Plan_India’s Post

A Global 130-year-old network that mobilizes communities around the world in over 37 countries to close gaps and open opportunities for lives to thrive, found its way into Chennai in 2010. In over a decade of service through various projects such as Aakam, Paadhai, Valam, Aatral, Nalam, Thulir, Illam, Karam, and Aram this organization strives towards individuals and families to achieve their human potential through education, income stability, and healthy lives. Particularly, the project ‘Covid Express’ has been a beacon of hope to 118 families to fight against the aftermath of COVID-19 that took away the breadwinners in their families, pushing them into a depression with suicidal thoughts. Through livelihood support in the form of tailoring machines, livestock, little shop set-ups; and educational and psychological support, the initiative has had a far-reaching impact in preserving lives in the marginalized communities. Adding to the pride of Chennai, Presenting Unitedway Health Educational Social Relief Organization a Real-Life Hero, A Good Samaritan, An Alert Being – Organization. #unitedwayofchennai #Alert #alertngo #alertawards #aba2024 #samaritansawards #alertbeingawards #abaawards #biggestawards #goodsamaritans #firstresponder #firstresponders #medicalemergency #sessions #borntowin #socialwelfare #unsungheroes #heroes

#Enriched_Learning Adverse circumstances - decision lies in over hands to either fall into cage of self pity n depression OR to rise n move on...blessed are those who not only move on but help others in similar situations to rise n move on...Situations create learnings...implement the learnings... Choose at every moment - Cage OR Move on & implement learnings... #lessonslearned #enterpreneurship #socialentrepreneurship #inspiringstories

On August 1st, I had the privilege of attending a transformative panel discussion "BAAT BHARAT KI" with Mr. Narendra Nath Damodaran, Former Executive Director of PRADAN, and Mr. Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj. Their enlightening insights on local self-governance and community engagement left a lasting impression Insights from Mr. Narendra Nath Damodaran: 1. Empowering Rural Communities: Highlighted PRADAN’s success in organizing women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and collaborating with Panchayats in Jharkhand and Rajasthan, leading to sustainable, community-driven development. 2. Holistic View of Poverty: Emphasized poverty as a multifaceted issue encompassing lack of opportunities and dignity, beyond mere income. Despite reports of declining extreme poverty, he stressed the need for comprehensive solutions. 3. Women as Catalysts for Change: His conviction in women’s transformative power stems from years of firsthand experience, showcasing their critical role in driving social and economic progress. 4. Empowering Panchayats: Asserted that Panchayats can be powerful agents of grassroots change if provided with adequate resources and training. Insights from Mr. Anshu Gupta: 1. Redefining Development Issues: Shared the origin of his title “The Clothing Man,” underscoring clothing as a critical yet overlooked development issue. His journey from a corporate career to founding Goonj was fueled by a vision to address this gap. 2. Creating a Parallel Economy: Goonj’s innovative approach to a trash-based economy challenges traditional cash-based systems, promoting sustainable resource utilization and community involvement. 3. Community-Led Solutions: Goonj’s philosophy of involving financially and materially poor communities in designing their own solutions has resulted in dignified and sustainable development outcomes. 4. Dignity over Charity: Advocated for transforming the culture of charity into one that preserves dignity, a core principle evident in Goonj’s programs that turn discarded materials into valuable resources. These sessions reinforced the power of community participation and local governance in achieving sustainable development. The insights shared by Mr. Narendra and Mr. Anshu are invaluable as we continue our mission to create meaningful impact through Aspirational Bharat Collaborative. #AspirationalBharatCollaborative #Leadership #CommunityEmpowerment #SustainableDevelopment #LocalGovernance #Inspiration #PRADAN #Goonj Narendranath Damodaran Anshu Gupta

I saw this story the other day. It was about a woman named Sona from Pipra, Jharkhand. Sona's home wasn't just a house. It was a kitchen for the whole community. A place where women came together. They cooked. They shared their lives. It was more than a meal. It was a family. The Cause? New moms can eat healthy foods. This simple act got me thinking. About Poshan Maah. We celebrate it every September. It's a month where we talk about nutrition. We empower communities. Some things about Poshan Maah might surprise you. Every September ⤷ It happens every September. We focus on nutrition. Started by PM ⤷ PM Modi started it in 2018 with POSHAN Abhiyaan. Focus on Everyone ⤷ It targets children, pregnant women, lactating mothers. Community Help ⤷ Local leaders and healthcare workers are the heroes. Big Reach ⤷ In 2022 alone, over 170 million activities were organized! Use of Technology ⤷ There's an app called POSHAN Tracker that keeps track of nutrition interventions. Fight Against Anemia ⤷ It also focuses on anemia in women and children. Teach Kids ⤷ Schools educate children about healthy eating. And the ultimate vision? An India free from malnutrition! Let's learn from Sona and her community kitchen. Let's come together. Support each other. So here's my question to you. How do you contribute to nutrition in your community? Share your thoughts

The culture and community can be understood easily by those who are deeply rooted in it. Often people assume one can learn about culture and community values by undergoing a 2- year graduation program at an university. That is what Western education believe when they think one can master a rekigion or cukture by having a degree program. I recently had a conversation with a gentle man who has some Master's degree in Hindu philosophy. This gentle man and his employer think he knew Hindu culture better than those who live and practice the culture as Hindus. Western ideologies never cease to surprise me. On the other hand, #community_education and #community_care starts with the love and dedication of mother when the child is born. The whole community will support a mother traditionally in many part of India when she raises the child. The teaching of mother continues even when soneone become a chief minister. Look at the below video link where the mother of Hon Chief Minister of Odisha, India feed him meals with her bare yet caring hands with the hope that he will show similar care and dedication to the suffering farmers of his state who struggle to feed their own family. Odisha is also often affected by unkind natural elements such as cyclones and heavy rains with approximately 450km of coastline. Once known as the golden state of emperor Asoka, it is considered one of the poorest states in India with nearly 33% of the state's population is very poor, another 18% are marginally poor, and 15% cent are poor. Being an agrarain state, Odisha's per capita income is much below the national average and Odisha is second among 14 states with the highest incidence of poverty. Nearly 33 per cent of the state's population is very poor, another 18 per cent are margin ( 2018 report). On the positive note, the poverty in the state has been declining in the last few years. We can expect positive changes from the current government which seem to be grounded. Hope the CM learns the wonderful lesson from his mother and pay it forward to his state. Some interesting facts about #Odisha: The second oldest rocks on the planet were found in Champua, Kendujhar which are 4.2 billion years old. Video link: https://lnkd.in/gFB_XM84

Empowering Mothers, Transforming Communities. In Saparom village, Ranchi, Jharkhand, the Parents Engagement Activity conducted under the #AdolescentProgramme created waves of empowerment. Through engaging activities and informative sessions, we are #empowering mothers—the backbone of families—to lead healthier and more confident lives. Recently, mothers participated in an energising game session that not only boosted their spirits but also fostered a sense of community and support. Following this, our awareness session on personal #hygiene and the prevention of vector-borne, water-borne, and communicable diseases, including Anaemia , provided them with crucial knowledge to safeguard their families' health. Here at Magic Bus, we believe in the power of informed and confident parents to create a brighter future for the next generation. By educating and equipping parents with the ability to protect their children's health, we are also ensuring that adolescents receive the support they need to stay in school and complete their #education. Such initiatives are more than just engagement activities; they are transformative experiences that uplift families and strengthen communities. #MagicBus #ParentsEngagement #HealthAwareness #CommunityBuilding

Under the aegis, of the Prabhat Khabar newspaper, founded in 1984, and Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha's leading Hindi Daily, fast rising as West Bengal's #1 Hindi daily. Grateful to be part of such a riveting discussion, where panelists highlighted the extreme poverty, and structural issues faced by Rural citizens, while highlighting the break neck speed development taking place, across all forms of Physical, and Digital Infrastructure. The Jal Jeevan Mission, has drastically changed the Face of Rural India, providing hygiene confidence, coupled with the JAM Trinity, urban India now needs to learn from Rural India. Viksit Gram = Viksit Bharat

In the heart of Bihar, amidst the vibrant tapestry of its culture and the challenges of its socio-economic landscape, one organization stands out for its unwavering dedication to upliftment and social change – the Chandan Singh Foundation In Bihar. Founded on the principles of compassion, integrity, and empowerment, the foundation’s journey from a simple vision to a transformative reality is a testament to the power of human determination and collective action. https://lnkd.in/gWCaia72

Yesterday, we gathered to celebrate the conclusion of the Economic Resilience Program for Vulnerable Populations. Over the past two years, Team HHH has dedicated itself to empowering farmers at Kalaburagi Karnataka with the essential tools, resources, and support to build resilient economic futures. Throughout this journey, we came across several inspiring stories of households overcoming significant challenges to achieve economic independence and stability. Their resilience and determination showcases the deep impact of community support and empowerment. Our collaboration with Transform Rural India @Vrutti has been instrumental in this success. We look forward to scaling the Resilience paradigm and build on this momentum. Balakrishnan SRaghunathan NarayananNeeraj AhujaRaghini BadhrinarayananMurali S RaoKumar Manjunath #EconomicResilience #CommunityEmpowerment #FinancialInclusion #SustainableGrowth 

Do you feel emotions? It breaks my heart to see that 40% of children under five in Gujarat are underweight, according to Niti Aayog data. Gujarat, once celebrated as an economic success, ranks 25th among Indian states in fighting hunger. This is the so-called "Gujarat model," and under the current leadership, our entire country is suffering. While the governing bodies continue to divide us based on religion and other superficial factors, the real issues affecting our nation's future generations are being ignored. How can we turn a blind eye to the hunger and malnutrition plaguing our children? We must shift our focus to humanity and work together to build a better future for everyone. Let's embrace and celebrate our diversity, truly taking everyone along on this journey. The BJs/moti government has failed us miserably by ignoring the critical issues of our time. We need our government to prioritize real problems, not waste time on name changes and temple-mosque debates. Imagine a future where no child goes to bed hungry, where every child has the opportunity to thrive. We can make this a reality if we demand action now. Let's stand up for the future of our children and our nation. #FocusOnRealIssues #EndHunger #BetterIndia #UnityInDiversity #GovernmentForThePeople #GujaratModel #FailedLeadership #PrioritizeChildren #HumanityFirst #WakeUpIndia #ActNow