Place: Kerala State, India

Introduction:

Many of the villages in India have common problem of poverty, poor educational facilities, lack of consistent income and un-hygiene condition etc. and needs an integrated approach to find some solutions for these and help the villagers.

Common Approach:

Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Kerala State launched an integrated development programme in 54 villages and has taken up various cares like individual care, Spiritual care, Educational care, medical care etc. Two community centres were started in two of our adopted villages and started the following facilities,

• Library: Initially it was managed by Organisers and now it is managed by the Youths of the village.
• Self-employment: There are stitching units wherein Ladies of the village are taught stitching and they sell the output in market and find an earning.
• Medical care – Medical camps are held periodically and the villagers are being taught about food habits and a good and healthy life style to be followed.
• Computer education: Youths and children are taught computer education. A youth lady from one village has been taught and trained and now she is now capable and is teaching the rest of the children and youths in the village. Youths are using the Internet facility in the village for their educational needs.
• Spiritual Singing (Bhajan) and Spiritual Gathering (Satsangh): children are taught devotional singing and made them to conduct classes on human values.
• Village 7 days Intensive Care: There was 7 days activity (Grameena Sapthaham) in some villages, where in for 7 days, 7 cares were taken up by the Sri Sathya Sai Baba devotees. There was full co-operation by the village Heads. In one village in Thrissur Dist. Old age pension is arranged by the Samithi for 10 people.
• Children Moral Classes: Moral and human values classes have been conducted for Village children and Sathya Sai Children programme (Bala Vikas) has been implemented in 80 % of the villages They were also taught  teachings from Spiritual Scriptures (Veda Patanam) in few villages.

Impact of this integrated approach:

• Around 20 villagers took part in service activity in Prashanthi Duty during Jan 2013 from 2 villages.
• Change in Villagers: In many villages these care activities are now being done by themselves and they monitor the progress with Sri Sathya Sai Organisers help.
• Children activity is being conducted by village youth.
• Village cleaning is being done by the villagers.
• There are Spiritual Schools (Veda Patasalas) in some villages and teaching chanting Spiritual Rhymes (vedam) to children and youth.
• Village Leaders and villagers express their views that they should have contacted us earlier that they have learnt from us what selfless service is and the lesson of tolerance.

Future Plans:

Resource personnel were taken to few villages and plans are made to teach them make detergents, phenol, soaps, paper carry bags and various other items so that more and more people are attracted to, and increase their earnings and thereby standard of living.

A work force of 15 district organisers and 300 active workers look after these villages for an integrated development.

Project Coordinator: Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-Kerala

Contact Person: Prof E Mukundan, State President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-Kerala State, mail ID: saisandesh@sify.com

For further details: admin@ssssoindia.org