Ekal Abhiyan aims to empower and uplift the tribal and rural people
The aim of Ekal Abhiyan is to empower and uplift the tribal and rural people of our country staying in remote areas and villages. It is striving to reach its goal through its Ekal Vidyalaya i.e. one teacher school and Panchmukhi Shiksha. Ekal Abhiyan was started in Bihar state in 1988. Since then it has reached in 58000 villages all over India and 1530 villages of Karnataka in 9 Anchals (Districts) namely Belgaum, Bagalkot, Gangavati, Bidar, Gulbarga, Mysore, Chamrajnagar, Hassan and Chikmagalur. Its’ functioning in Karnataka started in 2002 in Dandeli and Mysore areas. Ekal Abhiyan, Belgaum started its functioning in 2006 under the visionary and able guidance and leadership of late shri.Suresh Hundre. In Belgaum they are operating in 180 villages in Khanapur, Ramnagar, Jamboti, Haliyal and Joida areas.
The rural mass of our country is deprived of basic amenities like education,health etc. To provide primary education to the children in the age group of 6 to 12 Ekal Abhiyan runs One Teacher School i.e. Ekal Vidyalaya in the villages. These schools are up to 4th Standard. These schools run in the evening time. Ekal Vidyalaya imparts holistic education (Education with Sanskar) to the children. The children are taught Language, Arithmetic, Science, Sanskar and Sports.
Since last few years we are concentrating on strengthening of the villagers through Panchmukhi Shiksha i.e. Primary Education, Developmental Education, Health Education, Empowerment Education and Sanskar. As we all know Agriculture is the backbone of any society and more so in India. Ekal Abhiyan aims at the young generation of the villages to remain in the villages by making them aware and empower them for a good quality life in the village itself.
The economy of the villagers can be improved by educating them about value added agro based products etc.
Ekal Abhiyan is planning to set up “Grmotthan Resource Centre” in each district. There will be a residential school up to 10th for children and a skill development centre for their further education. It will have a farm where organic farming will be done and the farmers will receive training about organic farming, organic manure, seed Bank, pesticides as well as production of value added agro based products.
The Gramotthan Resource Centre will have a Goshala and train the villagers about the various medicinal products using Gomutra, Cow Dung and Cow milk, Ghee etc.
Ekal Abhiyan is trying to bring awareness amongst the villagers about various Govt. schemes and taking active and constructive participation in the Panchayat functioning through its empowerment education.
Under the banner of Arogya Foundation of India they have conducted 78 medical camps in last 2 years in and around Khanapur. During these camps Ekal have had check-up of 12600 villagers. With the help of Polyhydron Foundation, Ekal is distributing free generic medicines to the needy villagers during these camps. Medicines worth Rs.20000 are distributed during each of these camps.
They have appointed an optho technician who travels and visits the villages and provides eye check-up services to the villagers at their door steps. Ekal provides reading glasses and spectacles to needy villagers on cost to cost basis, where ever necessary.
With the help of KLE Hospital and BIMS they are treating the cataract patients free of cost every Thursday and Friday. Since last 2 years Ekal have operated 3450 cataract patients.
During the medical camps it was observed that children and adults also are having dental problems because of the Fluoride content in the drinking water. To prevent this the need of clean and uncontaminated drinking water was felt. Polyhydron Foundation came forward for this cause and offered to donate water filters to the schools. With their help and support they are providing 200 water filters to the schools in Khanapur area. These filters are provided with a backup of filter cartridges required for next 3 years of use.
14. Ekal Abhiyan’s main aim is to empower and strengthen the villagers economically and culturally and to stop migration of the young generation to the cities.
“All the citizens of Belgaum are requested to join Ekal Abhiyan, be a partner in bridging the gap between the rural and urban India and in changing the face of rural India and in the process make our Nation Prosperous.”