आओ चलें भारत की ओर!
A Life Changing Journey for Connecting Urban Youth with Rural Hinterland of India.
13th – 15th May, 2016
Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Gaon Chaley Hum is a one of its kind endeavor to bring together motivated and inspired young adults from around the country to deliberate and work towards Rural Development. Through this initiative we wish to provide a positive stimulus to individuals who want to make a difference. We aim to connect various Student Groups, NGO’s, Social Organizations and Youth Communities to work together for a better future.
The program will provide young people an opportunity to connect with the villages of India and thereby leading to the development of rural India. Today, our villages are facing several problems like illiteracy, unemployment, moral degradation, poor infrastructure and lack of access to information. In the present scenario, young people have to play a prominent role in the implementation of the developmental programs. We need to create awareness among the youth about their role in the society, thereby enhancing their capabilities in leading the country towards development.
The youth are not only leaders of tomorrow, but also partners of today. With India witnessing a radical change in the mindset of people towards governance and policies, and increasing despondency among people due to continuous compromise of citizens’ welfare, there is a rising need to address the grassroot challenges of development and focus on making the world self-reliant through both – individual and cooperative efforts.
Come forward, your decision can change the future of this country. Jai Hind!
Gaon Chaley Hum is the flagship rural immersion program of Agrasar Foundation to be held from 13th – 15th May, 2016 at Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
15 delegates will be selected from around the country. They will embark on a life changing journey to Jaisalmer (The Golden City of India) and Jodhpur (The Sun City of India) for exploring village life, rural livelihoods, rain water harvesting etc.
This program will also enable them to deeply connect and critically analyze the life in an Indian village. In long run, we wish to create a pool of leaders, innovators, and social entrepreneurs who can create sustainable solutions for rural India.
Key Attractions
Visits
|
Authentic Rajasthani Experience
Interactive Sessions
Group Discussions
|
Agenda and Tentative Visits
Day One – 13th May, 2016 | 9 AM Onwards | Jaisalmer
- Reporting of the Participants in Jaisalmer.
- Inauguration and Welcome of Delegates.
- Introduction to the Programme and Presentation.
- Visit to Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer War Museum, Gadsisar Lake and Jain Temple.
- Session on Role of Youth in bridging the Urban – Rural Divide.
- Experience Sharing, Reflections and Informal Discussion on Regional Issues.
Day Two – 14th May, 2016 | Around Jaisalmer
- Visit to the Bada Bagh.
- Visit to Khaba Village where cattle farmer starts his day with taking cattle to feed; womenfolk milking cows, goats, sheep, camels and preparing their bread on earthen stove. The Khaba fort houses a geological museum which exhibits fossils. The ruins of the houses deserted for over 250 years are simply astonishing.
- Visit to Kuldhara Village – A haunted village near Jaisalmer
- Session on Rural Tourism and Entrepreneurship – Opportunities and Challenges.
- Camel Safari, Camp fire by the sand dunes and Stay in Camps.
- Experience Sharing, Reflections and Talent Night.
- Discussion on Rural/Local Issues.
Day Three – 15th May, 2016 | Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Road Journey
- Visit to Pokhran – Famous for India’s Nuclear Tests. Pokhran served as the test site for India’s first underground nuclear weapon detonation.
- Visit to Khejarli – Located in Jodhpur district, it is the village of green lovers Bishnois. Here 363 martyrs unflinchively sacrificed their lives saving the Kherjarli trees in their village in 1730 A.D. By the village pond can be seen migratory birds, chinkara and black buck grazing. Khejarli Massacre inspires people to fight and protect trees and wild life.
- Visir to Khecchan – Village in Jodhpur district – It is home to thousands of Kurjaan birds that migrate from Siberia in winder season. The villagers have demarcated certain areas where food and water are regularly put for these birds whose collective presence turns the skyline into a beautiful canvas. The village also exhibits more than one hundred havelis, each of which is a fine specimen of carving and construction.
- Experience Sharing, Reflections and Delegate Presentations.
- Certification.
Programme will come to an end by 7 PM on 15th May, 2016 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Participants can plan their return Journeys after 7 PM from Jodhpur, Rajasthan on 15th May, 2016.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer nicknamed “The Golden City”, is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state capital Jaipur. Once known as Jaisalmer state it is a World Heritage Site. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert (the Great Indian Desert) and has a population of about 78,000. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District.
Jaisalmer is named after Maharawal Jaisal Singh, a Rajput king who founded the city in 1156 AD. Jaisalmer means the Hill Fort of Jaisal. Jaisalmer is called the “Golden City of India” because the yellow sand and sandstone used in every architecture of the city gives a yellowish-golden tinge to the city and its surrounding area.
While Jaisalmer may always have been remote, it is filled with many artistic structures and monuments of local historical importance. Jaisalmer’s medieval mud fortress and walled township make it a popular tourist destination. The surrounding desolate landscape evidences a stark, austere beauty.
Camel safaris through the nearby desert dunes are popular with tourists; competition for business is fierce. Prices range wildly and one has to bargain for everything, hotel rates included. Jaisalmer is known for huge mark-ups which range between 400% to 500% depending on the product. So buying shawls, carpets, jewellery etc. can be a very time consuming and nerve rattling experience. A few quiet days spent wandering around the town and the surrounding desert can be a wonderful way of unwinding from the chaos of larger Indian cities.Content Courtesy: Wikipedia.
Reaching Jaisalmer
Air – Jodhpur Airport is the closest domestic airport that is functional throughout the year. Major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Udaipur have regular flights to Jodhpur. The airport is approximately 5 to 6 hours’ drive from the city. You can either hire a prepaid or a private taxi from the Airport to reach Jaisalmer.
Rail – Jaisalmer is well connected with a wide network of trains covering most of the Indian cities like Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur and others. Some of the popular trains are Delhi Jaisalmer Express, Jodhpur Jaisalmer Express, Howrah Jaisalmer Express and Lalgarh Jaisalmer Special.Road – There are no direct buses from Delhi to Jaisalmer as the 17-18 hour drive is too time-consuming and quite exhausting. You can however switch buses in Jaipur from where a state-run sleeper coach operates regularly. Be sure to book tickets in advance as there are limited seats. Some sleeper buses are also available from Jodhpur and Udaipur.
Delegate Fee
Amount
7000 INR – Seven Thousands Indian National Rupees
Inclusions
Pickup and Drop
Registration
Food
Accommodation
Field Trips
Certification
Important Note
Delegate Fee is non-refundable and does not include Cost of International/National Travel, Visa and Medical/Travel Insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is Gaon Chaley Hum? How it is beneficial to me?
A1. This is a rural immersion program. It will provide you opportunities for networking, learning about real India and working on sustainable solutions. It will also assist you in realizing your leadership potential, thereby leading to overall development of your skills and personality.
Q2. What are the aims and objectives of this programme?
A2. Our aim is to connect the Urban Youth with Rural India. We believe that India can develop only when its villages are prosperous. In this program, 15 delegates will embark on a life changing journey to Jaisalmer, the Golden City of India for exploring village life, rural livelihoods, rain water harvesting etc. This program will also enable them to deeply connect and critically analyze the life in an Indian village. In long run, we wish to create a pool of leaders, innovators and social entrepreneurs who can create sustainable solutions for rural India.
Keywords: Exposure, Experience and Network.
Q3. What activities would the delegates undertake during these 3 days?
A3. During the day time, you will attend field trips, lectures and interactive sessions. During the evening, you will engage in reflections and group discussions. During the night, team games, recreational activities, and discussions are planned.
Q4. For what day and preferably what time (morning, afternoon or night) should I book my train tickets to Jaisalmer and from Jodhpur, so that I can make use of the pickup facility?
A4. Arrival at Jaisalmer – 13th May, 2016 by 9 am in the morning. Try to book a train which arrives between 5 am – 9 am in the morning. If that is not available, try to arrive on 12th May night or late night.
Departure from Jodhpur – 15th May, 2016 after 7 pm in the evening.
Q5. Why is the Delegate Fee charged? What does it cover?
A5. This is a non-profit and self sustaining program. The delegate fee is charged to cover the basic expenses to conduct the program smoothly. It includes Pickup and Drop, Food, Accommodation, Field Trips, Entertainment and Certification throughout the program duration.
Season 2 – Singrauli
The second edition of Gaon Chaley Hum was organised by Alexis Society and Adhrit Foundation from 28th to 30th March, 2014.
Singrauli, India’s Energy Capital is the 50th district of Madhya Pradesh. It was granted district status on 24th May 2008, with its headquarters at Waidhan to fulfill the aspirations of people of this place. It has been formed after dividing it from Sidhi district. The area in the eastern part of the Sidhi Distt. in the state of Madhya Pradesh and the adjoining southern part of Sonebhadra Distt. in the state of Uttar Pradesh is collectively known as Singrauli. As you can see in the map it is in the the northern-central part of India.
Singrauli has three tehsils namely Singrauli Deosar and Chitrangi. It has three development blocks by the same name. Singrauli town is a Municipal Corporation with a population of about 2 lakhs. The population of Singrauli district is about 11 lakhs. It is fast emerging as the power hub of India, especially for electric power and coal and therefore locally it is also call as Urjanchal (a Hindi word which means land of energy). The total installed capacity of all thermal power plants at Singrauli is around 10% total installed capacity of India.
Singrauli is poised to take a big leap forward with an impressive line up of new project in power, coal, aluminium, cement and infrastructure. Despite of the rapidly changing landscape due to these mega projects, and open cast minig, Singrauli has some great hideouts for nature lovers. It’s parks, waterfalls, prehistoric caves and wild life habitants are enough to keep the outdoor aficionados completely engrossed.
Today, five large scale power stations, an aluminium smelting plant, and a chemical factory stand on the shores of the lake. The power stations, which have a total output of more than 10,000 megawatts, are supplied with fuel from coal mines via conveyor belts, and rail carriages aid they are cooled with water out of the lake.
The population of Singrauli mainly consists of professionals and workers of these large industrial units and businessmen and employees of other organizations dealing with the power or coal industry, in addition to staff members of various government agencies. There exist good education facilities in Singrauli upto school level with the network of DPS, DAV, KV & St. Joseph, aided by the corporate sector, which are serving the local population also in addition to the family members of these companies.
Singrauli was earlier known as Shringavali, named after the sage Shringi, was once upon a time covered with dense and unnavigable forests and inhabited by wild animals. The place was considered so treacherous that it was used by the Kings of Rewa State, who ruled the area till 1947, as an open air prison for detaining errant civilians and officers.
Just two generations ago, small holders were tending their parcels of land here, and the original inhabitants were gathering honey and herbs in the forest. In the late fifties, a large scale dam banked up the water of the River Rihand. The dam known as Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, was inaugurated by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1962. Later, rich coal deposits spread over an area of 2200 km² in the state of M.P. (eastern part of Sidhi District) and U.P. (southern part of Sonebhadra District) were discovered close to the artificial lake that could be used to generate electricity.
Content Courtesy: District Administration, Singrauli.
Season 1 – Bundelkhand
The first edition of Gaon Chaley Hum was organised by Alexis Foundation and YUVA Foundation from 5th to 7th April, 2013. Development Alternatives and Model Governance Foundation were the partners for the 2013 Program.
Bundelkhand is one of the most fascinating areas of Central India with ancient history, famed temple complexes, rich forests juxtaposed with a harsh land and a defiant people. Known as ‘Chedi Kingdom’ in the ancient times, this geographic region got its name from Bundela Rajputs that ruled here until the 16th century. The region lies between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Vindhya Mountains to the south. It is administratively divided across the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Madhya Pradesh (MP). Bundelkhand’s most well known tourist and archaeological site known for its sculptured temples is the world heritage site of the temple city of Khajuraho. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the most powerful god in the Hindu Trinity, it has a number of 10th century temples devoted to fine-living and erotic sculpture. Extensive forests are found in the hilly areas of southern Bundelkhand. The forests spread over an area of 543 sq km, across Panna and Chhatarpur districts, and have been notified as the Panna National Park and Tiger Reserve. Rainfed rivers of Ken, Betwa, Tons and Kali traverse the land which has rich mineral and stone deposits, the diamond mines of Panna being most famous from where a very large diamond dug from the last excavation is kept in the hill fortress of ancient Kalinjar, built in AD 150.
Life is tough for the rural majority in Bundelkhand. This expanse of sun-parched plains spanning 13 districts of southwest Uttar Pradesh and Northern Madhya Pradesh is one of the most marginalised and deprived in the whole country. But it hasn’t always been this way; history confirms the influential role that the region has played through the ages in the sub-continent. Beyond the rich cultural heritage, there was a strong tradition of management of the natural heritage- land, water and forests that formed the basis of hard but sustainable lifestyles of the people who inhabit this land. Today, however, Bundelkhand is inundated with the problems of poverty and penury. Dwindling natural resources, poor industrial development and very few livelihood options characterize the rural areas. Agriculture is the mainstay of Bundelkhand’s economy, however, recurring droughts and poor land productivity, coupled with impacts of a changing climate threaten food security. Mass migration to cities is a regular phenomenon for a people with few economic opportunities.
TARAgram
It is a unique concept; a livelihood resource center demonstrating models of sustainable development, with facilities for training and conferencing. It is as much a destination for development practitioners in their quest for new learning as it is for the local village community whom it seeks to serve. Three such TARAgrams have now been established.
TARAgram Orchha
Located on the banks of Baberi stream, this Sustainable Livelihood Resource Centre is very close to the beautiful and historic town of Orchha. TARAgram Orchha was set up in 1995 as a technology village by Development Alternatives. It has, over the years, demonstrated the economic viability of sustainable production systems. It has world class training and conferencing facilities with residential options. A small shop stocks attractive handicrafts produced by women groups from the area. It provides lessons from varied development interventions such as:
• TARAHandmade Paper recycling unit, started in 1995 run by Sahariya Tribal women.
• TARA Nirman Kendra – a building material research cum production centre – started in 1995 produces a range of innovative, resource efficient affordable building products for construction of houses and public buildings.
• DESI Power – India’s first commercial 100 kW biomass gasifier – set up in 1996 ensures uninterrupted renewable power supply.
• TARALivelihood Academy – provides training and capacity building services to women and youth for jobs and enterprises.
• Radio Bundelkhand – The first Community Radio in Madhya Pradesh, Orchha set up in 2008 using ‘entertainment’ format for raising development issues.
TARAgram Pahuj
TARAgram Pahuj is a Sustainabile Livelihood Resource Centre, located near Pahuj dam, in Village Ambabai, in Uttar Pradesh. The centre focuses on natural resource management and sustainable agricultural practices. It provides training and information services for local farmers and demonstrates:
• Rainwater harvesting, soil and moisture management practices.
• Land reclamation and development especially using green organic manure.
• Energy and water efficient farming practices.
TARAgram Datia
TARAgram Datia located strategically on the north-south highway corridor demonstrates different models of energy conservation and green technology. TARAgram-Datia undertakes extensive research and demonstration related to the manufacture of energy efficient bricks. It is equipped with a Material Research Laboratory to undertake testing and analyses of clay and non clay-based bricks and building materials. It houses a women’s entrepreneurship center and provides facilities for training. Highlights are:
• A running model of the Eco-Brick Kiln that provides a clean solution to building construction and climate change mitigation.
• Amaterials laboratory.
• Biomass gassifier that provides green power to the operations.