Socioeconomic upliftment of Sundarban community
Entrepreneurship development:
- Climate resilient agriculture:The Sundarban delta region, a unique coastal ecosystem is highly vulnerable to climate change threats such as sea level rise, cyclonic storms, floods, tidal surges and coastal erosion. Extreme poverty and hunger, limited livelihood options and economic backwardness lead to miserable life for the rural poor in this estuarine and coastal environment. Agriculture is the main economic activity in this region with low productivity and high exposure to climate change. To overcome these challenges, farmers are practicing various strategies such as adoption of integrated farming, organic farming, diversified and floating agriculture, crop rotation, salt resistance varieties, indigenous seed banks and rainwater harvesting to promote climate resilient agriculture (CRA).The villagers were targeted to expose, encourage and train to adopt CRA and fish farming strategies in order to combat the environmental disasters and exigencies. Experts from various fields will meet the marginal farmers; access their perceptions towards CRA, to increase the skill-base wherever necessary.
Empowering childhood programme
Sky-watch: night sky hides the celestial mysteries and the human mind is always thirsty to know the unknown. Since located in a rural setting night sky is even more vibrant than one can imagine. Our Ashram every year arranges a sky-watch for the young budding minds. The exploration also includes popular lectures by amateur guides.
Recitation: Special workshops on vocal training, and recitation were held at the Ashram premises under able guidance free of cost. Village children were trained to perform creative content in the local language. They were groomed regularly and picked to perform during pujas and other social events held at the Ashram.
Visual art and craft: Workshops on Bengal’s and Indian traditional art forms such as Banglar Alpana, Kalighat patachitra, Orissa patachitra, Madhubani painting etc. to create an independent footprint of art and craft in rural Sundarbans people.
The film shows: We arrange a children’s film show in the evening along with film appreciation talks to expose rural kids to documentaries with strong social messages and to grow aesthetic senses through audio-visual mediums.
Vocal music: Training in vocal music is also run on a short-term crash course basis. Children up to 15 years were given trainings in Rabindra Sangeet, prayer songs. The courses are available in both online and offline modes. Trained performers were often chosen for the puja sessions in the service of divinity.
Chanting: Mantra and slokas chanting is an integral part of Indian cultural heritage and Sanatana Dharma. Children were introduced to great hymns and slokas to transform their lives from within. Special workshops were held at the Ashram premises under competent teachers.
Nature study: With the growing concern for the environment and biodiversity; youth is the best age group to educate about nature and the natural processes, its significance etc. Since the Ashram is placed at the heart of the Indian Sundarbans, a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve, a natural responsibility is to build a community which is willing to act ecocentric manner.
Books and stationary donation: Every tear during the Ashram foundation day, textbooks, test papers, exercise books, stationaries etc. were donated. Provisions of donation are – in-person donation, purchasing items for a fixed number of recipients or donation by cash. Particulars of the requirements were intimated to the interested donors on a priory basis to make the drive meaningful.
Winter clothing donation: jumpers, sweaters, and socks are the bare essentials for the children representing the below-poverty-line community living in Moukhali village. On foundation day, arrangements were made up to the capacity of the disciples and local people to donate as much as winter clothing. Generous contributions are encouraged from the interested ones. Particulars of the requirements were intimated to the interested donors on a priory basis to make the drive effective.
