Gurukul

Gurukul (Guru refers to "teacher" ; Kul refers to his domain, from the Sanskrit word kula, meaning extended family.) is a type of ancient Hindu school in India that is residential in nature with the shishyas or students and the guru or teacher living in proximity, many a time within the same house. The Gurukul is the place where the students resided together as equals, irrespective of their social standing. 

This kind of gurukul can be seen in present days, when I had been to village study. In the evening few children applied vibuthi on their forehead and going with school bag, they passed in front of me. Surprisingly I asked to villagers are they going for tuition here, he told for Sandya Gurukul. I started asking what it is and where.
Sandya Gurukul was started by Chetrupananda Sarasvathi Swamy from All India Movement for Seva Foundation.

In North Karnataka education level is lower level, if we compare with other part of Karnataka. Main reason to start Gurukul is to make to know about the importance of Hindu Religion. They will teach Bhagavath Geetha, Philosophy apart from they are also covering the class curriculum. Students from 5th to 7th std can join, and other main reason is to avoid distraction from outside envirnoment, because in villages at evening time father may involve there child in other activities.
To teach children, in every village they will select 10th /12th pass students and they train for 8days. Teachers will get Rs 370/- as a honorarium . around 80 gurukul comes under Hubli Taluk
Rules to follow in Sandya Gurukul for students
· They have take blessing from parents by touching feet daily before going to gurukul
· Prayer , yoga, Bhagavath geetha will do for 2hr and next 2hrs they will cover class curriculum

Below 5th std students are not taken for gurukul because they can’t spell the words from bahgavth geetha. And also planned to open a vocational training center for SSLC and PU students near to there village, they only arrange transportation facilities for them. first Rs 500/- has to deposit and while leaving they will return. Main intention is that nothing should give free, other wise importance of training will loose.

Every 57th Sunday they will arrange a meeting with parents in any one of the village, so that all village students and parents, teachers will attend. They do cultural activates and games for children’s
Last Sunday of each Month, all teacher and supervisor will meet with Chetrupananda swamy once in a week and they will prepare the schedule for next month and work on queries.

Conclusion:
This Kind of programs we seen rarely in rural areas, by doing this kind of work we can see our old educational system and making students to practice of our Hindu culture.

Right to Information ACT 2005

This Module was taken for 3days and it is good enough to know the basic rights, being a social entrepreneur we have to be through with this kind of information. They facilitate us in different manner, First they explained about RTI Act, the act which came into force in Nov 12th 2005 it is a good weapon to fight against corruption in public authority places and by this they can see accountability and transparency in central and state government offices, and explained about in which are all the state the act was implemented and explained about why RTI Act was not covered for Jammu-Kashmir state. Still their was a land disputes between in Kashmir state, so we can’t implement in those state. Gave information regarding suo-motu what it mean and consist. It comes under section [4(1)(b) and it should Publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act. and in after noon they told us to go and submit the application for Suo-motu. I can say this is the first time in my carrier I submitted application in government office by using my rights. I went to Block Education Department(BEO) office in Hubli. I was surprised after explaining our purpose of being in that office because for the first time they are hearing the word Suo-motu. I replayed by explaining about what suo-motu and the 17 point which is covered under this 4(1)(b) section. He was not ready to believe, after showing printed information he accepted my application.
During Submitting RTI application, the first contact person is Public relation Officer(PIO) and PIO post was not there means, we can contact Assistant PIO or we can take invert application if PIO and Assistant PIO person was not there. PIO work is the additional work was added to there actually work.
Under RTI we can get specific information under section 6(1). It is mandatory that an RTI application be made on a 10-rupee stamp paper. If they are of Below BPL means they no need to take postal order they can attach income certificate with application.
Under section 7(1) cover the supply of Information, through documents, memos, records etc... These information we can get within 30days of submission of application. They have to send it through post about the expenses covered to get information after that we can go and get. Through email also we can get that information.
Under Section 8(1) covers, if they fail to give information within 30days, they have to give information for free of cost and as the day extents they have to pay fine from there own pockets Rs 250/- per day cover under this section.
Section 9 deals with the reason for Refusal of our RTI application because of confidentiality, prohibited to publish by any court of law, information received from the foreign government or any copyright in such case they wont provide. But they have to give reason for rejection.
Section 18(1) covers if there is no PIO officer. Under these act 22 sections is covering.
If there is any queries regarding filing an RTI and in case if we find any fault data in that information/ the reason for rejection is not worth enough. We can file to State information commissioner/ Chief Information Officer
Ways:-
Street play is also one of the media to give awareness regarding RTI act, that we did well and public response was good. 1day- I submit application for Suo-motu, 2day file for RTI in Social welfare department. And 3day awareness about RTI through street plays. Theoretical along with practical learning makes us to know better

Water Literacy Foundation

On 20th Friday, from water literacy foundation Ayappa Masagi engaged the class. Ayappa Masagi. He completed his diploma in Electricals a. He worked as an engineer for 23years in L&T company later he decided to work in water conservation based on his childhood interest. He selected for Ashoka fellowship . with support of Ashoka and Desphande foundation he started Water-literacy foundation.
He started the session by saying slogan in kannada “Asakthi vruttiyadre yashassu kattitta butti” and told the statistical data about water availability in India and how people are wasting water in homes.
Entrepreneur role is important in our project, they are responsible to make people to know about new technologies. The work should be people oriented
He played one Telefilm named as Bhageeratha, it is a small story related to awareness and importance of water and new technologies for Rain water conservation.
Always he believes in “Just do it”

Awarness about our work in Nruptunga Betta

As Nruptunga Betta is one of the most famous tourist places in Hubli. Most of the families wish to spend their Sunday evening at Betta. From last month we are visiting betta frequently for cleaning the garbage in betta, we interacted with public regarding plastic awareness and watering the plants and also we planned to put holding to make the people aware about not to through waste here and there.

Our Cohort I fellows have done a great job of cleaning, plantation and maintaining this place. So we prepared some new and some earlier made photo hording regarding what are all the activities they have done in Betta, so we planned that why cannot we display all these holding. So we conducted an photo exhibition at Betta and we tried to make Cohort I fellows work identified and to aware the visitors for making this place clean.

On 15th February, we visited to betta and placed all holding. Some People thought that we are from NSS and asked us about ourselves. After placing all our holding, people started coming forward and many of the people surprisingly gone through all holding and went away without reacting but few people asked about our purpose of our activity.

Observation:
Some people recognized the place which was in that holdings and try to make out from that holdings.
People appreciated this cleanliness work and enquired with us.
Some youth students asked about our fellowship program.
One BVB college women professor recognized us relating to Dr. Abdul Kalam’s visit.
Some family members were showing these hording to their children and giving them lesson that how we fellows are cleaning this place.

Learning’s:
We have to explain our plans and what we are expecting from public (public Participation)
We should display on a hording about us, why we are doing this, what we expect from visitors.

Lead Activity(Doll Making)

On 14th Feb 2009, we(Meenakshi, Malini, Fathima and Myself) all visited to Government Higher primary school in hunkal. We spoke with Teachers and introduced our self and explained about the purpose of our visit. We enquired about the timings of schools and students free time.

We selected 6th, 7th and 8th std students to teach doll making, students strength was more so we planned to demonstrate doll making process. We engaged the class for an hour. First all student thought that to prepare doll we have to invest more money. After seeing they were very much excited to prepare dolls and told us to come next week to teach us, we all will bring the materials required to prepare doll making. They requested to come next week.

Learning’s
All children’s are very much eager to learn new things and by using local resources how effectively we can prepare dolls and make children to think creatively.

Lets Move to Villages

Introduction
On 11th feb 2009, A group of four members in each group formed for village study. We were four members( Chandrashekhar, Basavaraj, Usha and Latha) in our team. All fellows left Gram Chethana and walked for 2km to reach soorashettykoppa to catch bus, but bus was left early on that day again we start walking for more than 6km to reach Innam veerapur.
I never walked for such a long distance, before reaching village I was tired and I thought how I can work whole day. We met Mr.Shetteppa Navi, who is a Sustainable Agriculture Promoter of AME foundation and Other members of Basaveshwar Susthir Krishi Sangha have welcome with pleasing manner and offered tea for us. He introduced other farmers to us we interacted with them and told our purpose of being there. Other groups went to their respective villages from our village. Members of BSK sangha have introduced about types of compost for land like Nadaap Compost and vermi compost, Azolla farming as food for animals.

About Inam Veerapur:
Freedom fighter stayed in that village and during British period they used to give Prize in the form of Garlic. Inam veeapur is a small village consist of 515 people population and 17Km away from Hubli and majority of the people depended on Agriculture.

During Transect Walk:
We planned to go for Transect walk, first our team members divided to collect information separately on different issues like Health, Agriculture, Demographic, Infrastructure and natural resources details during Transect walk.
First we visited to Anganwadi center to collect basic Demographic and health and education details of that village, we couldn’t visit Village Panchayat because for four villages one panchayat in Belagali.
Demographic Details:
· Population-521
· Temples -4
· School-1
· Water tank-9
· Youth group-1
· Continue education center-1
· ANM-2
· Library-1
· Stree Shakthi sangha -3
And also we got information that all villagers are healthy, from past they are not affected by any dreadful diseases. TB patient was found last 2yrs back. Even chkunkunya it was affected through Karnataka, Only 2patient were suffered from that disease.

During Social Mapping
To build initial rapport with people, we got support of AME foundation. Those who are undergoing training in AME foundation gathered with us. For social mapping we used Sheets to draw mapping, in this mapping they identified Schools, Tanks, Temples, Street name and other foundation/Ngo’s.

Resource Mapping
We have done mapping of Agriculture land resource of inam veerapur, after observing the demographic details most of the people are depended on Agriculture so we planned to do on Agriculture.
· Total Land-971.17
· Cultivated land-907.20
· Crops-Jawar, Maize, Soya, Sapota, and Guava.
· Soil –Red and Black
· Water facilities
As a part of Transect Walk, we visited to Agricultural land most of the farmers using Waste water of KMC and Hospital waste of hubli to grow crops.

Major Observation:

Adopted Self-sustaining farming system, PHC were not there. Utilization of waste water for cultivation land, Individual Hygiene is lacking in villagers, Open deification is not a major problem for villagers, Comfort with their earnings by cultivation, Government projects was not initiate and Importance of Indigenous technology.

Learning’s:
If we want to do PRA activity, we have to see the villagers convince timings. Usage of PRA tools in collecting the information from villagers

Entertainment for childrens

Leadership activity
*Educate the children about their health and hygiene.
*To enhance their knowledge about the epic & to inspire them to adapt the values of rich Indian culture.

Activity: First we met Mrs. K.K.Kukonur incharge to get permission, and then we started with an introduction. Gayatri & Malani were performed sloka with children. There after we showed important of Hindu epics Hanuman. Children understood with enjoying after we asked some related questions to that film. Every child has answered, even 7 years old child Shruti has answered well. If we teach them through book they won’t get anything.


I done some activities as ice break, Savita & Gayatri were interacted with the children & educate them about how to take care of their body parts( teeth, Hairs, Tung, nails, take bath, eyes) and maintain their hygiene.

Paper bag usage (Leadership Activity)

It was 12:30pm when we reach balakiyara balamandira in gantikeri. It is a beautiful place. We met Mrs.Kankanur who is the in charge of that balamadira. She explained us about balamandira it has 130 girl children out of them. Some are orphan, some are Child delinquency. When we told her, we came to teach children some activities and wish to follow up it in following days she felt happy and provided us two classrooms.

we selected 7th, 8th and 9th students for activity that is paper bag making. we started teaching the activity it went for 1hr, children with enthusiasm. Children were happy and asked us to come again. While coming we met Mrs. Kankanur and presented few paper bag made by children’s she felt happy and appreciated our work, asked us to come again and teach many
things to children.

Follow-up

I can train children in paper bag making and I can find marketing (for hotels and stationary shops we can promote) for paper bag at the same time I can share profit with children and new way to avoid plastic.

Recap Session of 3rd feb, 2009

For Participatory rural Appraisal, Dr. Prakash Bhatt handling PRA topic as a faculty. He is working in BAIF Ngo’s, at present he is on lien. Dr.Bhatt started session by singing a prathrana Kannada song, after that he told all fellows to introduce other fellows who are sitting behind to them. it was a good experience for all fellows to know each other. Later Fellows were asked to form groups and told us to discuss within a group about the problems and cause of developing Indian Villages. Halfan hour was gave to discuss in groups.
During presentation many fellows came out with interesting question like how can we participate people in development etc…All group presented well, by this activity we came to know about basic problems enhancing in villages but not with solution. really we have to think on those problem.
Overall purpose of this exercise is to understand where we stand in knowledge wise and to know the cause & effect relation of problems. Many times Knowledge will restrict us. Knowledge is a bias for all of us. It’s just like ‘ignorance is a thorn and we need a knowledge thorn to remove ignorance thorn’.
later explained about the paradigms, the way we see certain things. In development issues there are some paradigms, how we see the problems is entirely different from how beneficiary oversee the problem. if we want to develop villages means make people to know there problem rather than giving tempravory solution.
Explained about how attitude of the people changed constantly towards problem foreseeing from years later like, we have all the right answer if they have right problem
At last explained about why PRA and before PRA how we have to prepare and during PRA we have to adopt adult -adult relation not parents -child relation. Adult-adult relation means we have to treat them equally, first thing we have to trust each other and then try to find similarities between people not differences. Told to come and prepare by reading resource material.

Lead Activity (Glass House)

On Sunday all my team mates visited to Glass house in Hubli. First we came to know about the glass house is maintained by Horticulture Department, all friends went around park-

first thing we noticed that vehicles are prohibited in park but we saw number of vehicles in that park.

Bins are not using by public and waste plastic glasses are through inside the park, they are not cleaning regularly.

finally we interacted with people ( Morning Walkers) to identify what necessary steps we can take to make aware Horticulture department. Finally we decided to draft a letter to horticulture Department by taking signature of the public. These activity is still in process.

(no suggestions)

Venuji Session

Prof. M.S. Venugopal, he is our first guest speaker, After our formal orientation to Deshpande Fellowship Program.

Prof. M.S. Venugopal, Worked as a Law proffessor for 23 years in JSS college Mysore. he is looking like young and energetic even though he is 65 years old.

Venuji started asking fellows name and Feild of interested to work, based on the feild of interested told us to form group. He told us to think in a different manner like 1. Forget your names, assume yourself in some other name 2.If today is your last day, what work you want to complete according to you.
Session is all based on group activities. Again he formed new groups and gave one social problem to each group and told us to identify solution. his main concept behind this activity is that we have to thing as an entrepreneur.
Venuji told us to create new slogans related to various feilds like health, education and community development. it was a good exercises to our mind. when ever we are working in groups and giving massage to community means, message should be communicate properly in this session. All things we learnt through discussion and activity based, in future also we have to come across with this kind of Guest sessions.

Yahoooooooooo Session

Mr.Srinatha subarahmanya director of Yahoo India. On 9th 2009, he appeared as a guest lecture to our class. That was our first guest lecture session in DFP Cohort II.

He briefed about new project, that was goiong to implement with collaboration of Deshapnde foundation. project aim is to " Increase Insights through actionable Insights" .

Project Main intention is to increase the quality of service and productivity through system support and collaboration. They are trying to implement the increase database communication, mobile solution for citizens. he just gave an outline idea about being an Enterprener, how we can make use of Technology in rural and suburban area. session ended with a discussion for an hour.

Orientation Program

Deshapande fellowship program formal orientation started on jan 19th and it was continued till 21th jan 2009. Icebreakers session was conducted by Taryn to know fellows with each other with names. First session was taken by naveen, he explained about the deshpande organisation structure/ hierarchy and the position of employees and about Projects running under deshpande foundation. Teryn conducted a session about, what we are expecting from these fellowship training. Chinnababu explained about the Curriculum enclosed in fellowship and also rules and polices of the organisation.

All fellows prepared chart regarding self introduction and feature plans and it was displayed in library for 2days. DFP staff, Cohort I and sandbox fellows visited and observed all our chart.

Lead activity people presented there Top3 projects, which they are going to present in lead mela.

During Last day of orientation we visited to Akshaya patra and Agastya foundation, really it was an good opportunity for us to know about those organisation and nature of work. after our visit to Organisation, naveen took session and explained about how we have to analyze the working efficiency by cost cutting with optimal utilization of Resources. Lastly our Cohort I fellows shared there experience and learning in Fellowship program.

Blog teaching session

Blog creation session is taken by our Cohort I fellows.

Be an active Leader

Leader schould be active learner and selfmotivated................