Dr. Shiv Jindal & Smt. Sarita Jindal being welcomed on visit to Assam

Inauguration of Abhyapuri (Assam) Branch’s function

Inauguration of development work at Bornarkola village of Assam

Integrated Development of Villages - Samagra Gram Vikas Project

Jindal Foundation is a registered charity in Canada and is very appreciative of the work being done by Bharat Vikas Parishad in various fields, including village development. The objective of the collaborative programme is (a) to work for village development and improvement and (b) in doing so to motivate villagers so that they can do improvement in their living conditions by themselves and be self-sustaining without too much dependence on others.

The specific activities for which Jindal Foundation will contribute funds or other resources will be as follows:

Jindal Foundation is a registered charity in Canada and is very appreciative of the work being done by Bharat Vikas Parishad in various fields, including village development. The objective of the collaborative programme is (a) to work for village development and improvement and (b) in doing so to motivate villagers so that they can do improvement in their living conditions by themselves and be self-sustaining without too much dependence on others.

The specific activities for which Jindal Foundation will contribute funds or other resources will be as follows:

1. Prevention of disease: by providing clean water (tube wells/hand pumps), Improving sanitation and cleanliness (community based washroom/toilet facilities), and improving ventilation and air quality.
2. Establishment of small health centre with a small laboratory. This will provide education for family planning, immunization and vaccination.
3. Improvement of environment: by tree plantation and solar energy
4. Job creation: by improving agricultural and horticultural related jobs as well as establishing a small training center for various vocations.
5. Improvement of education: particularly for women in the fields of information technology and paramedics.

Realising the need for integrated development of the villages, Bharat Vikas Parishad has made a beginning by taking up work for an all round development in selected villages with financial assistance from Jindal Foundation, Canada (vdpi.ca) and other NRIs.

Definition of Village Development, Selection and Completion
The purpose of this village development programme is simply to provide the most basic daily needs to the villagers, as for any human being. The basic needs are:

  • Clean water (by providing tube wells and hand pumps)
  • Sanitation
  • Clean up the streets. No dirty gutters (nalees).
  • Road repair wherever needed.
  • Clean the houses both inside/outside. This includes paint work, etc.
  • Garbage collection and disposal (garbage cans and maintenance staff)
  • Clean water ponds and use them for water conservation
  • Community toilets and paid maintenance staff
  • Environments
  • Proper ventilation in the houses
  • Control air pollution (smoke and dust)
  • Landscaping (trees, bushes, grass, flowers)
  • Street lighting or solar energy
  • Proper sanitation
  • Education
  • Provide class rooms, uniforms, school bags, books, paper and pens, etc.
  • Focus on nutrition, family planning and sense of responsibility
  • Information technology
  • Job Creation – Mostly agriculture-based or training schools for other vocations
  • Primary Health Centre – with a small laboratory.
  • Importance of immunization/vaccination and family planning
  • Miscellaneous – proper cremation grounds.

Selection of a Village
It is done at least six months in advance based on the demographics, site plans (location of houses, roads, ponds, streets, buildings such as schools, temples and community centers) and future development plan. The members of Bharat Vikas Parishad initially inspect the village. Budget is prepared in advance (as economical as possible).

Project completion time
A single village project will be completed within a maximum up to 3 years.

How do we achieve all of the above?
1. Team work
i) Involvement of villagers and Panchayat is the most important component in the total picture. It is their responsibility to develop and maintain the village. They must provide labour and take responsibility. Involvement of women and youth in the form of block leaders is very vital for long term success.
ii) Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) – Parishad engages architects, engineers, and other professionals as necessary.It is ensured that the project is completed in the shortest possible time and is maintained with the participation of villagers.
iii) Jindal Foundation – NGO in Canada, registered with government of Canada.

2. Funds Sources
Canada:
(a) Jindal Foundation and (b) An individual or groups of people or corporations

India:
(a) Panchayat funds, (b) Villagers’ contribution wherever possible, (c) BVP and (d) Others

3. Accountability

  • Receipt for tax purposes provided by the NGO in Canada and by the NGO in India if donation is made in India.
  • Accounts professionally audited and submitted by the NGO in Canada and India.
  • Minimum overhead
  • Interested people who would like to visit the village, travel at one’s own expenses

4. Recognition : A plaque will be displayed in a central place in the village with the names of the:

  • NGO in India
  • NGO in Canada
  • Donors with substantial contribution over Rs.50,000

Maintenance
A group of people (women, youth, school teachers) will be trained from each village. These Village will be divided into blocks, and one trained person will be in charge of a block. These block leaders visit their respective blocks regularly and bring awareness to villagers on health matters, nutrition, sanitation, environment, etc. Once a month, there will be a meeting of block leaders with the Panchayat head and a representative of BVP. Block leaders also fill health cards. It is a matter of discipline. Gradually it will become part of daily life and matter of pride.

Ultimate Goal of developing a model village
Motivate villagers from the Model Village to motivate other neighboring villages to do the same. Motivate middle class families to join in the development process. There are apparently 5 crore such families in India. If 50 families take one village, development process can be easier and faster to cover all the 6 lakh villages.

समग्र ग्राम विकास

भारत गाँवों में बसता है। इसका अर्थ केवल इतना मात्र नहीं है कि आज भी देश की 67% आबादी गाँवों में रहती है। अपितु ग्रामों में भारतीय जीवन मूल्य आज भी विद्यमान है तथा भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था आज भी कृषि आधारित है। स्पष्ट है गाँवों के विकास की योजना एवं प्रयास के बिना देश की प्रगति अर्थहीन ही रहेगी। परन्तु जब तक ग्राम वासियों के मन में ग्राम विकास की मानसिकता नहीं होगी तब तक ग्राम विकास नहीं होगा। भारत विकास परिषद् की समग्र ग्राम विकास योजना का मुख्य उद्देश्य भी ग्रामीणों को अपने ग्राम के विकास के लिए स्वयं चिन्तन एवं योजना पूर्वक कार्य करने हेतु प्रेरित करना है। ग्राम उनका है एवं उसे व्यवस्थित रखने की जिम्मेदारी भी उनकी है, क्योंकि इसमें उनका ही हित है और यही देश हित भी है। इसी उद्देश्य की पूर्ति हेतु ग्राम वासियों का सहयोग लेते हुए शासकीय योजनाओं के समन्वय के साथ-साथ विकास के निम्न कुछ बिन्दु तय किये गये हैं: 

  • पीने का स्वच्छ जल
  • स्वस्च्छता
  • पर्यावरण
  • शिक्षा
  • स्वास्थ्य
  • रोजगारपरक प्रशिक्षण
  • जल संरक्षण/जैविक कृषि
  • अन्य-मुक्तिधाम का विकास एवं व्यवस्था।

परिषद् की इस योजना में अप्रवासी भारतीयों के योगदान की विशिष्ठ भूमिका रही है। कनाडा के डॉ. शिव जिन्दल दम्पत्ति द्वारा संचालित जिन्दल फाउण्डेशन, कनाडा का स्थायी सहयोग मिलता रहा है। योजनान्तर्गत चयनित प्रत्येक ग्राम के विकास हेतु रुपये 18-20 लाख तक की राशि प्रदान की जाती है।

शासकीय योजनाओं का लाभ प्राप्त कराने का भी प्रयास किया जाता है। वहाँ की आवश्यकतानुसार इनमें निम्नांकित ग्रामों में पेयजल की व्यवस्था, घरों में शैचालयों का निर्माण, सड़कों तथा नालियों का निर्माण, शासकीय विद्यालयों में पीने के पानी की व्यवस्था व शौचालयों का निर्माण, कक्षों का रिपेरिंग, खेल मैदान का निर्माण, सामुदायिक भवन का व्यवस्थिकरण, तालाब-कुओं का जीर्णोंद्धार, वृक्षारोपण, प्रवेश द्वार का निर्माण, पुस्तकालय, व्यायामशाला, मुक्तिधाम का विकास, सोलर लाईट, गोबर गैस प्लांट, महिलाओं के लिये सिलाई प्रशिक्षण केन्द्र इत्यादि विकास कार्य सम्पन्न किये जा चुके हैं।