Ekal Abhiyan’s Legacy
The Ekal Abhiyan is a transformative initiative dedicated to uplifting underprivileged communities residing in rural and tribal areas of India. Founded to foster development and growth in unconnected and disadvantaged regions, Ekal Abhiyan has been successfully running for 35 years, creating a lifetime legacy. The program has diversified over the past few decades, including establishing Ekal Schools that provide primary education to children, health programs for upholding well-being in remote areas, and empowerment projects to enhance the socio-economic status of rural families.
Ekal Abhiyan is a connected network of organizations working collaboratively to address and cater to the needs of rural and tribal communities in India. Each organization plays a crucial role in implementing the Abhiyan’s mission. The organizations that fall under this umbrella are the Friends of Tribal Society, Ekal Vidyalaya, Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad, Shri Hari Satsang Samiti, Arogya Foundation of India, Gramothan Foundation, and the Ekal Gram Sangathan. Ekal Vidyalaya is a key initiative that provides primary education to children in rural and tribal areas that lack formal educational institutions. It was established in 1989 in Gumla district, Jharkhand, by RSS senior members Sh. Bhaurav Devras and Sh. Shyam Ji Gupta. It has grown into one of India's largest non-governmental educational programs, as it operates over 1 lakh single-teacher schools nationwide, serving some of the most remote areas The Ekal Abhiyan has made a difference in many lives through its Gramothan Yojana. This initiative upholds women’s empowerment by providing training and resources to help them become employable and independent. It has also made efforts to motivate farmers to adopt organic farming practices, that enhance agricultural productivity. The Arogya Yojna, under the foundation, educates rural citizens about health and wellness. It promotes healthy living practices that could be adopted in daily routines. This initiative has successfully organized health awareness campaigns in rural areas that aim to address common health issues. The Shri Hari Satsang Samiti has fostered the aim of maintaining spiritual enrichment through a plethora of initiatives. One of its notable programs is the Sri Hari Mandir Rath, which travels to villages and conducts screenings of the Ramayan. This helps reinforce traditional values and offers moral and ethical education alongside formal schooling. Ekal on Wheels is another innovative initiative under the Ekal Abhiyan that brings modern technology to remote areas. This scheme involves a traveling bus equipped with computers and digital learning tools, offering computer education and digital literacy to students and adults alike. This program has benefitted many who’ve never had access to a digital world but have now learned all about it.