As a part of Art of Living’s collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Tribal Education and the Great African Rainwater Harvesting Project (GARHP) offer opportunities to support rural communities in India. This partnership focuses on encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, preserving indigenous knowledge, and promoting economic growth.
Transformation of the Tribe Farmers in Kerala into Successful Model Farmers
Aurangabad, January 11, 2021, The Art of Living and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) partnered in the year 2020 to work on a sustainable development project in Aurangabad, Maharashtra State, known for its backwardness. A capacity-building initiative in the current partnership titled ‘Each One Teach One’ aims to train 10,000 tribal farmers about natural farming techniques and increase the yield and fertility of their farms.
One goal is to reduce dependence on chemical inputs, which is better for environmental sustainability, while also teaching rural women time-honored activities such as weaving. Their sensitivity to the shifting phases, seasons, clouds, monsoon periods, and the rhythm of nature is an intelligence that is lacking in universities.
Sustainable solutions to renewable energy by planting a tree
One of the unique programs under Art of Living’s leadership is “Solar Electrification in Tribal Areas.” In Uttarakhand, a solar project has brought electricity to around 500 homes and has been designed in such a way that it can be extended to more homes and villages if needed. This project is aimed at promoting solar electrification in the forest reserve area and is specifically implemented for the Van Gujjar nomadic tribes residing in this region.
There has been similar success in reaching tribal people through initiatives in states like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and other northeastern states, as well as Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, just to name a few. These initiatives are unique in many ways. Being environment-friendly, they are reaching remote, un-electrified places where grid electrification is either very expensive or not feasible. These solutions are sustainable, improving the quality of life and modernizing the delivery of public services at a low cost.
Towards realization of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of a developed planet with healthy, happy, and integrated societies, Art of Living has touched millions of hearts across the globe. Art of Living’s commitment to making a meaningful contribution to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of rural and tribal communities is an embodiment of what Guruji has envisioned. The initiative will continue to grow and evolve through joint efforts with governments, corporations, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
The objective is to have a deeper focus on last-mile delivery and operationalizing all programs initiated both on the field in the areas and through government facilities through digital technology-based solutions. As the Chinese proverb goes, “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
Art of Living Social Projects (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
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The NGO, in collaboration with MoTA and ROMEA (a corporate social responsibility program of Infosys) Tribal Market Place, would undertake initiatives that include tribal learning solutions, impact advisory solutions, and tribal enterprise solutions. They intend to work on strengthening and empowering rural indigenous people through various interventions like sustainable agriculture, food production, preserving indigenous knowledge, and marketing.
Ending the children’s smuggling, maiding, begging labor, and child marriages in Jalocal?
The Art of Living, steered by spiritual leader and humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is a global non-profit engaged in creating ethical and compassionate societies. From this platform of peace and servitude, the organization became famous for the implementation of its social works and humanitarian projects, such as its work in education, disaster response, women’s empowerment, prisoner rehabilitation, and human rights.
The organization also supports programs ranging from water conservation, sustainable agriculture, afforestation, free education, skill development, women empowerment, village development, renewable energy, and waste management. Through these, they promote projects related to conservation, generation, transmission, and use of sustainable energy, avoiding the release of methane and ensuring multiple benefits for society and the environment.
In conclusion
The partnership between Art of Living and MoTA considers the socio-economic realities of tribal communities more holistically than most projects by incorporating initiatives under each of these four umbrellas: sustainable agriculture, women’s empowerment, local governance, and solar electrification. It is a new phase of sustainable agricultural transformation, and all the achievements in the production system were demonstrated as economically viable from a long-term perspective. This project attempts to empower tribal farmers and give them an alternative.
It is worth pondering whether these efforts will receive the same kind of support and recognition as in India. The practical experience of grants and financing mechanisms provided by the central project management unit of The Art of Living Human Services is still precious. It is estimated that the overall outcomes of the projects will significantly reduce future liability in social costs across all benefits by delivering immediate and future benefits to society, including job creation and economic development.