Avadhesh Kumar                           Phone:         27018015 / 27020903

A-16, Pundrik Vihar, Pitampura, Delhi-110034

Socio-Economic – Ecological Facilitator on Self Reliance

Ex-Member: A.I.Khadi & Vill. Ind. Board (Govt. of India)

Ex-Member: Cent. Cert. Comm. KVIC (Govt. of India)

·       Anna Sudha Village Industries (KVIC approved)

·       PANI   :     People’s Action for National Integration, 1/13/190, Civil Lines, Faizabad, UP-224001

·       SCRIA :     Social Centre for Rural Initiative and Advancement, Khori Centre, Khori Distt. Rewari, Haryana.

Ref No. AK/Khadi/84/2006-07/                                         Dated: 24^th September, 2006

EST HUNGER  –  An Appeal to rededicate to the Nation on Mahatma’s 137^th Birth Anniversary

It is a matter of great comfort as well as encouragement to note that our respected Prime Minister, Dr. Man Mohan Singh Ji, while leaving for Brazil en-route to Havana to attend the NAM Conference, underlined the need to combat the triple problems of Hunger, Poverty and Disease, for achieving peace and human development, on a lasting basis, the world over and that the NAM has to address them in a unified and concerted manner with a cooperative sprit.

What is important in the international arena is equally important at the domestic front too. In this context the role of Khadi and Village Industries Sector, the only activity which is still alive and is being carried on, in the name of Gandhian Constructive Work, assumes a special significance.

It is high time that the Khadi Sector taking cue from what has been observed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister takes an introspective look at re-designing its approach so that the issue of “Freedom from Hunger” is brought on its radar, without further delay, and reclaim the road of “Livery of Freedom”.

In this fight for the “Freedom from Hunger” a unified and concerted effort with a cooperative sprit is equally important by the various stake holders, be it the Third Tier of our democracy, the Panchayat Raj Institutions, on whose list “Khadi” has its own respectable place, or other arma of the government, Ministries/Departments etc., e.g. Social Justice and Empowerment, Rural Development, SC/ST, Department of Women and Children, National Commission for Minorities, and the like, including the Textile Ministry and the Handloom-Handicraft Board, if the lot of the weavers, i.e. Julahas is to be taken care of. A bit of the Khadi and Village Industries potentiality to intervene is always there in the respective programs of all these Ministries / Departments etc. 

It must be noted that most of them are Muslims, Ansaris or Julahas as they are called or they come form other SC/ST communities like Meghwals etc. Thus there plight leading to their impoverishment is no less than the violation of the dignity of their skills and their human rights to exists and have a direct bearing on the stranglehold on minorities and SC/ST’s, affecting the very fabric of Peace and Harmony in the society at large.

Gandhiji during his life time used to observe his birth day as Charkha Jayanti, as he was a crusader of the cause of the down trodden and neglected lots. Can those who claim to carry forward his legacy in the name of Khadi or Sarvodaya i.e. ‘Unto the Last’, in particular and the nation in general muster enough courage to rise to the occasion to join hands to rededicate themselves by taking up the challenge of “Freedom from Hunger”, on the forth coming 2^nd October, 2006 as a true offering to the Father of the Nation on his 137^th Birth Day.

Is it not the fact that challenges allow us to grow, both individually as well as collectively. So, why shy away? Even if one life is saved, in this way it surely is a great triumph. Just pause for a moment and think about, this earnest Appeal, in a calm and reflective way: ‘Can We Remake Ourselves?’ Please allow your imagination a brief space to conjure up, ‘Est Hunger’.                           

      Avadhesh Kumar

Movement for Accountability to Public (MAP)