‘Ekal Abhiyan’ –one of the largest grassroots movement for the cause of tribal and rural Bharat with its deep penetration into the remotest corners of the nation, started its journey way back in 1989 to empower the deprived with education at their doorstep. The movement started as ‘Ekal Vidyalaya- One Teacher School’ and has now evolved into an integrated model for social change, operating in more than 80,000 villages across India.
Ekal upholds a holistic vision to align the last man in the row to the mainstream progress of the nation through a wide spectrum of interventions including functional literacy, health, economic development, values and empowerment.
Ekal Sansthan– the research and development wing on policy and projects executed under Ekal Abhiyan regularly organizes the Ekal Study Circle meet – an open ended platform for exchange of ideas, debate & discussion, sharing of best practices on different issues of national importance. 17 such meets have been successfully organized in New Delhi, based on pertinent themes impacting the rural and tribal cause. The purpose being to establish urban – rural connect on one hand and pooling of ideas/ rural innovations for advocacy with the Government on the other.
The 18th Ekal study circle meet organized on 6th October , 2018 at India International Centre, New Delhi was based on the theme – “ECONOMICS OF AGRICULTURE- VISION 2022” DRIVEN BY THE CONCEPT OF INCREASING FARMERS INCOME TO DOUBLE.
Shri Praveen Arya, Vice President, Ekal Sansthan was the session Moderator.
Dr. Nidhi P. Chanana, Area Convenor, Community Farming & Livelihood (CFL)- TERI shared TERI’s approach and methodology towards betterment in agriculture and farming; -Ms. Manju Srivastava, One of the Founder Members of Ekal Abhiyan felicitated Ekal Karyakartas who addressed the gathering sharing their success stories; -Dr. Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-Convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch highlighted critical nuances in policy making affecting agriculture and farming sector in the country;Dr. Lalan Kumar Sharma, National Incharge of Gramothan Yojna & Organising Secretary of Ekal Gramothan Foundation presented data-based comparative study on results of Indian traditional economics of agriculture Vs. modern methodologies with market sizes showcasing success stories of karyakartas transforming villages into crorepati villages by adopting the Ekal Gramothan Model.
Ekal Karyakartas Shri Gulab Verma and Shri Naresh Verma, farmers from village Parmadih in the Indian state of Jharkhand shared their success stories with the gathering. Both the farmers shared how they successfully transformed their villages into ‘crorepati villages’ after adopting the Ekal Gramothan model of sustainable agriculture.
Shri Gulab Verma also inspired his wife to take training of tailoring, who now runs a village training centre and has also made a Self Help Group. Inspired by Swami Vivekanand Youth Club of Ekal, Shri Naresh Verma has formed Saraswati Yuva Club in his village through which he has motivated all villagers to abide by the oath of ‘No Use of Liquor’.