The Rural Mission of The Golden Age Foundation
The Oneness Festival and The World University of Consciousness is arranged as a joint venture between a team of people in the west, with the headquarters in Sweden, and the Golden Age Foundation in India.
Some of the workshops at the Oneness Festival will be presented by dasas (monks and nuns) from The Golden Age Foundation. Among those workshops are topics like Enlightenment, Mysticism, Shristi - the art of parenting, Female Spirituality and Satsangs under the headline of "Living in Joy".
This article is a presentation of The Golden Age Foundations very extensive and far-reaching rural mission.
The Golden Age vision
The present world-wide contemporary form of human society is not only going to precipitate major ecological calamities in the foreseeable future, but much worse - it will inevitably also bring man to an ever-deepening inner desolation and therewith to a grave moral degradation. The reason is that it has been built upon the erroneous perceptions of the true nature of man and the meaning of life and this has creaked in him that self-destructive, process of the endless gratification of the senses.
Thinking and developing this realization further, one will come to see in a flash that the present model of a human society cannot also answer the other burning question of rural poverty that confronts almost the whole of the African and Indian worlds and even many other peoples of the globe.
We need today, another model of human society; where from the very beginning there must be that bond of empathy between man & man and a profound reverence for nature and all forms of life. These essentially higher endowments will come to man only through his rediscovery and reliance on the unity of mankind and greater solidarity with Mother Nature. After all, has this not been the real inner essence of our ancient civilization that has in one way or another endured the ravages of time in the course of these by gone millennia? A real rediscovery of the ancient traditional way of life has now become almost a compelling necessity, in the face of the challenges, thrown up our modern Civilization.
These comprehensive and massive measures for eradicating rural poverty in India have their origin in the sacred Golden Age Vision of Sri Kalki Bhagavan. This Vision sweeps through all aspects of our human existence and unveils a picture of a new human society, recognizable in human history only in the traditional civilizations of antiquity.
In the words of Sri Kalki Bhagavan his vision unfolds:
"Rural Renaissance is a 'must' not only to remove rural poverty (more than 75% of India's population is still living in villages). It should ultimately lead to the emergence of a new form of human society that is more enduring and in which man's role vis-à-vis nature's shifts from one of parasitism to symbiosis, exploitation to nature, dissipation to conservation. India is perhaps much better placed than other countries of the world to make this break-through on the rural front.
'Your heritage of the world being one single family (Vasudaiva Kutumbhakam) and years of civilization ethos, combined with the vision of men like Gandhi and Vivekananda sets you apart among the community of nations for this role.
Objectives
Some of the objectives of India Rural Development Mission are :
To promote a traditional way of life in rural parts
A. To imbue family life, community life, the outer and inner life of the individual, man's relationship with the animals, trees, crops and materials of the earth, with the spirit of nurture and harmony and in this way demonstrate to the world, another way of community life, founded on the discovery and the awareness of the unity and harmony of all nature, farther than on mere economic survival and the gratification of the senses.
This may be called a new species of society that may be grouped with the genus or rural-societies of ancient India, respect for individual human beings and a synergic and symbiotic participation in their own developmental programs.
B. To conduct non-formal educational programs in the form of group discussions, dramas and wide films in rural India with a view to profoundly reorient rural perceptions for their own emancipation from poverty.
C. To wean them away from the glamour and temptation of the contemporary model of urban development, by educating them about their negative and painful consequences.
D. To encourage them to work towards a self-sufficient rural community. In this way to lead them through conviction and testimony to the ancient traditional way of living in great harmony with the natural and environmental forces of the Earth and the universe at large.
E. To conduct charitable healing programs (health camps) with a view to eradicate human suffering at the physical and mental levels.
This is with a view to eradicate diseases through the administration of Ayurvedic remedies, as well as Siddha and Unani remedies (or even to resort to Allopathic medicines where a cure within the framework of ancient Indian medicine, does not seem possible) To hold in rural areas, charitable health check-up camps, so as to bring to the rural poor the necessary medical help. To hold health camps pertaining to the various organs of the body from time to time and to instill in them the awareness of hygiene, preventive medicine and ready made home-remedies. In this way to make them more responsible for their own health. To hold Yoga camps, camps, Nature - care camps with a view to improve health-standards.
F. To inspire and encourage rural people to rediscover the joy of their traditional ancestral skills or professions and to engage them in projects of production cum training, with a full utilization of their traditional skills. To hold them to discover joy and fulfillment in their work and profession and to enshrine in them a strong sense of solidarity with the rural community. To inspire and motivate rural entrepreneurs to establish rural cottage industries and agro-industries and to help create marketing outlets for them in urban areas.
G. To create an awareness of the treasures of the Earth, to inspire and nurture and conserve them. To help entrepreneurs work on waste lands and dry lands, to create new methods of water supply.
H. To help rural families and entrepreneurs to establish and nurture new organic agricultural farms, floriculture projects and animal husbandry works in ways that are symbiotic and that shows greater reverence for the mother Earth and all her forms of life and yet are economically viable.
I. To hold families come together and establish an entirely new form of human community life, one in which not mere economic gain is the yardstick of success; but the fullness of life fulfillment in individuals, families and the community as a whole.
To help this community, so that relationship between man and man, man and animal and man and nature undergoes a radical transformation. To demonstrate to the world the economic feasibility of such a community model and present it as a durable model for the eradication of our national rural poverty.
J. To restore the rural woman to her lost pride & social dignity and to ensure for her, the same rights and privileges as are now available to the members of the species.
K. To engage in child development programs, to take steps to reduce infant mortality rates, to eradicate mal-nutrition in children and to educate rural masses to invest and care for their girl children.
To improve the lot of girl children and help women participate creatively and constructively in building up their new community.
To establish Women Groups (Mahila Mandals) in various villages, so that they shall take up the fight against various injustices against them such as abuse and beating of women, alcohol addiction of the male members of their family, dowry system and exploitation and misuses of Women Values (Stree Daana).
Education
In the sphere of education, His programs at different levels, eradicate ignorance of different kinds, creating a fully developed human being who would be a useful member of the society to which he/she belongs.
Non-formal education aimed at putting our rural population in touch with their creative potential (within themselves) and herewith creating the right attitudes of compassion, reverence for all life forms and that creative élan that shall be the foundation for a new form of human society, devoid of all the present-day ills. A system of education that shall nurture Self-respect, self-dignity and build a more happy enduring society
Children
Children of the rural poor would be motivated to attend school and they would be provided Educational support in the form of free coaching. They would also be given educational training through the use of Audio Visual aids and special teaching kits. Free books and pencils would also be provided to them.
All deserving students would be sponsored to pursue higher education and climb up the social ladder.
There would also be an adult education programs so as to achieve cent percent literacy.
Women
Development of woman, economically, intellectually and also as social beings on par with the male members of the rural societies will be established.
Special programs would be conducted for women to help them become free of the shackles imposed on them by a degenerating rural society.
They would be helped to become economically independent. This, along with adult education, awareness programs, and legal support, would help then develop into free individuals in their own right.
This liberation of women would in turn help speed up the rural development process.
Child Care
Parents of rural children would be educated in the art of child rearing. They would be taught how to give inexpensive but nutritious food to the children so as to prevent malnutrition from occurring in them. They would also be taught how to take care of their health.
The special aspect of the program would be, the parents would also be taught how to psychologically relate and interact with the children so that the child grows up into a successful and happy human being.
Health
In the sphere of health, His programs create a greater appreciation and awareness of the human body and the mind, and their inter-relatedness. His programs are not only curative but also are preventive in nature.
Traditional methods of health care and sanitation, including the systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Yoga, Nature-care and other fold-therapies will be used. To open Yoga, Nature-care and Ayurvedic health centers and free dispensaries for uplifting rural public health will be undertaken.
Preventive
Experts from the field of Preventive health care would be guiding and training the rural poor as to what to eat, and what preventive measures to take like personal hygienic, meditation, yoga and environmental cleanliness to prevent the onset of diseases.
Curative
Besides conducting free medical check-ups and health camps for the poor, free medical clinics would also be established to treat diseases using the indigenous systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. Allopathy too would be used where necessary.
Social
In the social sphere, His transformation programs eradicate prejudice and hatred between man and man; race and race; religion and religion; ideology and ideology, in short, conflict between one section and another of society. His transformation programs in the social sphere also eradicate alcoholism, addiction to narcotics, crime, ill treatment and abuse of women, children and senior citizens, depression and, the setting right of relationships between individuals and within families.
Appropriate technologists would develop the necessary technological solutions for the specific problems of the village. This would lead to development where hitherto development was thought of as impossible. This would lead to a social revolution triggered off by the use of science and Technology.
Housing Project
For the rural poor who would be provided housing sites by the Government the trust would contribute 30% of the total amounts to be contributed by the Government towards housing and also execute the project.
The houses would be built according to Vastu Shastra. The technology used for building the houses would be very cost effective and would also employ local labor.
The houses are so designed that they would keep the inmates cool during summer and warm during winter. The houses will have a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room and a toilet and bathroom. The houses would be white washed before being handed over to the occupants.
The houses in terms of design, aesthetic appeal, living comfort, longevity, cost of construction, speed of construction, usage of local materials and labor would be a break through in the whole concept of rural housing emerge as a model in rural housing for the whole country.
Rural India, which encompasses 3/4th of the country's population is characterized by low-income levels, inadequate to ensure a quality of life compatible with physical well-being. India Rural Development Mission through its various programs has endeavored to reach out to the last and most disadvantaged sections of society. We have organized a number of developmental programs. Our main focus has been in the field of housing, education, health and the general upliftment of Rural India.
'Housing for all' has been identified as a priority area in the agenda for rural development. India Rural Development Mission aims to initiate these developmental programmes with the housing project at the Varadayapalayam Mandal of Chittoor District (A.P.)
The well being for the poor depends not only on their nutritional status but also on living conditions. Housing is an important determinant of living conditions of the poor. Very often during the rains, cyclones, the huts get damaged either fully or partly, rendering the lives of the poor very, miserable. Apart from being vulnerable to extremities in weather conditions, the mud houses lack basic amenities. The quality of life gets adversely affected, due to the poor housing condition. It is for this reason, India Rural Development Mission has been emphasising development of permanent housing for the poor as a priority item.
Water Project
Wherever necessary protected drinking water systems would be established. A simple water supply system suitable for community life would be invented.
Project report for water supply scheme to Varadayapalem, b.n. Kandigai and Sathyavedu Mandals in Andhra Pradesh, India:
I. INTRODUCTION *
II. ABOUT THE PROJECT *
III. NEED FOR THE PROJECT *
IV. ABOUT THE TRUST *
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT *
VI. AREA TO BE COVERED UNDER THE PROJECT *
VII. COST OF THE PROJECT *
VIII. BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME *
IX. CONCLUSION
I. INTRODUCTION:
Water is the most common and the only substance that is naturally present in three different forms. It can be present as liquid, a solid (Ice) and Gas (Water vapour). Though water covers more than 70% of the earth surface, 97% of the above is in the salty oceans and more than 2% in Glaciers and Ice Caps, which means hardly 1% is available for various needs of mankind. Without water there can be no life. In fact every living thing consists mostly of water.
Throughout History, water has been people's slave and their master. Great civilizations have risen where water supplies were plentiful. They have fallen when these supplies had failed. India, a developing country, basically an agriculture based economy where 75% of the population depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The water supply in India is rather highly erratic in the sense that one region gets heavy rainfall followed by floods due to overflowing of the rivers and another region without rainfall or any other river with perennial water supply to control famine. No proper system has been conceived so far by the Government of India to have an even distribution of water from the overflowing regions to regions where water supply is scanty. However, a few organizations with social consciousness have been seriously taking steps without depending upon the Government assistance to improve the water supply. Apart from conceptualising, execution requires enormous fund requirements.
In this context, India Rural Development Mission, a Public Charitable Trust which has been doing a lot of developmental activities by adopting three Mandals (divisions) consisting of 44 villages in Andhra Pradesh near Tirupathy, most famous pilgrimage centre of India, has come forward to execute a water supply scheme with the assistance of foreign aid.
II. ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project has been identified with three Mandals namely Varadayapalem, B.N.Kandigai and Sathyavedu in Andhra Pradesh, India. Varadayapalem consists of 34 villages including itself; B.N.Kandigai consists of three villages and Sathyavedu consisting of seven villages. The details of the water scheme, the identification of the villages, population statistics, the details of the requirements etc., are dealt in detail at the appropriate places.
III. NEED FOR THE PROJECT:
The Varadayapalem Mandal is located in Chittoor District in Andhra Pradesh, India and is 70kms away from Tirupathy Thirumala on Tirupathy Tada Road via Sri Kalahasthi. The main source of drinking water in all the three Mandals mentioned above are open wells, natural water springs from the forests, bore wells and protected water supply schemes. As continuous failure of monsoon and excess drawl of water either for cultivation etc., or for other purposes, the entire open wells and bore wells have become dried up. As a result of this, these villages are facing short supply of drinking water requirements especially during summer. In some villages such as Nellatur, CRC Kandiga, Gudalavaripalem, Bethlavallam, Chilamathur, Matherimitta , the water from open and bore wells are not potable and are chemically contaminated with fluoride and chloride.
Under the above-mentioned circumstances, a comprehensive projected water supply scheme has been proposed for those affected villages, which incidentally have been adopted by the Public Charitable Trust, India Rural Development Mission.
IV. ABOUT THE TRUST
The Public Charitable Trust by the name "India Rural Development Mission" was set up with the blessings of Sri Mukthishwara Bhagavan, beloved Supreme teacher for more than a million devotees spread across the length and breadth of the Globe. The vision of Sri Muktheeshwara Bhagavan is that " Rural Renaissance is a must not only to remove rural poverty but also to lay at rest the all consuming demon of exponential growth let loose by the conventional model of economic management. It should ultimately lead to the emergence of a new form of human society that is more enduring and in which man's role is having nature's shift from one of parasitism to symbiosis, exploitation to nature, dissipation to conservation. India is perhaps much better place than other countries of the world to make this breakthrough on the Rural Front".
It has been decided that all the benefits accruing from the Charitable Rural Programmes and the projects of the trust will only be for the rural population. These programmes and projects envisioned at the comprehensive and the massive eradication of rural poverty shall bring uneven up-liftment of the rural population in the following spheres:
- Agriculture
- Non-formal education
- Traditional methods of health care and sanitation including opening of Health Centres and few Dispensaries.
- Rural Agro industries and cottage industries
- Development of women
- A forestation and conservation of forests
- Development of wastelands and water resources.
- Eradication of Rural illiteracy
- Rural poor feeding for rural population below
the poverty line.
And from the date of inception of the Trust lot of activities related to the above objects are being carried out slowly and steadily. Once the basic infrastructure is well established, things may move fast.
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT:
Many of the modern management gurus observe that success is not a destination but a journey. Hence the success of a project is not in completing the project but in the benefits that continually accrues to the beneficiaries. Most of the projects mainly executed by the Government agencies fail.
Because, though they have been executed well, the follow-up programme miserably fails in reaping the benefits of the projects. However, if the follow-up measures on a continuous basis are strictly and with devotion observed, any project would become a great success. The Public Charitable Trust, India Rural Development Mission has a vision to uplift the have-nots in the rural villages. Hence it would be easier for them not only to execute the projects but also to see to it that the project moves on successfully over a period of years.
Again, any Public Charitable Trust in India is monitored regularly on a continuous basis by various Government agencies in respect of their spending style. As public money is involved, the expenditure of these Trusts necessarily should be in accordance with the objectives of the Trust. Any deviation would be severely viewed by the Government agencies. India Rural Development Mission, being a Public Charitable Trust is confident of conforming to the norms and guidelines of the Government agencies in respect of their expenditure. Further, prior to the execution of the project, various approvals from Government/semi Government departments have to be obtained and the chances of not conforming to their norms of the approval are absolutely nil. India Rural Development Mission is confident of getting the necessary approvals from the government agencies and also confident of carrying out the project successfully without any pilferage.
The execution of the project will be entrusted to a public limited company by name M/s. Natural Synergies Limited; whose credentials has been verified and brief profile of the company is enclosed in the annexure.
VI. AREA TO BE COVERED UNDER THE PROJECT
As mentioned earlier as many as 44 villages coming under the three Mandals namely Varadayapalem, B.N.Kandigai and Sathyavedu will be covered under this scheme.
Mandal Name of the Village Population as per census 90-91 Optimum population 2004
Varadayapalem
| Kambakkam | 3 110 | 5 600 |
| Varadayapalem | 10 875 | 19 900 |
| Dharkasthu | 371 | 700 |
| CLN Pally | 8 620 | 15 500 |
| Kallathur | 2 233 | 4 000 |
| Lakshmipuram | 813 | 1 500 |
| Voddepalem | 541 | 1 000 |
| Kadur | 3 770 | 6 800 |
| Thageli | 547 | 1 000 |
| Nellatur | 1 344 | 2 400 |
| C.R.C.Kandiga | 505 | 900 |
| Gudiavaripalem | 986 | 1 800 |
| Arduru | 2 735 | 4 900 |
| Kancharapalem | 2 229 | 4 000 |
| Racheria | 2 165 | 3 900 |
| Chedulapakkam | 176 | 2 300 |
| Bethlavallam | 2 900 | 5 200 |
| Rachakandiga | 976 | 1 800 |
| Pulivallam | 1 636 | 2 900 |
| Karepakkam | 3 222 | 5 800 |
| Kurinjalam | 543 | 1 000 |
| Ramalingapuram | 489 | 900 |
| Maradavada | 1 817 | 3 300 |
| Thodampattu | 1 589 | 2 800 |
| Siddeswarapuram | 696 | 1 300 |
| Pandur | 2 564 | 4 600 |
| Vengareddykandiga | 1 923 | 3 400 |
| Padrikuppam | 1 890 | 3 400 |
| Chinnapandur | 1 087 | 2 000 |
| Mopurpalli | 1 145 | 2 000 |
| Siddamma Agraharam | 592 | 1 000 |
| Chilamathur | 3 251 | 5 900 |
| Mattherimitta | 1 526 | 2 700 |
| Thonduru | 3 092 | 5 500 |
B.N.KANDIGA
| Venugopalapuram | 920 | 1 700 |
| Thalerivettu | 2 001 | 3 600 |
| Kallivettu | 1 346 | 2 400 |
SATHYAVEDU
| Cherivi | 1 468 | 2 600 |
| Rajagopala puram | 2 084 | 3 700 |
| Ranganathapuram | 551 | 1 000 |
| Repallavada | 1 112 | 2 000 |
| Gollavaripalem | 335 | 600 |
| Chengapakkam | 384 | 700 |
| V.K.R.Y.Colony | 543 | 1 000 |
Assuming:
- A minimum 50 litres of Potable water per person,
- a population of 151 000 in the entire village,
- require at least 160 borewells,
- which could pump out 6000 litres of water per hour,
- with a minimum working time of 5 hours a day with frequent intervals.
VII. COST OF THE PROJECT:
The total cost of the Project comes around Rs.1,100/- Lacs(Rupees Hundred and ten millions). The entire project cost has to be funded through foreign aid.
Details of the Project Cost:
Rs.in Lacs
- 160 Borewells at Rs. 80,000/- per borewell 128.00
Construction of SS Tank 320Mx320M 1 no 111.62
- 430Mx430M 1 no 150.00
Provision for of take chamber 2 Nos 6.00
Construction of collection well
cum pumphouse 2 nos 4.00
Provision for connecting main from
Collection well to SS tank with 350Mdia
CI/SS/LA Pipes 3.6 Kms 70.20
Construction of slow sand filters of 2050 Sqm. 102.50
Pumping main 150 mm dia 5 Kms 16.86
- 80 mm dia 2.09Kms 3.71
Gravity Mains 300 mm dia 40.50kms 38.25
- 250 mm dia 5.88 kms 33.52
- 150 mm dia 6 kms 20.22
- 125 mm dia 41.70 Kms 117.12
- 100 mm dia 13.30 Kms 19.29
Construction of OHBR and OHSRS
OHBR 90,000 Ltrs.Capacity 2 Nos 11.25
OHSR 90000 Ltrs Capacity 2 nos 10.50
- 60000 " " 6 Nos 27.00
- 40000 " " 15 nos 52.50
- 20000 " " 15 nos 37.50
Supply laying and joining CI/DF Pipes and specials
At Road crossing and vagu crossings 2.50Kms 23.82
Construction of pump house with chlorinator room- 4Nos 8.00
Construction of watchman, operator quarters- 2nos 2.00
Provision for power supply 2.00
Provision for land acquisition 10 acres 4.00
Provision for price escalation at 10% 99.98
TOTAL 1099.84 (Say Rs.1, 100 Lakhs)
OHBR (Overhead Balancing Reservoirs)
OHSR (Overhead Service Reservoirs)
VIII. BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME:
The entire 1,51,000 people will be directly benefited by getting potable water and in turn their standard of living will also considerably go up. The entire population travels long distances to bring potable water. The time wasted on this could be utilised by them by actively engaging in other income earning activities. Water borne diseases kill most of the rural poor population throughout the world. When quality water becomes available the health of the rural population will improve and in turn improve the overall standard of living, which is the main motto of India Rural Development Mission.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Any developing nation like India depends on foreign assistance through I.M.F., World banking, direct assistance from developed countries. So many welfare organisations are also consciously doing their best by seeking foreign aid/assistance to develop in the areas education, health, housing etc. India Rural Development Mission being one amongst the above small lot which has been doing yeomen service to the poor is confident that with a foreign aid of Rs.1,100/- lacs it could make 44 villages to get sufficient potable water supply and also to make them free from water borne diseases.
Agriculture Project
Rural agro-industries and cottage industries centered around the revival of the partially atrophied rural artisan skills and professions, thereby leading to not only eradication of unemployment but also more importantly, to discover human dignity, communal solidarity and harmony with mother nature.
The Trust would form a rural co-operative society, consisting of the small rural farmers. The trust would provide funds for the co-operative society, which in turn would provide interest free loans to the farmers to carry out their agricultural activities.
The trust would also be helping the co-operative society to help the farmers w | 
