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5 June 2010 Barli Development Institute For Rural Women Indore Celebrated World Environment Day and held the 98th Graduation Ceremony of it's Trainees |
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Dr. (Mrs.) Janak Palta McGilligan, to gave a brief introduction of the institute and the history of the world environment day. The approach of the institute was to get young women from remote areas to join in, so that they would provide sustainable development to the society. The institute followed an integrated holistic approach, and gave the trainees knowledge on using solar energy, learn to conserve the environment, learn batik and block printing along with getting education. Mrs. McGilligan told that in the current batch only 12 out of 80 ever went to school despite this, the result was a 100% pass. They learnt everything here from scratch and gave their exams. The average result for girls that have never been to school is an 85% pass.
Every year the institute conducts a 3 day environment workshop to celebrate World Environment Day, but this year being the 25th anniversary the institute conducted a 5 day workshop along with celebrations, Barli Institute started on 1st June 1985. She then added that through the 5 days talks were given on topics such as Importance of environment and health, role of women in improvement of environment, mother, child and adolescent health, use of solar energy, harmful effects of alcohol and habit forming drugs, gender equality , environmental friendly and healthy lifestyle, nutrition , HIV/AIDS , family planning, first aid, slide show on many species one planet one future , need and importance of service to community, importance of clean water, sanitation, reuse, recycling and recharge of water rain water harvesting, role of women in water and soil conservation, reforestation and tree plantation, role of women in improving environment and health in their families and communities, importance of unity in conserving the environment, healthy food production, replacing harmful health practices with healthy ones, healthy living, prevention and treatment of burns, excellence, home remedies and herbal shampoos by the following: Dr.Afroz Ahmad, Environment Scientist, Dr. (Mrs.) Renu Taneja, Gynaecologist Miss Priti Nigam, Development Project Officer Dr. K.S. Parmar, Medical Doctor Dr. B.K. Nilose, Retired Civil Servant, Dr. C.S. Gandhe, Medical Doctor, Dr. Gunjan Taneja, Specialist HIV Aids, Dr. Lalit Mohan Pant, Birth Control Specialist Mrs. Jasmine Matthew, Nurse Mr. Bhalu Mondhe, Environmental Photographer Mr. Kustubhe Rushi, Environmental Photographer Mrs Nanda Chauhan Solar Cooking Specialist Shanu Singh, Alternative energy MSC intern Rashi Singh Yadav Clean Drinking Water Dr.Mrs. Janak McGilligan, Director Barli Dr. Arun Dike, Organic Farming Expert Dr. Manohar Bhandari, Medical Professor, Dr. T.A. Sihorwala, Water conservation expert Dr. Rakesh Trivedi, Environmentalist, Dr. Bahrat Chhaparwal Child Specialist Former University Vice Chancellor Miss Rehana Rangwale, Mr Satyanarayan Patel, Environmental Activist, Mr. Jimmy McGilligan, Manager Barli Mr. R.N Berwa D Director Baba Sahib Ambedkar Institute of Social Sciences, Mr. Rahul Hasija, Environmentalist Mr. Dinesh Kothari, Environment Auditor, Mr. Ankit, Environmentalist Mr. Mukund Kulkarni, Veteran Social Thinker Mrs Dhedi Baghdare, Programme Officer Barli Miss Vijayshree, Programme Officer Barli Miss Neelam, Teacher Volunteer Dr. Shobha Chamania and Dr. Shekhar Chamania Burns and specialists in fire safety in the home. who are all experts in their specific fields. She then added that what the girls have learnt here, will reach 57 villages and more awareness will be spread. The institute had expected around 30 girls but 42 showed up for the workshop, which was something to be proud of. Mrs. McGilligan gave credit for the growth of the institute to all the girls. She said that the girls are assets and not liabilities, and thanked all the guests for being there on this joyous occasion.
Then Mrs. Dhedi Baghdare invited the girls to talk about what they have learnt, and how they plan to execute it in their respective villages.
Kum. Gauri from Alirajpur said that she had never been to school and didn’t know anything when she came to the institute. Here she learnt how to read and write, and realized how important it is to be literate. Kum. Dhanbai Dawar showed everyone what she made at the institute, this included purses, handkerchiefs, clothing items like shirts, trousers, shorts etc. She learnt how to prepare for written and oral exams and learnt to read and write as well. Following Kum. Dhanbai Dawar’s testimony was a song in “Bhilai ” language presented by Kum. Munni and friends. Dhar’s Seema Bondiya shared her experience at the institute, and told everyone that ‘didi’ (Mrs. McGilligan) would help her whenever she would have problems in understanding things. Here she learnt how to read and write, how to prepare for the exam and how to sit on table and chair and give exams. Kum Malti Mandsore stressed on the importance of educating children. She said that at school children learn punctuality, praying, hygiene, the importance of cleanliness etc. She also said that it is important for children to realize the importance of having clean nails and staying clean. An ex-trainee from the institute Kum Neelam Ahmad then shared her experience. She had worked as a trainer here as well. She said that she was happy to teach here, the girls always used to show enthusiasm. She is currently a primary school teacher in an English medium school in Muraina and was delighted to be here for the workshop. Kum Parul Agrawal said that it is important to conserve our environment and we should not cut trees. Programme Officer Miss Vijayshree shared her experience of preparing the trainees for the 'cutting and tailoring' exam under National Institute of Open Schooling. She said that during the first 3 months of the training the trainees learn literacy, then they are prepared for the exam in the following 3 months. An Intern Miss Shanu Singh student of M.Sc in Renewable Energy from Lucknow University Lucknow said that in 5 days she learned a lot health Environment and importance of trees in our life, whatever work is being done by this Institute is predictable. She also said after completing her M.Sc she would like to come here as a volunteer. Kum Surmi Chouhan an extrainee who currently does stitching in her village told everyone that she currently earns 200RS per day and has filled the form for 10th Board Exam. She teaches around 40 children in her village. She uses sweets to lure children into study.
Extrainee Kum Hiru Dudve from Khargoan said she uses the machine she bought and earns around 200 to 250RS per day. She teaches everybody in her village about the importance of immunization. She also encourages people to send their children to schools. Kum Radha Chauhan from Khargoan talked about the importance of planting trees. She spreads awareness in her village about how trees influence the environment. Also she tells people about the importance of immunization, its benefits and tries to correct the wrong notions people have. She informs women that during pregnancy they should take iron pills to prevent anemia. she said people in her village now need to take permission from the panchayat to cut any tree and they mostly use dried wood or cow dung cakes as domestic fuel. Kum Sonu Badre from Khargoan said that during her training she learnt the importance of planting trees, saving water, clean surroundings and clean water. Kum Sangeeta Jamre from Khargoan told everyone of the water shortage in her village that people in her village need to go far and wide to get water. Now everyone has realized the importance of rain-water harvesting. Kum Karishma Gehlot from Khargoan currently is studying and stitching talked about saving water.She added that one can live without food but not water. Kum Kamana Badole from Khargoan said that we should always boil water and then drink it as dirty water would lead to diseases. Kum Sangeeta from Khargoan came here in 2008 and learnt stitching and house hold work. A girl from Alirajpur, Kum Lumbai Tomar said that she learnt stitching at the institute and also the importance of cleanliness and spreading awareness. Alirajpur’s Romti Dawar told everyone that she came to the institute in 2004 to learn stitching; here she learnt how to read and write and about cleanliness. She informed everyone of the importance of trees and said that she believes in spreading awareness about the importance of trees. Kum Sunita Chauhan from Khargoan got educated here and learnt tailoring. She teaches prayers to the children in her village and charges the girls in her village 150RS. Per month to teach them. She pledged to tell everyone in her village the importance of going to hospitals and not to trust witch-doctors (tantric) and the importance of clean water. Kum Lalita Vaskale from Khargoan told everyone an incident in her village where a leper in her village was buried alive. She now tries to spread awareness in her village about visiting doctors when sick. Kum Reena Dawar from Khargoan informed everybody of the problem in her village with gender discrimination. She spreads awareness on the importance of educating girls since they have to take care of three families and that even girls can become doctor, engineers etc. She said that she came here in 2007 and passed 10th this year. She loves to plant trees and hopes that more and more people would plant trees. She believes that animals and trees can’t talk but play a vital role in this world and it is the duty of humans to take care of them. Kum Impa Dawar from Khargoan who came here in 2009 said that she will impart the knowledge she has gained in the past 5 days to the people in her village. Kum Puppi Dodwa from Khargoan came to the institute in 1996 and was a child back then. She sang a beautiful ghazal for everyone with great confidence. She told everyone that here she learnt about adolescence, cleanliness, hygiene and nutrition. She learnt how to take care of children, how to keep water clean, how to cook, gained awareness about HIV/AIDS and health. She said that now she will spread awareness in her village. She will encourage people to take the sick to the hospital, teach everyone the importance of trees and stress on personality development, mainly on not fighting, not stealing and not lying. She said that now everyone in her family and even her neighbours are learning
A volunteer from Canada Miss Carla Johnston who has been in the institute for the past 4 months expressed her feelings by saying that the time she has spent here will shape her future. She said that everyone here is extremely hardworking and she has seen girls grow from shy to confident and bold. She wished the girls all the best for their future and that she will remember all of them. She added that everyone at the institute is a source of inspiration for them. After a beautiful bhillali song by Balki and sisters, Mr. Rajendra Ochani one of the friend of the Institute from Indore shared that he had been planting trees in the institute with his family on every Raksha-bandhan day since 1986, as he respects Mrs. Janak McGilligan as his sister, and she inspired him to plant trees. Following these testimonies was a skit by Neema and her friends which highlighted the misconceptions people have in villages and gave information on thermometers, use of cold water and cotton cloth to settle down fever and home remedies to read and write now.
Mrs.Geeta
Handa, a special guest and a
great friend appreciated the
hard work, dedication and
selfless service provided by the
McGilligan couple. She said that
each girl over here is a candle
and will light a lamp and will
have a unique identity.
Dr. Heerjee the chief guest presented all the trainees with certificates, which was a proud moment for all those associated with the institute.
Dr, Heerjee then addressed the audience and said that Mr. and Mrs. McGilligan has created “magic” in the institute and theirs is a “wind of change” throughout the country which is empowering and emancipating women. He then congratulated all the girls.
The function was concluded by a vote of thanks from Mr. Jimmy McGilligan who said that it was not some environmentalist or scientist who enlightened us all on this world environment day but these girls who have just received their certificates and those earlier trainees who were now planting and protecting trees in their village, using solar cookers, harvesting rainwater, teaching their communities and the children about protecting the environment. He gave a special thanks to the Indore media.
Followed by a prayer everyone was invited for a delicious solar-cooked lunch.
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Go back to Home Page News Archive Silver Jubilee Index Top of Page |
Dr.
D.K.Sharma, who had
specially come from Bhopal,
the guest of honor shared
his memories of 25 years of
association with this
institute. He lauded the
work for educating and
giving confidence to so many
women.
Mrs.
Shirin Heerjee while
presiding over expressed the
delight she felt in this
occasion. 
Present
during the function was renowned
social worker and friend of the
Barli Institute for the last 25
years Mrs. Perin Homi Daji