Samanvaya News Room

I am listed as a speaker to address a meeting to commemorate the 100 years of Gandhiji's visit and address at Mayavaram on 1st May 2015. He spoke of the 4 hypocrisies that he saw at that time - caste discrimination, gender bias, lack of pride in local language and lack of usage of Swadeshi products, particularly the local handloom products. What has changed? We have created several newer forms of castes in this society, making the rules of social upward movement even more difficult, gender insensitiveness has given way to actively perpetrated gender violence, not just the elite our village children too don't want to learn their native language any longer leave alone use it with pride and the entire state wears plastic clothes...if these were practiced as hypocrisy by the elite (leaders) in the midst of freedom struggle, they are practiced as a willful choice by the majority now.  Ram, 29th April 2015 ------------------------------------ Mahatma Gandhi at Mayavaram 1st...

30th April 2015: Ram spoke government schemes and organic farming and lifestyle changes needed at the Seminar on Profitable Organic Farming organized by the Barefoot Academy of Governance in Veppur in Perembalur District. Identified as one of the most backward districts of Tamilnadu, the Barefoot Academy is evolving a comprehensive development plan for this block working closely with the district administration and the State Planning Commission. The initiative started last year and this year there were quite a few organic farmers in the meeting. Perambalur is a district with rich agricultural history but reduced to growing Bt Cotton mostly now. Farmers were convinced of organic farming and many were interested to grow their Cotton using traditional varieties and organic faring practices...

The Entrpreneurship Development Institute of Tamilnadu has announced a 25 day programme for Entrepreneurs on 'Health Food' Sector. The programme is supported by the Government and the candidates need to pay only for the field visit part of the programme. Importantly, this time around, it has integrated opportunities around Local, Fresh and Safe Food as part of the Health Food curriculum! More details regarding the programme are available here .The programme commences end of April. You can seek further information and apply also by writing to jdwd@editn.in.

Ram at the SLI Inauguration...

Village Irumbai, 25th March 2015 : The Sustainable Livelihood Institute (SLI) was Inaugurated in a simple and elegant ceremony at the beautiful Naicker House in the Irumbai village near Auroville this morning. The event started with a chanting by the Auroville chanting team followed by a beautiful flute recital by a young Aurovillian. Indicating the spirit of the Institute, several young Aurovillians lighted the lamp on one side while the other lamp was lit by senior Aurovillians and Government Officials. The SLI (as it is shortly called) is a joint venture between the Tamilnadu State Rural Livelihood Mission and the Auroville Foundation set-up to bring in sustainable values and ideas into the thought and actions of the rural livelihood department functionaries. The State government has committed to provide support for construction of a SLI campus in the neighbourhood of the current location and the Auroville Foundation is making available the land for the purpose.  A...

19th March 2015 - Organic Farming movement in India along with several rights movements are the last bastions capable of producing true inspiring leaders in this country. We are fortunate to have three of them together on 19th March 2015 with us. Details of the Event Below. Please do register for the event here -  http://goo.gl/forms/3JYB3VmdxR  It is often that you get an opportunity to listen to legends walking among us together. Sometimes they don't agree with each other enough to not share a stage, other times, they are too busy being legends to come together for and share. This is a rare opportunity to listen to three of them in one evening. Don't miss the opportunity.