Thursday, April 7, 2011

Why Millennium Development Goals….

In September 2000, world leaders at UN Headquarters adopted the UN Millennium Declaration to reduce extreme poverty. The time bound targets – with a deadline of 2015 – have become known as the Millennium Development Goals.

(Ref : http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/)
Why are these Goals so important.
Economics
  • What goes around – Comes around. The more the low income people earn, the more will be their spending power, the more will the richer people earn eventually.
Political
  • If People continue to remain selfish, and be self centered, the time is not far when the 4 Billion “Have-Not’s” declare an uprising, and ‘Take away’ from the “Have’s”. You cannot expect 60% of World Population to keep watching the TV’s, Malls, Media about the lifestyles of ‘Rich and Famous’ and not get frustrated at their inability to live a ‘Humane lifestyle’.
Universal Brotherhood.
  • All Religions ask us to do Charity. And wants people to promote peace and harmony.
  • All Spiritual books tell us to take care of other humans.
  • The underlying essence of religion is to make mankind love and care for each other
Science.
  • Yes. The latest Scientific discoveries are going to “Open the Eyes” of every one. It will happen sooner than later.
  • People who are tracking the CERN / LHC experiments / String Theory will understand better the meaning of ‘Universal Consciousness’ and ‘Universal Brotherhood’. (For beginners, this is one of the largest Experiments mankind has ever undertaken as a joint initiative. The scientists are trying to find the ‘God Particle’. All major countries are contributing towards this. So far the World has spent 15 Bn $ on the experiment (INR 75,000 Crores !!!)
  • Some Interesting Experiments in Particle Physics / Quantum gravity
Not yet convinced (Some friendly suggestions),
  • Watch the movie Matrix
  • Read ‘The Secret’ and try it for some time.
  • Read the book ‘Lost Symbol’.
  • Attend Vipassana Course
  • Read ‘Tao of Physics’
  • Read something on ‘String Theory’
  • My friends from Management can read “The Fifth Discipline”
  • Read Scriptures as ‘Dhamapada’, ‘Upanishads – Isavasya’, Bible, Samkhya & Yogasutras (I am not trying to promote any single religion here, so please don’t get me wrong or misquote me.)
  • Those not yet still convinced. ……God Still loves you…..
The Point i am trying to make is that soon Science will proclaim what the Scriptures have been telling us since ages, That the whole of universe is connected via a Supreme Consciousness (or you may call it the Super-String.)
Like a human body, each organ needs to perform and contribute to the welness of complete Being. All individuals are connected to each other and are part of common God.
So it makes sense that we help all the fellow beings, so that we ultimately help ‘Ourselves’.

Working with Grassroutes Journeys

It has been a great journey so far.
Left the corporate job in April 2010, with lots of enthusiasm. Basic premise was to be able to design scalable solutions to improve rural livelihoods.
Spent one year roaming across different parts of India (From Madurai to Wardha to Rishikesh).
Met individuals and organizations working towards similar goals (From Gandhigram, Dhan to NGO’s to Religious organizations)
Upgraded myself on Theory of Social Development work through Trainings, Courses and lots of relevant books (Enrolled for courses as Micro ventures of Tata Dhan, MA in Rural Development – CSW, Social Entrepreneurship thru EDI).
Now i seem to understand the issues with better perspective.
Currently working with Grassroutes, and feel that we can implement corporate practices in Social Organizations as well. There seems to be a good scope to experiment and tune lots of concepts (From operations management, Cash Flow, Sales, Social Media marketing to project management) for this sector.
Feel lucky to have found this organization and connect with the wonderful team here.
The existing team
  1. Inir my Boss, is a great guy to work with, gives lots of responsibilities and is focused to improve livelihoods of Rural communities through Rural Tourism. Has got lots of awards for his work in the social field.
  2. John. Our Operations and Sales champ. Is Happy-go-Lucky person. Who incidentally is also “Ex-Wipro”. Has worked for 5 years with Wipro before deciding to jump into social field. (Seems to be some coincidence in Wipro’ites joining Grassroutes) .Very disciplined and hard working.
  3. Darren. The youngest in the team. Full of Energy (Is a National level Hockey player), discipline and self control.
About the Organization
We are Motivated by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Primarily we endeavour to reduce poverty through Rural Tourism. http://www.unwto.org/step/mechanisms/en/ms.php
The way the organization operates is
  1. Take Loan/Grants from Other organizations.
  2. Tie up with NGO. Identify Villages with low income levels.
  3. Explain the Village community benefits of rural tourism. Take their concurrence.
  4. Train the Villagers as Guides, cooks, Service providers, etc. Training on communication skills, operations, Checklists, Quality processes etc.
  5. Sales and Marketing for the village trips.
  6. Distribute the Revenue amongst the stakeholders
    1. 40% – Villagers and Community
    2. 30% – Debt repayments
    3. 30% – Towards Marketing, Salaries and Administration overheads of Grassroutes.

So far Grassroutes has setup two villages, and plan to reach 200 over next 10 years.
We endeavour towards Connecting Urban World to Rural Communities and ‘Unveiling Hidden India’.
Each trip enables people to explore their roots while indulging from over 101+ Activities
  • Agriculture: Ploughing, Harvesting, Sowing, Chaffing…….
  • Authentic Village Experience: Local Cuisine, Sleep in Village Homes, Village Festivals…….
  • Live the Rural Life: Draw water from well, Milk the Goat, Chop Wood……..
  • Rural Games: Sling shots, Swings, Tyre Race……..
  • Learn: Warli Art, Paper Mask Making, Optimal use of Natural Resources, Simplicity, Local Customs…….
  • Village Sports: Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Wrestling……..
  • Explore Nature: Trek in Mountains, Swim in River……..
  • Relax: Bird Watching, Watch Sunrise, Meditate in Hills, Laze in Shade on the Hills…….
And by the virtue of your holiday experience, enable the Village community to
  • Improve Livelihoods and Reduce Migration
  • Improve self confidence and preserve Local Culture
  • Maintain Bio-Diversity
http://grassroutes.co.in/

My Favourite Poems

Some of my Favourite Poems
—————————————————————
Little Deeds of Kindness, Little Deeds of Love, Makes the earth a paradise, Like the Heaven above.
—-Julia A. Fletcher Carney
—————————————————
लहरों से डर कर नौका पार नहीं होती,
कोशिश करने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती।

नन्हीं चींटी जब दाना लेकर चलती है,
चढ़ती दीवारों पर, सौ बार फिसलती है।
मन का विश्वास रगों में साहस भरता है,
चढ़कर गिरना, गिरकर चढ़ना न अखरता है।
आख़िर उसकी मेहनत बेकार नहीं होती,
कोशिश करने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती।

डुबकियां सिंधु में गोताखोर लगाता है,
जा जा कर खाली हाथ लौटकर आता है।
मिलते नहीं सहज ही मोती गहरे पानी में,
बढ़ता दुगना उत्साह इसी हैरानी में।
मुट्ठी उसकी खाली हर बार नहीं होती,
कोशिश करने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती।

असफलता एक चुनौती है, इसे स्वीकार करो,
क्या कमी रह गई, देखो और सुधार करो।
जब तक न सफल हो, नींद चैन को त्यागो तुम,
संघर्ष का मैदान छोड़ कर मत भागो तुम।

कुछ किये बिना ही जय जय कार नहीं होती,
कोशिश करने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती।
——–हरिवंशराय बच्चन (Harivansh Rai Bachchan) (few people claim that it is from सूर्यकांत त्रिपाठी “निराला”) . Never mind, so long as it Inspires us…..