Samagra Bastivikas


(Total Development of the Slums)


Sewa is the sacred Five-altar (Yajna-kund). May we all burn like the Samidha Fire-offerings to gods made into the Yajnakund with reverence.

By offering in the Fire-altar of Sewa one's mother-like love, total devotion and tireless effort, one brings out hope, confidence and faith. It is the actulisation of these qualities that brings success of Sewa efforts.
What is that we plan to achieve? The answer obviously is-to ameliorate the living conditions of the Basti-dwellers, to give them good samskars, and to secure for them the same respect that is enjoyed by others. This task involves tremendous effort. A comprehensive scheme drawn up for this purpose is the Samagra Basti Vikas Vojana.
In this endeavour the karyakarta is not alone but has the full support of society which has a sensed of obligation towards the Basti-dwellers. The hope in the minds of the Basti brethern is matched by the sincerity of Sangh karyakartas and the society at large. The Samagra Basti Vikas Yojana tries to synchronize the aspirations of people and the dedication of karyakartas through Sewa.
Sewa efforts naturally lead to increased self-respect, self-reliance, feeling of mutuality and external manifestation of inner strength. Interest in education, responsiveness to samskars, hard work, sense of cleanliness, reverence for life, freedom from evil addictions - all these come about naturally. Now neither karyakartas nor others feel embarrassed to go to the houses in the Bastis, and there is free intermingling. Many patriotic-spirited karyakartas have now emerged from these very Bastis.
This has been a journey full of inspiring experiences.

A Notable TransfomationKashi

There is a Basti called 'Shivala' in the holy city of Kashi. The developmental effort in this Basti began with the Nishad Raj Mandir. Initially a Bal Samskar Kendra and a Non-formal Education Centre were set up. Before the Sewa Kendra was started, gambling, drinking and needless squabbles were daily occurrence. But the impact of Sewa-karya was so much that the attitude of people began to change. One day, because of the persuasion of Sangh karyakartas, the youths of the Basti came to the Mandir and took a solemn vow before the Lord that they would henceforth neither drink nor gamble. It is now two years, and the entire Basti has remained free from addictions. On account of this, the development of the Basti is making good strides.
A coaching center for High School students and a library too have been started. To reinforce adherence to the relgious path, weekly Satsang and Bhajan and held regularly. The effect of this is already evident.
Close to the Basti is a Christian Missionary Centre. During Christians they used to distribute sweets and clothes. But this time the Basti-dwellers refused to accept these gifts saying, "We may be poor, but we not beggars to accept your alms". Thus the self-respect of the people has been awakened.

The Lamp of Education and SamskarBraj Prant (Western U.P.)

Perhaps many know that there are regions in the country untouched by education. Nor will many be surprised that in many villages the percentage of literacy is very low. But can one believe that in a major city like Agra there were Bastis where 90 per cent of people were illiterate and the number of school-going children was a mere 5 per cent? But this is indeed a fact.
What should cause greater wonder is the fact that now, in contrast, almost all the children of the Basti are attending school.
At the time of inception of the Samskar Kendra, only seven children used to come there, out of whom live were going to school; two could afford to come to the Kendra only after working elsewhere. To suit their convenience, the Kendra arranged for its coaching after 2 p.m. In addition to these seven, there was a boy in the Basti who had passed 8 th Standard and was working somewhere. Even through he wanted to continue his study, his father did not favour it, mainly because the boy's earnings were paying for the father's daily consumption of liquor!
The Samskar Kendra continued its efforts patiently, with good results. Now as many as 35 children come to the Kendra regularly; the number of school going children is 100 per cent. One boy is now studying in 8th Standard in Sewadham, Delhi. Thus enthusiasm for education has picked up.

Effect on Elders Too

Gradually contacts with the Basti households grow, and women of the Basti started saying, "If men stop drinking liquor, conditions in our houses and the entire Basti will definitely improve". Soon the elders too began to respond and discussion started as to what is the role of elders in the children's development, what is the duty of father and brother, etc. Gradually it dawned on the elders that if children are to have a good life, the elders have to reform themselves first. It was not long before they all vowed not to drink. In fact, a penalty of Rs. 50 was prescribed for anyone drinking in public. As people stopped drinking, the sale of liquor too ceased. The environment in the Basti is naturally much better than it was earlier.

Even Habits can ChangeBraj Prant (Western U.P.)

Because of the Samskar Kendra, many programmes started like religious festivals, Havans, get-togethers, competitions, etc. All this drew the attention of outsiders; the Basti residents too came to be frequently invited for functions outside. When outsiders visit the Basti, the local people naturally take extra care of clean the whole place, which has now become a habit.

People's Initiative

The people themselves effect many improvements needed. When they saw that classes were being held without a proper enclosure, they themselves erected suitable covering on all four sides and a small door. When they went to seek permission of the house-owner, his response too was encouraging. He said: "Now the place as well as the children can remain clean. Stray animals no longer come and dirty the place. The concentration of children in studies will also be better".
Such positive changes never come about by mere speaking or fear, but by trust established through intimate and continuous contact.

Increased Awarness

It happens that pig-rearing is a common occupation in these Bastis - so much so that, earlier none bothered about the unclean environment. But now the picture has changed, and one hardly finds dirt anywhere. Because of increased awarness, people now not only clean their own houses and courtyards, but also the road in the front, every morning and evening. Garbage is not thrown helter-skelter but meticulously dropped in the dustbin. The pig-sheds too are cleaned regularly so that people are no longer embarrassed to sit there too on a mat if need arises. All this change is heart-warming.

Dharmik Temperament the Key

The situation in these Bastis used to be rather peculiar. Boys with names like Mohan or Shyam Prakash wore the cross down their rock. Some had added the suffix "Maseeh" to their names - like Dinesh Maseeh, Govind Maseeh. But change came so fast that it looked as if people were waiting for it. Now the cross has vanished and in its place one finds lockets of OM, Durga, Ram or Hanumanji. There was no temple; now a temple has been built by the residents themselves near the entrance of the Basti. A beautiful garden has been raised adjacent to the temple.
This reflects the in-born dharmik temperament of the Basti residents.

Every Occasion to be Used

Every opportunity is used for imparting samskars and transforming the Basti. It is a delight to see all the residents joining together in celebrating Varsha Pratipada (Hindu New Year), Navratri, Ram Navami, etc. To carry the movement further, a 'Best Hindu Home' competition was arranged with good results.
Now anyone entering the Basti cannot find garbage recklessly thrown around. The drainage is tidily covered with stone-slabs. Even the rag-pickers and people collecting plastic and paper-wastes do not disturb the clean maintenance. Each house may be likened to a temple; so clean is it inside and outside. Even where extra space of only a couple of feet available, a Tulsi plant on a neat platform is found, and a couple of flower plants. Each house however small has a pooja-sthan. Household articles are neatly arranged. As soon as a visitor enters, girls offer 'Namaste' with folded hands, while the boys touch his feet; the elders receive him with warm words of welcome.

One Lamp Lights Others

All this is the result of the basic nobility of the residents and the sincerity of Sewa karyakartas. Mothers, sisters and even little children have contributed to this change. Two Karyakartas from this Basti have attended Sangh Shisha Varg and several have undergone other training.
The work in this Basti called "Choubees Quarters' has influenced five other Bastis in neigbouring areas. Among the latter, the "Soron Katara" Basti has an attractive temple, well-maintained spots for garbage and for pig-pens, surrounded by greenery. The second 'Chattees Quarter' Basti too has a new Mandir and drinking-water facility operated by electric motor. The third is 'Jagjivan Nagar' Basti, where people of Javav and Valmiki communities live together; a school has been started in the Dharmashala by the residents; there is also a Valmiki poona-sthan. The forth is the 'Rui-ki-Mandi' Basti where a Mandir has been built amidst a huge garden; there is a multi-purpose Bhavan used for tailoring training. Ball Samskar Kendra, etc; a Sangh Shakha takes place in the garden; a community toilet has been provided at one end. The fifth is the 'Lal Daggi' Basti where people of Prajapati, Valmiki and Gihara communities live. Here too a beautiful temple and garden have been raised.

The Glow of Samskar

These five Bastis together have about 500 houses and a population of about 3,000 Sewa karyakartas are familiar with each of these households. All houses are neatly maintained as in 'Choubees Quarter' Basti.
Most houses have a picture of Bharat Mata. All Bastis have Samskar Kendras and other prorgrammes are arranged from time to time. Thus, work in one Basti has had a spread effect on other Bastis. Not that there were no hurdles. There were moments when all the strenuous bacground work seemed to be going up in smoke. But determination and trust together overcame the hurdles. However, this is but the beginning; there are miles to go. The glow of Sewa continues to inpire.

Satyam-Shivam-SundaramMeerut Prant (Northern U.P.)

Haldwani is a beautiful little city situated near the foothills where the road to Mount Kailash begins. The city also provided an entry-point for Sewa-karya in Meerut Prant in Nothern U.P. Sangh means Sangathan, and Sangathan covers all communities including Brahmmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, and also people belonging to Valmiki, Jatav, Khateek, Bahelia, Dhanuk and other communities. Why have these areas remained backward? This was the question which engaged the minds of the karyakartas. However, till then Sangh had no presence in that region.
The Vibhag Sanghchalak and other karyakartas decided to slowly start activities in Haldwani. Seeing the need of the people, a dispensary was established. It was noticed that children of school-going age were left in the streets wasting their time. So a coaching centre was started. This led to a full-fleged school later, called 'Shivagopal Saraswati Shishumandir'. After all the road led to the abode of Lord Shiva; and the educational and samskar-giving activity was God's work. The activities received good response from the people and also reinforced the faith that no matter what communities they belonged to, all are Hindus.
The identity of the Hindu manifests itself not in words but in samskars. Hindutwa is 'Satyam'; samskars and 'Shivam'. Naturally 'Sundaram' has to complete the triad. This last became possible when, with the enthusiastic support of local youths, people were persuaded to give up habits like drinking. When drinking stopped, people also stayed away from gamibling.

This transformation was possible only because the karyakartas awakened the self-respect of Basti brethren by intimate and continuous contact. The residents began to feel that they too are respectable individuals, and that they are not isolated but part of the broad Hindu society. Thus the potential capability of the people began flowering. The karyakartas' methodology of implementing programmes through the residents themselves gave them added self-confidence and sense of fulfulment.

An Alien Becomes 'Dadaji'Gujarat

The far-reaching effect of reminding the people of their Hindu identity and reinforcing it through constructive social work has been vividly demonstrated here and elsewhere.
When a karyakarta first entered the Tulsi Vihar Sewa-Basti in Vadodara (Baroda), he was virtually manhandled and ragged by the local youth. They scoffed at him, his footwears were taken away from him, the by-standers clapped at the treatment meted out to him. If this had happened to any normal individual he would have decided never to set foot again in such a settlement. But the karyakarta was made of sterner stuff. He returned to the Basti they very next day as if nothing untoward had happened. The treatment this time too was no different. With exemplary determination the karyakarta repeated his visits. After a few days the scene changed; the karyakarta won over the hearts of the local youths. Today he is reffered to as 'Dadaji' (elder) by the name of people who had humiliated him earlier. As soon as he arrives they rush to touch his feet; his word is command for them. The transformation is truly miraculous. As a consequence, now there are two Samskar Kendras, a mobile dispensary, a coaching centre and several other activities. Hardly anyone in the Basti had heard the name of Sangh earlier; now four Upashakhas are functioning. The youth who had laughed at the karyakarta have themselves become Swayamsevaks.
Much is the change that has come about because of Sewa-karya, the Sangh Shakhas and the involvement of 'Dadaji'. Earlier, people used to carry on gambling and betting on the roads in full public view. Many people, fully drunk, used to lie on the roadside. All these are now things of the past. The social transformation that has taken place is there for all to see.

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