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SRISTI SAMMAN |
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"The SRISTI Samman Awards, have recognised the unsung heroes at the grassroots since 1995. Their creative solutions in education, healthcare, biodiversity conservation, and other kinds of community well-being have inspired pan-Indian movements and a new crop of innovators. This year, 12 innovators were recognised by SRISTI, supported by the Honey Bee Network. The felicitation ceremony was held concurrently with Sattvik, where they received a loud applause.
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"Dattatray Ware, Principal
Pune, Maharashtra
Dattatray Ware brought innovation to education in Wablewadi, Pune, with the launch of the Zero-energy Tablet School. Despite initial enrollment challenges due to competition from high-profile CBSE institutions, Mr. Ware’s dedication and strategic approach led to a remarkable turnaround. Wablewadi ZP School is now highly sought-after, with over 2,500 students on the waiting list. He introduced the concept of a “Subject Friend”, through which students excelling in a certain subject would teach it to others, allowing uninterrupted learning when there was a shortage of teachers. As the current Headmaster of Jalinder Nagar ZP School, he continues to innovate in the education space, and hopes to address other areas of community development.
(Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqDXXxYb0zo
Website: https://wareguruji.com/)
Pooja Paija, Teacher
Dharampur, Gujarat
Pooja Paija became the headmistress of Dharampur Primary School in 2012, and has greatly improved the facilities and learning outcomes. Since students found it difficult to cope with homework on their own, she initiated a community project where parents would take turns to host students at night and help them complete their coursework. She has received recognition from IIM-A for instituting “Pustak Parab”, through which children were gifted books in their local language. Students at her school are encouraged to learn cooking, gardening, and other life skills. Honoured by the Gujarat government, Pooja is widely appreciated for her contributions to education, social service, and literature.
Karnna Maher & Jashobanti Maher, Craftspersons
Barpali, Odisha
Mrs. Jashobanti and Dr. Karnna Meher are distinguished weavers and craftspersons from Barpali, Odisha. The duo innovated a weaving technique for a unique “no-stitch” kurta. Their work often includes divine motifs and religious themes, for instance, Dasa Avatar of Lord Jagannath, and divine incarnations from Matsya to Buddha. They have been recognized nationally for their innovation and mastery of many different traditional fiber crafts. Honey Bee Network first discovered them during the 39th Shodhyatra, Barpali to Nrusinghnath (Bargarh district, Odisha) in 2017.
Khushroo Poacha, Founder, SEVA Kitchen and Indian Blood Donors
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Khushroo Poacha, a former Central Railway Chief Office Superintendent in Nagpur, founded Seva Kitchen after seeing families wait, with little access to food or water, at a hospital where his mother had been admitted. In honour of his late mother, Khushroo, along with his wife Fermin, began serving meals to impoverished patients’ families. Starting with 25 meals every Sunday, Seva Kitchen has grown into a national movement across 20 cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi. With over 600 volunteers/donors, this initiative feeds hundreds of people at hospitals daily. They also provided vital ration kits during the COVID-19 crisis, including serving meals to widows and cancer patients.
(Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SqfCUqdZm4
Website: https://sevakitchen.org/
More info: https://www.indianblooddonors.com/our-story)
Debal Deb, Seed Saver
West Bengal
In the early ‘90s, ecologist Debal Deb made a request to West Bengal’s agriculture authorities for support in conserving 152 folk rice varieties but his request was rejected. Undeterred, he left WWF-India, to found Vrihi—a folk rice seed bank. He has since preserved 1,480 heirloom rice landraces, distributing them to over 7,600 farmers. Vrihi, nestled in Odisha’s Niyamgiri mountains, spans 1.7 acres of organic, self-sustained farming land, attracting researchers, students, and farmers, and stands as a testament to Mr. Deb’s commitment to agricultural biodiversity and traditional wisdom.
(More info: https://rb.gy/yt01kr)
Vinay and Charul, Social Activist
Loknaad, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Vinay, hailing from Dinanagar, Punjab, first experienced the healing power of art when he composed a song to capture his memories of the 1985 riots. He is an agricultural engineer and IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus. Charul, an architect from Mumbai and alumnus of CEPT University, Ahmedabad, discovered her passion for vernacular, sustainable designs while travelling rural India.
As a team, they undertake field-based research on people’s lives and create inspiring, soulful songs of hope and peace based on their field experiences. Currently, they are archiving traditional songs of rainfed farming communities.
(Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZHLkJX0vIU
Website: https://loknaad.in/)
Ramjibhai Chaudhari, Grassroots Innovator
Kutchh, Gujarat
Ramjibhai Chaudhary is a 70-year-old farmer with 40 acres of land. He crafts numerous tools in his workshop. Self-taught and skilled, he creates more efficient farming tools, such as a hydraulic grass and sand-filling bucket, groundnut picking machine, and mini tractor-powered harvester. Ramjibhai’s journey from hand-loading bullock carts to developing automatic seeding devices and tractor-driven sprayers, illustrates his commitment to mechanised sustainable farming.
Rafiq Ahanger, Grassroots Innovator
Kashmir, India
Mohd Rafiq Ahanger, a seasoned blacksmith innovated a versatile tool with multiple use as an axe, hammer, chisel, blade, and screwdriver. Rafiq spent days at his father’s workshop experimenting with gadget repairs and toy making. He has integrated innovation into his home, creating a wall-mounted folding bed and a remote-controlled front door. He has also innovated a bukhari that heats a room quickly and evenly, minimizing use of wood, charcoal, or waste oil, while also functioning as a stove. He has about 30 innovations under his belt, having a knack for spotting overlooked problems. He often connects with other innovators to help them refine their ideas.
(More info: https://www.greaterkashmir.com/business/from-hammer-to-innovator-muhammad-rafiqs-journey-defying-odds-in-kashmir/
Videos: (bukhari) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAx3XfNxbTw
(folding ladder) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es-qc9zUcg0)
Dr. Minoo H. Parabia, Botanist
Gujarat
Dr. Minoo H. Parabia, a renowned botanist, has devoted his life to blending Ayurvedic practices with modern botanical science. He is the former head of the Department of Botany at the University of Veer Narmad South Gujarat, and encourages students and scholars to pursue immersive learning in the forests. He aims to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary medicine. Dr. Parabia has continued his family legacy, making significant strides in natural and Ayurvedic medicine. He was Chairperson of State Biodiversity Commission. He had made first database of forest tree seeds.
Sivaraj, Founder, Cuckoo Forest School
Tamil Nadu
In 2004, Mr. K. Sivaraj founded the Cuckoo Movement, focusing on nurturing young minds through inner discovery. Starting with a small library in Keeranur, the movement expanded to establish the Cuckoo Forest School in Puliyanur, built with sustainable materials so there was minimal environmental impact.
This school encourages children to cultivate an interest in arts, nature, martial arts, organic farming, and current events in a collaborative, knowledge-sharing environment. All costs of lodging and education are borne by the school so that all students could access quality education. In addition, he has also motivated many youngsters to set up community based enterprises besides providing education in urban slums also.
(More info: https://cuckoochildren.blogspot.com/)
Kommuri Vijay Kumar, Innovative Farmer
TV Palli Village, Andhra Pradesh
Kommuri Vijay Kumar has practiced natural farming for many years and has led a movement to revive rain-fed practices since 2007. He advocates for natural millet farming through a holistic approach involving the provision of free seeds, natural fertilizers, biopesticides, a dedicated helpline, and a millet processing unit.
Vijay has helped empower over 2000 farmers across multiple states, promoting conservation through cultivation over thousands of acres of land. His efforts have been appreciated by the state agriculture department.
Tshering Lepcha, HBN State Coordinator & Millet Man of Sikkim
Lum Village in Dzongu, North Sikkim
Tshering Gyatso Lepcha, renowned as the ‘Millet Man of Sikkim,’ has been a major custodian of the region’s agricultural heritage. For over 20 years, he has cultivated eight varieties of millet, establishing a crucial seed bank that preserves indigenous and local traditional varieties. He also runs a homestay where visitors can learn about organic farming, and local flora and foods. As a local Shodhyatra Coordinator since 2014, he has shared his wealth of knowledge on local ecology to help other yatris enjoy a much fuller and richer experience. He has been instrumental in nurturing and promoting sustainable farming practices and traditional knowledge in Sikkim. He helped several batches of IIMA students also to pursue Shodhyatra in north Sikkim.
(More info: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/millet-mela-held-at-mangan
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCtzHLFi_sg
Lumtshering Organic Farmhouse: https://notonmap.com/property/mtshering-organic-farmhouse)" |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 35(1)15-17, 2024 |
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