Report on Sevankur Sharam Sanskar Project at Ghanewadi Jalna..........

1. “Youth for Drought”
SEVANKUR Shram Sanskar Camp, Jalna
24 to 28 April 2013
The Sevankur Shram Sanskar Camp which was
organized at Ghanewadi-Jalna from 24-28 April
2013 had been instrumental in generating a positive
wave & enthusiasm in Jalna city. It gave new
dimensions to the drought relief work, which was
going on there, since our first visit of 15-16 March.
It was the first Sevankur camp, which was held
specifically for a Cause & with 100 % public support
& involvement. So it happened to be an important
mile stone in the history of Sevankur also. (Sevankur
is the open platform facilitated by PRAYAS, since
last 6 years for sensitization & motivation of youths towards social change; thereby playing a catalytic role
in creating the change makers).
One of the major issues we noticed that, the long
standing scarcity of water had created lot of
negativity in people’s mind about everything.
There is a general feeling of helplessness &
hopelessness about the situation. In spite of the
severe problem, people were not ready to come
together for any collective action. There was
scarcity of vision, motivation, will power & “YES,
We Can” attitude also. So while working on water
scarcity by de-silting of the dried up Ghanewadi
lake, we decided to remove the mental silt & block
accumulated gradually in Jalna people’s mindset, by way of making collective effort towards cleaning the
1650 meters of wall of the Ghanewadi Lake during the camp. And we can do that.
The idea of organizing Sevankur Shram Sanskar
Camp at Jalna was very much welcomed by the
Jalna friends. Big thanks to Ghanewadi Jal
Samrakshan Manch, JES College, Rotary Clubs & all
other individuals/organizations for the affectionate
& warm hospitality. The camp was successful only
because of the whole hearted support from all the
Jalna friends. They have made all the
arrangements of local logistics of the camp
including food, residence at JES College Jalna.
Transport was also arranged to Shramdan site.
We decided to hold the camp from 24-28 April, out of the need for immediate action, though the dates of
the camp were not suitable for most of the youths, because of the postponement of all University exams
due to strike of University teachers. Still the number of outstation participants was around 100 (from 15 +
districts). Sanskruti Samwardhan Mandal-Saroli Nanded & Deepstambh Foundation-Jalgaon helped us
actively by sending teams of volunteers to participate in the camp from their own organizations. The time
table of the camp was like this.
5.30 am - get ready & departure from JES College to Ghanewadi Lake by buses (distance 10 kms).
6-10 am – Shramdan at Ghanewadi Lake 11-2 – back to JES College - bath, rest, lunch
Press Conference at JES College, Jalna on 24 Apr.

2. 2-5 pm – motivational session for the participants
5.30 - 8.30 pm – visit to different wards of Jalna & nearby villages – study, survey & awareness activities.
6-9 pm - parallel motivational session for the Jalna citizens at JES College.
The enthusiasm of Jalna people gradually built
up. Nearly 350 people participated in
Shramdan activity on day 1 & 2. This number
crossed 1000 on day 3 & around 1500 on last
day. The doctors, businessmen, industrialists,
teachers, lawyers, school & college students,
factory workers, house wives all actively
participated in the Shramdan activity. Many of
them had done Shramdan for the first time in
life & said that it was one of the most
memorable & joyful event in their life.
The evening motivational sessions also proved to be valuable in motivating people & creating a positive
atmosphere in Jalna city. Dr Avinash Saoji, Kaka Shitole-Pune & Rameshbhai Kacholia-Mumbai, Dr Avinash
Pol-Satara & Nilima Mishra-Jalgaon interacted & shared their experiences in these sessions. The feedback
was that we never had such an opportunity to see/listen to such kind of amazingly dedicated personalities.
Even we were not aware that such kind of
personalities still exists. Shri Annaji Hajare & Dr
Vikas Amte could not come to Jalna due to their
health problem; still the enthusiasm & the
motivation level don’t drop down. That was
another challenge for all of us. Many of the
audience came just to see on the first day & after
the session they get so motivated & became the
active participants of the camp. They themselves
participated in Shramdan activity & also brought
their friends, kids, other family members along
with them.
The Jalna people pledged that they will continue doing Shramdan activity every week for two hours on
every Sunday. They also demanded such a
motivational session at least once a month, which
we have agreed upon.
Donations of Rs. 4 Lacs + had been collected in cash
at the Shramdan site for Ghanewadi de silting work
during these 4 days.
One of the press representatives present in press
conference of 24 April was so much impressed, that
he called upon Shri. Sunil Raythatta immediately,
saying that 50 members from his organization-
Jamate Islami will be participating in the Shramdan & they have done it daily till last day.
Bhupendra Mujumdar-Pune & Chotoo Varangaonkar-Amravati had shouldered the responsibility of the
Shramdan & other routine camp activities. Dr Girish
Kulkarni/Bapujii-Snehalaya, Yajurvendra Mahajan-
Jalgaon, Rameshbhai Kacholia, Vishal Shah, Dhiren Dalal –
CF Mumbai, Madhukar Dhas/Mahesh Pawar-Yavatmal,
Nitin Patil-Mumbai, Sanjay Salunke-Pune & many other
friends visited/interacted/joined the camp.
Daily Evening Motivational session for Jalna citizens at JES college

3. The district collector, Shri. Sham Deshpande was very much supportive & visited during the camp himself
twice. He very much appreciated the concept of Sevankur Shram Sanskar camp. He interacted with the
participants on one day. He came to Ghanewadi Shramdan site for about three hours on the last day, met
& appreciated all the participants. He promised to extend all his help & support to this work.
The local print media has also taken cognizance of the Sevankur camp & propagated very positively about
it by publishing the daily happenings. It also helped in creating a positive atmosphere in the city.
Nimeshbhai of Caring Friends-Mumbai with DILASA-Ghatanji Yavatmal, PRAYAS-Amravati, and Dr. Avinash
Pol-Satara with the help of Snehalaya-Ahmadnagar, BNGVN-Bahadarpur Jalgaon, and Atul-Prajakta
Upadhye-Nagpur visited Jalna for the first time on 15-16 March 2013 & started working for the drought
relief work mainly at Ghanewadi lake of Jalna & Akola Dev of Jafrabad tahsil.
The de silting activity was going on at Ghanewadi since last 3 years by the local group “Ghanewadi Jal
Samrakshan Manch”on their own, without much of govt. support. But now the district collector has started
supporting them actively & we being instrumental in mobilizing Govt. involvement in their activity.
We have been successful in achieving all the 5 basic objectives of the Camp which were as follows.
1. To offer some time, labor, love & affection & mental support to the severely drought affected
fellow Indians of Jalna district. In return to fill our lives with lot of blessings, inspiration,
experiences, learning etc.
2. To learn from the experiences of Jalna people, so that such drought situation should not come to
our places.
3. To gain the positive self confidence, that we can come & work together & by doing so we can solve
any problem in front of us in future also.
4. To strengthen the chain of like minded friends, creating life time relationship & bond.
5. To get the joy & pleasure of GIVING & to learn the real meaning of LIFE.
Contact : Dr Avinash Saoji, PRAYAS, Amravati. Mob. 94207 22107, 94228 55607
Email : sevankur@gmail.com; aksaoji@gmail.com
Website : www.prayas-sevankur.org; Blog : www.prayas-sevankur.blogspot.com
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