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VYAKTI VIKAS KENDRA INDIA (Punjab) also known as THE ART OF LIVING FOUNDATION initiates a state wide campaign for fight against “Sex Selection’. The programme is called Beti Sneh sanjivni yatras and is being done in partnership  with THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA). Sex Selection is also known more popularly as Female foeticide and is a major social evil in the state. Today the state has the worst child sex` ratio in the country where there are only 798 girls per 1000 boys as per the 2001 census. The situation is so grim that it is affecting all aspects related to a women’s life; and it is common in all strata of society irrespective of educational qualifications and financial position.
A meeting was held at the Sutlej club, Ludhiana on Saturday, 27.01.2007. and the representatives from The Art of living foundation; United nations population fund(UNFPA); state department of family and health welfare; industry, media houses, and NGOs, participated in the deliberations. The house felt and unanimously decided that along with the enforcement of PNDT act and other practices, it is the mindset that needs to be ultimately changed in fight against Sex selection.
After a period of about four weeks of successful partnership between the core team members the second meeting of the project was organized in Jallandhar on 24.02.2007. It was a capacity cum strategy building programme towards the Beti Sneh Sanjivini Yatras. The fraternity members of various organizations and departments who are partners with us in this project participated in the meeting.
Ms Urmila Bendre of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr Richa Chopra and Ms Vimal from the Art of Living International Headquarters, Bangalore; Mr Piyush Trehan of the VVKI Punjab Apex Body, Dr VK Goel of the State Department of Health and Family Welfare, Mr Manmohan Sharma of the Voluntary Health Association Punjab and Mr Sameer of the PUNARJYOT participated as the members of the core team of the project Beti Sneh Sanjivini Yatras in Punjab. Dr Richa gave an overview of the project and also discussed the progress & developments achieved in the last one-month.
About 60 members of the Art of Living fraternity along with their respective team leaders presented their case and explained the strategies in their respective areas. The invitations have been sent to the Deputy Commissioners and they are passing the message to different departments in the districts. The PNDT (Pre Conception Prenatal Diagnostic Test) cells, the NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, school & college students, religious leaders are also joining in the project. Mr Pradeep Chaudhary & Ms Beena Rao of the Bathinda District; Mr Rajesh Jindal and Mr Anil from Mansa district; Ms Harveen and Mr Vinay from Kapurthala; Ms Uppi Ghuman from Patiala and Mr Sanjay Singla from district Fatehgarh sahib made the presentations on behalf of their teams.
The core team shall now be working on the development of the booklets, posters, pamphlets and hoardings. The members of the house took the roles and responsibilities and started working on Pre Sneh Sanjivini Yatra campaign strategies. The Yatra route and the dates were finalized. Click here to Read More
The meeting ended with a Press conference. About 25 correspondents of different dailies and electronic media were present in the conference.
Such initiatives by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji’s foundation have brought solace and peace to war stricken and disaster affected areas in the country and the world.
For Further Details Contact:
Dr.Anish Dua
09814474466
laadlisofpunjab@gmail.com anishdua@gmail.com
The Art of Living celebrated its Silver Jubilee year in Mumbai on Sunday evening at the MMRDA grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex. The event, in support of the Vidarbha farmers, saw His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and several state dignitaries address the farmer issue.
Lauding the efforts of The Art of Living, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, said,"Many farmers have shared their experiences. I feel that Government tries to give a lot of relief but the suicide rate has not reduced. However, The Art of Living has given them a new lease of life and stopped these suicides and this is what Guruji is able to do about which I am very happy. The Art of Living courses are done in Vidarbha and because of this they have developed a new faith in life and have started living again."
He further said, "The government is grateful that The Art of Living is working in Morshi and Amravati districts. I request them to take up the other six districts as well." To which the organisation representatives replied that The Art of Living will commence work in the other districts as well in December.
Calling for unified help, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, said, "We must all help the farmers. In the world, if farmers source our food with tears, then the harvest is not healthy." He asked the farmers to practice organic-farming as pesticides kill the yield.
Around 60 farmers with their families were present at the event. Addressing the two lakh strong crowd, several farmers shared Art of Living's project work in the Vidarbha area. "Before Art of living, there was depression and debt everywhere. I'm confident that with the zero budget farming taught in the course, the produce will improve and debts will be cleared," said Devendra Borde, a farmer from Vidarbha.
Said a confident Amol Bhujbal, a youth leader from the region, "The feelings of despair have been transformed. We are involving and empowering the farmers to change the face of Vidarbha." Among the other dignitaries present was Dr. Patangrao Kadam, Minister for Cooperation, Relief and Rehabilitation, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister for PWD and Dr D.Y. Patil, leading educationist.
Interspersed with bhajans and an orchestra of over 200 musicians, the evening also saw over 60 children from municipal and tribal schools perform a soulful song. Shankar Mahadevan regaled the crowds with his melodious live performance.
Starting from November 20th, Sri Sri will personally conduct a new program called the Pranayama Dhyan Shibir at the MMRDA grounds.
BANGALORE, AUGUST 6, 2006: The Art of Living has launched a nationwide mass campaign against the imposition of iodised salt on the people of India. The campaign was launched by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore after garlanding the statue of the Father of the Nation in Bangalore on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Using its vast network of volunteers, the Art of Living will create awareness among people that iodised salt is not as essential and safe as it’s being made out to be. “We are not against iodised salt. The issue is about retaining the freedom to choose our natural foods,” said Swami Brahmatej, a senior disciple of Sri Sri who is leading the campaign.
The government banned the sale of natural common salt citing that the addition of iodine to this everyday item appears to be the most effective way of combating deficiency. “Our question is that when only estimated 2 per cent of India’s population suffer from iodine deficiency, why compel the remaining 98 per cent to consume iodised salt,” he asked.
“We are ready to join hands with the government to augment any programme to tackle the problems of iodine deficiency wherever it’s required. But we are not in favour of putting the majority at risk to more complicated problems while trying to solve a problem of a small minority,” he added.
Apart from taking away our right to choose, mandatory administration of excess iodine could lead to serious repercussions for the country. As early as 1977, Martindale in The Extra Pharmacopoeia, concluded that “continued administration of iodine is known to lead to mental depression, nervousness, insomnia, impotence, myxoedema and goitre.” Also a recent survey in Ernakulam district in Kerala, India found that 22 per cent of adults still suffer from thyroid dysfunctions despite 97.5 per cent of the district’s population using iodised salt.
“We fear that there could be a link between the rising cases of mental illnesses and other symptoms such as heart diseases and high blood pressure and excess iodine intake. This needs to be studied and probed,” said Swami Brahmatej. “We love our country and our people. And we have learnt from Guruji (Sri Sri) to take responsibility for ourselves and others. So as responsible citizens of India, we are taking up this issue which is affecting the larger good of the country,” he reasoned.
The ban on natural salt is a direct blow to our right to choose. Today, it’s salt; tomorrow it could be water or any other food that we eat. “How can we justify the ban on common salt when more hazardous substances such as alcohol and cigarettes are allowed to be sold with a mere statutory warning?” asked Swami Brahmatej.
“In this country salt is connected to our loyalty and self respect. The first salt satyagraha awakened the country to the bondage of the British. The second one will awaken us from our slumber and complacency and make us stand up for our rights,” he said.
The Sudarshan Kriya results in faster recovery, acts as preventive and curative measure BANGALORE, OCTOBER 14, 2006: Encouraged by the efficacy of its techniques in treating people with symptoms of chikungunya, the Art of Living has decided to start special camps all over the country to cater to people suffering from the disease. The camp will offer yoga, pranayama and meditation apart from the Sudarshan Kriya, the unique breathing technique taught in the Art of Living workshop.
"We have been studying the effects of our techniques on people with symptoms of chikungunya for the last few weeks. It has been observed that people who regularly practise the Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama and meditation are not only less prone to the disease but also recover faster even if they get an attack," said Swami Sadyojatah of the Art of Living. "Several patients in different parts of India have reported faster recovery from the disease after undergoing the Art of Living workshop, which comprises yoga, pranayama and meditation. This shows that our techniques work not only as preventive but also as a curative measure," added Swami Sadyojatah.
Concurs Dr Renuka Dugani, a practising physician from Hubli, one of the worst effected areas in Karnataka. "Many of my patients showed remarkable recovery soon after they underwent the Art of Living workshop. The improvements are so apparent that now I prescribe the workshop to every patient that comes to me with symptoms of chikungunya," she said. "Soon after I did the Sudarshan Kriya, my condition improved considerably," testifies Dr Kasturi of Hubli, who was diagnosed with chikungunya three weeks ago. "Despite all the symptoms, I was able to attend the workshop because I started feeling better from the first day itself," she added. "All the symptoms vanished within four days of practicing the Sudarshan Kriya," said Vinay Bhardwaj, 24, of Malur. "We have offered the workshop in affected areas all over the country. In Karnataka, we have catered to many patients the worst affected districts such as Hubli, Kolar and Tumkur," said Swami Sadyojatah.
Explaining how yoga, pranayama, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya help to cure the disease, yogacharya Dinesh Kashikar said, "Pranayama is a very effective antidote for fever as it cools down the body and restores the balance. Yoga asanas loosen up the joints and provide relief from body pain, which are the dominant symptoms of chikungunya." "The Sudarshan Kriya and accompanying meditations strengthen the immune system and allow the body to fight back," he explained.
The unique rhythmic breathing technique designed by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has helped millions of people across the globe successfully manage the stress, get rid of a number of medical problems including the serious ailments such as depression, panic attacks, diabetes, heart problems, cancer and AIDS, besides leading happier lives. For further details, contact the nearest Art of Living centre or call 080 26645106.
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