Grama Vikas Kendra
Encyclopedia
The Nalpathimala Grama Vikas Kendra (GVK) is the extension centre of the Mahatma Gandhi University
, in India, at its main campus in Kottayam
, Kerala
. The major activities of the Grama Vikas Kendra are centered on the village of Nalpathimala. The Kendra was commissioned (on March 31, 1991) by the then Vice Chancellor, Dr. U. R. Ananthamurthy
, with a vision ‘to add a chethana dimension to the chinthana preoccupations of the University’.
Being an extension centre of the Mahatma Gandhi University, the Kendra put forth a paradigm
for achieving Gramaswaraj through linking the campus with the community. The Kendra is run by the Department of Adult Education, Extension and Field Outreach (ACEEFO) in association with National Service Scheme
(NSS). Dr. C. Thomas Abraham was instrumental in forming the idea of Grama Vikas Kendra, and shaping and transforming it as replicable model for campus-community partnership.
s (especially the NSS volunteers) and teacher
s spend a few days with the village community. During the camp days, these students and teachers stay with the families in the village. The Home-Stay Camp has three major aspects; they are respectively a) educational, b) social and c) developmental.
and community
. Both the campus (the hub of wisdom) and the community (the realm of practical knowledge) can share a lot of valuable information between each other. Through this programme, the community gets informative seminar
s and training programmes on various subjects of the time. The continuing workshops on Panchayathi Raj, the environment, women empowerment are the notables among these programmes.
, in his Constructive Programme, put first priority to the communal unity. For him it was an unbreakable heart unity. Each family in the village accommodates the campers from different a caste
, religion
and social status
. It is helpful to eliminate prejudice
s about the ‘other’ and ensure national unity. In this way, the Home-Stay camps fulfill the grand vision of the Mahatma. Moreover through the Home-Stay camps, the academic community can understand the needs of society, so that the research programmes can be reoriented in accordance with the expectations of society.
is an important programme in its schedule.
The Kendra has organized 100 Home-Stay camps whereby more than a thousand volunteers across the country have participated in it. In short, the Home-Stay camps could impart its participants a new vision about village, development, and education that are not handled by the classroom syllabus
.
is promoted through these SHGs. The major employment programmes of these SHGs are for work in the production of paper-bags, herbal medicines, garments, vermi-compost and curry powder
.
, such as Government Poly-technique, NABARD, CWRDM, Department of Soil Conservation, Nirmal-2000, OMMI-HRD project and CHASS. Through the job-training programmes, the unemployment rate in the area could be reduced to a great extent. The Kendra work out construction of sanitary latrine
s, maintenance of houses, and wells in the village of Nalpathimala. In order to solve the water scarcity problem in the village, the Kendra had chalked out a "water literacy campaign" that could improve awareness about the importance of ferro-cement water tank
s, percolation pits and other methods in conserving water.
programmes, etc.
quality and creativity
. The Kendra provides a remedial education
programme for the educationally-backward students to improve their standard.
which carries the major activities of the Kendra.
, geriatric social work
, and other capacity building
programmes held in the Kendra.
. A person who is interested in participatory rural development can apply for the training programme. Selected candidates are appointed as a Grama Vikas Volunteer (GVV). They will be assigned with the charge of various activities at the Grama Vikas Kendra. In addition to that, the Kendra facilitates the GVVs to attend the training programmes organized by the governmental and non-governmental agencies, with regard to rural development
.
Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
, in India, at its main campus in Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The major activities of the Grama Vikas Kendra are centered on the village of Nalpathimala. The Kendra was commissioned (on March 31, 1991) by the then Vice Chancellor, Dr. U. R. Ananthamurthy
U. R. Ananthamurthy
Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy is a contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language and is considered as one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. He is well known among Indian authors. He is the sixth person among eight recipients of the Jnanpith Award for the Kannada language, the...
, with a vision ‘to add a chethana dimension to the chinthana preoccupations of the University’.
Being an extension centre of the Mahatma Gandhi University, the Kendra put forth a paradigm
Paradigm
The word paradigm has been used in science to describe distinct concepts. It comes from Greek "παράδειγμα" , "pattern, example, sample" from the verb "παραδείκνυμι" , "exhibit, represent, expose" and that from "παρά" , "beside, beyond" + "δείκνυμι" , "to show, to point out".The original Greek...
for achieving Gramaswaraj through linking the campus with the community. The Kendra is run by the Department of Adult Education, Extension and Field Outreach (ACEEFO) in association with National Service Scheme
National Service Scheme
National Service Scheme ' is an Indian government-sponsored program under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. It was started in 1969.-History:...
(NSS). Dr. C. Thomas Abraham was instrumental in forming the idea of Grama Vikas Kendra, and shaping and transforming it as replicable model for campus-community partnership.
Campus- Community Partnership
The Home-Stay Camp is the major element in the Campus-Community Partnership programme. As per this programme, the studentStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s (especially the NSS volunteers) and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s spend a few days with the village community. During the camp days, these students and teachers stay with the families in the village. The Home-Stay Camp has three major aspects; they are respectively a) educational, b) social and c) developmental.
Educational
This is a reciprocal programme between the campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
and community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
. Both the campus (the hub of wisdom) and the community (the realm of practical knowledge) can share a lot of valuable information between each other. Through this programme, the community gets informative seminar
Seminar
Seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is...
s and training programmes on various subjects of the time. The continuing workshops on Panchayathi Raj, the environment, women empowerment are the notables among these programmes.
Social
Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, in his Constructive Programme, put first priority to the communal unity. For him it was an unbreakable heart unity. Each family in the village accommodates the campers from different a caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and social status
Social status
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
. It is helpful to eliminate prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
s about the ‘other’ and ensure national unity. In this way, the Home-Stay camps fulfill the grand vision of the Mahatma. Moreover through the Home-Stay camps, the academic community can understand the needs of society, so that the research programmes can be reoriented in accordance with the expectations of society.
Developmental
Home-Stay camps create a feeling that the academic community has a constructive role to play in the development of the society. Therefore, manual labourManual labour
Manual labour , manual or manual work is physical work done by people, most especially in contrast to that done by machines, and also to that done by working animals...
is an important programme in its schedule.
The Kendra has organized 100 Home-Stay camps whereby more than a thousand volunteers across the country have participated in it. In short, the Home-Stay camps could impart its participants a new vision about village, development, and education that are not handled by the classroom syllabus
Syllabus
A syllabus , is an outline and summary of topics to be covered in an education or training course. It is descriptive...
.
Women Empowerment
The Kendra is undertaking the following programme for women empowerment:- seminars on the rights of the women;
- leadership Training programmes through the Self-Help Groups (SHGs);
- training programmes on masonryMasonryMasonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
, tailoring & embroideryEmbroideryEmbroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
, coirCoirCoir is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, mattresses etc. Technically coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. Other uses of brown coir are in upholstery...
-making, and home management; - placement for the trainees who successfully completed the course;
- and, linking SHGs with the banks.
Self-Help Groups(SHGs)
There are 100 SHGs affiliated with the Kendra. The message of swadeshiSwadeshi movement
The Swadeshi movement, part of the Indian independence movement, was an economic strategy aimed at removing the British Empire from power and improving economic conditions in India by following the principles of swadeshi , which had some success...
is promoted through these SHGs. The major employment programmes of these SHGs are for work in the production of paper-bags, herbal medicines, garments, vermi-compost and curry powder
Curry powder
Curry powder is a mixture of spices of widely varying composition based on South Asian cuisine. Curry powder, and the contemporary English use of the word curry are Western inventions and do not reflect any specific Indian food, though a similar mixture of spices used in north India is called...
.
Rural Development Programmes
The Kendra plays a major role in the development of the area of its functioning with the help of various governmental and non-governmental agenciesNon-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, such as Government Poly-technique, NABARD, CWRDM, Department of Soil Conservation, Nirmal-2000, OMMI-HRD project and CHASS. Through the job-training programmes, the unemployment rate in the area could be reduced to a great extent. The Kendra work out construction of sanitary latrine
Latrine
A latrine is a communal facility containing one or more commonly many toilets which may be simple pit toilets or in the case of the United States Armed Forces any toilet including modern flush toilets...
s, maintenance of houses, and wells in the village of Nalpathimala. In order to solve the water scarcity problem in the village, the Kendra had chalked out a "water literacy campaign" that could improve awareness about the importance of ferro-cement water tank
Water tank
A Water tank is a container for storing water. The need for a water tank is as old as civilized man, providing storage of water for drinking water, irrigation agriculture, fire suppression, agricultural farming, both for plants and livestock, chemical manufacturing, food preparation as well as many...
s, percolation pits and other methods in conserving water.
Senior Citizens' Forums
The Kendra is organizing various programmes for the senior citizens through medical camps, recreationRecreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
programmes, etc.
Children's Forums
The frequent meetings of the Children' Forums is intended to enrich their leadershipLeadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
quality and creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
. The Kendra provides a remedial education
Remedial education
Postsecondary remedial education is a large and growing segment of higher education in the United States...
programme for the educationally-backward students to improve their standard.
Newsletter
The Kendra is bringing out a newsletterNewsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
which carries the major activities of the Kendra.
Courses
There are various courses such as yogaYoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, geriatric social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, and other capacity building
Capacity building
Capacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing...
programmes held in the Kendra.
Training Programme in community organization
The Kendra is conducting a training programme in community organizationCommunity organization
Community organizations are civil society non-profits that operate within a single local community. They are essentially a subset of the wider group of nonprofits. Like other nonprofits they are often run on a voluntary basis and are self funded...
. A person who is interested in participatory rural development can apply for the training programme. Selected candidates are appointed as a Grama Vikas Volunteer (GVV). They will be assigned with the charge of various activities at the Grama Vikas Kendra. In addition to that, the Kendra facilitates the GVVs to attend the training programmes organized by the governmental and non-governmental agencies, with regard to rural development
Rural development
Rural development in general denotes economic development and community development actions and initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-urban neighbourhoods, remote villages and the countryside...
.