IN THE COURSE OF THE JOURNEY WITH TRIBAL PEOPLE OF JHABUA, SHIVGANGA EXPLORED THAT THE CURRENT EDUCATION WHICH MEASURES EVERYONE EQUAL IS NOT EQUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE. ALSO, THIS EDUCATION DOESN’T GUARANTEE A LIVELIHOOD TO EVERYONE. SO, TO RESPOND TO THE SITUATIONS OF JHABUA, SHIVGANGA INITIATED ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION & SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
Gram Vachanalaya:
The villagers in Jhabua, who have passed 10th standard, have not yet read anything other than the textbooks, thus having very limited exposure of technology and contemporary information. For making them aware, 900 village libraries in 700 villages have been established. Every village has at least one ‘Gram Vachanalaya’ with a minimum of 125 colourful-illustrated books, and a solar lamp.
Skill Development
Shivganga has been working on several skills like communication, financial management, computer literacy etc.. Shivganga has been working extensively in the fields of Bamboo Craft and Organic Farming due to their potential of providing livelihood
ORGANIC FARMING:
Shivganga made the farmers of Jhabua realise, their land is getting polluted due to use of chemicals, and that they are hurting their‘JameenMata’. As a solution to this Shivganga promoted organic farming and also provided training to make 100% organic fertilizers and insecticides. Less water requirement also makes organic farming more suitable for Jhabua.
Through united efforts, a team of 40 farmers with professional support from Shivganga, has started serving 100% chemical free vegetables to customers in Indore under the Brand Name Jhabua Naturals.
BAMBOO-CRAFT:
Jhabua once had a prominent presence of bamboo-jungles. Shivganga is undertaking an endeavour to revive the bamboo culture of Jhabua by organising several training programs, conducted by experts in the field like Dr Parag Vyas, an internationally reputed designer of Bamboo crafts, an alum of IDC, IIT Mumbai.
In June 2018, Shivganga established a permanent workshop in its Meghnagar Ashram where the youth of all age are undertaking training while continuing their formal education. Today a team of 30 people of varying age groups is staying in Meghnagar Ashram and undergoing training and also producing a market-ready product – ‘Bamboom’- a natural sound amplifier, sold under the brand name of ‘Jhabua Naturals – A tribal commitment‘.
Exposure
The tribal people of Jhabua have since long been unaware of and disconnected with the different institutions of the Government. So, they never approached government offices to claim any facility or lodge any dissatisfaction.
Shivganga organises ‘Bridging Session’ in which a group of tribal people are taken to institutions like Bank, Police Station, Railway Station, Forest Department, Electricity Department etc. to understand their functioning and have a first-hand interaction.