C.D. - Forum for Sustainable Development Events

An exposure visits to Vandse Gram Panchayat, Kundapur and Namma Bhoomi
An exposure visits to do the study on the model Gram Panchayat Vandse, Kundapur,was done by 8 students along with Prof. Anuradha Shetty from Sustainable Development Forum of the Community Development Specialization on Saturday March 4, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to study the activities done by the Gram Panchayat Vandse for the sustainable development of that place. This panchayat in particular under the able leadership MR. Udaya Kumar Shetty the panchayat president, has been active in taking up mass awareness programmes in areas of sanitation and village development activities. Therefore, Vandse GP was awarded for open defecation free GP on 2nd October 2015 and Gandhi Grama Puraskar on 2nd October 2016.

The Solid Liquid Resource Management Unit
The students then visited the SLRM unit in fact the very first SLRM project in Karnataka. This project aims at keeping Udupi District a garbage-free district. They were amazed to see the Solid Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) managed by the Vandse Gram Panchayat. This Panchayat has taken the initiative to collect the waste from 7 panchayats and turn it into resource and thereby generate employment for the people of in and around that place. For the maintenance of this project, they collect Rs. 30/month from households and Rs.100/month from corporations. Once the waste products reach at the unit, they are meticulously segregated by the unit workers. Plastics and bottles are recycled and wet waste are turned into manure by composting method. According to them nothing is wasted.

Government Higher Primary School

After that they visited Government Higher Primary School, Vandse.This government school has been a model for all the schools in an around that place. The school authoritiescordially welcomed them and shared the success storyabout their school. According to them, there was a time when this school used to be like any other government school with a smaller number of students, lacking in facilities and on the verge of getting closed. However, after the intervention and contribution of government and Shri. Mukambika Charitable TRUST, the school made a great deal of progress. Now the school has 365 students from lower primary to high school. The children of this school receive one of the best educations that any other private school can offer without any charges. They have smart classroom facilities, computer lab,mid-day meal, transport and many other facilities. They also have co-curricular activities for their holistic growth.

Sanjeevini Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society

Then they visited “Sanjeevini” Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society. It comes under rural development and Panchayath Raj Development. This was the State Government’s initiation with the vision and mission of:

Vision

• “Building a prosperous Karnataka with the creation of abundant opportunities for community-based institutions, agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood activities, self-employment and wage-based jobs with skill development, gender, water, hygiene and sanitation, financial literacy with inclusion, vast marketing avenues, personality and family development programs for the poor people of rural Karnataka.

 Mission

• Creation of necessary programs and platforms for the development of rural poor people.
• Continuous efforts and achievements for social inclusion of marginalized individuals and communities.The main goal of this Unit was to eradicate

the poverty and to help each individual especially the women to earn their livelihood. At present the Sanjeevini tailoring unit has 20 members working and there is tremendous progress in it.

Meeting with Panchayat President
The meeting with the Panchayat President, Mr. Udaya Kumar Shetty was an amazing experience for the students. He has facilitated his knowledge and skills to the people and taught them to be self-reliant. The students found him to be very down to earth person. He is indeed an exemplary leader who values the work ethics. The students were glad to hear some pointers from such an honourable personality.
Visit at Namma Bhoomi

Namma Bhoomi is the place where onefeelsbeing one with the nature because each aspect of the nature is given importance.The trees, flowers, birdsand even the houses and buildings are built in an eco-friendly way. They have developed and loom shops which is called Namma Angadi, a very attractive healthy eco-friendly place that encourages Swadeshi items.A cool and calm place full of shade and whoever enters here will instantly feel rejuvinated. This place is a safe haven for the children who are victims of child labour and conflict with law. The children residing over here learn various vocational skills to equip themselves for future endeavours. They are taught carpentry, electricals and stitching and also some farming skills too. More importantly, this place is an empowering space for children.