Newsletter July 2008

Ekal Global Learning (EGL) 2010 organized in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh- A report

Ekal Global Learning, 2010 was organized successfully in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh from 18.06.2010 to 26.06.2010 by Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad.

This year’s EGL is significant in many ways. First of all the areas we chose were very difficult, hypersensitive and the most challenging.

Secondly, the EGL group was the largest, compared to previous years. Total 29 members including six women, two children and six young enterprising men took all the hardships of the journey sportingly. The group consisted of 3 members from USA, 2 from Kolkata, one each from Bangalore and Mumbai, 3 from Jammu and 16 BLSP members from Delhi and 3 Ekal volunteers.

The EGL started from Jammu on 18th June and ended on 26th June in Leh Ladakh, the longest EGL programs so far.

The main  features of Ekal covered by EGL in Jammu

• The chapter and SVO working in Jammu. The meeting was attended by 30 members.
• Anchal Samanvai Samiti at Udhampur is actively involved in monitoring  Ekal activities of the area. They demand AOC must be done for them.
• The Teachers Training camp at Bharti Vidya Mandir was really impressive. All the 26 teachers were either class X or XII passed. They were enthusiastic, brave and motivated to run the Ekal schools in their villages inspite of hurdles. Free interaction with the teachers enlightened us about many hardships the villagers face.

Ekal School in ‘Chakka’ village in Bhadarwah, Doda

Bhadarwah falls in the sensitive district of Doda close to Pakistan border. Locals have suffered may casualties during disturbed period. Bhadarwah is a small holi city, summoned by hilly villages and porous borders. It is famous for many ancient Temples of Shiva and Lord Vasuki Nag which attracts thousands of pilgrims from J&K also.

• After strenuous climbing we reached Ekal village on hill top. The cheerful pretty  Ekal children welcomed us with Namastey.
• The Gram Samiti was also present. The young lady Teacher was confident and quite efficient. The children were very responsive. They answered all the questions. They showed Hindi and Maths work on Black Board and Yoga exercises. Sang melodious song prayer and Mantra- Sloka.
• In the Gram Samiti meeting we came to know that villagers are very happy with Ekal Vidyalaya because it has given them social security and connectivity with other villages. The full timers of Ekal visit their village. So they also feel connected to the main stream of the Nation.
• On our journey back to Jammu, we saw Gupt Ganga and Temples. We stopped over at Chennani Sanch to meet Sanch samiti. 
• We visited ‘Vyavastha Varg’ at Udhampur Anchal centre where the area incharge and Kshetra toli members were present. The EGL group showed lot of interest and they physically checked the files and formats to understand data base working at Anchal centers. 
• Throughout EGL journey the group was given enough time to interact freely with Ekal volunteers, children and villagers, which they found very satisfying.
• Total No. of Ekal schools in J&K-1950 in 12 districts. Out of which, 120 Ekal schools are in valley and 58 in Ladakh.

Ekal in Leh Ladakh (21st – 26th  June 2010)

EGL Team reached Leh on 21st morning from Jammu. Surrounded by snow clad high mountains and steep rocks, Ladakh is the most strategic part of J&K. Ladakh is divided in two districts of Leh and Kargil. Both China and Pakistan are bordering Leh and Kargil respectively. Total population of Ladakh is 3 lakh, nealy half- half divided between Leh and Kargil. Ladakh is famous for ancient monasteries. The monasteries are hub of knowledge and learning for Budhism. Budhist works have kept the sanctity of Lord Budha.

All the development work in Ladakh, such as roads, hospitals, schools, welfare centres for refugees of Tibet have been done by Indian Army. The highest moterable road ‘K-Top at 18000 ft. is in Leh.

The EGL team was fortunate to see the most ancient and largest monastry of Hemish. The team visited ‘Hall of Fame’ kept by Army as the most heart touching movement of several wars fought by Indian Jawans, who laid their lives for the country. Shanti Stupa, Kali Mandir Pathar Sahib Gurudwara, Magnetic Hill, Thanskar and Sindhu river Sangam Jorawar Fort Pangong Lake (40% in India 60% in Tibet- China) Ekal school in Igoo village and Sindhu Darshan festival are visited by the spirited team of EGL.

Ekal in Ladakh

There are 213 villages in Leh Ladakh. Wherever Sindhu and Jhanskar water is available, small village can be seen with some greenery and cultivation. Villages are sparsely situated in between snowy and rocky Himalayan range. Only five months from May to September, business can be done. Rest seven to eight months Ladakh remains frozen. Jhanskar canal freezes, people walk on it, call it ‘Chadar Road’. Ekal Schools are in 58 villages of Ladakh. 10 schools are running in the village close to China border on Leh side and 12 schools are along the Pakistan border including Kargil. There are 30 Ekal schools in Kargil district.

Ekal schools have made their presence felt in Ladakhi villages. The govt. school teacher, a Ladakhi girl studied in Delhi, told us in Igoo village that due to Ekal school, children come to Govt. schools. They show very good results.

We met 13 children in Ekal school in Igoo village. The lady teacher Smt. Tsring Dolma is very dedicated to her work. We met the village women association President Smt. Tsering Dolker and Vice President Smt. Sonam Lhavdav who take care of the Ekal on day to day basis. Ms Dolma told us she has sent 10 students to govt. school in higher classes to write the examination. We found children very sharp and good at learning. They wrote, Bhoti, Hindi, English and Maths in their new books we gave to them. They sang Buddhist prayer, “Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai” and “We shall overcome” we said ‘Julley’ means Namastey to all of them.

The EGL trip proved to be a great learner and an eye opener for everyone. Ekal has reached in the most difficult and ‘unreachable places of the country. Ekal is the ‘Ray of hope’ for many Indians perishing in remote corners of the country.

Thanks to Shri Naresh Jain, National President of Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad who took the leadership of EGL. Thanks to Parin and Gaurin Kothari, Rupesh Jain and Alexandro Bresba from USA and all the others who made the EGL memorable.

We will never forget Shri Vijayshree Thakur, Ekal Abhiyan Pramukh of Ladakh and brave Skarma Choedup Area Incharge of Ekal in Leh. They accompanied us and gave us all information.

 

5 Mahila Vargs scheduled for 2010

The Mahila Vibhag of Ekal has decided to organize 5 Mahila Vargs (conference-cum-workshops) in 5 zones of the country during the year 2010.

The event will take place in Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Nagpur, Chennai and Lucknow form August 8, 2010 to September 5, 2010. The objective of the Vargs is to strengthen Ekal Movement by the active participation of the women fock.

 

EVFI targets a million trees plantation during current year

In the recently concluded meeting of Central Karyakarta Toli (CKT) in Kolkata, it has been decided to give impetus to tree plantation drive keeping in view the continuously increasing temperature of the Earth due to global warming. A country wide campaign of tree plantation will be initiated by the students and volunteers of Ekal Vidyalaya targeting the plantation of ten lakh trees by the end of this year.

 

Shreedhar Nair form US narrates his experience of Van Yatra in Punjab

As I recall my recent visit to 10 One Teacher Ekal schools in remote and rural   Punjab for two days in April 2010, I am thrilled with excitement. It was an educational experience to observe and learn how one teacher schools are making significant difference to communities. Ekal not only understands the rural needs but also works to solve the rural issues with the participation of villagers. Whether the school is held on the ground of Gurudwara or on the sliding shades of summer sun, children & their families are full of enthusiasm.

Ekal coordinators took their turns to introduce themselves and their roles and responsibilities in one teacher schools. They greeted young and old, men and women, and reminded them that they are stake holders in the unfolding story of their own villages. One coordinator to educate the children, another to inform villagers on government programs to benefit their villages; another to educate on how to make use of the ‘Right to Information Act, the list goes on. Soon we heard the echoes of multiplication tables in Punjabi. Someone mentioned that there were children who are first time learners in their family; children eager to learn fast so that they could in turn teach their parents at home! Families and societies are being changed for the better by first-time-learners.

Regularly one can witness rural India trying and doing their best under difficult circumstances to nurture and deliver sustainable value systems that benefits their communities.

Every day, such instances of inspirational and transformational changes motivate our donors & volunteers to do more. While our effort is guided by the goal to make a difference for them, we are beginning to realize that they are making everyday difference in us.

 

Ekal updates - Ekal Vidyalaya

Current: Number of Ekal Schools: 34,150 as in June,2010 Number of Children: 10,24,500