READ India | READ INDIA

Giving is a good deed forever!

by READ India | Oct 12, 2022 | My Musings-Dr Geeta Malhotra

I remember while Tina Sciabica, the then Executive Director, READ Global, came to India from USA, Dr Praveen Agarwal, the Advisory Board member of READ India arranged a luncheon meeting with Mr Darshan Singh, Founder, Socio Demographic Society (SOS), based in Gurgaon, at DLF Club Gurgaon. The purpose was how READ Community Library and Resource Centre could be established in his ancestral village, Devli, Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. He said he has the land and construct the library for the villagers with the simple thought of giving back to the villagers for holistic development of the community. He kept his promise and started construction. Within six months the building was ready. The inauguration was done in 2012. The sense of satisfaction was visible on his face. In one of the discussions, Mr Darshan Singh said, this building is dedicated to the villagers with the support of READ India. Till the time READ India is able to empower communities and communities are able to self-sustain the programmes, I will be the happiest person and always stand with you all.

The READ Centre, the building, the villagers, the stakeholders, all joined hands to work together. Education, pre-school, women livelihood, access to ICTS and youth development are the programmes continuously running since it’s inception.

Tina Sciabica visited the Centre on her next visit to India and was amazed to see the progress. HP computer lab on wheels providing training to youth on IT skills; women making cotton durries, villagers making pickle and edible oil were the variety of products made by the villagers for self -sustaining the Centre.

The confidence in the staff to work towards their own growth and the community is seen in the passion of Kusum Lata and Pushpender.

We have reached to 2864 children, 6123 youth, 2501 women and 200 farmers with needed knowledge to save their crops are a few highlights.
Pre-school was highly appreciated by the villagers making the toddlers learn with Montessori education and the young women trained as Nursery teachers. This will continue once we are out of pandemic.

Women are being given equipment to weave durries to sell online. A group of women would also be trained on weaving as they have already been trained on spinning.

As READ India quite often visit the READ Centre, Mr Darshan Singh has been so thoughtful of constructing the rooms on the first floor with kitchen attached so that the staff can stay, cook the food, if required, with basic comforts.

This is what READ India speaks about wonderful partnerships and working with rural communities with strong community participation, community engagement and community ownership.

A group of like-minded people can bring realistic social change where communities join hands and passion is transferred with dedication and commitment resulting Passion in Action by All!

Giving back to the roots: Dedication of 100 years old Haveli for READ library

by READ India | Oct 10, 2022 | Update

I remember, Dr Y Suresh Reddy, Director of Shriram Foundation introduced me to Mr. R S Dalal, IPS, former Director General-Police, Haryana. I invited him on the inauguration of the READ Library in Chainnsa, Hathin Block, Palwal, Haryana. He was so convinced by the READ Model that he discussed with his family to dedicate the 100 years old Haveli of Mehndipur village, the ancestral property for holistic development of the community in Mehndipur and surrounding villages.
I remember, 7 years ago, the inauguration was a gala programme, army band, family members, especially his elder brother, retired Army Colonel, police officials, corporate senior officials, READ India Advisory Board members and above all hundreds of community members.For local community, it was a welcome opportunity. Though many affluent families stay in the village and their children go to English medium schools in Bahadurgarh, but many more are in the village, who cannot afford the expensive education and study in the government school nearby, especially girls who go to the nearby government school. The Principal, school teachers and other school staff, local sarpanch and senior citizens always join any event in the READ Library. Though the programme started with books, Early Learning Center, Computer Education, but during the passage of time, audio studio, livelihood programme of women was initiated. While children enjoy the training of sharing stories through their own voice, the elders sung the glory of village and their own lives through audio studio, one of the major attractions for all.

The production unit was started in 2015 with the collective efforts of READ India and enhanced with the network of Mr. R S Dalal to get the cloth, sewing machines and orders for production unit of sewing and stitching. Women came forward with their traditional skills of crochet, knitting and many more. It is still a happening space because every month the retired senior citizens come to get their pension from the CSC within the READ Library. The staff continued their higher education, girls started learning advance computer courses, children started reading story books, women started earning money by enhancing their skills, school teachers came to learn computers, youth prepared for competitive examinations in the library. What else is needed in the village!Mr. R S Dalal, being a passionate personality, involved the local community to clean and green the village and shared the concept with the family members staying abroad to donate to READ India for this work through READ Global.

The beautification of the village has been done no less than a picnic park in urban areas, cleanliness campaign is one of the best practices I have ever experienced. Thanks to Mr. Dalal’s dedication and love for his own village. He is not tired of narrating his past life while he was staying in the Haveli and his hard work to reach to the highest cadre in his life. The purpose is to motivate the youth.

He also arranged a football coach for girls to learn and bring them at the State level competition and practice for national level participation.

The story is endless, the collective efforts are still going on. Here I do not want to mention the numbers but deep impact which has been witnessed is much emphasized.

While Mr. Dalal dedicated his ancestral haveli, he also encouraged the others from the same profession, to dedicate his Haveli in Tandaheri village, just five kilometers away from Mehndipur. Mrs Urvashi Singh, Lecturer by profession in the Government College, Gurgaon, dedicates her time to visit the READ Library in her Haveli and has keen interest to give back to the women and children of her village for holistic development.

READ India is blessed to have these kind of partnerships and networks to join hands for holistic development and to define the ownership of the READ Model.

Holi the festival of Colours, Happiness and Togetherness

by READ India | Jun 30, 2022 | My Musings-Dr Geeta Malhotra

The life is a big teacher, we sometimes do not realise what it is teaching us. We take everything for granted as the Sun, Moon, Air, Water……..

The reality is different. Our ancestors practiced barter system for their survival. We have forgotten as we have now the power of money, cash, plastic or whatsoever. In barter system, give and take used to depend on fulfilling the needs. We spend much more in purchases which are not needs but greed. The needs desires and greed are completely three aspects, having different mind sets, thought process, decision making, resulting in compromising values, but somewhere causing comparisons, differences and distances. Where the life is taking us…….

We say the pandemic has taught us many things but to whom, who lost their close family members, children lost their parents, parents lost their children, many lost their jobs, many slept without meals at night, many went under depression losing their business.

Not only pandemic but many other situations of survival are not because of pandemic but disparity, access to right opportunity, lack of capabilities, no guidance, no mentor in life. Why? Because of hesitation in sharing, restrictions due to society pressure, unsafe environment around and above all the huge gap of rich and poor.

Above all, we say have positive thought process, live in positivity, lighten your baggage of assumptions. All good to hear but how many practice in reality and how many share their best practices with others. Are we living in the real world and what are we leaving behind for our next generations.

All said and done, if a few handful of people with clarity, confidence, courage and grace, handhold others to make them understand how valuable life is, it’s beauty does not lie in what glitters, but it is inside you. Keep this inside beauty clean, make it shine with your efforts, thoughts, sharpen and share this beauty with your words of wisdom, life is colourful with brightness and with ambitions to reach the heights which you see through your own eyes!

This picture inspired me to write a few lines. Innocence and brightness in eyes looking up with some hidden ambitions in life…….May the colours of Holi makes this child and every child’s life colourful, bright, hopeful, ambitious and let us all strive to help these children fulfil their dreams and leave behind the virtues of happy and healthy life!

Reducing the rural-urban gaps by creating conducive environment for holistic development

by READ India | May 30, 2022 | Update

Muradgarhi village of Jewar, Greater Noida, adjacent to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development, is a village selected by READ India to establish Community Library and Resource Centre. Before establishing the READ Centre, I visited the village with my colleagues and was concerned about the education of the children, who study in the government school in the village, but what fascinated me was the happiness on their faces, running around, enjoying the what so called amenities in their school. Met with the school Principal, who shared his concerns but very happy to be in position and organise the study of the children with a group of teachers, who do not belong to Muradgarhi but travel to the village from Noida and other parts of Uttar Pradesh. While talking to the teachers, they seem to be very happy with minimum amenities, showing their commitment and praising the students who really want to do big things in their lives. I was so impressed and motivated to establish the READ Centre, thanks to Avery Dennison team for suggesting Muradgarhi too and joining hands with READ India in this endeavour. They are present in the Industrial area and would like to give their best to the village for Education and Development of the community as such.

Today was the blessed day to visit the READ Centre for the inauguration. Met with the Avery Dennison team, who are impressed by the READ Model of strong community engagement and empowerment. This is the third READ Centre with the support of Avery Dennison. I remember, on 7th June 2019, when READ India and Avery Dennison launched the first READ Centre in Basai village of Gurgaon. Today, the children, youth, women and other community members are availing the services and are socially and economically empowered. The Basai team expressed their ownership by visiting Muradgarhi for conducting community meetings, decorating the READ Centre with passion and encouraging the local community by telling their own stories of empowerment. I do not have much words to express the bonding of these two village community as if their dreams come true by having access to books and computers, to learn how to speak English, write their resumes and get interview skills for suitable jobs.

Women who have never stepped out from their houses are keen to learn stitching and sewing and hope to have the production unit to earn their livelihood and above all do something for themselves. There is a facility of Early Learning Center to bring the small children along and the trained teacher will take care of the small children with Montessori education. What a blessing to have all these facilities in a village!

The CEO of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, Dr. Arunvir Singh (I.A.S.) expressed his happiness after seeing these amenities and addressed the local community that their future is in their hands as government authorities with the support of Corporates and non-for-profit Organisations like READ India is focussed on rural development with the common objective of creating the opportunities for their growth with dignity and self-esteem. In changing times, with modern amenities, giving back to the roots and strengthening them with Education and Development is the way forward for holistic growth.

The best part is Non-Profit Organisations and Corporates are understanding the needs of the rural communities and contributing their efforts and financial support for a common cause! The young and dynamic teams joining hands in brightening the future of the people who otherwise do have dreams but are unable to realise them because of the gaps which need to be reduced through conversations, understanding, handholding, supporting and creating knowledge platforms for them with consistent motivation as the conversion of thoughts into action is half way through in life towards bright future!

Libraries as an integral part of the rural reconstruction programme

by READ India | May 1, 2022 | Update

Mid-nineties I visited Santiniketan with my family and my fond memories of visiting the craft mela revived when I visited on 19th February 2022 again to have a meeting with Surul Swastha Samiti, established in 1934 on the values inculcated from the mission initiated by the Nobel Laureate, Rabindra Nath Tagore, “Rural Reconstruction Programme”.

The meeting was basically to join hands for having a Community Library and Resource Centre along with the Health Centre. The READ Model encourages the partners to provide free space wherever possible and Sural Swastha Samiti, provided the first floor of the building, next to the cultural heritage, Rajbari, just adjacent to this Centre.

On Shubho Nobo Borsho (Bengali New Year), 15th April 2022, the READ Centre, with books, computers, early learning material, was inaugurated. The reflections of community commitment, community participation, art and culture, traditional cultural performances by local community, local exhibition, enthusiasm, kantha embroidery as a proud art display and on the above authentic food were some of the highlights of the programme. I was so fascinated by the beauty and the dressing of the girls, women and boys who performed on the wonderful Bengali songs written and composed by Rabindra Nath Tagore. India’s true culture and heritage one can see in rural India, we can still name it as “India’s real dharohar (India’s richness). Here money is not an upfront issue, but respect, dignity, dialogue and Visva Bharati University Professors and Teachers when talked about the Rabindra Nath Tagore and is followed religiously was a great learning.

While staying in the guest house PALASH, talking to the care taker, Shyamal, who very proudly said that he knows the English very well, is well-versed in handling day to day needs of IT tools and can efficiently do work on MS Office, I was fascinated by his commitment to take care of the guests 24×7 with his humble personality. I had a chat with the cook, who is the mother of Shyamal, a simple lady, dedicated to cook food for the guests and a helper, Sangita, who is 12th pass, taking tuition at home for children and also assisting her Aunt when the guests come at PALASH for taking care of them to the best possible extent.

They both shared with me that their sister is an expert in embroidery and make beautiful embroidery pieces, if I can give a chance to meet with her. On 16th morning, I called her at the guest house and she showed me her work. I was amazed to see the neatness, the quality assurance and the wonderful designs. Further interaction with her revealed that this heritage craft of Kantha every girl has to learn from the childhood, what is required is designing, colour combination, the cloth on which they do embroidery and the need to enhance their skills to match with the expectations of the buyers. She also showed me the samples of Gujarat embroidery. She mentioned that the small shift in the stitch can help them learn the art of another State. This made me realise the Unity in Diversity still exists which may be invisible in the forefront, but the India’s strong culture cannot ignore. It’s a natural instinct which we all have but are losing our simplicity to express, show and practice in our day to day life.

READ Centre was launched with deep happiness as the Mission set 100 years back, still works very well, people may leave this world but the values never die. This we have to understand and do a bit of goodness every day so that they become part of our rich culture, take the shape of values and we all should leave some legacy for remembrance and the journey should continue for years to come! This could only be possible if Education is our back bone, cultural values are in our hearts, discourses are meaningful, and the dialogue should be “What we can do for others, not, what they have done for us”!