Aniruddha's Institute of Gram Vikas

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Aniruddha's Institute of Gram Vikas (AIGV)

Source : http://aniruddhasinstituteofgramvikas.blogspot.in/

Param Poojya Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu conducted a very special discourse of ‘Ram Rajya’ on 6th May 2010 which is His dream, aim and promise as well. While defining and explaining this concept Bapu says, “The way in which Lord Ram governed Ayodhya, the way in which the citizens of Ayodhya were and the way in which the social system of Ayodhya was structured is Ram Rajya”.

With this intent Bapu has established ‘Aniruddha’s Institute of Gram Vikas’. The institute identifies itself as “The way towards Ram Rajya originates from the station of Gram Rajya, and Gram Rajya means Rural Development”. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. But even after the Green Revolution agriculture still isn’t a reliable occupation because of multiple factors like unreliable nature, lack of irrigation, lack of political will, lack of guidance and apt information. Further with unrestricted use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lack of novel thinking and illiteracy, today’s small farmers and agricultural labourers from rural areas are caught in a perpetual, unending and vicious cycle of loan which is leading to farmer suicides.

To resolve this problem Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu after a deep study designed and launched this project. The project at the start conducted a detailed survey and analysis of the problem faced by the farmers by actually visiting them at their villages. Further with the analysis of this data the entire project was structured. The project was initiated with launch of a crash course at Govidyapeetham Complex at Kothimbe, Karjat under Swapnilsinh Dattopadhye. Various subjects of deep importance of farmers viz., Organic Farming, Animal Husbandry, Watershed Management, Social Forestry and Allied Businesses. This curriculum was designed by Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu with requirement of minimum input costs. The curriculum  has been designed by Bapu keeping the rural masses in focus and the resources available with them. Thus any educated or illiterate farmer from rural areas can be drawn towards this overall development and thus improve their economic condition.

It’s been many decades since Green Revolution was launched but still the conditions of rural farmers and farm labourers haven’t bettered. Expensive and perpetually needed seeds, chemicals fertilizers and pesticides have been causing irreparable damage to soil. Even after their usage the agricultural produce fails to draw the appropriate price. They are turning fertile soils arid. Hence the Diploma Course at AIGV is geared towards orienting farmers holistically towards the implementation of Organic Farming which is a low cost, non-toxic, loan free and profitable means of cultivation. This course is a beautiful fusion of ancient practices of farming with modern day knowledge. The course teaches various ways of producing and using organic manures, organic pesticides and farm grown organic seeds.

Farmers generally possess few cows, buffaloes, sheep, hens, etc. Hence this Course also teaches betterment in animal husbandry and its various management, cleanliness and nutritional aspects which can result in major hike in the earnings.

It is said that a man cannot progress with empty stomach. For a farmer to think, work and earn his basic necessity of food has to be satisfied. Hence to make these farmers grow their own nutritious food (vegetables) within whatever available space AIGV teaches them the concept of Kitchen Gardening (Parasbaug). With minimum efforts and planning once a cycle is set the farmer is treated with a produce of nutritious vegetables everyday on his plate.

For a village to progress it is not only the individual efforts of villager that are important but the collective efforts of the entire are must. The Course also covers study of water irrigation (Jalsandharan). This particular study focuses on harnessing the available water resources in the neighbourhoods viz., the local streams, rivers, rivulets, mountains to dam them. Damming and irrigation is conducted through construction of embankments and bulwarks of various types (suiting the respective landscapes). The course also teaches various construction and maintenance techniques of these embankments. Implementation of these techniques taught at AIGV has given drastic results in improving the water situation and has infact eradicated water woes and shortages.

Today’s farmlands are mostly seen to be infertile, arid and saline. There cannot be a bigger misfortune than a farmer unable to use his land for cultivation even after possessing it. The only reason for this is impotent soil. To resolve this problem AIGV also teaches Social Forestry to farmers. Increasing soil fertility and its water retention capacity is taught at AIGV. AIGV also teaches community plantation which is conducted on the slopes of local hills nearby to the villages and also on the open spaces. 

Arid and dry areas depend only on rain water for sufficing agricultural requirements. As there are no irrigational facilities in these areas they conduct agriculture only for 4 months of the year. Many districts in state of Maharashtra fall in this pattern. More than half the total numbers of districts of Maharashtra are draught and famine prone. Here let us consider a situation where in a particular year it doesn’t rain at all. How would villagers in these villages survive and cultivate crops? These are the two biggest questions. To resolve these problems AIGV through its Diploma Course teaches plantation and all the related aspects of crops and fruit trees that grow in arid areas.

These are the times when everybody is feeling the heat of inflation. The rural and the urban populace have been equally battered by inflation. In this situation, to satisfy atleast their basic needs, people from rural areas who have a hand to mouth existence must engage in some or the other form of business. The answer to this is doing agriculture along with its allied businesses. Businesses like Hare farming, pig farming, apiculture, quail farming, etc along with cottage businesses like basket making, broom making, katechu making, gum collection, chalk making, etc are taught in Diploma Course of AIGV.

Humans need food to survive. Likewise for keeping the body fit one needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For this to be achieved one has to look after his well-being and cleanliness together. Our villages will stay healthy only if we stay healthy, our villages will stay clean only if our houses are clean. Hence AIGV’s Diploma Course covers topics of ‘Cleanliness, Health and Literacy’. This course teaches us to stay fit and disease free. It also literates the rural masses so that they are not subjected to cheating and fraud in their everyday dealings.

AIGV means complete, axiomatic and holistic outlook towards rural development (Gram Vikas). Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu established AIGV to make the rural illiterate, needy, poor and laborious masses potent, healthy, happy and contended. Through AIGV He has given a direction of development to all these masses. 

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