Sunday, January 11, 2009

Enlightenment at Pardhi Beda in Amravati district


No one can change the entire world and all persons around him even after taking enormous efforts. But everyone can light at least one small lamp in his or her corner to end the darkness surrounding him or her and thus things can be changed. This has been proved by a small but slightly more enlightened activist in Pardhi community who is not only striving for changing the destiny of his family but also of some Pardhi settlements including his.

Harish Bhosale has, with his efforts, definitely brought about some transformation at the Pimpalzira settlement in the Amravati district. His family do not have any educational background but his father whose main profession was nothing but hunting, sent his three sons and a daughter to a school. Harish completed his HSSC in horticulture and presently working in MIDC. He used to be worried seeing the plight of Pardhis at his settlement and that gave rise to a will of working for his people.

He started working for an NGO and tried to send maximum students of Pimpalzira to schools. Pardhi community has become a symbol of addiction, disgust, repulsion, unhigenic living. It is also identified with quarrels, thefts and crimes and many other things. Harish took the inititative and told students and their parents about importance of education, cleanliness and health care. He asked some teachers from Zilla Parishad schools to come to the settlement to convince students to go to school. The result is quite visible now and most of the students are going to schools. Parents are also insisting on giving education to their wards which they were not fortunate enough to get.

Lack of hygine is the most visible thing at any Pardhi settlement but Pimpalzira is proving to be an exception to that. Gradually but definitely, the 'Beda' is transforming into a clean place to reside as everybody is taking care of personal and collective hygiene. Meetings were taken to stop addiction and decision was taken to give up liquor consumption at the settlement. After many months of consistent efforts, some Pardhi people at Pimpalzira have given up liquor. All these things had it positive impact on the settlement as quarrels have come down and cases of domestic violence have reduced.

Harish has, with the help of some other youths, formed a Panchayat and it was decided that every dispute will be sorted out at the Panchayat and no quarrel will turn into a crime. "In last 10 years, not a single case against any person at Pimpalzira settlement has been registered in the crime diary of police, thanks to the Panchayat and people's contribution to it," told Harish. Working since last 10 years, Harish Bhosale has, with the help of some NGOs, turned the Pimpalzira settlement's outlook and mindset. Wandering from one place to other is the destiny of this unfortunate community. But now, Pimpalzira Pardhi settlement residents have settled down in real terms. The Beda has 40 families and 38 out of these have got their houses in government schemes like Gharkul or Indira Awas scheme. The settlement is now on the verge of making a new beginning.

2 comments:

  1. Quite informative - the theme so far seems to be employment opportunities for youth is rural vidarbha.

    Whatever that you have written is great, but I would like to see 'literary' side of yours :) I know u can come on with some great write up on some 'light' topics, bit funny bit witty...

    If the this blog is solely for 'journalist' moroney.... why don't you come up with a new blog solely for something light?

    Cheers....

    @bhi.

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  2. Yes I hv visited PARDHI BEDA OUR GROUP (NAGPUR GROUP OF FRIENDS) spent a day n shared little moments/views & Things were distributed to families......more help is needed at the place.

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