Nirman

NIRMAN

NIRMAN Logo
Formation 2006
Type Not for profit
Purpose Nurturing Youth for Social Change
Headquarters SEARCH, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.
Location
  • India
Region served
India
Official language
Marathi, English
Parent organization
 SEARCH, MKCL
Website www.nirman.mkcl.org

NIRMAN is a youth initiative started in 2006 by Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang to identify, nurture and organize young change makers to solve various societal challenges. It is an educational process to train the youth to take up crucial issues and problems in society. NIRMAN provides guidance, expertise and environment to inculcate self learning and encourages youth for social action.[1] [2]

Dr Abhay and Dr Rani Bang, through their NGO SEARCH, are striving since over two decades for improving the public health in rural areas of the country are also involved in social crusades like anti-addiction, fight against evil practices. To prepare youth in these endeavours they launched NIRMAN as a training program for youth. Young boys and girls across Maharashtra, including Pune, Mumbai, Nanded, Nashik, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Parbhani, Solapur, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur and Gadchiroli take part in this program. [3] Inspired by the 'Nai Talim' system of education started by Mahatma Gandhi, NIRMAN was set up to provide training in leadership to youth from all over the state.[4] NIRMAN is providing a common platform for youth to engage, self-educate and decide on how they can make a difference to the society.[5]

Vision and Philosophy

NIRMAN aims to help youngsters find meaning to their lives, to bridge the gap between various social, scientific and technological challenges around and to unleash the tremendous potential of the youth. NIRMAN believes that self-actualisation of its participants cannot take place in isolation or in the narrow confinements of a secure lifestyle. It attempts to bring the youth face to face with the reality of life, enabling them to identify, analyse and solve societal problems. It is a continuously evolving process of problem-based experiential learning and identification of self through it. [6] The long-term goal is to cultivate and sustain a large community of youth leaders who will work for social change. [7]

Selection Process

The participants aspiring to join NIRMAN have to fill up an introspective questionnaire, which includes questions regarding their values, goals in life, personality characteristics, decisions, interaction with social realities, etc. Based on the applications, the participants are screened for personal interviews. The NIRMAN team carries out the selection process once every year and conducts interviews across Maharashtra, by visiting selected participants at their local places. [6]

NIRMAN Educational Process

NIRMAN brings together a group of youth aged between 18-28 years who are looking to give meaning to their lives, and systematically cultivates their social leadership. Each batch of around 75 selected youth goes through a series of three residential camps that are organized once every six months. Each camp is for about 8-10 days, conducted at Shodhgram, Gadchiroli, and the series continues for a year. Participants belong to different regional, economic and academic backgrounds including medical, engineering, law, arts, commerce, science, teaching, journalism etc. Along with the camps, study visits, educative sessions, reading assignments, internships, fellowships, individual mentoring, group actions, campaigns and other activities are carried out. They help sensitise the youth towards societal challenges through exposure and experience. The participants are nurtured to think rationally on social issues and the program offers a continuous and personalized process of self-learning. [6] One of the unique aspects of NIRMAN is that participants are at various stages of self realization. It builds a cohort of youngsters who grow together, share similar ideals and educate themselves for the betterment of society. [5]

NIRMAN Participants and their work

After having gone through the NIRMAN process, the participants who are interested in working towards social change, generally take up one of the following work options:

  1. Working with different non-profit organizations
  2. Social entrepreneurship, starting one's own venture
  3. Joining the government system
  4. Fellowships

They use various approaches like research, service, activism, training and advocacy. As of June 2014, around 100 NIRMAN youth are working full time on specific social challenges in different parts of Maharashtra in areas like health, education, energy and environment, development and governance. [7] Some of them include the following:

Research Papers by NIRMAN Participants

  1. Stroke Is the Leading Cause of Death in Rural Gadchiroli, India: A Prospective Community-Based Study. - Stroke
  2. High Prevalence of Stroke in Rural Gadchiroli, India: A Community-Based Study - Neuroepidemiology
  3. Barriers to Malaria Control among Marginalized Tribal Communities: A Qualitative Study - PLOS ONE
  4. Use of Ethno-Veterinary Medicines from Vidarbha Region India - Bioscience Discovery
  5. Foodgrain vs Liquor: Maharashtra Under Crisis - Economic and Political Weekly

Rural Development

Environment and Waste Management

Education

Health, Malnutrition, De-addiction

Activism by NIRMAN Participants

The state of Maharashtra has been suffering from drought since last few years. NIRMAN has taken up an yearly campaign involving young people to grapple with this challenge. Carried out in the months of April and May, the campaign exposes young people to the reality of drought and helps contribute through awareness and implementation of watershed management, employment guarantee scheme, check dams, village mapping of resources, etc. [40] [41] [42]

NIRMAN protested against food grain based alcohol production policy of government of Maharashtra. As part of the protest, NIRMAN participants uncovered the information using RTI, conducted campaigns and voluntarily fasted for 24 hours. With a chain of similar protests across Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra had to revisit its decision of permitting food grain based alcohol production.[2][43] NIRMAN has consistently taken a position to prevent young people from falling prey to liquor addiction and has done awareness through media. [44]

It is mandatory for MBBS doctors graduating from the Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra to work for one year in the public health system or pay a fine for breaking the bond. Many of them neither do the service nor pay the fine. This results in shortage of doctors in the public health system, especially more so in the rural and tribal areas. The state is also deprived of the money of breaking the bond. This information was uncovered by activists Amrut Bang and Dr. Vitthal.[45]

Documentary Films

There are 4 documentary films made on NIRMAN. One of the films has been made by Jaiprad Desai, grandson of Vasant Desai.[46]

  1. NIRMAN - Towards a Meaningful Life - Jayprad Desai
  2. NIRMAN - Youth for Purposeful Life - Adithya Narayanan
  3. NIRMAN - Youth in Search of Meaningful Life beyond just earning money - Sumit Sute
  4. NIRMAN - An Initiative to Create Social Changemakers - Digvijay Thorat

Media Coverage

The NIRMAN initiative and the work done by various NIRMAN participants has been featured in different newspapers and TV channels including the following:

  1. NIRMAN - ABP Majha
  2. NIRMAN - IBN Lokmat
  3. NIRMAN - SBN Satara
  4. Dr. Abhay Bang about NIRMAN in Great Bhet - IBN Lokmat
  5. Sajal Kulkarni in Ekla Chalo Re - IBN Lokmat

and Times of India,[47] Education Times, [48] Indian Express,[49] Lokmat,[50] Loksatta,[51] Sakal,[52] Sakal Times,[6] Divya Marathi,[53] [54] Tarun Bharat,[55] Azim Premji University,[56] and Network - a quarterly publication of IRMA.[57]

Associations

Around 30 leading social organisations, thinkers, activists, professionals are supporting NIRMAN. Together, this group constitutes the wider NIRMAN Samudaay. Amrut Bang is the project coordinator of NIRMAN. [6] He was invited by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India to New Delhi in March 2015 to take part in a workshop for designing a national youth leadership development program. [58] Since December 2014, NIRMAN has also developed a focused collaboration with the Tata Center for Technology and Design at IIT, Bombay to sensitize and nurture their students' perspective for social problem solving. [59] [60]

People associated with NIRMAN

  1. Abhay and Rani Bang[61]
  2. Vivek Sawant[61]
  3. Anil Awachat[61]
  4. Arun Deshpande[61]
  5. Kumar Ketkar[61]
  6. Ramesh Panse[61]
  7. Vijay Javndhiya[61]

References

  1. ↑ (4th March 2013) 2 young women doctors who chose to serve in villages Sakal Times
  2. 1 2 (Wednesday, August 11, 2010) राज्य सरकारकडून लोकभावनेचा अनादर eSakal, Editorial, Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  3. ↑ Times News Network, (27 June 2011). Bang couple's Nirman camp begins at Shodhgram, Times of India, NAGPUR. Accessed on "28 Feb 2012".
  4. ↑ Times News Network (22 July 2010) Leadership camp by Nirman in August Nagpur, Times Of India. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  5. 1 2 3 4 Abhishek Choudhari, TNN Jul 22, 2012, Nagpur Edition, Times of India Where youth's discussions veer to country-building (Accessed on 23 July 2012)
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sakal Times (13 May 2012) Shaping young minds to be changemakers (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  7. 1 2 Times of India (22 July 2014) Search initiative helps youths work for change (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  8. ↑ Divya Marathi BITS Pilanichya Akashne Dakhawali Adivasinna Vikasachi Waat Accessed on 3rd March 2016
  9. ↑ Lokmat Oxygen Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  10. ↑ A 3-year journey from water scarcity to security Accessed on 6th Jan 2016
  11. ↑ eSakal (११ एप्रिल २०११ )eSakal - निर्माण : एक शोध दीपा देशमुख, युथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  12. ↑ लोकसत्ताजरा हटके : अंधारलेल्या गावांचा प्रकाशदूत देवेंद्र गावंडे,विदर्भरंग, लोकसत्ता. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  13. ↑ Simollanghan (Accessed on 25th Dec 2015)
  14. ↑ Lokmat Oxygen Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  15. 1 2 3 4 ‘सर्च’चे सामाजिक ‘निर्माण Accessed on 6th Jan 2016
  16. ↑ Lokmat Accessed on 28th Dec 2015
  17. ↑ Lokmat Oxygen Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  18. ↑ eSakal (१२ मे २०११ )इक ऐसे गगन के तले... दीपा देशमुख, युथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  19. ↑ eSakal (२३ एप्रिल २०११) बेस ऑफ पिरॅमिड दीपा देशमुख, युथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  20. ↑ Loksatta Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  21. ↑ Lokmat Accessed on 28th Dec 2015
  22. ↑ Change for Better Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  23. ↑ सकाळ (२१ मे २०११ )eSakal इन्याचे नाक्यावारी शाला बांधेली... राजू भडके दीपा देशमुख, यूथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  24. ↑ Times News Network (2 Feb 2012)Feeding young minds with books of wisdom Nagpur, Times of India. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  25. ↑ Simollanghan (Accessed on 25th Dec 2015)
  26. ↑ अमृता प्रधान, सोमवार, १० सप्टेंबर २०१२, लोकसत्ता, करिअर वृत्तांत प्रकाशाचे कवडसे : आनंदबन (Accessed on 29th Sept 2012)
  27. ↑ सकाळ (९ जून २०११ ) eSakal - विज्ञान के उजालों की ओर ले चलो दीपा देशमुख, यूथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  28. ↑ Tarun Bharat Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  29. ↑ Education Times (10 July 2014) In search of a solution (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  30. 1 2 Sakal Times (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  31. ↑ Los Angeles Times Accessed on 6th Jan 2016
  32. ↑ Times of India (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  33. ↑ साप्ताहिक सकाळ (13 April 2012)'निर्माणा'त गुंतलेले हात (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  34. ↑ Divya Marathi, 18 April 2016 गडचिरोलीत आदिवासींसाठी आरोग्यसेवा(Accessed on 3rd May 2016)
  35. ↑ Simollanghan (Accessed on 25th Dec 2015)
  36. ↑ eSakal (२ जून २०११ )राह बनी खुद मन्जिल... प्रियदर्श तुरे दीपा देशमुख, युथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  37. ↑ eSakal (१६ जून २०११)समाजकारणाचा निवडून रस्ता... डॉ. अमित नागरे दीपा देशमुख, युथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  38. ↑ Lokmat Oxygen Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  39. ↑ Lokmat Oxygen Accessed on 25th Dec 2015
  40. ↑ लोकमत ऑक्सीजनखात्री वाटली, सोडवले तर सुटतीलही प्रश्न Accessed on 30th Dec 2015
  41. ↑ लोकमत ऑक्सीजनएक टास्क, अनेक समस्या Accessed on 30th Dec 2015
  42. ↑ Sakal, Buldhana, 25 April, 2016 दुष्कालासोबत तरुणाईची झूंज(Accessed 3rd May 2016)
  43. ↑ Loksatta 5 Jan धान्यापासून दारू - निर्माण चे प्रतीकात्मक उपोषण (Accessed on 16 May 2012 )
  44. ↑ Lokmat 27 Feb 2016 नाही म्हणायची ताकद कमवा. (Accessed on 27 Feb 2016)
  45. ↑ 7 May 2012, Vivek Deshpande, Nagpur, Indian Express Govt. MBBS graduate skip rural service (Accessed on 8 May 2012)
  46. ↑ २६ मे २०११ Esakal eSakal हमारी मुठ्ठी में आकाश सारा,,,(जयप्रद देसाई) दीपा देशमुख, युथ ट्यूब, सकाळ. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
  47. ↑
  48. ↑ In search of a solution
  49. ↑
  50. ↑
  51. ↑
  52. ↑
  53. ↑ जगणं गवसलं ...
  54. ↑
  55. ↑
  56. ↑ Talk: Mobilising youth for social change
  57. ↑ ROLE MODELS - ALL AROUND US
  58. ↑ Press Information Bureau (27 March 2015) Government plans to launch (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  59. ↑ Mitti Fragrance of the Nation Learnings from Shodhgram and Village Stay (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  60. ↑ Lokmat Oxygen (25 Dec 2014) Najar ani Najariya Donhi Badaltat Tenva (Accessed on 30th Dec 2015)
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 Feb 2010 उत्तर महाराष्ट्रातही रुजताहेत 'निर्माण'ची बीजं घरकूल तन्वी देशपांडे, मैत्रीण-Maharashtra Times. Accessed on "1 April 2012"
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