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Mohan Singh Mehta | People from Udaipur You Should Know About

Our city – Udaipur is completely filled with beauty in and out. And this beauty is not reflected in just its history, culture and its places, but also in its people. There are some gem of the people belonging from Udaipur who, with their hard work and success, have not just made the city but the entire nation proud.

But sadly, with time we tend to forget the accomplishment of such people of the city. The series ‘People from Udaipur you should know about’ tends to glorify the journey of these famous and triumphant people from Udaipur who have become an epitome of success in their lives.

 

Mohan Singh Mehta

Mohan Singh Mehta was born on 20th April 1895 in the Bhilwara city of Rajasthan. Though he was born in Bhilwara, he had a huge contribution in the Udaipur city as well. Mohan had a degree in B.A. from Agra College in Agra, followed by M.A. in Economics from Allahabad University (1918) and both the degree of L.L.B. and Ph.D. were awarded by the London School of Economics. After that, he was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law by the Middle Temple in 1927.

Source: Udaipurtimes

Mohan’s Association with Seva Mandir

During the period of pre-independence in India, Udaipur witnessed an increasing awareness of educationists and liberal thinkers of the particular backwardness of Rajasthan. It provoked several people towards a change and inspiration. Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta was one of them. After he returned to Udaipur from his long career which included a decade as India’s ambassador along with being a Vice-chancellor at Rajasthan University for six years, he activated Seva Mandir in the city. He was inspired by several personalities especially by Madan Mohan Malviya and Dr. H.N. Kunzru and was also influenced by the national movement.

He started by establishing the Seva Samiti Boy Scout troop from where the idea of starting Vidya Bhawan school originated in 1931. Dr. Mohan also wrote Lord Hasting and the Indian States which was published in 1929.

 

Notable Works

  • Worked as a lecturer in Agra College from the year 1918-19.
  • Worked in a Government college in Ajmer from the year 1919-1920.
  • Became the Revenue officer, Mewar State Administration the year 1922-28.
  • Chief Revenue Officer 1928-36
  • Chief Minister of the Banswara State 1937-40
  • Revenue and Education Minister, Mewar – 1940-44
  • Chief Minister, Banswara State 1944-46
  • Finance and Education Minister of Mewar 1946-48
  • Became a Member of Constituent Assembly of India – 1946-47
  • Ambassador of India in the Netherlands (1949–51)
  • High Commissioner of India in Pakistan (1951–55)
  • Ambassador of India in Switzerland, Austria, and Vatican (1955–58)
  • Member in Indian Delegation of UN General Assembly (1959)
  • Vice-Chancellor, Rajasthan University (1960–66).

Do you have feedback regarding the article? Or have something to share of your own? Write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com, we would love to feature your story.

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Social Udaipur Speaks

One click away to ensure education for children in Udaipur!

Right to Education, Udaipur
Right to Education, Udaipur
Right to Education, Udaipur
Right to Education, Udaipur : Image Credits: newton007.com

Udaipur city situated in the southern part of Rajasthan in India is popularly known for its heritage point. Every year around thousands of foreign tourists come to visit and explore. On the other hand the outskirts of the city following the range of 7-10 kilometers are bunched with hundreds of big and small villages. These hundreds of villages are confined under numbers of issues like illiteracy, unemployment, child-labour, infanticide, drought, etc which are the biggest constraints for development. However, Government and various Non Government Organization is working in these contexts.

A study done by MIT University of New York reported that around 30% of children in Udaipur between 6-14 years are out of or never been to school. Despite of many government interventions like Right to education, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan the above percentage draws a dull picture in our mind. There are many reasons which all together sum up the above figure. Children can’t reach to the schools as Government schools are located far from their place or parents need someone who can contribute in the household work and income because majority of the people are Below Poverty line. Many children after enrolling themselves in schools don’t attend the class because of the teacher’s absenteeism, poor facilities provided in the school and low grasping power of children.

Since 1974 Seva Mandir is working in this origin. With the passage of time, lots of changes are made in the strategies and pedagogy. At present 188 Rural School (popularly known as Shiksha Kendra) are running which is reaching out to 5,694 students and every year over 1,000 new students are enrolled.

Children’s capability is assessed before their admission and they get enrolled in three different levels A, B, & C. The highest level is A, after completing this level they are graduated from Rural School. Every year more than 840-850 students graduate from Seva Mandir’s school and take admission in government school their retention rate stands at 87.5% which is comparatively high from other children. More importantly the SKs help in strengthening the retention of children in government schools. The learning provided in the SKs develop children’s basic literacy and academic skills, enabling them to grasp better and even study on their own.

At present school has emerged as a hub of activities ensuring quality education which enables them to read and write independently with comprehension. The pedagogy adopted is child centric, engages the children in different activities. Rural Schools are single teachers-schools in which teachers belong to the same village. They are provided with regular training, certification courses and capacity building sessions which are designed to make teaching more context-oriented, child centered, interesting and enjoyable by strengthening the teachers’ conceptual understanding of the subjects they teach (math and language), and emphasizing the practical aspects of how to conduct classroom transactions. It also works proactively towards enabling the communities to demand quality education from Government.

You can read stories and watch videos which will help u to understand them better.

Seva Mandir have ensured funds for 4,000 children but They need funds to reach another 1,000 children. The opportunity of reaching out these children now is tenfold for them as They are participating in an online fundraising India Giving Challenge, 2011 starting from of Give India as a part of Joy of Giving week commencing from 6th September till 20th October and They have a chance to win a part of matching grant amounting Rs. 65 lacs.

You can help them by changing the life of one child by sending him/her to school for 1 year with a donation of Rs. 2,000/-. The minimum amount they are requesting is 400/- that enables a child to attend school for 66 days. You can donate them by your

  • Debit or credit card or
  • Net banking or
  • Demand draft/cheque favoring Give India.

Through iGive page. You will get tax benefit if you are citizen of India/UK/USA. GiveIndia will provide e-receipt for every donation. For more details please write to rmu@sevamandir.org

You can also help them by championing our project either by promoting their cause through e-media facebook, blogs and indoor (local businesses, banks, etc) mediums or by donation solicitation.

 

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A Post By Khushboo Baranwal

Development Professional, Resource Mobilization Unit, Seva mandir

Categories
Social

Sadhna NGO – Empowering Rural Women

Sadhna a unit of Seva mandir was started in 1988 under income augmentation project with women groups in rural, tribal and urban slums belts of Udaipur resign, and enduring through various stages of non-viability, functional effectiveness and finally impressive growth both in terms of production and sales, it has today grown into a self sufficient and independent organization.. This program started with a small group of 15 women who were trained in the skill of appliqué (embroidery), Sadhna’s total artisan membership has increased to 639. The challenge, therefore, was to find kind of something that could be mass based and yet provide adequate returns. So they have chosen Appliqué and Tanka Embroidery, with the idea of building the basic stitching traditions. Major fact to chose it was something women could do while staying at home, and time being. The journey, in the starting years was very difficult but in spite of it, they continue doing this program, and after that this program managed to overcome with problems and turn into a self sustaining unit. Sadhna was registered as a Mutual Benefit Trust on December, 2004 and the year 2005-2006 was the first full year of working. All the artisans are also member owners of Sadhna. Sadhna’s main aim lies in being able to create cluster of artisans, to enable more and more women attain socio-economic empowerment. Sadhna has made a lot of headway on social dimension, and has certainly learnt a lot about the challenges of strengthening & empowering women, using a commercial enterprise as a medium.

Design is the most vital part of any producer group’s identity and success. In its approach to design, Sadhna has attempted to blend innovation with continuity. Sadhna has been developing new designs from last two decades which helped in brand building and creating an identity for Sadhna products. Under this activity, Sadhna do organize design development workshop every year. Designers from different parts of country take part in this workshop and trained to artisans. This year design intervention and product development was carried out across all the categories i.e. Home Furnishing, Garments, Accessories, and Thread Jewelry. The focus was on developing more complex design. Sadhna’s product can be found at Feb India which is India’s largest private platform for products that are made from traditional techniques, skills and hand-based processes, not only in Feb India but at so many larger groups Sadhna’s artisans product can be seen. Sadhna has partnership with Olsen group, Germany. Sadhna is getting its identity in European markets too. TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation on India Ltd.) sponsored workshop with Sadhna, Focus of this workshop was on improving skill levels and design development especially for tribal women.

Sadhna’s work area in Udaipur and nearer is Khanjipeer, Kharol Colony,Delwara, Madar, Sheeshwi, Ratekhet & Manoharpura

The most encouraging aspects, of course, are the changes in women’s lives, their growing involvement and influence in their local communities. There are stories a plenty of women now being able to help their families move out of vulnerability, investing in their children’s education, and gaining the respect of their husband and relatives they also play an active role in decision making bodies of Sadhna, through their representation in management committee and Board of Trustees.. Women are also breaking caste and religious boundaries, and building string horizontal solidarities. One of the earliest locations, Delwara, the women are now leading the efforts towards improving their neighborhoods (sanitation, water, solid waste management, etc.) as also becoming active and articulate participants in panchayat processes. Sadhna has exceeded most expectations, and they credit wholly to women‘s energy & commitment, and hard work and dedication of each and every staff member. All women connected with this program got encouragement and inspiration through the chief executive Ms. Leela Vijayvergia to make these dream reality. Many women members are also part of community level activities, such as setting up local self governance systems for the betterment of their area and villages. These women hold important positions at such forums and the community attributes this holistic empowerment to their learning and confidence building within Sadhna.

Sadhna is looking for strengthen its export market. This year Sadhna did well in the international sales. During the coming year, Sadhna will work on establishing more contacts with overseas buyers, as also developing product ranges which will appeal to foreign markets.their main effort will be to maintain a professional attitude toward the orders especially in terms of quality & time.

On social perspective Sadhna has increased its work areas, increased numbers of artisan too. Sadhna has put its great effort for women welfare, through which women got inspired and connected with it, and self dependency developed in them.

UdaipurBlog Support Such NGO . We Hope You Too 🙂

C/o Seva Mandir , Old Fatehpura

Udaipur 313004(Rajasthan)

0294-2454655

City Outlet–

Jagdish Chowk Road,

Kasaron ki oul,Udaipur.

Ph. 0294-2417454

Also Visit their WebSite – Sadhna.Org

An Article By Monika Jain 🙂

Few Work Of Women From Sadhna :-