Author: jaydevb

Nomadic woman learning to store grain

“The Corona induced lockdown has taught us how to lead our lives. You always suggested we adopt a habit of saving, store grains for a year, plan our expenses better, however, for people like us who have never practised leading lives in such organised manner,  your advice was difficult to comprehend. We always kept buying food at the end of the day from the wages that we had earned that day spending Rs 50 – 10 -10 on flour – oil – chilli and likes. We lived in bits and pieces, and we were so used to this way of life that we resisted the change!! The lockdown shut out businesses, finding the next meal was a challenge. Your precious advice started playing in my mind. It would have been such a relief even if I had stocked some wheat and rice. Like beggars, we waited for food during this period. The need to stock food made sense and felt so important. Better late than never!! We decided to consider your advice to stock grains for a year and approached VSSM for a loan to help us do it. After I received the loan, I stepped into a mall for the first time, as some items were cheaper there. Never knew we would end up stepping into a mall in our lifetime. In fact, it is for the first time I have shopped for Rs. 10000 in one go, not only did I buy grains but also containers to store it all. This pandemic has taught us a lot. Now we understand the gravity of word – saving!! I have pledged to become regular at saving. I have started regular saving and that amount helps me pay the loan instalments.”

Nomadic woman with the stored grain

Madhuben, VSSM’s team member in Ramdevnagar settlement has consistently strived to bring about progressive change in the lives of women of Ramdevnagar many times risking her safety it is her persistent efforts that have brought such encouraging results in Ramdevnagar. It is our good fortune to have such committed individuals as part of our team.

Nomadic woman learining to store grain

જાગ્યા ત્યારથી સવાર. તમારી વાત હવે કાને ધરી. અમે અનાજ ભરવા vssm માંથી લોન માંગી અને સંસ્થાએ આપી. તમને ખબર છે અમે અમુક વસ્તુઓ તો મોલમાં જઈને ખરીદી. ત્યાં સસ્તી પડતી હતી એટલા માટે. જિંદગીમાં મોલનું પગથિયું નહોતા ચડ્યા પણ હવે દુનિયાદારી સમજ્યા.

Tree plantation site

Recently, I had to the opportunity to visit 3 such villages; Golvi, Diyodar and Makhanu. We believe,  equally important to planting the trees is to ensure that the planted saplings are nurtured and looked after. Hence, we had a ‘Vruksh-Mitr’ appointed in the villages where the tree plantation drive was executed. These appointees were responsible to look after the planted trees, they were paid a remuneration that was shared equally by VSSM and community.

Mittal Patel addressing a meeting with community leaders

Today, as I visited tree-plantation site, it was evident that  ‘Vruksh-Mitr’ Narsinhbhai, Dharmabhai and Bachubhai had worked hard. Govali and Makhanu  villages have raised more than 850 trees each. While in Diyodar, 400 trees have been raised at the crematorium for Raval community.

Mittal Patel visits tree plantation site

 VSSM Naran has worked very hard to ensure this initiative is implemented well. Golvi and Makhanu leadership showed tremendous cooperation. It is because of their efforts that seem to have had this impact. Whereas,  youth from  Raval community worked had to ensure that trees are planted and raised well at the crematorium site.

Mittal Patel visits tree plantation site

 As monsoon approaches, we hope more villages from Banaskantha decide to join the tree plantation drive this year, we hope the number of villages committing to make their villages free from the rise and spread of prosopis juliflora/gando baval grows rapidly…..

Tree plantation site

તળાવો કરવાની મનછા ભાણાભાઈએ VSSM સામે વ્યક્ત કરી. અમે ગામના બે તળાવો સરસ ઊંડા કર્યા. લોકોભાગીદારીની અમારી વાતને એ બરાબર સમજે. એટલે માટી ઉપાડવા ટ્રેક્ટર ઉપરાંત ખોદકામ માટે ફાળો પણ ભેગો કરેલો. (કરેલા તળાવોના ફોટો જોઈ શકાય છે)

Vruksh Mitra working hard to raise the trees

અમારી ઈચ્છા મખાણુમાં 10,000 ઝાડ વાવવાની છે. ગામલોકો જગ્યા શોધી આપે અને ત્યાં પાણીની વ્યવસ્થા તેમજ તાર ફ્રેનસીંગ કે કાંટાળી વાડ કરી આપે તો આ લક્ષાંક પણ પૂર્ણ થઈ શકે.