Sector: Community Based Rehabilitation

For many of us, good health is something we have taken for granted. But for a young man in the village of Kasba Nirvana, health has become a medium to reach disadvantaged people. He transformed his own disadvantage not only for his own betterment, but for the betterment of all differently-abled people. Up until the 9th standard, Rinku was just like every other teenager. He attended school and played sports with his friends. However, in the 9th standard Rinku started having severe pain in his legs. His parents took him to a hospital and Rinku received treatment. Despite intervention, the illness started to increase. One day his body could take no more and he collapsed on his bed. After days of being confined to the bed, Rinku’s parents started losing hope that he would recover from the illness and be able to walk again. Because Rinku was bed-ridden, he started losing his support system since he could no longer go to school or play with his friends. Eventually, Rinku’s illness left him physically challenged and contained in his room. He also had to deal with the psychological effects of going from an active lifestyle to one of complete dependence and immobility.

As Rinku lay helpless on his bed, a spark of hope emerged in the form of Dr. Kshama Metre (affectionately called Dr. Didi). One day, Dr. Didi had gone to Kasba Nirvana to see a Mahila Mandal (Women’s Group) meeting. A member of the Mahila Mandal was aware of the desperation of Rinku and brought it up to Dr. Didi and the other women at the meeting. Dr. Didi went to Rinku’s house and brought him to CORD. After viewing X-Rays, Dr. Didi suspected that Rinku had Ankylosing Spondylosis where the vertebrae fuses together. She then sent Rinku for a checkup at the government hospital. The doctor confirmed her diagnosis. Dr. Didi convinced Rinku to stay at CORD for one week so he could receive regular physiotherapy. By this time, Rinku was frustrated with life and could not understand why this was happening to him. Dr. Didi noticed that Rinku had become an absolutely broken down youth. While at CORD, Rinku’s parents could not accompany him because they had to continue working and earning money to pay for Rinku’s medical treatment. CORD workers stayed with Rinku day and night and motivated him to never give up. After one week at CORD, Rinku could sit up for a while. But after some time he would have to lie back down. Despite this progress, Rinku still remained frustrated.

After one week at CORD, Rinku continued his therapy at home. He worked with CORD’s field workers regularly to improve his condition. In due time, Rinku’s mother learned the rehabilitation exercises from the CORD workers and began doing them with Rinku. Rinku never forgot about CORD. After putting in a lot of hard work, one day Rinku surprised Dr. Didi when he walked into CORD with only the support of a walker. Finally, Rinku could stand by himself.

Rinku faced yet another challenge when he started experiencing hip joint problems. CORD used its network with Christian Medical College in Ludhiana to perform flexor release surgery for Rinku. The funding for this surgery came from loans from local Self-Help Groups and CORD. With hard work after the sugery, Rinku shifted from a walker to crutches and then to a single crutch. This physical transformation reflected an inner transformation taking place within Rinku. With each step, he gained more confidence and slowly became less frustrated with his situation. He once did not like to leave his room, but now he felt he could approach and befriend strangers. Throughout his difficulties, his village always supported him. CORD even started a Self-Help Group around him in his village where he was a member. CORD also encouraged him to start a business of his own. Rinku took full advantage of this opportunity and opened a small tea stall so he could become self-sufficient. He was extremely proud of his accomplishments and felt he was in a position to help others.

Rinku became very active in Chinmaya Umang, a forum formed by families of the differently-abled. He also had the opportunity to attend and present at a national level workshop on disabilities. As he was giving his presentation about his disability at the workshop, he became motivated and was filled with enthusiasm at the prospect of helping others who were in a similar situation as him. Although his legs were not strong, his heart and his mind were stronger than ever. If only he could channel his motivation in the right direction.

He then thought about Dr. Didi and the work at CORD. He decided that he could help Chinmaya Umang bring about positive changes. When there was a vacancy for the position of president at Chinmaya Umang, Rinku knew that this was his calling. He won the election and became the group’s president. Rinku’s vibrant leadership has created a friendly and productive atmosphere. As president, he fights for the rights of disabled people and educates the public on disability issues. Rinku wanted to spare others the frustration and hardship of dealing with a system that neglects the differently-abled. He helps educate other disabled people who are not aware of their rights. He also takes legal action by bringing up issues of the disabled in the political arena. Rinku and other differently-abled individuals are not asking for special treatment; they are only asking for the necessary accommodations so that they can be integrated into society. With the help of CORD, Rinku was able to obtain his disability certificate, a free bus pass, pension, etc. Rinku also got involved at the local level by networking with Mahila Mandals, Self-Help Groups, and Youth Clubs.

Currently, Rinku is an active member of society. He used to commute to CORD via a CORD vehicle; however, now he takes local buses. He has formed a youth club in his village and he even attends Gram Sabhas (public meetings of the local governing bodies) so that he can represent the differently-abled in his village forum. He goes from village to village mobilizing resource persons. These people come to CORD and are educated on the issues facing the differently-abled. They then share this information with their local villages.

Rinku feels that he now has his own identity and can be an example for other differently-abled people in his community. This once broken down boy can now keep his head up and be an inspiration for others.

Sector: Mahila Mandal (Village Women’s Groups)

Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi are inseparable. Together they are even unafraid of taking on the government to help their community. These women live in the village of Badai in District Kangra where it was once unacceptable for women to step out of their homes. However, now Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi travel far distances to many different Mahila Mandals (Village Women’s Groups) and give advice to the Pradhans (presidents) on how to mobilize their community. They are a source of inspiration and smiles for other rural women.

However, the formation of this Mahila Mandal had a shaky start. Although it only took 25 paise to join the Mahila Mandal back in 1965, Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi had to go home to home to convince the women to pay their chanda (fees). This effort was in vain as the Mahila Mandal soon became dormant due to the lack of interest and experience on how to conduct meetings.

After 1986, CORD began forming new Mahila Mandals in villages and reviving old ones. This was a blessing for Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi because they had a second chance to create a forum for the women. They took the initiative to become leaders in their community. Magni Devi became President of the Mahila Mandal and Pukrdi Devi became Secretary. In order to prevent the problems of the past, CORD trained the women on how to properly facilitate meetings. A CORD worker was always present at their meetings in order to provide support and a network system for the women. They raised the chanda to two rupees in order to raise funds and meet the needs of their community. This often meant buying the necessary supplies for weddings. However, today the Mahila Mandal meets more than the marriage needs of the villagers. They have become a strong body that takes on the government, unruly citizens, and corruption, all while managing their own households.

One such problem was the way in which government land, used for the benefit of all villagers, was being occupied by a few individuals in the village. The Mahila Mandal discussed how this land should be rightfully used and unanimously decided to journey to the Patwari’s (government official who keeps track of government land) office to find out who it belonged to. When the Patwari revealed that the land belonged to the government for use by the community the women immediately began planning its use. They started using the land for plantation work which benefited the whole community and not just a few individuals. Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi never relied on others to do their work. They always took the initiative to deal with problems their village was facing on their own.

Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi have become so empowered that they have even approached large NGOs (like the Red Cross) and government officials for extra funding for their Mahila Mandal projects. Their illiteracy is no barrier even when communicating with educated officials. For example, when Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi found out the Deputy Commisioner of Dharamshala was a woman, they decided to make a request on behalf of their village. Mattresses were needed so they asked the commissioner for the funds to purchase them. The Deputy Commissioner, impressed by the strong demeanor of the women, was surprised that they were asking for so little and told them they should ask for more. Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi heeded her advice and brought the subject up at their next Mahila Mandal meeting. The women decided it was time to improve the condition of their local school. The Deputy Commissioner agreed and soon another wing was built under the close supervision of the Mahila Mandal so that no corruption would take place. The women also felt it was time to build a Mahila Mandal bhavan (meeting place). This action demonstrated the seriousness with which the women conducted their work.

Although Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi ran the Mahila Mandal with zeal, they often did not have the complete support of their village. But this did not bother them because they would always have the support of their Mahila Mandal. The work of the Mahila Mandal has spanned many topics and reached many people. They have not only helped individuals in their own village but have supported tsunami victims, earthquake victims, and Kargil War victims when possible.

However, before helping others they first had to help themselves. The Mahila Mandal formed two Self-Help Groups (SHG): bpl (below poverty line) and non-bpl. They have three main activities of growing vegetables, producing dairy products, and the keeping of bees. They also decided to receive training from the government on how to make smoke-free stoves for which they receive 500-600 rupees per stove. Through the SHG, the women even took out a loan for one lakh rupees to cultivate their vegetable business. In taking a loan of this size, these women have defied all stereotypes about rural women being timid or hesitant. These are women with grand ideas and even grander personalities; they go about their work with a sense of humor and charisma.

This persistence together with their humor was particularly evident when once they were to receive prize money for being the best Mahila Mandal, a prize which they are awarded frequently. Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi went to Block District Officer (BDO) to receive their check. When they arrived at the office, the BDO said that he had already given them the check. He claimed that since they were old, they must have misplaced it. Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi demanded to see their signatures on the paper that registered their acceptance of the check. The BDO did not let them see those records and requested that they go home and look for it. Magni Devi and Pukrdi did just that. However, as they went home, they noticed that some of the other villagers started talking about them and saying that they had stolen the money. This became fuel for Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi since they were sure of their innocence. They went back to the BDO’s office with a letter they had devised. In the letter they stated that they had not received the check. Due to the humiliation they were receiving from their own villagers, they were going to poison themselves. The BDO would be the responsible party for their death and that information would become public. As soon as they submitted the letter, the BDO reluctantly gave them their prize money. With a sense of wit and humor, they made sure that justice prevailed and that the Mahila Mandal received what it deserved.

The accomplishments of this particular Mahila Mandal are a testament of the strength and potential of rural women. Although Magni Devi and Pukrdi Devi are old, they still take an active interest in their village. When asked what influenced them to do so much, their response was that “It is my village and I care about the welfare of it.”

Sector: Professional Development

When asked to tell his story, Lucky humbly insisted that the story not be about him, but his parents. It was through their love and support that he was able to achieve the unthinkable. However, Lucky’s role in his success cannot be overlooked. He was able to overcome many obstacles like poverty to achieve his dream.

Ever since Lucky broke his arm when he was a child and was unable to receive treatment, he had the desire to help those who were in need. Although Lucky had the drive to become a doctor he did not have the means to fund his entire education. Lucky’s father worked long hours cutting trees and growing rajma (kidney beans) in order to meet the needs of him and his three siblings. This was a difficult task as the rough terrain and harsh weather made their village, Chota Bengal, inaccessible many months of the year. Lucky’s parents were illiterate and had no formal education. However, despite their outward simplicity as seen in their traditional Kullu Valley attire, Lucky’s parents were very progressive in wanting their children to become educated.

Lucky was able to complete his primary school near his home. However, when it came time to enter the 6th standard, he would have to attend a school that was 6 hours away by foot. Because Lucky’s parents wanted the best education for their children, they decided to move to Dharamsala and stay in a rented house so that Lucky could attend a good school. As Lucky and his siblings entered higher educational institutions, his parents could not afford the tuition. Lucky’s mother desperately wanted her kids to continue their education, so she decided to work alongside her husband to make ends meet. Lucky and his siblings saw their parent’s hard work, and they too followed by example. This often meant studying long hours in the corner of their house by candlelight.

Years of studying by candlelight paid off when Lucky successfully passed the Pre-Medical Test and was admitted into the Indira Gandhi Medical School in Shimla. Although Lucky’s parents never let their children feel that they were poor, the money required for medical school could not be met by his parents. But Lucky knew that if he worked hard, God would help him. This help came in the form of a friend of Lucky who was in a similar situation. He had received a scholarship through CORD to continue his education and he knew Lucky was capable of receiving the same scholarship. Lucky’s friend brought him and his parents to Dr. Kshama Metre (affectionately called Dr. Didi) who encouraged him to apply for a scholarship provided by the Foundation for Excellence. The Foundation for Excellence, in collaboration with CORD, provides scholarships to bright, hard-working youth who often do not have the resources to succeed. With the support of his parents, relatives, villagers, and CORD, Lucky was able to complete the application and receive the scholarship.

However, once in medical school, Lucky still faced hardships. Because of his simple village upbringing, he found it difficult to mix in and communicate with the students and professors. He struggled with his English and he lacked necessary computer skills to keep up with the other students. But this was no barrier for Lucky. In addition to his regular studies, Lucky spent extra time with a CORD volunteer from abroad so that he could improve his English. Dr. Didi also provided Lucky the means to become more familiar with computer technology. This has allowed him to stay competitive in the ever-changing medical field.

Lucky’s journey could not have been possible without the numerous networks that CORD has created over the years. CORD works in collaboration with other sponsors, hospitals, and organizations around the world in order to provide the best possible services to rural communities. For example, difficult cardiac or neurological cases are often sent to collaborators at other hospitals. This ensures that the patient receives the best care and the latest technology. CORD also performs follow-ups so that after the intervention, beneficiaries are properly absorbed back into the community.

Today, Lucky has almost completed his medical schooling. His parents continue to support him with the money they earn cutting wood. They have also supplemented their income with other innovative work such as selling rabbit fur. Lucky regularly informs Dr. Didi of his progress in medical school. He also attends many CORD functions and has established friendships with many of CORD’s workers. With the love of his parents and Dr. Didi, Lucky hopes to one day go back to his village and help poor people raise their living standards.

Sector: Sanitation

Small houses and small plots of land are an all too familiar site in the village of Hada of Fatehpur Block. The village, with only 39 families, was experiencing many economic and social hardships. Many of the villagers were of the Scheduled Caste and as a result, they were extremely poor. The surrounding town was gradually encroaching upon the village and occupying precious farm land. Because land was so limited, toilets were unheard of in the village. It was a common sight to see individuals defecating on the very land they would grow food on. Women in the village found it difficult to use open areas because there was no land where they could go and so they decided it was time to take action. They summoned the help of a contractor to build toilets in their villages and handed over a significant portion of their hard earned money. The women were excited at the thought of having a designated bathroom in their village so that they would not have to go in the open.

However, their money would soon go to waste as the contractor who promised to build toilets in their village took their money and was never seen again. The contractor had not only stolen the women’s money, but had broken their trust. This made it very difficult for CORD to come into the village and help the women. However, after some time, CORD workers were able to gain the women’s trust because they promised to train the women on how to build toilets and not touch a single rupee of theirs. Although the women were skeptical about the process they agreed to attend the training.

CORD workers conducted training for three evenings since that was the ideal time when everyone was available. Through these trainings, the villagers realized that the importance of toilets was not a matter inconvenience, but of health and cleanliness. Their attitude about sanitation was transformed and they felt the urgency of building toilets. Ten families contributed 200 rupees each for a total of 2000 rupees. When it came time to buy the materials, the families did a bit of bargaining with the proprietor by saying that if he gave them a discount, they could assure him that many toilets would be constructed in the future. From loans obtained through the Self-Help Groups and the funds gathered earlier, the families were able to buy sufficient material for constructing latrines. Vinod, a CORD worker and sanitation expert, was called to facilitate the training and build a demonstration toilet. The toilet was constructed in 1200 rupees by the hands of the beneficiaries themselves. Within 15 days, 12 toilets were constructed. Even more important than the construction of the toilet was that the villagers were actually using them. They convinced others who thought they were not ready for a toilet to build them, and they even started work on soakage pits to conserve water.

Selected women from the village came forward as ‘voluntary village resource persons’ and trained at CORD. In this training, they learned about why sanitation was necessary and how they could empower themselves to take sanitation issues into their own hands. They were shown different low-cost options so that they could install a latrine in their own home. Once trained, the resource person went back to the village and informed others on the benefits and process of building a toilet.

For the first time in their lives the women were the ones who had the decision-making power. They were able to decide what kind of toilets they wanted and a fair price for them. Because the men were not available, the women bought the parts necessary to build the toilets on their own. The women were so happy with the process that they told surrounding villages and encouraged them to build toilets as well.

Soon low-cost toilets were being built in surrounding villages. People spread the word that CORD would help them build a toilet without cheating them; however, not with funds but with knowledge. CORD helped the villagers make a toilet feasible through Self-Help Group funds. Women were able to take loans from the group to buy supplies for a latrine and then repay them as funds became available. The emphasis was not placed on the type of toilet but rather on the importance of a toilet.

The women of Hada started a sanitation movement. They came to understand that just like food, toilets are a necessity. This sanitation movement also encouraged the villagers to think of others ways to increase the socioeconomic growth of the community. In a way, taking control of their sanitation had empowered them and encouraged them to do more for themselves to improve their living conditions. In the end, the villagers of Hada took the situation in their own hands and despite difficulties, triumphed in the end.

Sector: Village Enhancement Through Spirituality

Spirituality was never important to the people of Nichli Lambagaon village. Instead, the villagers were caught up in the differences of humanity such as caste. This led to segregation keeping the community in disharmony. People did not take ownership of the land and as a result the physical beauty of the village slowly deteriorated. Trash was thrown everywhere including in front of venerated places such as the local temple of Kodgir Baba. No one ever visited the temple and it remained neglected, a visual reminder of what people were feeling in their hearts. The youth also had no regard for spirituality; they used to roam around the temple as if it were a playground, and had no interest in learning about the deep spiritual meanings that lay hidden inside.

Transformation soon arrived as a teacher who once worked for CORD, Mr. Soni, saw the social conditions of the village. Although Mr. Soni left CORD for a government job, he was inspired by the spiritual thread running through the organization and continued to do the work of CORD. He believed in the villagers and knew that by linking them with CORD they could rediscover their lost potential. He led by example and began picking up every piece of garbage by hand that cluttered the village and temple. Although a quiet leader, his actions reached the hearts and minds of the people. With only a wet cloth he spent hours cleaning the inside of the temple and then maintained it regularly. The villagers noticed this hardworking, simple man who did not even live in their village and yet still dedicated his time. Puzzled by his actions, one day they decided to ask him what he was doing. Mr. Soni said that he was only doing his duty. Impressed by his response, the older people in the village joined him with a smile in keeping the temple and village clean.

The youth were moved by the fact that the elders of the village were picking up garbage which many of them had recklessly created. They felt ashamed and embarrassed of their behavior and quickly joined the silent revolution that was taking place. They took ownership of their village and the very land that they abused felt more and more like a home they could be proud of. If they wanted a better village they would have to do it themselves; they could not wait around for the government or others to do it. The youth enthusiastically volunteered to help build roads and bowries (a spring used for drinking water), anything they could do to improve the condition of their village. The teacher also started performing daily rituals such as aarti in the morning and the evening. The youth used to roam here and there, and had previously never cared about values or rituals. To them, the rituals were just words from ancient texts that had nothing to do with their lives. They were tired of repeating mantras like mindless parrots. However, as they saw Mr. Soni performing the rituals with such faith and regularity, they were curious to learn more. Eventually, they joined Mr. Soni but still had questions like: how are ancient texts relevant to us and how can spirituality be incorporated into our daily lives? Searching for these answers, they went from home to home talking to each other about spirituality (known as prabhat ferry), and spreading Gurudev’s message to the youth. Not only did this build a sense of community among the youth, but it encouraged them to do something more. The temple was not just a place of worship; it became a community center where the youth could attend tuition classes in the evenings with Mr. Soni.

Spirituality was just one among many issues that they wanted to discuss. However, they were lacking the forum to address such issues. Mr. Soni, sensing the youth’s drive to do something more, told the kids about CORD and Dr. Didi. He also told the youth about CORD’s many programs like Yuva Mandal. The youth started a Yuva Mandal of their own called Chinmaya Yuva Prerna. The youth demonstrated Gurudev’s belief that the “Youth are not useless, but they are used less.”

The positive impact that Mr. Soni had spread to the women of the village, who formed their own Mahila Mandal group with the help of CORD. Mr. Soni’s simple action created a domino effect. Even surrounding villages were inspired and started cleaning their roads and temples. Religious festivals were no longer ‘just another day’ but were often celebrated on a grand scale. The villagers felt invigorated and were inspired to carry on their work while upholding spiritual principles.

This dull, dirty village made a complete transformation into a vibrant, spiritual community. This transformation was marked by a large festival on October 15th, 2006, where Swami Subodhananda from Tapovan Ashram and Dr. Kshama graced the event. Villagers from surrounding Mahila Mandals (Women’s groups) and Self-Help Groups were mobilized by Vijaya, a CORD worker, to attend the event. The women even had the opportunity to sell some of their income-generating products. After that event, many of the villagers who had attended were so moved by Swamiji’s words that they quit smoking and drinking. Other prabhat ferries that had lost vigor, such as in the block of Indorra, were revived. Lambagaon village has joined the Chinmaya family and is now known as Chinmaya Sanatan. The villagers maintain their close relationship with CORD and continue to make spiritual progress.