Kendra, Bhilwada, Rajasthan. The fuel source for this gasifier is in the form of wood stalks. This village has a population of about 500 and 90 hut-dwellings. But sufficient electrical power was not available for crop production and many families were forced to migrate to the cities in search of livelihood during the dry season. Biomass gasifier has changed the situation. Migration to other places has come to a naught. They are now willing to engage themselves in agricultural activities in dry season also. The wild Babool, which grows extensively in the region is most suitable to be the fuel for the gasifier and an area of about 300 acres was earmarked for babool extraction. The entire project is divided into two phases. The first phase stands completed with gasifier commissioned. In order to reduce further dependence on wood, phase-II of the project would include a bio-gas plant and a briquette making machine. Some of the crop residues which are burnt in the field can be mixed with the out put of bio-gas plant and briquetted for fuel into the gasifier. There was an overwhelming response from the farming community. Involvement of the villagers and their satisfaction is an important indicator for this project. Other factors that encourage SI are the number of queries from all around to know and understand the technology, and the offer by the concerned Ministry to extend subsidy to similar projects in more villages. Sewa International’s resolve for sustainable development is amply proved by the Biomass Gasifier that generates energy to run 4 motor/ pump-sets of 5HP for irrigation in Karansinghji Ki Khedi.
4. Seemajan Chhatravas - Serving Border Villages of Rajasthan.
The border regions of Rajasthan face multiple problems such as drought, illiteracy and even problems like untouchability amongst the castes. The Seemajan Chhatravas (Hostel) was started with mere 10 students in the year 1991 in the premises of Adarsh Vidya Mandir. Presently, it has 42 students staying in the Chhatravas.

Selection procedure and achievements:
1. Students should belong to the villages and towns situated on the Rajasthan borders.
2. Students must be from economically and socially backward families.
3. The students are selected through an entrance examination and interview
Achievements of the project-
For the first time a student of Jogi Tribe has passed his High school examination by staying in this Hostel. He has set an example for other students of his tribe to follow suit.
Chaohatan block situated in the area of Rann of Kutch is largely inhabited by Koli Tribes. Some students of this tribe are now pursuing higher studies who have been alumni of this hostel.
Establishing bond with the families of the students and their villages. The villagers of these villages get to know various on-going activities of the area and these people are now motivated to participate in the relief activities in the famine struck area and take part in developmental activities.
The sense of patriotism is imbibed in the students, staying in the hostel. These students influence their parents on similar lines and the parents are also ready to join hands with army units located along the Indo- Pak border.
5. Vocational Training Center for the Urban Youth in Delhi:
A Vocational Training Center was run by the Sewa International in association with Sewa Bharati, Delhi between 2001-2004 for the youth & women especially from the slums, at Jhandewala. Leaning various technical trades like electric & electronic courses, TV repairs and tailoring classes for the women folk benefited more than 950 people. Several trained students have started small businesses, in the area of their specialization. SI is delighted that many of the pass outs from this training centre spend time to volunteer for the center to achieve its mission of self reliance.
6. A Bal Sanskar Kendra in Delhi- Young mind is the most impressionable and the values and habits that are inculcated at an early age help build up a personality. This scheme was implemented in Delhi between 1999-2000 with the support of volunteer youths who spare two to three hours in a day for this noble cause. Kids were brought together at some convenient place in slums and backward villages for imparting moral education. SI succeeded in getting 500 children admitted to regular school through these centers who otherwise could never go to school.
7. Health at Doorstep: Mobile Medical Van
Mithapasvaria is one of the 14 villages rehabilitated by Sewa International in Gujarat post earthquake. After handing over the houses to the beneficiaries, SI deputed a Doctor, who has been provided a residential accommodation in the village itself.

Key Handing-over ceremony at Mithapasavalia

Since 2001 when earthquake occured, a mobile medical van has been operational serving 21 villages around Mithapasvaria on a regular basis. Free treatment and medicines are being provided to the patients.
8. Jivaram Memorial Medical Centre in Delhi: Dispensing Free Health Care to The Poor:Jivaram Memorial Medical Centre was started in April 2007 at Sarai Rohilla (near Daya Basti) in Delhi by a group of local activists of Sewa International.
In the begining, a survey was also conducted by several local karyakartas including Shri Achyut Pathak, Shri Jagat Pal, Shri Avadhbihari and Shri Prahlad for the identification of operational area, resources, infrastructure etc. A local businessman of North Delhi Shri Ramesh Ralhan provided rent-free space in his house for this centre.
This allopathic medical centre runs twice a week (every Tuesday and Saturday) with the help of Dr. Yogendra Singh, an experienced medical practitioner and committed Swayamsevak. Medicines are provided free of cost to the patients. Arbout 20-25 patients visit the Centre for treatment on Tuesdays and Saturdays respectively. The Centre dispenses medicines of Rs. 10,000/- per month.

Dr. Yogendra Singh prescribing medicines to the patients at Jivaram Memorial Medical Centre run by S.I. Delhi

9. Empowering Youth With the Spirit of Sewa.
Sewa is probably one virtue that attracts youth in good number. On the other hand most of the voluntary bodies experience paucity of human resources.
There are two programs that we are looking at, one aiming to draw youth from abroad, provide them with opportunity of serving while the other aiming at the local youth from abroad, provide them with opportunity of serving while the other aiming at the local youth and encouraging them to serve the society. Yuwa for Sewa is drawing youth from abroad to Pune while Youth for Seva is working in Bangalore.
‘Youth for Seva’ started in 2007 by a few volunteers who felt the need for a platform for the youth with strong desire to serve the underprivileged and the needy. The project is aimed at inspiring youth to volunteer and to connect them to the grassroots NGOs which are selected on the basis of their track-record and ability to efficiently utilize the time and talent of the volunteers. ‘Youth for Seva’ is a project of the ‘Hindu Seva Pratisthan’, which has been in the forefront of social service for nearly three decades in the state of Karnataka.
‘Youth for Sewa’ conducts orientation program for student volunteers before deputing them to various projects or to organizations. An orientation program was held on 12th September, 2007 which received overwhelming response. 84 girls registered for the program which was organized in collaboration with the NSS chapter of a local college. On the 29th September, more than 50 students from another college registered for volunteering. ‘Youth for Seva’ is working hard to engage more NGOs and initiate more projects in the near future.
“Yuwa for Sewa” Exposes Youth to tangible Indian Life. Six University students from USA and Europe have participated and completed their terms of 3 months of voluntary service in one or the other project in and around Pune in Maharashtra till now. Two American students also have worked at Pune in Maharashtra. Here is a comment from Sarah Elswik that speaks for her program in India. She writes, “So much to say about this village visit. My focus of study in anthropology provided with the facts about the life of villagers of a tribal group. But this field visit provided the opportunity to see, smell, taste, hear and learn first hand what tribal life is about. I thought it was a chance of a life time, and the family was so generous. Of course, but I also experienced cultural shock, and missing home because it is so different. I know that tribal life is a different matter because they are so close to nature that I'm envious, and so kind to everyone. Life is so simple in my terms in the village, but they ask for nothing more because really they have what the basic human needs are, which are food, water and shelter. I have a much different perspective from this visit.”
Responding to interactive session during the initial orientation program Katherine Pierson writes: “I liked these sessions because we got to actually leave the flat and go out to see where these people work and what they do. They were easily able to show us pictures, power point presentations, etc. because they had the resources right there in their office. These sessions were really good because they taught us specifically about what we would be doing on our individual projects, and allowed us to ask questions to better understand them.
10. Empowering Youths of Jammu & Kashmir: Sewa international took up the challenging task of empowering the youths of trouble torn state Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2004. It opened a computer centre at Gopalpora, in the Badgam district, initially with two computers and seven students. The computer centre was named as Madina Computer centre. SI made frequent visits to the project site to bolster confidence among the students, as it rarely had any presence in the valley earlier. Finally, its tireless effort yielded a good result. Out of the 22 boys and girls who passed out last year, five have got Government job in various Govt. institutions and nine of them have got placement in good private companies. Now the local people have requested for a bigger institute with more space, as large number of students are approaching for admission every year in spite of SI’s own constraints.
11. Survey of Voluntary and Non-governmental organizations:
Sewa International conducted a survey in the year 2000, of voluntary as well as non-governmental organizations that have been working in various fields and in various geographical locations throughout the country. Many of these organizations have offered yeomen service to the society and established norms for such organizations. Sewa International, in an effort to connect to such organizations, surveyed the activity of these organizations and has prepared a data of their activities, personnel, trustees and their publications. Till now, SI has surveyed more than 700 organizations throughout all the states of India and has gathered all the data available for these numbers of organizations including their printed materials. The available data at Sewa office has helped many of our grass root organizations as well as the donor willing to sponsor a project or activity by providing specific information in minimum time.

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Sewa International is a voluntary service organization working with the cooperation of our brothers and sisters living in several countries all over the world, with centre at Delhi in Bharat. All the workers are motivated with the ideal of selfless service to our brethren in distress and sufferings of all kinds, may be because of Poverty or deprivations of the basic human needs or discrimination or because of calamities either man-made or natural. True to the motto that we proudly display , "Sewa hi Paramo Dharmah", Sewa International assures the supporters and readers that serving the communities without any discrimination as eulogized in the motto-serving others selflessly s the highest form of Dharma - that we would continue to tread this path we have so fondly chosen. As Swami Vivekananda explains: "The poor, the illiterate, the ignorant, the afflicted let there be your God, know that service to these people along is the highest religion."