Village showcases Gandhian ideals

While Sivanahally, a village near Vivekanandapura, is the epicentre of the Mission’s rural development programmes, villagers no longer call Sollepura by its old name. Now it’s popularly known as Vivekanandapura, as a mark of respect to the Mission that cared to ameliorate their lot. The air of civilisation has wafted not just across Sivanahally or Vivekanandapura – villages which had no roads till the end of 1990. At least 200 hamlets are responding to the changes taking place in their neighbouring village.

People from far off places like Kolar, Kollegal, Hosur or Mysore make a beeline to Sivanahally every Sunday to have the privilege of getting examined at the Health Camp. Not only does the camp offer drugs free of cost, the Mission even bears the expenses, in case a patient needs an operation.

At Sivanahally, the Mission runs a school which has around 400 students. Students get uniforms and midday meals free of cost under the `Adoption of a Child for Education (ACE)’ scheme. Under the scheme, a donor can adopt a child by contributing Rs 1,500, which foots the expenses of a child for a period of one year.

State Planning Board Deputy Chairman D M Nanjundappa, overwhelmed by the scheme’s success, intends to take up with the state government the possibility of launching a similar scheme at the state level.

Nanjundappa, serving as Sivanahally Mission Chairman, points out that more children will get education if such an initiative is taken up at the state level.

Most of the villagers who have availed the benefits of the scheme are those from SC/ST communities. Avers Thimmamma, 45, a house-wife at Vivekanandapura: “Villagers no longer steal bamboos from the forest for weaving baskets like they used to.” Instead, the womenfolk are given training at Vivekananda Vocational Training Centre, Sivanahally, in Agarbatti rolling, tailoring and toy-making.