The Resurging Value of Civil Society for Indian Crafts
CIRCs across India celebrated DaanUtsav from October 2-8, 2016, to define the truest essence of ‘Joy of Giving’. CIRC Sonapur in Assam celebrated the day by visiting a Residential Training Centre in Dimoria (a special school for underprivileged children). Various fun filled activities were conducted through the day, which included games and singing competitions. CIRC Sonapur staff also visited some tea gardens nearby where marginalised labour communities having been working on meagre wages. They have been struggling to survive and make ends meet for themselves and their children since the advent of colonialism.
Prior to their visit to the tea gardens, the Sonapur team had organised a collection drive to encourage people to give gifts, clothes and other items to be distributed among the tribal tea garden labourers.
To mark DaanUtsav celebration, staff and students of CIRC Jauhar Academy in Ranchi, Jharkhand, visited a slum where people were made aware of the importance of digital literacy. Several students from the CIRC Jauhar Academy accompanied the staff on his visit to share their experiences with the children and youth of the slum. This CIRC, too, had organised a collection drive for old clothes prior to their slum visit. The collected items were then distributed among slum dwellers to honour the spirit of Daan Utsav.
Several CIRCs across India celebrated the week-long festival in their own little way and through various activities.
Baank-e-Loom centre in Saidanpur village (Baranbanki district of Uttar Pradesh) celebrated Daan Utsav with great enthusiasm along with the ardent support and participation of Ms Jyotsna Kaur Habibullah, a Lucknow-based entrepreneur and socialite. Seven villages took part in the day-long Sewa Mela that was organised in the Habibullah Estate in Saidanpur. Multiple activities were conducted throughout the day to celebrate the essence of the festival of giving and sharing happiness. These activities included a motivational talk by the inspirational DG of Uttar Pradesh Police, Sutapa Sanyal, and her team from Mahila Samman Prakosht. They discussed at length about a Web platform through which women can register complaints of violence. Mahila Saaman Prakosht has also offered its legal help to women in the village, if they require ever. A medical camp was also organised by Dr. Mobasshir Khan Relief Hospital. About 150 villagers went to the camp for a check-up, several of them were also prescribed medicines and treatment. Mr. Jitendar and Ms. Sadhna from Uttar Pradesh Welfare for People Living with HIV/AIDS Society (UPNPplus) conducted a door-to-door campaign in the village and created awareness at the camp about HIV/ AIDS. Dr Neha Dubey from Realtooth Clinic addressed the local community and made them aware about the importance of dental hygiene; while I Support Foundation discussed learning disabilities and even conducted a door-to-door survey to identify children with learning disabilities. Through this activity, 25 children in the village were identified as students who needed special aid in learning. Other activities organised in Saidanpur included a workshop for artisans by artiste Varsha Srivastav, a fun story-telling session by Farhan Usmani, an audio-visual show by Laughing Trails’ Shweta Jindal. Delicious eatables and stationery were distributed among adults and children of the village, respectively.
Meanwhile, DEF’s Delhi office wasn’t far behind in celebrations either. From the moment we’re born, we’re told to pursue more. Advertisements from television, radio, newspaper, magazine and websites tell us on a daily basis that more is better. Now most of us are at such point of life where we have accumulated more things than needed: a cycle which is getting rusted in your balcony, running shoes which you never used and bags which are now out of style. What happens if we can exchange the things we do not need with anyone who needs it? For this reason, the staff of DEF’s Delhi office organised a week-long Dariya Dil Dukaan during Daan Utsav. As part of this week-long celebration, staff members were requested to find things from in their hose that they don’t need/use any more; and put them into a pitara in the office from which colleagues could pick whatever they like. During the course of the week, people exchanged various items such as accessories, fruits & vegetables, postcards, and books, among others.
DEF has decided to celebrate Daan Utsav every year to spread the joy of giving among communities and people that we work with.
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