Gandhi Bhavan, the central office of the Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, has been the focal point of activities aimed at propagating the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi in the State. The autonomous institution achieved a milestone on Tuesday when it celebrated the golden jubilee of the establishment of the centre at Thycaud.
With the prime objective of achieving ‘grama swaraj’ (self-governance of villages), as was envisaged by the Father of the Nation, the Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi has strived for the welfare of artisans and the uplift of rural areas.
Centres and sub-centres
According to Smarak Nidhi secretary K.G. Jagadeesh, the organisation has 19 centres and 30 sub-centres for the development of Khadi and village industries in rural areas across Kerala.
Nearly 800 spinners and weavers depend on the centres for their livelihoods through the sale of Khadi and other products.
The revenue generated through the sale of these items is over Rs.8 crore per year. “By promoting Khadi, we have strived for the growth of the local economy and worked towards Gandhi’s dream of self-sufficiency in rural areas. We have ensured that the artisans received a major portion of the returns of the business,” he said.
Besides, the organisation supports 4,435 farmers and around 3,000 beekeepers as part of its efforts towards attaining food security.
It has also been imparting employability skills among women and marginalised sections.
In order to promote the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi among the younger generations, the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi has been organising various programmes.
In Thiruvananthapuram, nearly 3 lakh students from 675 schools in the district have participated in the ‘Gandhi Darshan’ programme.
Intended results
So, has the efforts undertaken by the Smarak Nidhi since its inception in 1951 achieved the intended results? “We haven’t failed. Gandhian ideals never will,” says noted Gandhian and chairman of the institution, P. Gopinathan Nair.
“But, we will be able to realise the India envisaged by Gandhi only by upholding his teachings and working towards the goal. We must strive for equality among all citizens and the development of the villages of rural India,” he said.
