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Swami
Vivekananda continues to inspire millions, even a hundred
years after he walked this earth. Inspired by his philosophy,
a handful of medical students decided to dedicate themselves
to alleviating the physical suffering of our society. To them,
the smile of a child cured meant more than millions. They
desired for their expertise to dispel the darkness from the
lives of fellow beings. Their community concerns prevailed
over personal gains. Thus was born in 1984 in Mysore, the
Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, a non-profit organization
without any religious and political affiliations.
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With
the noble intention of providing cost-effective healthcare
to the poor-but no resources to do so - they started with
distributing physicians’ free samples and graduated to
conducting health camps. When the young doctors heard about
the hunter-gatherer tribes who had been displaced from their
homeland because of developmental projects – but not
rehabilitated, the organization established the Janakalyan
Tribal Hospital in Bramhagiri village. Soon the youngsters
realized that their healing touch would bring happiness but
not the upliftment of the poor; so they decided to tackle
illiteracy and poverty. The selfless and patient ministrations
of the doctors made the tribes trust them with their life,
which they would not have done with anybody else. Because
they witnessed the rehabilitation of a HIV-infected mother
who had been humiliated and turned away by many hospitals
The trust placed on the doctors spurred them on to do more
for the community. They saw the opportunity of moulding young
minds and grabbed at it. Education was the means to achieve
what they desired. To banish illiteracy, ‘Viveka’
– Tribal Centre for Learning was started as a nonformal
education center.As the lives of the tribes revolved around
the forest, what the children learnt had to be connected to
their way of life. Hence the curriculum has been designed
with the local populace in mind, involving experimental learning
and vocational training that is relevant to their means of
livelihood. Nearly 4000 children have been benefited by ‘Viveka’
, which has been recognized School of Excellence functions
in Saragur. The SVYM has introduced a unique Vidyavahini or
Mobile Education Programme, primarily for the Jenukuruba Tribes.
The method includes pre-school centers and mobile classrooms.
The fact that nearly 100 school dropouts have come back to
school after Vidyavahini was introduced speaks for its success.
Once
the ill health that plagued the communities was weeded out,
maintaining health devoid of malnutrition became the priority.
Safe drinking water, housing and sanitation facilities have
been arranged towards community development. The Movement
also works towards creating awareness about water and land
resource management and human rights. Training in animal husbandry,
sericulture, agriculture, apiculture and tailoring are also
imparted so as to make the tribes self-help groups that also
serve as micro-credit enterprises. The Movement has guided
and encouraged women to form self. SVYM has also founded a
Vivekananda institute of Leadership Development in
Mysore.
As
for the prime concern with which SVYM was started, namely
healthcare, various programmes are being implemented. The
Vivekananda Memorial Hospital at Saragur, a 40-bed hospital
offers specialized treatment in various fields of medicine.
With the motto of ‘Health – A people’s Movement’,
Reproductive and child Health Programme, Health Awareness
Programme ‘Jagrutha Bharatha’ using folk art, Tobacco
Control Programme supported by WHO, Prevention of Transmission
of AIDS and Outreach Programme involving mobile clinics, field
camps, etc. are being carried out.
In
the twenty years since its inception, SVYM has brought about
a significant change in the lives of the people among whom
it is working. The rewards of the movement are not just the
way doctors have shaped the lives and minds of the young and
the old, but also the way in which their work has inspired
many. For, a tribal girl who attended one of the Awareness
Programmes started creating awareness on imbibing the information
she received. She has set her mind on becoming a doctor. Another
who has enrolled herself in college is impatient to come back
to her own people and become a teacher. These are but two
instances of a bunch of children whom the doctors have inspired.
In
their attempt and success at making the lives of many meaningful,
recognition has come SVYM’s way through the National
Youth Award from the Government of India and Babasaheb B.R.
Ambedkar Award from the Karnataka Government. The Bhagwan
Mahaveer Foundation salutes the spirit of the SVYM and is
happy to confer the award in the fields of community and Social
Services. |
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