Mann ki Baat: PM Modi appreciates efforts of Bejjipuram Youth Club Srikakulam, AP in spheres of rural empowerment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the efforts of Bejjipuram Youth Club, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh in the spheres of rural empowerment, in the 107th Episode of Mann ki Baat today.
Inspired by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of rural empowerment through non-violence and Grama Swarajya, 20 educated youth of Bejjipuram village in Laveru Mandal, Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh founded the Bejjipuram Youth Club in the year 1980.
It is a Non-Governmental Organisation which is located at about 19 Km from District Headquarters, Srikakulam, has been contributing in the major areas of girl education, women empowerment, agriculture, training and employment, gender equality and equity to the rural women and youth. For the past 40 years, through their extensive service activities, the club has transformed the lives of thousands of rural households.
Presently, the Youth Club works in collaboration with NGOs, Government Organisations to uplift under-privileged people living in rural areas of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts.
Focusing on the skill development, ‘Bejjipuram Youth Club’ has empowered around 7,000 women and uplifted their lives. This organisation has helped the children trapped in the vicious circle of child labour. The skills of about 10,000 children and child labourers were taken care of and they were sent back to government schools. The Youth Club provided education to 12,000 illiterate people. This club has been working in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in consultation with social service organisations. Public was educated, and awareness was created among them regarding STDs among high-risk groups.
The Club has been contributing towards improvement of Organic Farming, protection of Sustainable Agriculture, preservation of Biodiversity, Watershed Management, Integrated Irrigation and Agriculture Transformation. It has been striving to impart Vocational Training, creating opportunities for rural entrepreneurs, employment to women and youth, and skill development to Adolescent girls. Efforts have been taken to create a platform where Girls, women enjoy equal choices, rights, opportunities, freedom and measures are taken to implement gender equality.
The aim of the organisation is to infuse human values by serving the poor, needy and downtrodden and serving underprivileged sections of the society in a unique way. It plans to achieve this by inculcating the culture of mutual cooperation, mutual aid, self-help, self-respect, as well as participation in the decision-making process, to attain empowerment. Their unique way of serving the rural people has attracted the entire nation and their service was mentioned in today’s Mann ki Baat.
