Srijan Foundation

This is report sent by Mr. Rahul Saxena of Lok Vigyan Kendra (LVK), Himacha Pradesh. Srijan Foundation is supporting a project in which LVK runs in the Chamba District, for reviving medicinal plants and thus creating self-sustenance through forest produce.

There is a Presentation attached.

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Dear Friends,

After a long delay, we are sending you the report of the forest management effort that many of you had supported (the list of donors is given at the end of this report). We thank you all for all the support that was extended to this initiative; without it things would just not have been possible. The team at Lok Vigyan Kendra wants to express heart felt appreciation of the spirit of philanthropy that the appeal was able to mobilize – even from people who did not know us previously.

First, the reason for the delay in posting this report – we wanted you to see images of the village that took up the forest management initiative and the area that got restocked with the medicinal herbs (see the attached power point presentation). We did not have a camera at the time the plantation activity was undertaken and hence no images of the herbs being planted. The images that I am sending to you have been recently taken when a team member had gone there to have the people loosen the ground around the herbs for better growth of the roots (the harvestable part).

We had planned to take up the plantation activity in two villages this season – Kut Batoa and Mahua. The area to be planted in Mahua was a much drier one (it is a patch of grassland) than the one in Kut Batoa (an oak forest with plenty of undergrowth). Kut Batoa incidentally also had a drier patch ready for plantation which was to be planted with the same herb(Heracleum specie) as the patch in Mahua. Since, the rains arrived late in this region, almost all the able bodied men from Mahua had crossed over the high Pir Panjal mountains to Lahul region for the collection of commercial herbs, similar to those that this initiative is trying to rehabilitate in their own forests. We could not take up any plantation activity in the Mahua village this summer – that shall have to be done during the coming winters. Luckily, there were a few people still remaining in Kut Biota who gathered the herbs (Valerian specie) from far away areas and planted them in the Oak forest, adjacent to the plot that had been planted last year with the same herb. In all 100 Kgs of Valerian plants were utilized by the villagers for the plantations. This roughly translates to around 9000 to 10,000 plants in total. Since the full grown roots do not occupy a large area, not much digging is involved in the planting exercise and around a hectare of area was planted with the herbs.

Two months later, the herbs have shown an excellent survival ratio with a more than 90 % plants surviving, a factor that had inspired the villagers of Kut – Batoa (and some other adjoining villages) to undertake similar efforts this year. We are planning to expand the initiative to these villages to create a visible impact and hopefully influence government functioning. We hope to get your continued support this year too.

If you are interested to know more about our other activities, please write back.

With warm regards

Rahul Saxena,
Lok Vigyan Kendra,
Chanakyapuri Colony,
Ghuggar Nala Road,
Palampur, District Kangra,
Himachal Pradesh.
Tel : 098160-25246

The details of the expenses made from the donated money is as follows:

Total donations received Rs. 53,100

Expenses

Cost of planting by the local villagers Rs. 8,540

Travel and honorarium for Rs. 5,205

meetings and supervision

Cost of planting material to villagers Rs. 900

Total expenses Rs. 14,645

Funds carried over for plantations in Rs. 38,455

winter in Kut Batoa and Mahua

The list of donors is as follows:

Project Presentation – Charda, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh (PPT)

Rotary South West Delhi held a Poster Painting competetion on 25 Dec.

Over 600 chidren took part in the competetion.

Special thanks are due to Mr Pankaj Agarwal, Mr Watwani, Mr Subhash Dewan for inviting our under privilaged children. Thanks to Rahul Dewan for running till last minute collecting boards.

Furkan Pathan, Lakshman Ahirwar and Suraj Lal all aged 13 , from our classes also took part.

It was a bright and sunny day, children were in colorful dresses. They had an opportunity for an outing, chance to paint to hearts content. Every child also got three coupons to be exchanged for snacks or soft drinks. There was a lot of choice for eats too. Children had a good time.

Rotarians sure can organise well.

I am very happy to inform everyone that children’s classes wil be conducted in yet another location also.

Classes have commenced from 13 Nov 07. It is about a kilo metre away , almost at the other end of the village.

A teacher Shri Swain, has been appointed.

Hopefully this will serve another 30/40 children.

Have some photos. will put them up as soon I can get them scanned.

Colrama

This Blog of July from Rahul should have preceded. However am putting this up now to complete the gaps in the history of Tree Plantation.

Colrama

I’ve resolved on Srijan Foundation’s behalf to plant 500 fruit andlocal variety trees this Monsoons in Delhi, to help compensate for the thousands of grand old trees being cut down for Metro and the the HSBS now.

We need to identify areas where such plantation can take place. I’m talking to some unemployed or partially employed people in the Vasant Kunj area, earning low remuneration per month, and offering them a fixed monthly fee for planting trees and watering them for the next
4-5 months till winters to ensure that they take root.

Some areas identified are:
- Aruna Asaf Ali marg: there is an ancient water body which is getting exposed to the road; and in general along the road wherever possible – plan to distribute 2-3 trees to each of the school student in the Vasant Kunj school we financially support; this would make the children aware, as well as, ensure their buy-in in planting and protecting those trees

Could you help identify land near your homes, which is lying idle or as waste under heaps of malba?

Could you help take the resolve of 500 to 1000 trees?

Regards,
Rahul

Every month a summary of donations received and expenses in connection with the classes is sent by email to all the donors and the RWA. Am placing the comments that have been placed along with account statement for the month of Aug 07. These would (hopefully) give you an idea of the actual state of affairs on the ground.

• Shortage of space resulted in over crowding.
• To reduce crowding Classes are now being conducted in flat 1263 also
• Have included the names of new children in the attendance roll
• Total number of children has gone up to 65 +.Mr. Nareshwar Prasad has taken up coaching of children in 1263 from 4: PM to 5:30 PM. (Hats off to Mr. Prasad. How he manages 30 odd children all by himself, I do not know, something I would love to emulate)
• Independence day celebrated with painting, songs and dances. Over 60 children attended it. RWA members and well-wishers
• Have included the names of new children in the attendance roll.Program on Road Safety: conducted on 25 Aug by Traffic Police Personnel
• Stationary and nourishment to 7 children in Nehru Place class also.

Colrama

06 Sept 07

PS:Rahul Dewan in his inimitable way has managed to get hold of a teacher to start a class in Nehru Place for under privileged children. I have been going there once a week or so.

A week back the teacher spoke to me and said that the number of children is now nearly 25.

I have told Mishra ji, (the teacher) that I shall be visiting the class next week.

Colrama

06 Sept 07

A Road Safety Program for under privilaged children was organised in Sector A Pkt C, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi on 25 Aug 07.

CAPRG and Srijan Foundation had arranged the program with the co operation of the Road Safety Cell of Delhi Traffic Police.

RWA of Sector A Pkt C had provided the Community Center and the grounds.

Children were shown documentries and various aspects of road saftey were explained by a team from Delhi Trafic Police who had brought their Mobile Exhibition Van.

Inspector Radhey Shyam who took the the class was a great hit with the children.

Over 60 children from the villages of Kishan Garh and Mehrauli were present.

Srijan Foundation has borne all the expenses connected with the program.

Colrama

02 Sept 07

After much delay from my end, and several reminder SMSs and calls from Col Rama, I’m finally uploading some pictures from the Independence Day celebrations at the Community Hall in Sector A, Vasant Kunj.

We have requested the RWA to reserve the Community Center for a program for and by the children .
They have agreed to do so.

There are now nearly 50 children. They are very enthusiastic.
Some of them are busy decorating the hall just now.
Tentative Program

10AM to 11:30 Painting
11:30 to 1200 Noon songs and entertainment
1200 to 12:20 Discussion on Importance of Independance day
12:20 National Anthem

Shall put up photographs next week.

colrama

Some pics are available in Feb 07

03 Aug 07

I am glad to say that the Pathasala in Nadakanda in Orissa is getting to be more formalised.

They have printed their own letter head, and have started sending reports, bills and photographs on a regular basis.

As per the latest report the number of students are as under: Please note there are more girls than boys !

Class M F Total

Class I 4 5 9
Class II 8 3 11
Class III 3 8 11
Class IV 4 2 6
Class V 2 4 6
Class VI 1 5 6
Class VII 4 2 6

Total 26 29 55

03 Aug 07

We are shifting the classes which were being held at Bakshi House to Gedore Bldg in the same area. Classes will be held on the roof.Will shift to the corridor on the stais if it rains.

Yogesh Shukla will teach. Timing from 8PM to 9PM.

Met Biharilal, lift operator whose three children will also be students.

Hope there will be more students than at Bakhshi House.

colrama