Anna Hazare: Method of work
Anna believed that before he undertook any work, he had to first regenerate the moral fabric of his village people.
Firstly, alcohol had to be banned. He convinced the villagers at a temple meeting to close down liquor dens and ban drinking of alcohol in the village. Strict punishments were meted out to those who did not yield by the youth group led by him. As a result, today, nearly 25 years afterwards, there is not a single wine selling shop or even tobacco or cigarette vendors.
He inspired the villagers to work towards a common goal. All of them co-operated and constructed mullah bunds to prevent water from draining. Because of this, water levels in the village increased. They, then repaired the percolation tank constructed by the government and planted trees along the tanks to improve the percolation process.
The next logical step they took was to dig wells. Because of these measures, the village has turned prosperous.
Dairy Products:
New cattle were purchased and methods to improve the existing breeds were implemented. This resulted in a high milk yield. Prior to 1975, 100 liters were produced per day, but today, 2500 liters are produced per day.
Education:
The government primary school was in a bad condition when Anna started his work. He helped the villagers force the government into sending their best instructors to teach the villagers there.
He helped start a high school in the village and the school soon became so famous that it became a hub for education and soon students from other villages started pouring in.
No to charity: Grain Bank
Baba Amte once said: “Charity destroys, while work builds dignity.”
Voltaire too said this about work. “Work saves us from three great evils: boredom, vice and need.”
The people of this village do not accept charity from any outside organization. They have their own “Grain Bank” Here everybody donates grains to the grain bank. Whenever a family needs food, that family takes the grains and return them back with a little “interest” at a favorable time. This way nobody starves. This was a big success when it was implemented. But now, luckily, everybody is so prosperous that they hardly need to visit the grain bank.
All this and more was possible due to the untiring efforts of the humanist and social entrepreneur, Anna Hazare
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March 6th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
This is indeed an exemplary article that may work as a source of motivation for all those who aspire to be social entrepreneurs. Be it profit or social cause, an “enterpreneur” is driven by his passion to make a difference in his chosen field through his competence and ability to channelise collective efforts and energies in the most judicious way. For most entrepreneurs “profit” becomes important not because of its monetory value but as an index of his success or competence. The quantum of social change is equally motivating to a social entrepreneur.
Anna Hazare’s life is a source of inspiration to many. Thanks to Kartik for bringing this up!
March 8th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Thank you snehashish! the team at BharatEntrepreneurs will endeavor to write many more such articles.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:59 am
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