Out of the rain shadow
Depleting water tables in Maharashtra’s drought-prone villages get a new lease of life with rainwater harvesting
By PRONOTI DATTA, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Wankute village in Ahmednagar district is a sight for sore eyes. The tanks here are brimming with water, hundreds of lush trees break the landscape’s arid monotony and there’s a pond surrounded by palm trees that resembles a desert oasis. The twist in the tale is that this is one of the most drought-prone regions in western Maharashtra.
So, what’s its secret? Rainwater conservation, a pursuit into which it was initiated by the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR). WOTR is an NGO that helps villages with measures to save the scanty rainfall they receive, and it’s literally turned their fortunes around: in Wankute itself, the cultivation of onions in an area whose soil is good only for millet has made several families richer.
Success stories of rainwater harvesting from this region, such as Hivre Bazaar, which was turned around by an enthusiastic sarpanch, and Ralegan Siddhi, revolutionised by veteran social worker Anna Hazare, are well known. WOTR’s work isn’t — surprisingly so, given the extent of its operations. Since the time it hit the field in 1996, the NGO has carried out 747 watershed projects primarily in Maharashtra, but also in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. As of 2009, the total area that has benefited is 567,065 hectares.
Ahmednagar is severely disadvantaged, as it lies in the rain shadow of the Sahyadris. As a result, the area gets an average rainfall of just 450 mm. According to studies on the semi-arid regions of the Deccan plateau, it suffers a deficit of 800 mm to 1,000 mm. Most of the usable rainfall, that is rainfall that’s more than 10 mm, occurs in bursts across just 15 to 20 days. This means that farmers can grow crops for very brief periods. During the dry months, many farming families leave their villages to work as debtridden labourers in sugarcane fields, brick kilns and farms in higher rainfall areas, says Marcella D’Souza, WOTR’s executive director.
The idea of watershed development is to capture rainwater instead of allowing it to run off into rivers and streams along with the fertile top soil. In order to do this, contour trenches are carved out in hillsides so that the flow of water is arrested. It then sinks into the soil and enriches the water table. WOTR’s model watershed project is Darewadi village. The catchment area has been sculpted into continuous trenches that picturesquely cascade down the slope. Hundreds of trees have been planted to hold the soil in place. It’s quite obvious that the area didn’t have much vegetation before WOTR started work in 1996. The trees are young and have been strategically planted along the edges of the trenches. Previously, villagers had to depend on water for drinking and irrigation brought by tankers once or twice a week. Tanker water is now history and when we visited, we noticed that the village wells and percolation tanks had enough water to last till the monsoon. Ground water levels have been steadily rising, and data collected by the NGO over the years shows that the water table was higher in 2005 than in 1998 even though there was much more rainfall in 1998.
Water has brought much-needed income to these villages. Vishnu Sasane, a 75-year-old farmer, owns 23 acres of land in Wankute, where WOTR spent four years on a watershed project that was completed in 2007. Despite owning so much land, Sasane worked as a vegetable vendor during the dry months to feed a family of 27. Today, his fields are lush with wheat and he grows enough onions to waste a few kilos. In the four months when onions are cultivated, every family in the village earns between Rs 100,000 and Rs 200,000, says the farmer. He, personally, has used his new-found wealth to reinforce his house, which was once an earthen structure, buy a motorbike and start a side business of raising chickens.
Right inside the village are the Handes, who had migrated to neighbouring villages in search of work, as their fields were fallow. After the success of the watershed programme, they returned. Their backyard, full of cows, goats, beds of freshly picked onions and grain, speaks of the family’s prosperity. Their neighbour, a sprightly old man wearing aviators even after the sun has set, wants to show off his good fortune too, and leads us into a room in his house piled high with potatoes.
After transforming so many villages, WOTR finds it easier to convince farmers of the benefits of water harvesting. But there was a time when they were wary. “They were afraid their land would be taken away,” says D’Souza. And they were less than thrilled about the NGO’s three non-negotiable conditions: a ban on free grazing in the watershed area, a ban on cutting trees, and shramdaan, a contribution of 20 per cent of the total cost of the project in the form of manual labour. The villagers are also expected to form a Village Development Committee, which means that those from the upper and lower castes have to mingle. “You will always have friction between higher and lower castes,” D’Souza points out. “But common needs like water security will bring people of different castes and communities together.”
WOTR’s agenda extends beyond water and soil conversation to sanitation, medical health and empowering women. The NGO gets women to form self-help groups to discuss the problems of their households. According to Rohini Hande, a teacher in Wankute, the women’s groups have made them more confident. The women of Darewadi, for instance, got together to ban the production of liquor to stem the rise of alcoholism among men. In Sattechiwadi, WOTR has been following a development model in which water conservation is one component in a set of activities. This small village of 83 households, located at the bottom of a valley, is entirely composed of Thakar, Hindu Mahadev and Bhil tribals. Apart from farming, they hunt birds and animals such as rabbits. It seems a poorer village compared to Wankute and Darewadi but food and water are no longer scarce. They’ve been given solar lamps, hot water chulhas, toilets and durable farming equipment. As health was a major concern — villagers would have to travel 20 km to the nearest hospital for minor illnesses — two volunteers have been trained to provide medicines. Wamanbhau Jadhav, a member of the Village Development Committee who looks far older than his 45 years, says happily, “People don’t leave the village any more.”
THE HOPE HARVEST: Thanks to rainwater harvesting in Wankute, Vishnu Sasane (left), a farmer, is now able to earn upto Rs 2 lakh during the harvest season; the soil is now moist enough to grow cash crops like onions. Last year the farmers sold about 20 trucks of the vegetable
Courtesy Times Crest dated 30.01.2010, a weekly supplement of Times of India.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
OUR ATTITUDE DEFINES LIFE
Life is Best for those who want to Live it,
Life is Difficult for those who want to Analyze it,
Life is worst for those who want to Criticize it,
Our Attitude Defines Life...
Enjoy Your Life,
Laugh so Hard That even Sorrow Smiles at You,
Live Life so Well That even Death Loves to see you Alive,
Fight so Hard That even Fate accepts its Defeat....
Have great times ahead!!!!
Humanity is infectious
Today, the 28th January, presented me some beautiful moments in my life.
I called two young boys outside the hall and gave some instructions. During tea break in the morning both of them escorted Mr. Upendra J. Trivedi, one of the participants and brought him at the forefront. I called the junior most and senior most participants and requested them to present flowers to Mr. Trivedi with their Birthday wishes for him. Everyone wished jubilantly by his heart, as it was his last birthday in the bank since he will be retiring on the 31.01.2010. I offered Mr. Trivedi a Chocolate. The participants were shared toffies. Mr. Trivedi became very emotional and hugged me and said with sobbing eyes ,” In the bank till all these long years, my birthday was never celebrated in such a beautiful way,” and thanked all the participants in the class.
Just after distribution of the gift hampers in the evening when I said that the programme would be concluded shortly after the chairman’s speech. Two participants immediately stepped forward with two bouquets bought from the market during lunch time even within the tight time schedule and offered one to me and another to prasad giving a standing ovation to both of us commenting, “We took so many trainings in our lives but the experience we underwent during these two days was unique and was never forgettable in our lives. Thanks for giving so many beautiful things.”
Tapan Kumar Das, Bhavnagar.
I called two young boys outside the hall and gave some instructions. During tea break in the morning both of them escorted Mr. Upendra J. Trivedi, one of the participants and brought him at the forefront. I called the junior most and senior most participants and requested them to present flowers to Mr. Trivedi with their Birthday wishes for him. Everyone wished jubilantly by his heart, as it was his last birthday in the bank since he will be retiring on the 31.01.2010. I offered Mr. Trivedi a Chocolate. The participants were shared toffies. Mr. Trivedi became very emotional and hugged me and said with sobbing eyes ,” In the bank till all these long years, my birthday was never celebrated in such a beautiful way,” and thanked all the participants in the class.
Just after distribution of the gift hampers in the evening when I said that the programme would be concluded shortly after the chairman’s speech. Two participants immediately stepped forward with two bouquets bought from the market during lunch time even within the tight time schedule and offered one to me and another to prasad giving a standing ovation to both of us commenting, “We took so many trainings in our lives but the experience we underwent during these two days was unique and was never forgettable in our lives. Thanks for giving so many beautiful things.”
Tapan Kumar Das, Bhavnagar.
Citizen-MP
Enlightened Citizenship is a must
Two articles were published in the Bhopal edition of the Hindustan Times on the 26th and 28th January 2010 on active citizenship and communitarian development. Madhya Pradesh has embarked on a journey to make citizenship education a reality of our times. An exercise to find, to identify, to engage community-spirited people is on the anvil. We reproduce a letter to the editor published in the columns of the Hindustan Times this morning.
I read with great interest Kanul Shrivastava's articles in the open forum on the 26th and 28th January. It is a good idea to make citizenship education a reality of our times. I also fully agree that not only a responsive government, but also a responsive community should be the ideal of a more humane culture. In these turbulent times, a meaningful exercise to find, to identify and to engage community-spirited people for the welfare of the society is more than welcome.
The concept of political citizenship has been used since the days of the Greeks and Romans and is primarily a Western idea. A political citizen is concerned about rights and individual freedom of action. Enlightened citizenship on the other hand has its roots in the Indian spiritual tradition. An enlightened citizen is concerned about the welfare of the collective (abhyudaya) and at the same time, ensuring that each individual achieves life fulfillment (nihsresyaya). Enlightened citizenship includes within it political citizenship, and in addition is concerned about the inner and outer life of the human being who contributes to society.
A just and progressive social order derives from enlightened citizenship. Swami Ranganathananda while dwelling on this subject said that if there is only ordinary adult citizenship, but not enlightened citizenship, there will never emerge a just social order; there will never be a calm, steady, and onward march directed to the achievements of national goals but only wobbly movements, accompanied by noisy talk of national goals.
Being closely associated with a citizenship project in my workplace, I am deeply committed to the ideal of citizenship and would love to make a humble, voluntary and apolitical contribution to this valuable initiative of Madhya Pradesh Government. I offer my services for the same through these esteemed columns.
I also salute the Enlightened Citizen deeply embedded in the hearts of all of us!
JAGAT SINGH BISHT, INDORE
coolbisht@hotmail.com
courtesy: hindustan times, january 30, 2010
Two articles were published in the Bhopal edition of the Hindustan Times on the 26th and 28th January 2010 on active citizenship and communitarian development. Madhya Pradesh has embarked on a journey to make citizenship education a reality of our times. An exercise to find, to identify, to engage community-spirited people is on the anvil. We reproduce a letter to the editor published in the columns of the Hindustan Times this morning.
I read with great interest Kanul Shrivastava's articles in the open forum on the 26th and 28th January. It is a good idea to make citizenship education a reality of our times. I also fully agree that not only a responsive government, but also a responsive community should be the ideal of a more humane culture. In these turbulent times, a meaningful exercise to find, to identify and to engage community-spirited people for the welfare of the society is more than welcome.
The concept of political citizenship has been used since the days of the Greeks and Romans and is primarily a Western idea. A political citizen is concerned about rights and individual freedom of action. Enlightened citizenship on the other hand has its roots in the Indian spiritual tradition. An enlightened citizen is concerned about the welfare of the collective (abhyudaya) and at the same time, ensuring that each individual achieves life fulfillment (nihsresyaya). Enlightened citizenship includes within it political citizenship, and in addition is concerned about the inner and outer life of the human being who contributes to society.
A just and progressive social order derives from enlightened citizenship. Swami Ranganathananda while dwelling on this subject said that if there is only ordinary adult citizenship, but not enlightened citizenship, there will never emerge a just social order; there will never be a calm, steady, and onward march directed to the achievements of national goals but only wobbly movements, accompanied by noisy talk of national goals.
Being closely associated with a citizenship project in my workplace, I am deeply committed to the ideal of citizenship and would love to make a humble, voluntary and apolitical contribution to this valuable initiative of Madhya Pradesh Government. I offer my services for the same through these esteemed columns.
I also salute the Enlightened Citizen deeply embedded in the hearts of all of us!
JAGAT SINGH BISHT, INDORE
coolbisht@hotmail.com
courtesy: hindustan times, january 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
सुपर सिटिज़न
किसी ने ठीक ही कहा है कि कर्ज फर्ज और मर्ज को कभी नहीं भूलना चाहिए , लेकिन इस आदर्श वाक्य को लोग पढकर टाल देते है । कर्ज लेते समय तो उनका व्यवहार अत्यंत मृदु होता है , लेकिन मतलब निकलने के बाद वे नजरें चुराने लगते है , कई ऐसे लोग है जो बैंक से काफी लोन लेकर उसे पचा जाते है , लेकिन ऐसे भी लोगों की कमी नहीं जो कर्ज , फर्ज और मर्ज का बराबर ख्याल रखते है । नारायणगंज (मंडला) एरिया के एक कर्जदार ने अपनी मृत्यु के बाद भी बैंक से लिए कर्ज को चुकाने सपने में अपने परिजन को प्रेरित किया जिससे उसके द्रारा२० साल पहले लिया कर्ज पट गया लोगों ने दातों तले उगलियाँ दबा कर हतप्रद रह गए ।
स्टेट बैंक नारायणगंज के शाखा प्रबन्धक के रूप में इस मामले का खुलासा करने में तनिक हिचक और आश्चर्य के साथ सहज रूप से विश्वास नहीं हो रहा था , ''किसी से बताना नहीं पर ऐसा अनुभव हुआ है '' ........यह बात फेलते - फेलते खबरनबीसों तक पहुच गई , फिर देनिक भास्कर और देनिक नई दुनिया ने इस खबर को प्रमुखता से छापा,
खबर यह थी कि २० साल पहले एक ने बैंक से कर्ज लिया था , लेकिन कर्ज चुकाने के पहले ही वह परलोक सिधार गया ............ । उसके बेटे ने एक दिन बैंक में आकर अपने पिता द्वारा लिए गए कर्ज की जानकारी ली , बेटे ने मुझे बताया कि उसके पिता बार-बार सपने में आते है और बार-बार यही कहते है कि बेटा बैंक का कर्ज चूका दो ,पहले तो मुझे और शाखा के स्टाफ को आश्चर्य हुआ और बात पर भरोसा नहीं हुआ , लेकिन उसके बेटे के चहरे के दर्द और भावना पर गौर करते हुए अप्लेखित खातों की सूची में उसके पिता का नाम मिल ही गया ,उसकी बात पर कुछ यकीन भी हुआ , फिर उसने बताया कि पिता जी की बहुत पहले मृत्यु हो गई थी ,पर कुछ दिनों से हर रात को पिता जी सपने में आकर पूछते है की कर्ज का क्या हुआ ? और मेरी नींद खुल जाती है फिर सो नहीं पता , लगातार २० दिनों से नहीं सो पाया हूँ ,आज किसी भी हालत में पिता जी का कर्ज चूका कर ही घर जाना हो पायेगा । अधिक नहीं मात्र १६५००/ का हिसाब ब्याज सहित बना , उसने हँसते -हँसते चुकाया और बोला - आज तो सच में गंगा नहए जैसा लग रहा है ,
अगले दो-तीन दिनों तक मेनें उसकी खोज -खबर ली , उसने बताया की कर्ज चुकने के बाद पिता जी बिलकुल भी नहीं दिखे , उस दिन से उसे खूब नीदं आ रही है ,
इस तरह एक सिटिज़न मृतात्मा की प्रेरणा से जहाँ बैंक की वसूली हो गई वहीँ एक पुत्र पित्र्य-लोन से मुक्त हो गया ,इस खबर को तमाम जगहों पढ़ा गया और कई दूर-दराज शाखों की २०-२० साल पुरानी अप्लेखित खातों में खूब वसूली हुई । लोग याद करते है की स्टेट बैंक में ऐसे सिटिज़न कर्जदार भी होते है जो मरकर भी अपने कर्ज को चुकाते हुए बैंक की वसूली का माहौल भी बनाते है ...... उस मृतात्मा को साधुवाद .... सलाम ...
ये संयोग भी है और मजे की बात भी , की जिस साल इस सिटिज़न मृतात्मा का ये वसूली अभियान का समाचार अख़बारों के मार्फ़त मंडला जिले में फेला , उस साल मध्य प्रदेश में आर आर सी दायर खातों (अप्लेखित खातों ) में सबसे अधिक वसूली हेतु मंडला जिले को प्रथम पुरस्कार हेतु शासन ने चुना । ...... धन्य हो सिटिज़न मृतात्मा ........., तुम्हे सलाम ......
स्टेट बैंक नारायणगंज के शाखा प्रबन्धक के रूप में इस मामले का खुलासा करने में तनिक हिचक और आश्चर्य के साथ सहज रूप से विश्वास नहीं हो रहा था , ''किसी से बताना नहीं पर ऐसा अनुभव हुआ है '' ........यह बात फेलते - फेलते खबरनबीसों तक पहुच गई , फिर देनिक भास्कर और देनिक नई दुनिया ने इस खबर को प्रमुखता से छापा,
खबर यह थी कि २० साल पहले एक ने बैंक से कर्ज लिया था , लेकिन कर्ज चुकाने के पहले ही वह परलोक सिधार गया ............ । उसके बेटे ने एक दिन बैंक में आकर अपने पिता द्वारा लिए गए कर्ज की जानकारी ली , बेटे ने मुझे बताया कि उसके पिता बार-बार सपने में आते है और बार-बार यही कहते है कि बेटा बैंक का कर्ज चूका दो ,पहले तो मुझे और शाखा के स्टाफ को आश्चर्य हुआ और बात पर भरोसा नहीं हुआ , लेकिन उसके बेटे के चहरे के दर्द और भावना पर गौर करते हुए अप्लेखित खातों की सूची में उसके पिता का नाम मिल ही गया ,उसकी बात पर कुछ यकीन भी हुआ , फिर उसने बताया कि पिता जी की बहुत पहले मृत्यु हो गई थी ,पर कुछ दिनों से हर रात को पिता जी सपने में आकर पूछते है की कर्ज का क्या हुआ ? और मेरी नींद खुल जाती है फिर सो नहीं पता , लगातार २० दिनों से नहीं सो पाया हूँ ,आज किसी भी हालत में पिता जी का कर्ज चूका कर ही घर जाना हो पायेगा । अधिक नहीं मात्र १६५००/ का हिसाब ब्याज सहित बना , उसने हँसते -हँसते चुकाया और बोला - आज तो सच में गंगा नहए जैसा लग रहा है ,
अगले दो-तीन दिनों तक मेनें उसकी खोज -खबर ली , उसने बताया की कर्ज चुकने के बाद पिता जी बिलकुल भी नहीं दिखे , उस दिन से उसे खूब नीदं आ रही है ,
इस तरह एक सिटिज़न मृतात्मा की प्रेरणा से जहाँ बैंक की वसूली हो गई वहीँ एक पुत्र पित्र्य-लोन से मुक्त हो गया ,इस खबर को तमाम जगहों पढ़ा गया और कई दूर-दराज शाखों की २०-२० साल पुरानी अप्लेखित खातों में खूब वसूली हुई । लोग याद करते है की स्टेट बैंक में ऐसे सिटिज़न कर्जदार भी होते है जो मरकर भी अपने कर्ज को चुकाते हुए बैंक की वसूली का माहौल भी बनाते है ...... उस मृतात्मा को साधुवाद .... सलाम ...
ये संयोग भी है और मजे की बात भी , की जिस साल इस सिटिज़न मृतात्मा का ये वसूली अभियान का समाचार अख़बारों के मार्फ़त मंडला जिले में फेला , उस साल मध्य प्रदेश में आर आर सी दायर खातों (अप्लेखित खातों ) में सबसे अधिक वसूली हेतु मंडला जिले को प्रथम पुरस्कार हेतु शासन ने चुना । ...... धन्य हो सिटिज़न मृतात्मा ........., तुम्हे सलाम ......
जय प्रकाश पाण्डेय
मायक्रो फायनेंस शाखा भोपाल
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Contributing in the remote Rajmilan branch
Background
• Name : Mr. Arun Kumar Kalway
• Designation now : Chief Manager (Training), Faculty, SBLC Indore
• Designation then : Branch Manager, Rajmilan Branch, Region 3, Jabalpur Module
• Time : June 2003 to October 2005
The Initial State
• This was a one officer SAB with two award staff members and no subordinate staff.
• It had just undergone CO Audit and had been rated B- with 336 marks. NPA levels were quite high. As it was the only B- branch in the Circle, everybody including CMC members was deeply concerned.
• The morale of the staff was quite low.
• The image of the branch was very poor.
• There were quite a few small rooms in the building with very little customer area and no customer amenities.
• The branch was catering to the poor villagers around Rajmilan in the coal rich Singrauli area. Rajmilan is 24 KMs from Waidhan, then Tehsil HQ and now District HQ of Singrauli.
The Proposed Solution
Shri Kalway, who had just been promoted to MMGS II, was posted at Rajmilan as Branch Manager. He took up the assignment as a challenge and
• Immediately after joining, he dealt with the I&A Report and submitted compliance remarks within 8 days.
• In the process, action plan for rectification of the irregularities was drawn.
• The staff members were counseled and motivated. Proper guidance given to staff at each stage to learn the process and serve the customers effectively. It helped in development of an energized team.
• Internal house keeping was taken up and arrears of balancing and submission of returns/statements/reports were dealt with next.
• A proper banking hall with ample customer space was created by breaking down the walls of the rooms. Proper seating arrangement made and drinking water and air cooler were provided in the customer’s waiting area.
• Prompt customer service was ensured. The requisite stationery was arranged. People of the area working in nearby Northern Coalfields Ltd. and NTPC projects were contacted for opening their accounts at the branch for business development.
• Traders in nearby areas were contacted for draft issue business.
• NPA recovery drive was launched with the assistance of revenue authorities.
• Smooth & error free migration of branch to Bank Master ensured under Universal Computerization Programme
Realized End State
Customer wins
• The people of nearby villages got excellent customer service and proper amenities..
• They were saved the trouble of going to other centers for their banking needs.
Bank wins
• In a review of compliance remarks in January 2004, the rating of the branch was improved to B.
• In the next RFIA, the branch was rated A with an improvement of 400 plus marks.
• The business and profit targets were achieved.
• The image of the branch and bank got a boost.
• The NPAs were brought down to 3%. Staff wins
• All the staff members derived deep satisfaction and had a sense of fulfillment.
• Shri Kalway got appreciation from CMC and became MMGS III in the first attempt.
• The initially demoralized award staff members also got promoted as officers.
Sustainability Dynamic
The personalized, prompt and transparent service provided by the branch created a positive impact and remarkable image of the Bank among the people of the area and strengthened their trust in SBI.
The show is still continuing and branch is progressing in all directions.
• Name : Mr. Arun Kumar Kalway
• Designation now : Chief Manager (Training), Faculty, SBLC Indore
• Designation then : Branch Manager, Rajmilan Branch, Region 3, Jabalpur Module
• Time : June 2003 to October 2005
The Initial State
• This was a one officer SAB with two award staff members and no subordinate staff.
• It had just undergone CO Audit and had been rated B- with 336 marks. NPA levels were quite high. As it was the only B- branch in the Circle, everybody including CMC members was deeply concerned.
• The morale of the staff was quite low.
• The image of the branch was very poor.
• There were quite a few small rooms in the building with very little customer area and no customer amenities.
• The branch was catering to the poor villagers around Rajmilan in the coal rich Singrauli area. Rajmilan is 24 KMs from Waidhan, then Tehsil HQ and now District HQ of Singrauli.
The Proposed Solution
Shri Kalway, who had just been promoted to MMGS II, was posted at Rajmilan as Branch Manager. He took up the assignment as a challenge and
• Immediately after joining, he dealt with the I&A Report and submitted compliance remarks within 8 days.
• In the process, action plan for rectification of the irregularities was drawn.
• The staff members were counseled and motivated. Proper guidance given to staff at each stage to learn the process and serve the customers effectively. It helped in development of an energized team.
• Internal house keeping was taken up and arrears of balancing and submission of returns/statements/reports were dealt with next.
• A proper banking hall with ample customer space was created by breaking down the walls of the rooms. Proper seating arrangement made and drinking water and air cooler were provided in the customer’s waiting area.
• Prompt customer service was ensured. The requisite stationery was arranged. People of the area working in nearby Northern Coalfields Ltd. and NTPC projects were contacted for opening their accounts at the branch for business development.
• Traders in nearby areas were contacted for draft issue business.
• NPA recovery drive was launched with the assistance of revenue authorities.
• Smooth & error free migration of branch to Bank Master ensured under Universal Computerization Programme
Realized End State
Customer wins
• The people of nearby villages got excellent customer service and proper amenities..
• They were saved the trouble of going to other centers for their banking needs.
Bank wins
• In a review of compliance remarks in January 2004, the rating of the branch was improved to B.
• In the next RFIA, the branch was rated A with an improvement of 400 plus marks.
• The business and profit targets were achieved.
• The image of the branch and bank got a boost.
• The NPAs were brought down to 3%. Staff wins
• All the staff members derived deep satisfaction and had a sense of fulfillment.
• Shri Kalway got appreciation from CMC and became MMGS III in the first attempt.
• The initially demoralized award staff members also got promoted as officers.
Sustainability Dynamic
The personalized, prompt and transparent service provided by the branch created a positive impact and remarkable image of the Bank among the people of the area and strengthened their trust in SBI.
The show is still continuing and branch is progressing in all directions.
Contribute, Contribute and Contribute
I wish to share an incident in our class at Nasik .
One of the participant after explaining the new vision of contribution and compensation aspect in our life, shared the following . I found it worth sharing with you all :
In terms of accountancy account is debited or credited as per the rule "Debit what comes in" and credited " Credit what goes out ".
If you treat your life as account , then your Life Account is credited when you do a contribution ( whether responsive or otherwise ) and
the account is debited when you get compensation for that . If your account is Over drawn means received more compensation hence
contribute more and more to ensure that your Life Account is not over drawn any time (like our O.D. A/C ) .
That is the citizenship in simple words Contribute, Contribute n' Contribute !
J.A.Kulkarni
Nasik
One of the participant after explaining the new vision of contribution and compensation aspect in our life, shared the following . I found it worth sharing with you all :
In terms of accountancy account is debited or credited as per the rule "Debit what comes in" and credited " Credit what goes out ".
If you treat your life as account , then your Life Account is credited when you do a contribution ( whether responsive or otherwise ) and
the account is debited when you get compensation for that . If your account is Over drawn means received more compensation hence
contribute more and more to ensure that your Life Account is not over drawn any time (like our O.D. A/C ) .
That is the citizenship in simple words Contribute, Contribute n' Contribute !
J.A.Kulkarni
Nasik
With You All The Way
A Transformative Story
BACKGROUND:
NAME: Mr. Jagat Singh Bisht
(Cell No. 9425913710)
(e-mail – jagat.bisht@sbi.co.in)
DESIGNATION THEN: BM of Waidhan Branch
PERIOD: 1992 to 1994
DESIGNATION NOW: AGM, SBLC, Indore.
PLACE: Tehsil headquarter, Singrauli, SADA, then.
Northern Coal Fields and NTPC were the major projects.
Presently it is a District Headquarter.
OTHER INFORMATION: Joined as P.O. (1979) in Bhopal Circle. He is very creative, has a flair for writing and has made valuable contributions in newspapers and magazines. He has a few books to his credit as on date.
THE INITIAL STATE
• Waidhan Branch was fraud prone, involving staff members. The image of the branch was bad. Though BM is an important figure in the area, the Collector totally ignored the branch and the BM.
• A great divide was visible among the local people, of haves and have-nots.
• The branch’s was remotely located.
• At a distance, there was a hundred meter barrack which had rooms with toilets where the BM and the staff resided, which was the only place of ‘comfort’.
• The branch had liberally and negligently distributed loans to migrant workers on a large scale, who later absconded and at a time as much as 642 A/Cs were transferred to PB/RD accounts.
• There appeared to be no scope for business and the staff were required to post about 600-700 vouchers per day, as their routine work.
• Bank customers, business and profits, totally neglected.
• Housekeeping in doldrums.
• Recovery efforts nil.
• Staff habitual of leave.
POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
• Bank’s image was uppermost in the mind of Mr. Bisht who immediately worked on it and introduced measures that brought all the communities in the area closer. Relationship banking at its best was introduced and effectively put into action.
• An industrial unit’s meet was organized where the problem of fund shortage was addressed. Appraisals were carried out, needs defined and funds disbursed which enabled the owners to add plant and machinery to their projects and put additional units in the area.
• Recovery efforts were effective. Balance Sheet cleaned up.
• Welfare activities were done frequently, with zeal and compassion. Eye camps held used to register more than 200 people availing the free services. People related with gratitude towards the branch.
• All professionals and others from NTPC/ NCL/ BANKS/ FIs/ Colleges/etc. were invited for cricket matches and other sports activities which became a common ground for knowing each other and building bonds for mutual help and growth.
• Lion’s Club, Leo Club, Lioness Club were formed in the area. Mr.Bisht was the Charter President of Lion’s Club who could bring more than 60 reputed people as members into its fold. Business meetings and welfare activities became part of the agenda of the Clubs.
• Anand Mela was held periodically, where the entire community would participate, where a feeling of belongingness and image building for the branch would take place.
• Contractors who had to wait for days together to realise their cheques were targeted and accounts were opened where DDP facility was provided to them and instant credit was made available. An effective follow up of these entries ensured no long outstandings in the Bank’s books. Deposit accounts multiplied and profits increased, as income by way of commission shot up.
• The Collector, who earlier had scant respect for the then BM and the branch, gave huge deposits and used to take keen interest in the Bank’s activities in the area.
• Religious ceremonies and talks were sponsored by the branch and people gathered in large numbers. The branch and its staff became approachable to the general public. Product knowledge was disseminated.
• Housekeeping, staff availability, work culture drastically improved.
• Business and profits increased three folds.
REALIZED END STATE
CUSTOMER WINS
WITH YOU ALL THE WAY- was put into effect, where the communities as a whole through various activities of the branch, could feel the presence of the Bank in their life. This bonding led to a rich social life, built trust and greatly added to the business and profits of the branch. Image of the branch and thereby the Bank grew in leaps and bounds.
Mr. Bisht is still remembered by the general public in the area after the lapse of nearly 15 years.
Industrialists, contractors, professionals greatly benefited from the branch where facilities as per their needs were provided and services were quick and effective.
The common man also had his share of entertainment, social life and an account with SBI.
Industries multiplied, using finance from the branch and as such infrastructure in the area, employment and standard of living of the general public was improved.
BANK WINS
Advances and deposits grew.
Profits tripled.
Industrialist, contractors and other professionals became regular customers of the branch
Trust and loyalty commanded.
Image improved tremendously.
Branch became the Banker to every Indian.
SUSTAINABILITY DYNAMIC
Steady business growth due to increased industrialization, being financed by the branch, with the common man and the branch’s image in mind, the process of multiplying profit with growth is on. The social network created brought communities closer and branch has been able to reach out to the masses, by being easily approachable and conscious of the common man’s welfare. Trust and loyalty keeps business going.
BACKGROUND:
NAME: Mr. Jagat Singh Bisht
(Cell No. 9425913710)
(e-mail – jagat.bisht@sbi.co.in)
DESIGNATION THEN: BM of Waidhan Branch
PERIOD: 1992 to 1994
DESIGNATION NOW: AGM, SBLC, Indore.
PLACE: Tehsil headquarter, Singrauli, SADA, then.
Northern Coal Fields and NTPC were the major projects.
Presently it is a District Headquarter.
OTHER INFORMATION: Joined as P.O. (1979) in Bhopal Circle. He is very creative, has a flair for writing and has made valuable contributions in newspapers and magazines. He has a few books to his credit as on date.
THE INITIAL STATE
• Waidhan Branch was fraud prone, involving staff members. The image of the branch was bad. Though BM is an important figure in the area, the Collector totally ignored the branch and the BM.
• A great divide was visible among the local people, of haves and have-nots.
• The branch’s was remotely located.
• At a distance, there was a hundred meter barrack which had rooms with toilets where the BM and the staff resided, which was the only place of ‘comfort’.
• The branch had liberally and negligently distributed loans to migrant workers on a large scale, who later absconded and at a time as much as 642 A/Cs were transferred to PB/RD accounts.
• There appeared to be no scope for business and the staff were required to post about 600-700 vouchers per day, as their routine work.
• Bank customers, business and profits, totally neglected.
• Housekeeping in doldrums.
• Recovery efforts nil.
• Staff habitual of leave.
POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
• Bank’s image was uppermost in the mind of Mr. Bisht who immediately worked on it and introduced measures that brought all the communities in the area closer. Relationship banking at its best was introduced and effectively put into action.
• An industrial unit’s meet was organized where the problem of fund shortage was addressed. Appraisals were carried out, needs defined and funds disbursed which enabled the owners to add plant and machinery to their projects and put additional units in the area.
• Recovery efforts were effective. Balance Sheet cleaned up.
• Welfare activities were done frequently, with zeal and compassion. Eye camps held used to register more than 200 people availing the free services. People related with gratitude towards the branch.
• All professionals and others from NTPC/ NCL/ BANKS/ FIs/ Colleges/etc. were invited for cricket matches and other sports activities which became a common ground for knowing each other and building bonds for mutual help and growth.
• Lion’s Club, Leo Club, Lioness Club were formed in the area. Mr.Bisht was the Charter President of Lion’s Club who could bring more than 60 reputed people as members into its fold. Business meetings and welfare activities became part of the agenda of the Clubs.
• Anand Mela was held periodically, where the entire community would participate, where a feeling of belongingness and image building for the branch would take place.
• Contractors who had to wait for days together to realise their cheques were targeted and accounts were opened where DDP facility was provided to them and instant credit was made available. An effective follow up of these entries ensured no long outstandings in the Bank’s books. Deposit accounts multiplied and profits increased, as income by way of commission shot up.
• The Collector, who earlier had scant respect for the then BM and the branch, gave huge deposits and used to take keen interest in the Bank’s activities in the area.
• Religious ceremonies and talks were sponsored by the branch and people gathered in large numbers. The branch and its staff became approachable to the general public. Product knowledge was disseminated.
• Housekeeping, staff availability, work culture drastically improved.
• Business and profits increased three folds.
REALIZED END STATE
CUSTOMER WINS
WITH YOU ALL THE WAY- was put into effect, where the communities as a whole through various activities of the branch, could feel the presence of the Bank in their life. This bonding led to a rich social life, built trust and greatly added to the business and profits of the branch. Image of the branch and thereby the Bank grew in leaps and bounds.
Mr. Bisht is still remembered by the general public in the area after the lapse of nearly 15 years.
Industrialists, contractors, professionals greatly benefited from the branch where facilities as per their needs were provided and services were quick and effective.
The common man also had his share of entertainment, social life and an account with SBI.
Industries multiplied, using finance from the branch and as such infrastructure in the area, employment and standard of living of the general public was improved.
BANK WINS
Advances and deposits grew.
Profits tripled.
Industrialist, contractors and other professionals became regular customers of the branch
Trust and loyalty commanded.
Image improved tremendously.
Branch became the Banker to every Indian.
SUSTAINABILITY DYNAMIC
Steady business growth due to increased industrialization, being financed by the branch, with the common man and the branch’s image in mind, the process of multiplying profit with growth is on. The social network created brought communities closer and branch has been able to reach out to the masses, by being easily approachable and conscious of the common man’s welfare. Trust and loyalty keeps business going.
WHEN LOVE TOUCHES LIFE
- A LIFE REVIVES -
The wrinkles covering the thin face of Smt. Champabai, working as Farrash, in Pathakhera branch, gives a look of an old woman harassed by life with tears being her only close companion.
She is not aware of her age or the years she has put in the branch. All she knows is that she started working when her son was in her womb and after his birth, used to put him on the floor on a corner at the branch and perform her duty. When asked to share her Citizen Moment, if any, all she had to say, in fact, plead, to the other participants was to express love and care towards women family members who suffer similar fate like hers.
She was married when she was just a child and very soon after she conceived, her husband who used to beat her up and was on drugs, left her and has not been traced till date. With a paltry Rs. 1000/- she had to manage her life with that of her son. Her tearful old eyes looks tired, as if it has given up, after a very long wait for some loving eyes to communicate sympathy and care to her. All her life, Champabai, never had anyone’s hand to run through her hair or arms to hug her, assuring her of security, or lips that whispered words of love and care.
When she was drawn close in a gentle hug by the facilitator, as she cried, the healing power of love was visible to all. She left for home that day with a touch of love – moments which after years were hers but which arrived so late—the will to live had weakened by this time—and she had given up on joy altogether!
Humanity is defined as interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others. And one of the character strengths is love: valuing close relations with others, and where sharing and caring are reciprocated.
Love gives meaning to adversity and proves to be a blessing in disguise. Love is nurturance, generosity, kindness and compassion. It is harmonious action towards fellow human beings. Calm and centered it improves the heart’s rhythm and adds to life. It gives the freedom and the discipline to live a healthy life. Love heals!
Our valiant soldiers have given us the freedom to live, for they loved their motherland and their countrymen. As we remember them today, can we extend our arms to embrace all those who live a dark life without a ray of love and hope and generously express our tender feelings to revive them? Can we give love a chance to live? Isn’t it a panacea for all ills? The more we express love the more we ourselves become lovable. Imagine a life of love which no wealth can grab, but which grows only on giving!
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC, INDORE
The wrinkles covering the thin face of Smt. Champabai, working as Farrash, in Pathakhera branch, gives a look of an old woman harassed by life with tears being her only close companion.
She is not aware of her age or the years she has put in the branch. All she knows is that she started working when her son was in her womb and after his birth, used to put him on the floor on a corner at the branch and perform her duty. When asked to share her Citizen Moment, if any, all she had to say, in fact, plead, to the other participants was to express love and care towards women family members who suffer similar fate like hers.
She was married when she was just a child and very soon after she conceived, her husband who used to beat her up and was on drugs, left her and has not been traced till date. With a paltry Rs. 1000/- she had to manage her life with that of her son. Her tearful old eyes looks tired, as if it has given up, after a very long wait for some loving eyes to communicate sympathy and care to her. All her life, Champabai, never had anyone’s hand to run through her hair or arms to hug her, assuring her of security, or lips that whispered words of love and care.
When she was drawn close in a gentle hug by the facilitator, as she cried, the healing power of love was visible to all. She left for home that day with a touch of love – moments which after years were hers but which arrived so late—the will to live had weakened by this time—and she had given up on joy altogether!
Humanity is defined as interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others. And one of the character strengths is love: valuing close relations with others, and where sharing and caring are reciprocated.
Love gives meaning to adversity and proves to be a blessing in disguise. Love is nurturance, generosity, kindness and compassion. It is harmonious action towards fellow human beings. Calm and centered it improves the heart’s rhythm and adds to life. It gives the freedom and the discipline to live a healthy life. Love heals!
Our valiant soldiers have given us the freedom to live, for they loved their motherland and their countrymen. As we remember them today, can we extend our arms to embrace all those who live a dark life without a ray of love and hope and generously express our tender feelings to revive them? Can we give love a chance to live? Isn’t it a panacea for all ills? The more we express love the more we ourselves become lovable. Imagine a life of love which no wealth can grab, but which grows only on giving!
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC, INDORE
Bonding with farmers of Ichhapur and Nandgaon Bagud - A Transformative Contribution
Background:
Name : Jagdeo Verma (Cell No. 9424013532)
Designation Now: Chief Manager (Trg) SBLC, INDORE.
Designation then: Chief Manager (Agri) RBO Khandwa (Region II of Bhopal Module in Bhopal Circle. RBO Khandwa covers six districts of M.P.
Time : December 2004 to July 2008
Place: Khargone Branch (Khargone distt of M.P.)
The Initial State.
Village Ichhapur and Nandgaon Bagud is 18km away from our Khargone branch linked by kutcha road ( accessibility was difficult during rainy season)
Total population of the village was :
Ichhapur- 2000 approx (150 families-. Farmers 125 and landless laborers 25)
Nandgaon Bagud- 3000 approx ( 250 family- Farmers 200 landless 50 )
Average land holding range from 4 to 5 acres
80% of the land was un-irrigated.
Farmers were poor and productivity was very low.
Literacy rate was very low.
The villages were linked to milk route.
The Proposed Solution
Mr Garg, Branch Manager of Khargone branch proposed that:
o The entire loan amount under Dairy plus scheme for purchase of cattle should be disbursed in advance in cash to increase the bargaining power of the farmers and to enable them to bring good quality cattle from markets of Haryana or Punjab State.
Name : Jagdeo Verma (Cell No. 9424013532)
Designation Now: Chief Manager (Trg) SBLC, INDORE.
Designation then: Chief Manager (Agri) RBO Khandwa (Region II of Bhopal Module in Bhopal Circle. RBO Khandwa covers six districts of M.P.
Time : December 2004 to July 2008
Place: Khargone Branch (Khargone distt of M.P.)
The Initial State.
Village Ichhapur and Nandgaon Bagud is 18km away from our Khargone branch linked by kutcha road ( accessibility was difficult during rainy season)
Total population of the village was :
Ichhapur- 2000 approx (150 families-. Farmers 125 and landless laborers 25)
Nandgaon Bagud- 3000 approx ( 250 family- Farmers 200 landless 50 )
Average land holding range from 4 to 5 acres
80% of the land was un-irrigated.
Farmers were poor and productivity was very low.
Literacy rate was very low.
The villages were linked to milk route.
The Proposed Solution
Mr Garg, Branch Manager of Khargone branch proposed that:
o The entire loan amount under Dairy plus scheme for purchase of cattle should be disbursed in advance in cash to increase the bargaining power of the farmers and to enable them to bring good quality cattle from markets of Haryana or Punjab State.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Republic Day wishes
जागे फिर
एक बार
जन-जन में
तंत्र बोध
अपने कर्तव्यों,
अधिकारों का
गण से जो
मिले हमें....
जागे फिर
अभिलाषा
सबके दुःख दर्द मिटें
आगे सब साथ बढें
मन हों फिर
आनंदित
शुभ हो
गणतंत्र पर्व।
- नीलाभ कृष्ण खरे
एस एम् ई शाखा
इंदौर
एक बार
जन-जन में
तंत्र बोध
अपने कर्तव्यों,
अधिकारों का
गण से जो
मिले हमें....
जागे फिर
अभिलाषा
सबके दुःख दर्द मिटें
आगे सब साथ बढें
मन हों फिर
आनंदित
शुभ हो
गणतंत्र पर्व।
- नीलाभ कृष्ण खरे
एस एम् ई शाखा
इंदौर
So, what do you do?
In a world defined by our jobs, Anuradha Varma wonders if we stop to ask who we really are?
My name is Shiv Singh. I am 32 and I like to call myself a young philosopher, who otherwise dabbles in a day job.” When Shiv (name changed) took a sabbatical from work for two years, he had people offering him leads, which he politely rebuffed with an “I’m not looking for a job”.
We all come with labels - when we’re younger, it’s as somebody’s son or daughter and later, increasingly, it’s our professions. Work often becomes the identity. But, what are we beyond that? Confesses Nitin Jain, business development director, B. Jain Books, who was ‘born into the job’ or family business, “The next question after your name is, ‘What do you do?’ So people connect you with the job you do. And that is right too as we spend almost 10 hours at the workplace and more thinking about work.”
Seema Hingorrany says her work as a psychotherapist is part of who she is. She accepts, “I don’t think I would be as empathetic, a quality I have imbibed in my professional role.” She adds, however, “I have both men and women coming to me, who do feel lost without their job titles. Work is often a reason to get up in the morning and face the world.”
Life’s preoccupations manage to pin us down so much that we’re often not left alone to be with ourselves even when alone. As Jain confesses, while his ‘alone time’ goes in dreaming of vacations, a lot of it also spent dwelling on achieving targets at work. Work does become part of one’s personality. Says former IPS officer Uday Sahay, who now heads communications for the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games, “I find this job more suited to the person I am. But, I don’t know which is better, as I now talk work even beyond duty hours.” On life as a bureaucrat, he adds, “The mask that we wear at work often becomes the face. And yes, I have seen such people try to ‘organise’ things once back home. It happened to me too. Often, children withdraw as they can’t retaliate, relationships suffer and take time to rebuild.” When he’s alone, he says, he tries to be one with “the rhythm of the universe”.
My name is Shiv Singh. I am 32 and I like to call myself a young philosopher, who otherwise dabbles in a day job.” When Shiv (name changed) took a sabbatical from work for two years, he had people offering him leads, which he politely rebuffed with an “I’m not looking for a job”.
We all come with labels - when we’re younger, it’s as somebody’s son or daughter and later, increasingly, it’s our professions. Work often becomes the identity. But, what are we beyond that? Confesses Nitin Jain, business development director, B. Jain Books, who was ‘born into the job’ or family business, “The next question after your name is, ‘What do you do?’ So people connect you with the job you do. And that is right too as we spend almost 10 hours at the workplace and more thinking about work.”
Seema Hingorrany says her work as a psychotherapist is part of who she is. She accepts, “I don’t think I would be as empathetic, a quality I have imbibed in my professional role.” She adds, however, “I have both men and women coming to me, who do feel lost without their job titles. Work is often a reason to get up in the morning and face the world.”
Life’s preoccupations manage to pin us down so much that we’re often not left alone to be with ourselves even when alone. As Jain confesses, while his ‘alone time’ goes in dreaming of vacations, a lot of it also spent dwelling on achieving targets at work. Work does become part of one’s personality. Says former IPS officer Uday Sahay, who now heads communications for the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games, “I find this job more suited to the person I am. But, I don’t know which is better, as I now talk work even beyond duty hours.” On life as a bureaucrat, he adds, “The mask that we wear at work often becomes the face. And yes, I have seen such people try to ‘organise’ things once back home. It happened to me too. Often, children withdraw as they can’t retaliate, relationships suffer and take time to rebuild.” When he’s alone, he says, he tries to be one with “the rhythm of the universe”.
I feel happy to see glow on their faces
A citizen moment from Lucknow
This Citizen Moment is about a sad incident that happened in our Branch.
One of our colleagues died in a fatal road accident. His wife was subsequently appointed in the bank after a sustained persuasion with Bank authorities. After that incident, his wife was afraid of making any journey. She did not even avail her LFC but years later, after lot of persuasion by colleagues she once became ready to avail journey to a hill station with her daughters. But her fear came true and she met with a serious fatal accident while performing this lone journey years later leaving behind two small daughters.
Situation was very grim and pathetic as nobody was left behind to take care of the girls, even from the family or relatives. Our branch people were also in a fix and were finding them guilty of persuading them to perform this journey. We, all the colleagues in branch, were much worried. Without wasting time, we decided to help that ill-fated family. I took the lead and decided to first arrange for schooling of the girls.
I immediately contacted the school authorities and told them the plight of the family. They also became sympathetic and with the help of my colleagues I first arranged boarding of the girls in a reputed girl’s school at Lucknow. The Principal was kind enough to extend all possible care and help.
I appealed all the branch staff to donate generously to form corpus fund to meet the current and future financial needs of those girls. I still feel emotional to remember the overwhelming response of our staff members. We collected more than Rs2 lac which was deposited as a long term FDR, the interest of which is accepted as school fee of the girls. In this way, we arranged for their schooling and managed their school fees etc.
Both the girls are studying well in their school. I often go to school to attend their functions and to ensure whether their education and other expenses are met comfortably or not. I feel very happy to see a glow on their faces and especially when they are appreciated from their teachers. It is extremely fulfilling moment for me when I recall that I could do little for those ill-fated girls who lost their parents.
K.K.Singh
Lucknow Main Branch
This Citizen Moment is about a sad incident that happened in our Branch.
One of our colleagues died in a fatal road accident. His wife was subsequently appointed in the bank after a sustained persuasion with Bank authorities. After that incident, his wife was afraid of making any journey. She did not even avail her LFC but years later, after lot of persuasion by colleagues she once became ready to avail journey to a hill station with her daughters. But her fear came true and she met with a serious fatal accident while performing this lone journey years later leaving behind two small daughters.
Situation was very grim and pathetic as nobody was left behind to take care of the girls, even from the family or relatives. Our branch people were also in a fix and were finding them guilty of persuading them to perform this journey. We, all the colleagues in branch, were much worried. Without wasting time, we decided to help that ill-fated family. I took the lead and decided to first arrange for schooling of the girls.
I immediately contacted the school authorities and told them the plight of the family. They also became sympathetic and with the help of my colleagues I first arranged boarding of the girls in a reputed girl’s school at Lucknow. The Principal was kind enough to extend all possible care and help.
I appealed all the branch staff to donate generously to form corpus fund to meet the current and future financial needs of those girls. I still feel emotional to remember the overwhelming response of our staff members. We collected more than Rs2 lac which was deposited as a long term FDR, the interest of which is accepted as school fee of the girls. In this way, we arranged for their schooling and managed their school fees etc.
Both the girls are studying well in their school. I often go to school to attend their functions and to ensure whether their education and other expenses are met comfortably or not. I feel very happy to see a glow on their faces and especially when they are appreciated from their teachers. It is extremely fulfilling moment for me when I recall that I could do little for those ill-fated girls who lost their parents.
K.K.Singh
Lucknow Main Branch
THE FULL CIRCLE
Shri Uday Mukhia, guard at Damua Branch, one evening at 6.00p.m in the year 2006 watched some boys in a group near the ATM and happened to overhear their conversations. One of the boys was looking helpless and sad and needed A- ve blood for his father who was severely burnt. He was very worried that for the past whole week he had tried his best but was unable to find a donor of the same blood group.
Damua being a small place, Shri Uday knew finding a donor or getting blood from the hospital would be next to impossible. As it is A-ve blood group was rare. However God’s ways are very mysterious. Shri Uday‘s blood group was A-ve and he decided to help the boy and his father. To their great surprise, he walked up to the boys and offered his blood. The boy’s father survived and the family offered money to Shri Uday against the blood which he politely refused.
In the year 2007, Shri Uday’s mother was critically ill and was desperately in need of A +ve blood. Shri Uday, being an army man, had his card but the hospital did not have the blood required by his mother. As he moved around in the hospital worried, he noticed a pregnant woman who was admitted there for delivery by surgery and her husband was enquiring desperately for a donor with A –ve blood. Shri Uday promptly offered his A-ve blood and meanwhile simply shared his need for A +ve blood for his mother. A look of surprise and joy filled Shri Uday’s face when the woman’s husband claimed that his blood group was A+ ve and he was more than willing to donate his blood to Shri Uday’s mother. Both men were filled with gratitude for each other and were amazed at the strange ways of God in extending timely help to the needy. Both Uday’s mother and the pregnant woman recovered and were discharged from the hospital healthy and happy.
Shri Uday had come a full circle- he gave blood to the boy’s father and received blood for his mother when in need. No wonder, what we give gets back to us. We give love and joy to others, our very life becomes full of the same. Can we pause and ponder how our life is, presently? Is it what we offer to the world?
Time is still on our side to make a conscious choice of life. Joy or sorrow – we have a choice which is very much in our own hands. We are what we are and we are where we are only because of the choices we made in the past. The moment we realize this, the blame game ends for we are entirely responsible for ourselves.
We all have to walk the full circle and there are no shortcuts to live life.
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC INDORE .
Damua being a small place, Shri Uday knew finding a donor or getting blood from the hospital would be next to impossible. As it is A-ve blood group was rare. However God’s ways are very mysterious. Shri Uday‘s blood group was A-ve and he decided to help the boy and his father. To their great surprise, he walked up to the boys and offered his blood. The boy’s father survived and the family offered money to Shri Uday against the blood which he politely refused.
In the year 2007, Shri Uday’s mother was critically ill and was desperately in need of A +ve blood. Shri Uday, being an army man, had his card but the hospital did not have the blood required by his mother. As he moved around in the hospital worried, he noticed a pregnant woman who was admitted there for delivery by surgery and her husband was enquiring desperately for a donor with A –ve blood. Shri Uday promptly offered his A-ve blood and meanwhile simply shared his need for A +ve blood for his mother. A look of surprise and joy filled Shri Uday’s face when the woman’s husband claimed that his blood group was A+ ve and he was more than willing to donate his blood to Shri Uday’s mother. Both men were filled with gratitude for each other and were amazed at the strange ways of God in extending timely help to the needy. Both Uday’s mother and the pregnant woman recovered and were discharged from the hospital healthy and happy.
Shri Uday had come a full circle- he gave blood to the boy’s father and received blood for his mother when in need. No wonder, what we give gets back to us. We give love and joy to others, our very life becomes full of the same. Can we pause and ponder how our life is, presently? Is it what we offer to the world?
Time is still on our side to make a conscious choice of life. Joy or sorrow – we have a choice which is very much in our own hands. We are what we are and we are where we are only because of the choices we made in the past. The moment we realize this, the blame game ends for we are entirely responsible for ourselves.
We all have to walk the full circle and there are no shortcuts to live life.
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC INDORE .
CITIZEN SBI
Understanding Citizenship by………
Understanding Ourselves………
An effort to know ourselves
Our organization and our roles,
An effort to realize our duties
and redefine our rights,
A step to transform our lives
Both within and outside,
A walk to ponder of what
more we are worth of,
A bridge to set right ourselves
With work and home,
A momentum to pave way
For a better tomorrow,
A strong commitment to serve the customers
The society and organization,
A historic exercise to remain indelible
In years to come
With a vision to make SBI more proud and banking
More inclusive and for all.
SAURABH KUMAR MAHAPATRAPROBATIONARY OFFICER 2008 BATCH
Bhubaneswar Circle
This poem written as programme feedback has been sent by Mr Manas, Facilitator, Bhubaneswar Circle. We thank Mr B K Dash, IL-1 for arranging to provide us the poem.
Understanding Ourselves………
An effort to know ourselves
Our organization and our roles,
An effort to realize our duties
and redefine our rights,
A step to transform our lives
Both within and outside,
A walk to ponder of what
more we are worth of,
A bridge to set right ourselves
With work and home,
A momentum to pave way
For a better tomorrow,
A strong commitment to serve the customers
The society and organization,
A historic exercise to remain indelible
In years to come
With a vision to make SBI more proud and banking
More inclusive and for all.
SAURABH KUMAR MAHAPATRAPROBATIONARY OFFICER 2008 BATCH
Bhubaneswar Circle
This poem written as programme feedback has been sent by Mr Manas, Facilitator, Bhubaneswar Circle. We thank Mr B K Dash, IL-1 for arranging to provide us the poem.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
THE BRAVEST ‘CITIZEN SBI COUPLE’
REAL LIFE STORY WHICH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION
‘CITIZEN’ EXPERIENCE FROM SBLC, NUNGAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI
SHARING OF “MOMENT OF INNERFULLNESS” - 19.01.2010
I have been really enjoying my role as a facilitator in the ‘Citizen SBI – Orientation Programme’ since Oct, 2009. I look forward to every programme with great enthusiasm and zeal as I get an opportunity to meet another group of around 25 to 30 participants from our great organization. Meeting them, interacting with them and enjoying their company for two days in this all important programme has started giving me great joy and happiness. When there was no programme for a continuous period for 6 days on account of Pongal festival and connected holidays, life suddenly appeared to be dull. So it was no wonder, I was eagerly waiting for the resumption of the programme on 19th Jan, 2010 after the holidays. It really started with a bang so to say.
One of the participants Smt. K Mala from Overseas Branch, Chennai shared her moment of inner fullness (chosen as the best one by her group). She had the following to say:
“I am narrating an important incident from my personal life which was a turning point as well as a moment of great inner satisfaction for me. I joined SBI and have been working in Overseas Branch, Chennai. My perception of life was that for a human being - growing up, getting educated, finding a job, getting married, raising a family, etc are normal routine things. There is nothing special about it as most of the people fall into that category. I didn’t want to be like that and so decided that I will not get married, come what may. I wanted to lead an independent life of my own. Many of my friends of my age were getting married and every one was urging me to enter into wedlock, but I was stubborn in my decision.
In 1996 – 97 the Leather Division of Overseas Branch, Chennai was spun off as a separate branch, viz Leather International Branch, Chennai and many of my colleagues decided to go to that branch. I remained with the parent branch but still old friends used to meet occasionally. One of my friends from that branch in a casual conversation was mentioning about one Shri. V Chandrasekhar, a colleague of hers, a brilliant Table Tennis player, three times National Champion and Arjuna Award Winner in the year 1982. But what she said subsequently about him was really mind shattering for me.
He had won many a tough battle in the Table Tennis arena for our country and brought laurels. But what is more significant and path breaking is the real life battle that would dwarf the ones on the sporting arena. The world crumbled for the flamboyant table-tennis star, when a knee operation in the mid-80s at a renowned city hospital went wrong. He was already the national champ and was making his mark on the international TT scene when he had to go in for knee surgery in a world class super-specialty hospital. Chandra was twenty-five and at his prime when he went for a relatively minor surgery to mend a cartilage tear in Sep. 1984. He should have been up and about in three or four days. But destiny had plotted something tragically different for him. Things went horribly wrong on the operation table and Chandra suffered brain damage that cost him his vision as well as control over his limbs. He had spent 36 days in a near coma state. Eighty one days in the hospital as part of 'rehab'. The treatment abroad was funded mainly from responses to a public appeal by Chandra for funds. Members of the public, other sportsmen from India and abroad, politicians, and actors responded generously. The treatment abroad improved Chandra's condition a bit. The lawsuit was filed in 1985 and it was three years before it came to trial. The medical community's stronghold was broken by a few brave doctors, especially an anesthetist from Maharashtra who helped to demolish the hospital's case. During the trial it came to light that the orthopedic surgeon of the hospital had received training at arthroscopy only in workshops at UK and not in a medical school as part of the curriculum. Eight years after the operation, five years since the trail began, after examination of ten witnesses, after recording a thousand pages of evidence, the court delivered a verdict in favour of Chandra in mid-May 1993. The judgement pronounced that, "The plaintiff is entitled to in total, Rs 17,37,920.78 by way of special damages and general damages. A medico legal case of this proportion was unheard of in India. A young patient had sued a hospital for negligence and had won nearly twenty lakhs rupees. Even the cynics of the Indian Judiciary were impressed." The hospital appealed against the decision, but ultimately settled after two years in the courtroom. During the trail years Chandra continued his treatment in India and abroad, and worked at State Bank of India, Chennai to support himself. He was a gold medalist of Madras University(Economics), but the operation had reduced him from playing a none too challenging role in the Bank. A fight which he feels would not have been necessary had "human spirit prevailed over ego". After a prolonged struggle he triumphed.
I was listening to the brave struggle, through which Chandra fought against all odds and my heart turned towards him. My original decision of remaining single melted away. If at all I have to live and be useful to somebody it must be for this brave fighter, I decided. I told my friends my intention of getting married to Chandra. Many eyebrows were raised. Friends and well wishers cautioned me. Needless to describe my parents plight. His parents were not interested in getting him married due to his health condition. They thought that I should be physically unwell for having taken such a decision of getting married to their son. When I proposed to Chandra, he too was not ready for marriage. He even suggested to me to meet his doctors and get their opinion about his health before deciding on this all important issue in my life. I refused to meet his doctors as my decision was final. I stood by my decision for the following reasons:
a) It gave me enormous Inner Fulfillment.
b) For a human being doing routine things like growing up, getting educated, finding a job, getting married, etc. goes on as a routine. I felt that for such a great sportsman, daily habits have become a luxury. Since I was a healthy person, I wanted to marry him and be supportive to him throughout his life.
c) I was inspired by his will power since he courageously fought the fall of his status from peak to a vegetable state and overcome the handicap.
d) The amount of satisfaction being derived by both of us is immeasurable.
e) Now Chandra has improved to a reasonable extent and has started an academy for young table tennis players in Chennai and wants to give back to the game what ever best he can. There cannot be a greater fighter on and off the field and I am proud to be his wife. Our young son Sanjay has added pleasure to our life.”
The entire class was dumbfounded on hearing this real life thriller from Smt. Mala. After a pause, every participant in the class whole heartedly started applauding for this courageous couple from SBI. True ‘Citizen SBI Couple’. Everyone wished them all the very best in their future.
As a facilitator, I am really admiring at the wonderful design of this programme which brings out so many real life incidents / experiences to the fore. When one intently listens to such tremendous struggles for survival and the subsequent triumphs at the end, our own problems dwarfs in size. We must be really thanking God for giving us lesser challenges in life and more resources to face them.
S R Raghunath - Facilitator ( Chennai Circle)
23.01.2010
‘CITIZEN’ EXPERIENCE FROM SBLC, NUNGAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI
SHARING OF “MOMENT OF INNERFULLNESS” - 19.01.2010
I have been really enjoying my role as a facilitator in the ‘Citizen SBI – Orientation Programme’ since Oct, 2009. I look forward to every programme with great enthusiasm and zeal as I get an opportunity to meet another group of around 25 to 30 participants from our great organization. Meeting them, interacting with them and enjoying their company for two days in this all important programme has started giving me great joy and happiness. When there was no programme for a continuous period for 6 days on account of Pongal festival and connected holidays, life suddenly appeared to be dull. So it was no wonder, I was eagerly waiting for the resumption of the programme on 19th Jan, 2010 after the holidays. It really started with a bang so to say.
One of the participants Smt. K Mala from Overseas Branch, Chennai shared her moment of inner fullness (chosen as the best one by her group). She had the following to say:
“I am narrating an important incident from my personal life which was a turning point as well as a moment of great inner satisfaction for me. I joined SBI and have been working in Overseas Branch, Chennai. My perception of life was that for a human being - growing up, getting educated, finding a job, getting married, raising a family, etc are normal routine things. There is nothing special about it as most of the people fall into that category. I didn’t want to be like that and so decided that I will not get married, come what may. I wanted to lead an independent life of my own. Many of my friends of my age were getting married and every one was urging me to enter into wedlock, but I was stubborn in my decision.
In 1996 – 97 the Leather Division of Overseas Branch, Chennai was spun off as a separate branch, viz Leather International Branch, Chennai and many of my colleagues decided to go to that branch. I remained with the parent branch but still old friends used to meet occasionally. One of my friends from that branch in a casual conversation was mentioning about one Shri. V Chandrasekhar, a colleague of hers, a brilliant Table Tennis player, three times National Champion and Arjuna Award Winner in the year 1982. But what she said subsequently about him was really mind shattering for me.
He had won many a tough battle in the Table Tennis arena for our country and brought laurels. But what is more significant and path breaking is the real life battle that would dwarf the ones on the sporting arena. The world crumbled for the flamboyant table-tennis star, when a knee operation in the mid-80s at a renowned city hospital went wrong. He was already the national champ and was making his mark on the international TT scene when he had to go in for knee surgery in a world class super-specialty hospital. Chandra was twenty-five and at his prime when he went for a relatively minor surgery to mend a cartilage tear in Sep. 1984. He should have been up and about in three or four days. But destiny had plotted something tragically different for him. Things went horribly wrong on the operation table and Chandra suffered brain damage that cost him his vision as well as control over his limbs. He had spent 36 days in a near coma state. Eighty one days in the hospital as part of 'rehab'. The treatment abroad was funded mainly from responses to a public appeal by Chandra for funds. Members of the public, other sportsmen from India and abroad, politicians, and actors responded generously. The treatment abroad improved Chandra's condition a bit. The lawsuit was filed in 1985 and it was three years before it came to trial. The medical community's stronghold was broken by a few brave doctors, especially an anesthetist from Maharashtra who helped to demolish the hospital's case. During the trial it came to light that the orthopedic surgeon of the hospital had received training at arthroscopy only in workshops at UK and not in a medical school as part of the curriculum. Eight years after the operation, five years since the trail began, after examination of ten witnesses, after recording a thousand pages of evidence, the court delivered a verdict in favour of Chandra in mid-May 1993. The judgement pronounced that, "The plaintiff is entitled to in total, Rs 17,37,920.78 by way of special damages and general damages. A medico legal case of this proportion was unheard of in India. A young patient had sued a hospital for negligence and had won nearly twenty lakhs rupees. Even the cynics of the Indian Judiciary were impressed." The hospital appealed against the decision, but ultimately settled after two years in the courtroom. During the trail years Chandra continued his treatment in India and abroad, and worked at State Bank of India, Chennai to support himself. He was a gold medalist of Madras University(Economics), but the operation had reduced him from playing a none too challenging role in the Bank. A fight which he feels would not have been necessary had "human spirit prevailed over ego". After a prolonged struggle he triumphed.
I was listening to the brave struggle, through which Chandra fought against all odds and my heart turned towards him. My original decision of remaining single melted away. If at all I have to live and be useful to somebody it must be for this brave fighter, I decided. I told my friends my intention of getting married to Chandra. Many eyebrows were raised. Friends and well wishers cautioned me. Needless to describe my parents plight. His parents were not interested in getting him married due to his health condition. They thought that I should be physically unwell for having taken such a decision of getting married to their son. When I proposed to Chandra, he too was not ready for marriage. He even suggested to me to meet his doctors and get their opinion about his health before deciding on this all important issue in my life. I refused to meet his doctors as my decision was final. I stood by my decision for the following reasons:
a) It gave me enormous Inner Fulfillment.
b) For a human being doing routine things like growing up, getting educated, finding a job, getting married, etc. goes on as a routine. I felt that for such a great sportsman, daily habits have become a luxury. Since I was a healthy person, I wanted to marry him and be supportive to him throughout his life.
c) I was inspired by his will power since he courageously fought the fall of his status from peak to a vegetable state and overcome the handicap.
d) The amount of satisfaction being derived by both of us is immeasurable.
e) Now Chandra has improved to a reasonable extent and has started an academy for young table tennis players in Chennai and wants to give back to the game what ever best he can. There cannot be a greater fighter on and off the field and I am proud to be his wife. Our young son Sanjay has added pleasure to our life.”
The entire class was dumbfounded on hearing this real life thriller from Smt. Mala. After a pause, every participant in the class whole heartedly started applauding for this courageous couple from SBI. True ‘Citizen SBI Couple’. Everyone wished them all the very best in their future.
As a facilitator, I am really admiring at the wonderful design of this programme which brings out so many real life incidents / experiences to the fore. When one intently listens to such tremendous struggles for survival and the subsequent triumphs at the end, our own problems dwarfs in size. We must be really thanking God for giving us lesser challenges in life and more resources to face them.
S R Raghunath - Facilitator ( Chennai Circle)
23.01.2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
AN INSPIRING LEADER
Mr Susanta Chakraborty shared this during Module 1,“Identify a Citizen SBI” during the Citizen SBI Programme held on 21 st & 22 nd January 2010 at SBLC, Shillong.
It was during the year 1998 a new Branch Manager, Mr Tonsing Nengzamang joined our Pasighat Branch. After taking charge, he conducted a staff meeting in which many small committees were formed like cleanliness committee, ambience committee, customer amenities committee, punctuality committee etc. each having 2 or 3 members. The punctuality committee was requested to impose a penalty of Re1/- on whoever enters the branch late. At the end of the meeting, he gave one duster to each one of us and made us to promise that we will keep our counters neat and tidy. He ensured that all the committees did its job in proper spirit.
He made another new initiative of conducting ex-tempore speech meet among the staff members. By draw of lottery, a topic would be chosen and the staff members irrespective of grade had to speak on the topic (the topics were mainly related to day-to-day banking).
Whenever a staff member came back from training, a staff meeting would be arranged whereby the concerned employee would have to share what he had learnt at SBLC over a cup of tea and snacks arranged/provided by the BM.
He kept in touch with us even after he was transferred. He used to send us study materials so that more and more staff can take their career forward. Infact, most of the staff members because of his motivational attitude and support in the form of providing with the materials have been successful in taking promotions.
Slowly all of us realized his initiatives were towards
1.Creating a team of committed and informed employees.
2.Making us more organised and professional in our approach.
3.Developing our self-confidence.
4.Sharing of Knowledge.
5.Taking care of fellow colleagues’ career.
Contributed by
Mr. Sustanta Chakraborty
SBI NEW TURA (N.E. CIRCLE)
We were pleasantly surprised when during the sharing, two of the participants revealed / shared that they considered Mr Chakraborty as a Citizen SBI because of his many such traits. Maybe it is the rubbing effect. Kudos Mr Nengzamang and Mr Chakraborty. Please keep up the good work.
Ms Shabnam Khanam,
Facilitator/ Manager (Trg), SBLC, Shillong.
It was during the year 1998 a new Branch Manager, Mr Tonsing Nengzamang joined our Pasighat Branch. After taking charge, he conducted a staff meeting in which many small committees were formed like cleanliness committee, ambience committee, customer amenities committee, punctuality committee etc. each having 2 or 3 members. The punctuality committee was requested to impose a penalty of Re1/- on whoever enters the branch late. At the end of the meeting, he gave one duster to each one of us and made us to promise that we will keep our counters neat and tidy. He ensured that all the committees did its job in proper spirit.
He made another new initiative of conducting ex-tempore speech meet among the staff members. By draw of lottery, a topic would be chosen and the staff members irrespective of grade had to speak on the topic (the topics were mainly related to day-to-day banking).
Whenever a staff member came back from training, a staff meeting would be arranged whereby the concerned employee would have to share what he had learnt at SBLC over a cup of tea and snacks arranged/provided by the BM.
He kept in touch with us even after he was transferred. He used to send us study materials so that more and more staff can take their career forward. Infact, most of the staff members because of his motivational attitude and support in the form of providing with the materials have been successful in taking promotions.
Slowly all of us realized his initiatives were towards
1.Creating a team of committed and informed employees.
2.Making us more organised and professional in our approach.
3.Developing our self-confidence.
4.Sharing of Knowledge.
5.Taking care of fellow colleagues’ career.
Contributed by
Mr. Sustanta Chakraborty
SBI NEW TURA (N.E. CIRCLE)
We were pleasantly surprised when during the sharing, two of the participants revealed / shared that they considered Mr Chakraborty as a Citizen SBI because of his many such traits. Maybe it is the rubbing effect. Kudos Mr Nengzamang and Mr Chakraborty. Please keep up the good work.
Ms Shabnam Khanam,
Facilitator/ Manager (Trg), SBLC, Shillong.
Friday, January 22, 2010
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
Sonapur i.e.11111th branch of our Bank was opened by Honourable Minister Shri P. Chidambaram along with our Chairman Shri O.P. Bhatt on 02.01.2009. The CGM of the Circle gave a target of 10000 accounts opening on the opening day. An ATM was also opened on the same day in the Branch premises. The branch is now functioning with limited staff i.e.2 Officers, 2 Assistants,2 Messengers and 1 Guard.
After a lapse of one 1 year, the branch was for due Central Office Inspection.
Many areas were not updated from Inspection point of view. I arranged for a meeting with the staff members to take their suggestions and also assigned additional works for me. All the staff members accepted the additional repsonsibility for clearing / updating the balance work. All of us at the branch had some apprehension to face the Inspection as we were facing the Inspection for the first time because the expactations of the Controllers were very high.
We all worked as a team and completed the tasks to the best of our abilities. One fine morning on 06.01.2010, a gentleman entered the Branch at 9.45 a.m. and introduced himself as an Inspector. He was happy with our branch performance and rated the branch as "Well Controlled" with 905 marks. All of us enjoyed the moment and expressed happiness on the rating of the Branch.
D. Borah
Branch Manager
SBI Sonapur (N.E. Circle)
After a lapse of one 1 year, the branch was for due Central Office Inspection.
Many areas were not updated from Inspection point of view. I arranged for a meeting with the staff members to take their suggestions and also assigned additional works for me. All the staff members accepted the additional repsonsibility for clearing / updating the balance work. All of us at the branch had some apprehension to face the Inspection as we were facing the Inspection for the first time because the expactations of the Controllers were very high.
We all worked as a team and completed the tasks to the best of our abilities. One fine morning on 06.01.2010, a gentleman entered the Branch at 9.45 a.m. and introduced himself as an Inspector. He was happy with our branch performance and rated the branch as "Well Controlled" with 905 marks. All of us enjoyed the moment and expressed happiness on the rating of the Branch.
D. Borah
Branch Manager
SBI Sonapur (N.E. Circle)
पहल सिटीजनशिप
जीवन है चलने का नाम ..... जो लोंग परेशानी भरी जिंदिगी जीते है उनकी संवेदनाये मरती नहीं है , उनकी संवेदना विपरीत परिस्थतियों से लड़ने की प्रेरणा देती है और वे अन्य के लिए भी प्रेरक बन जाते है , उनकी सहज सरल बातें भी ख़ुशी का पैगाम बनकर उस माहौल में संवेदना , सेवा और सामाजिकता पैदा कर देती है , नारायणगंज शाखा में दूर - अंचल से खाता खोलने आये ''रंगेया'' ने भी कुछ ऐसी छाप छोडी ........
''रंगेया '' जब खाता खोलने आया तो बेंकवाले ने पूछा - ''रंगेया '' खाता क्यों खुलवा रहे हो ?
''रंगेया '' ने बताया - साब दस कोस दूर बियाबान जंगल के बीच हमरो गाँव है घास -फूस की टपरिया और घरमे दो-दो बछिया ....घर की परछी में एक रात परिवार के साथ सो रहे थे तो कालो नाग आके घरवाली को डस लियो , रात भर तड़फ -तडफ कर बेचारी रुकमनी मर गई ...... मरते दम तक भुखी प्यासी दोनों बेटियों की चिंता करती रही ........ सांप के काटने से घरवाली मरी तो सरकार ने ये पचास हजार रूपये का चेक दिया है , तह्सीलवाला बाबु बोलो कि बैंक में खाता खोलकर चेक जमा कर देना रूपये मिल जायेगे ..... सो खाता की जरूरत आन पडी साब ! .... बैंक वाले ने पूछा - सांप ने काटा तो शहर ले जाकर इलाज क्यों नहीं कराया ?
''रंगेया '' बोला - कहाँ साब !'' गरीबी में आटा गीला ''.... शहर के डॉक्टर तो गरीब की गरीबी से भी सौदा कर लेते है ,वो तो भला हो सांप का ... कि उसने हमारी गरीबी की परवाह की और रुकमनी पर दया करके चुपके से काट दियो , तभी तो जे पचास हजार मिले है खाता न खुलेगा ...... तो जे भी गए ............ अब जे पचास हजार मिले है तो कम से कम हमारी गरीबी तो दूर हो जायेगी , दोनों बेटियों की शादी हो जयेहे और घर को छप्पर भी सुधर जाहे ,जे पचास हजार में से तहसील के बाबु को भी पांच हजार देने है बेचारे ने इसी शर्त पर जे चेक दियो है । तभी किसी ने कहा -यदि नहीं दो तो ?........... रंगेया तुरंत बोला - नहीं साब ...... हम गरीब लोंग है ''प्राण जाय पर वचन न जाही '' ...साब , यदि नहीं दूगा तो मुझे पाप लगेगा , उस से वायदा किया हूँ झूठा साबित हो जाऊँगा ....अपने आप की नजर में गिर जाऊँगा .....gareeb तो हूँ और गरीब हो जाऊँगा .......और फिर दूसरी बात जे भी है कि जब किसी गरीब को सांप कटेगा ,तो ये तहसील बाबु उसके घर वाले को फिर चेक नहीं देगा .......... रंगेया की बातों ने पूरे बैंक हाल में सिटिजनशिप का माहौल बना दिया ............ सब तरफ से आवाजे हुई .... पहले रंगेया का काम करो , भीड़ को चीरता हुआ मैंने जाकर रंगेया के हाथों सौ रूपये वाले नए पांच के पेकेट रख दिए ....... उसी पल रंगेया के चेहरे पर ख़ुशी के जो भाव प्रगट हुए वो जवां से बताये नहीं जा सकते ...... बस इतना ही बता सकते है कि पूरे हाल में खुशियों की phuljhhadiyan जरूर जल उठीं ...... हाल में खड़े लोंग कह उठे .... कि खुशियाँ हमारे आस -पास ही छुपी होती है यदि हम उनकी परवाह करे तो वे कहीं भी मिल सकती है ...........
जय प्रकाश पाण्डेय
माइक्रो फायनेंस शाखा भोपाल
Transformative Contribution: SBI transforms the lives of Andhra farmers
Background
• K.S.N. Murthy – DGM Inspection, IAD – corporate office of inspection deptt, Hyderabad
• December, 2000-01
• RM of 2 districts – Mehboobnagar and Nalgonda districts – backward districts, part of Hyderabad module of Hyderabad circle for 16 months
The Initial State
• Totally rain dependent agri dependent area, grossly underdeveloped districts, dry land
• Farmers grew sunflower when it rained, mostly daily landless laborers, jobless when it is not raining
• Migrated to far off places in search of work in the off-season
• Very low standards of living
• Trapped in the clutches of money lenders.
The Proposed Solution
• Mr Murthy attended a NABARD organized 5-day sensitization program for AGMs of banks including SBI in 2000 in Tirupathi.
• Came back to the region, discussed with NABARD Hyderabad area regional office for a similar sentisitization for his BMs and Field Officers
• BMs generated ideas as to the benefits of SHGs for the bank
• Tracked how many accounts were eligible for SHG linkage: 10-100 accounts in each branch
• First targeted groups of women existing for some years because lower default rate
• Organized a meeting of all groups outlining the benefits of forming an SHG
• Conveyed message: Scheme with no corruption, no need to pay anything to any middleman
• Encouraged and enabled them to learn to at least sign their names, and not put thumb impressions
Realized End State
Customer Wins
• Activities: Floriculture, vegetable growing, trading in vegetables, fish vending etc
• Standard of living improved
• Children sent for higher education, technical education, colleges based on income generated by the SHGs
No more money lenders (who lent @36-60% rates)
Bank Wins
• Some delays initially, but good no of SHG linkages that year. #1 or 2 in the entire state of AP. Many meetings in large groups
• 98% recovery, 100% with a little bit of follow up
• Failure only where the Group Leaders misused the group’s money
• In Vizag, got PM’s Commendation Letter for similar work
• K.S.N. Murthy – DGM Inspection, IAD – corporate office of inspection deptt, Hyderabad
• December, 2000-01
• RM of 2 districts – Mehboobnagar and Nalgonda districts – backward districts, part of Hyderabad module of Hyderabad circle for 16 months
The Initial State
• Totally rain dependent agri dependent area, grossly underdeveloped districts, dry land
• Farmers grew sunflower when it rained, mostly daily landless laborers, jobless when it is not raining
• Migrated to far off places in search of work in the off-season
• Very low standards of living
• Trapped in the clutches of money lenders.
The Proposed Solution
• Mr Murthy attended a NABARD organized 5-day sensitization program for AGMs of banks including SBI in 2000 in Tirupathi.
• Came back to the region, discussed with NABARD Hyderabad area regional office for a similar sentisitization for his BMs and Field Officers
• BMs generated ideas as to the benefits of SHGs for the bank
• Tracked how many accounts were eligible for SHG linkage: 10-100 accounts in each branch
• First targeted groups of women existing for some years because lower default rate
• Organized a meeting of all groups outlining the benefits of forming an SHG
• Conveyed message: Scheme with no corruption, no need to pay anything to any middleman
• Encouraged and enabled them to learn to at least sign their names, and not put thumb impressions
Realized End State
Customer Wins
• Activities: Floriculture, vegetable growing, trading in vegetables, fish vending etc
• Standard of living improved
• Children sent for higher education, technical education, colleges based on income generated by the SHGs
No more money lenders (who lent @36-60% rates)
Bank Wins
• Some delays initially, but good no of SHG linkages that year. #1 or 2 in the entire state of AP. Many meetings in large groups
• 98% recovery, 100% with a little bit of follow up
• Failure only where the Group Leaders misused the group’s money
• In Vizag, got PM’s Commendation Letter for similar work
Transformative Contribution: Birth of the first Rural CPC
Background
• Name: Mr Saarathi
• Time: October, 2005
• Designation now: DGM (O&C), LHO Bhuvaneshwar
• Designation then: DGM (Module)
• Place: Bardwaan district, 150 km for Kolkata
The Bardwaan Module comprised 4 districts including Bardwaan, Purulia, Bankura and Birbhum. 173 branches, 300-400 villages, 20 lakh in Barwaan itself
The Initial State
• Largely Agri-based population (apart from a belt of steel activity near Durgapur and some coal mines)
• Main crops: Paddy in Khareef season, Potato in Rabi
• Ganga, Ajay and Damodar rivers – were perennial sources of water
• Land holdings were mostly very small (approx half acre)
• SBI mostly financed the 400-odd potato cold storage warehouses and 350 rice mills in the area as term loans for maintenance
• Loans mostly given to cold storage owners and middlemen against warehouse receipts to middlemen. Middlemen bought the produce from the farmers at throwaway prices, stored them in the warehouses using these loans and then sold them later at much higher prices in the markets
• Farmer Exploitation: In this sense, SBI was aiding their operations and turning a blind eye to the farmers, who were mostly dependent on co-operative societies for financing (at 12% p.a.). They were also required to keep 10% of the loan amount as deposits with the society. The cooperatives also mandated that fertilizers, seeds etc be bought from them and not the market even if competitive rates were offered there.
BMs happy giving big ticket loans in February as it made meeting targets easier. No loans below 5 lakh given. So, branch out-standings fell after April because farmers were hardly given any loans.
The Proposed Solution
• Mr Sarathi tried to encourage branches to lend to farmers. But branches felt that the co-operatives would be antagonized and they would lose their deposits.
• Huge meetings called in branches, farmers called, educated about financing from State Bank. Melas set up for 200-300 farmers each. Sample documentation, information given, banking explained to them at these melas. Sometimes forms got filled and accounts were opened, loan applications filed.
• RACPC Head also got involved, process gained momentum and no of applications flowing in went up.
• The volumes became so high that the branches got worried about the increased workload.
• Mr Sarathi, then, set up the first Agricultural CPC (today called Rural CPC) of India.
• Though there was a shortage of staff, the CGM Mr U. S. Roy gave him his support and the first Agri CPC was set up in his own office with a set of handpicked people selected by him.
• All processing was done and sanction letters were delivered through courier to branches along with the filled documents so that the farmer just had to come and sign the forms. The branch then just had to get his sign, not do any documentation.
In the next season, he financed summer crops also. Set up a milk chilling plant in the district, payment made through the bank.
Realized End State
Customer Wins:
• Elimination of middlemen corruption
• Freedom to buy the seeds from anywhere at lowest prices
• Loans at lower rates of interest, easier access to finance
• Ability to command the price of their produce
• Warehouse receipt loans from SBI
• Incomes levels surged by 25-30%
This encouraged them to further expand their income-generating activities, SHGs soon came up – sari design (600 weavers per village) and sale (middleman removal here also), poultry farms etc were set up, standards of living rose.
Bank Wins:
• The Module got 7000 applications for KCC loans within 2-3 months. More loans were given for warehousing etc also. 13-14 crores in deposits came in that year. Floriculture, vegetable cultivation etc. contributed another 2-3 crores.
• The crop loan taken by the farmer was repaid by the cold storage receipt loan, cold storage receipt loan was repaid when they sold their produce at higher prices – hence, better loan repayment
Sustainability Dynamic
• Agri CPC continued, 2 more started later, now RCPC bank-wide. Idea replicated all over India, spread to other states also, like Andhra Pradesh, Orissa etc.
• Name: Mr Saarathi
• Time: October, 2005
• Designation now: DGM (O&C), LHO Bhuvaneshwar
• Designation then: DGM (Module)
• Place: Bardwaan district, 150 km for Kolkata
The Bardwaan Module comprised 4 districts including Bardwaan, Purulia, Bankura and Birbhum. 173 branches, 300-400 villages, 20 lakh in Barwaan itself
The Initial State
• Largely Agri-based population (apart from a belt of steel activity near Durgapur and some coal mines)
• Main crops: Paddy in Khareef season, Potato in Rabi
• Ganga, Ajay and Damodar rivers – were perennial sources of water
• Land holdings were mostly very small (approx half acre)
• SBI mostly financed the 400-odd potato cold storage warehouses and 350 rice mills in the area as term loans for maintenance
• Loans mostly given to cold storage owners and middlemen against warehouse receipts to middlemen. Middlemen bought the produce from the farmers at throwaway prices, stored them in the warehouses using these loans and then sold them later at much higher prices in the markets
• Farmer Exploitation: In this sense, SBI was aiding their operations and turning a blind eye to the farmers, who were mostly dependent on co-operative societies for financing (at 12% p.a.). They were also required to keep 10% of the loan amount as deposits with the society. The cooperatives also mandated that fertilizers, seeds etc be bought from them and not the market even if competitive rates were offered there.
BMs happy giving big ticket loans in February as it made meeting targets easier. No loans below 5 lakh given. So, branch out-standings fell after April because farmers were hardly given any loans.
The Proposed Solution
• Mr Sarathi tried to encourage branches to lend to farmers. But branches felt that the co-operatives would be antagonized and they would lose their deposits.
• Huge meetings called in branches, farmers called, educated about financing from State Bank. Melas set up for 200-300 farmers each. Sample documentation, information given, banking explained to them at these melas. Sometimes forms got filled and accounts were opened, loan applications filed.
• RACPC Head also got involved, process gained momentum and no of applications flowing in went up.
• The volumes became so high that the branches got worried about the increased workload.
• Mr Sarathi, then, set up the first Agricultural CPC (today called Rural CPC) of India.
• Though there was a shortage of staff, the CGM Mr U. S. Roy gave him his support and the first Agri CPC was set up in his own office with a set of handpicked people selected by him.
• All processing was done and sanction letters were delivered through courier to branches along with the filled documents so that the farmer just had to come and sign the forms. The branch then just had to get his sign, not do any documentation.
In the next season, he financed summer crops also. Set up a milk chilling plant in the district, payment made through the bank.
Realized End State
Customer Wins:
• Elimination of middlemen corruption
• Freedom to buy the seeds from anywhere at lowest prices
• Loans at lower rates of interest, easier access to finance
• Ability to command the price of their produce
• Warehouse receipt loans from SBI
• Incomes levels surged by 25-30%
This encouraged them to further expand their income-generating activities, SHGs soon came up – sari design (600 weavers per village) and sale (middleman removal here also), poultry farms etc were set up, standards of living rose.
Bank Wins:
• The Module got 7000 applications for KCC loans within 2-3 months. More loans were given for warehousing etc also. 13-14 crores in deposits came in that year. Floriculture, vegetable cultivation etc. contributed another 2-3 crores.
• The crop loan taken by the farmer was repaid by the cold storage receipt loan, cold storage receipt loan was repaid when they sold their produce at higher prices – hence, better loan repayment
Sustainability Dynamic
• Agri CPC continued, 2 more started later, now RCPC bank-wide. Idea replicated all over India, spread to other states also, like Andhra Pradesh, Orissa etc.
Unsung Hero: Batak Mian
“If it weren’t for Batak Mian, India’s history would have been different…,” reads a letter written by actor Farooq Sheikh to his family in 1996.
Sheikh was acknowledging the nation’s debt to an unsung hero.
Everyone remembers Nathu Ram Godse, the man who killed Mahatma Gandhi. But people know little of the cook who saved the Mahatma’s life. A resident of Motihari district in Bihar, Batak Mian saved Gandhi from being poisoned in 1917.
It happened when Gandhi, relatively unknown then, visited Motihari — then the headquarters of Champaran district, 160 km northwest of Patna — to probe the appaling condition of indigo planters. The Champaran agitation was his first in India.
According to the book Champaran ke Swatantatra Senani (Freedom Fighters of Champaran), Erwin (only one name is available), a British manager of an indigo plantation, invited Gandhi to dinner and told his cook, Batak Mian, to serve him poisoned milk. Batak Mian took the glass to Gandhi but revealed the plot. Dr Rajendra Prasad, later India’s first president, was a witness.
Batak Mian’s patriotism cost him. “The manager tortured, jailed our grandfather, turned our house into a crematorium and drove us out of the village,” said Aslam Ansari (45), Batak Mian’s grandson.
On a visit to Motihari in 1950, Prasad ordered that Batak Mian’s family be allotted 24 acres of land. “For years, he ran pillar to post in the hope of getting the land,” said Allauddin Ansari (55), another grandson.
Batak Mian died in 1957. Six decades later, his grandchildren live in penury. “We are hoping against hope,” said Zahid Ansari, another of his grandsons, unbundling files carrying documents of their communication with government agencies.
Courtesy: B Vijay Murty, Hindustan Times
Sheikh was acknowledging the nation’s debt to an unsung hero.
Everyone remembers Nathu Ram Godse, the man who killed Mahatma Gandhi. But people know little of the cook who saved the Mahatma’s life. A resident of Motihari district in Bihar, Batak Mian saved Gandhi from being poisoned in 1917.
It happened when Gandhi, relatively unknown then, visited Motihari — then the headquarters of Champaran district, 160 km northwest of Patna — to probe the appaling condition of indigo planters. The Champaran agitation was his first in India.
According to the book Champaran ke Swatantatra Senani (Freedom Fighters of Champaran), Erwin (only one name is available), a British manager of an indigo plantation, invited Gandhi to dinner and told his cook, Batak Mian, to serve him poisoned milk. Batak Mian took the glass to Gandhi but revealed the plot. Dr Rajendra Prasad, later India’s first president, was a witness.
Batak Mian’s patriotism cost him. “The manager tortured, jailed our grandfather, turned our house into a crematorium and drove us out of the village,” said Aslam Ansari (45), Batak Mian’s grandson.
On a visit to Motihari in 1950, Prasad ordered that Batak Mian’s family be allotted 24 acres of land. “For years, he ran pillar to post in the hope of getting the land,” said Allauddin Ansari (55), another grandson.
Batak Mian died in 1957. Six decades later, his grandchildren live in penury. “We are hoping against hope,” said Zahid Ansari, another of his grandsons, unbundling files carrying documents of their communication with government agencies.
Courtesy: B Vijay Murty, Hindustan Times
Buoyed by a chessboard, teenager floats on hope
If you have been to Chennai in the recent past, you may have disdainfully walked quicker down the street when a bright-eyed 14-year-old urged you to buy a rose. Perhaps, you should have looked closer at those eyes. In them you would have seen the fire to take on life and turn its odds upside down.
Saranya J. survives off the streets, where she and her mother sell flowers and assorted knick-knacks. She is also the best under-14 Asian girl chess player and placed third in the world under-14 championship.
From the streets of Chennai comes this story of sport transforming lives. It’s an extraordinary tale of one little girl’s pluck and human philanthropy. Saranya’s auto rickshaw driver father deserted her mother with two little daughters eight years ago. Fate saw her wander into the Bloom Chess Academy where she was mesmerised by the play of black and white only to discover that she had an incredible proclivity for the sport.
MA Velayutham, owner of the Academy, decided to prop her talent and Saranya mushroomed. “I don’t charge her any fees. In fact, everybody tries to help her out. Her classmates from well-off families pool in money to send her for tournaments,” says Velayudham.
“Apart from my friends, my school (Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School), gives free education and sponsors my overseas trips,” says Saranya.
The hard work and goodwill paid off when she started winning tournaments in quick succession. She became a national under-13 champion in 2008 and then took a giant leap ahead to win the Asian under-14 crown in the meet held in New Delhi in 2009. She did not sit on her wins; instead she raced on to win the u-17 nationals the same year.
Her aim in life is simple: “I want to give my mother a good life. She has had a tough time so far. I want her to eat well, dress well and relax,” says Saranya. It’s certainly motivation enough.
Courtesy: Anupama Tripathi, The Hindustan Times
Saranya J. survives off the streets, where she and her mother sell flowers and assorted knick-knacks. She is also the best under-14 Asian girl chess player and placed third in the world under-14 championship.
From the streets of Chennai comes this story of sport transforming lives. It’s an extraordinary tale of one little girl’s pluck and human philanthropy. Saranya’s auto rickshaw driver father deserted her mother with two little daughters eight years ago. Fate saw her wander into the Bloom Chess Academy where she was mesmerised by the play of black and white only to discover that she had an incredible proclivity for the sport.
MA Velayutham, owner of the Academy, decided to prop her talent and Saranya mushroomed. “I don’t charge her any fees. In fact, everybody tries to help her out. Her classmates from well-off families pool in money to send her for tournaments,” says Velayudham.
“Apart from my friends, my school (Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School), gives free education and sponsors my overseas trips,” says Saranya.
The hard work and goodwill paid off when she started winning tournaments in quick succession. She became a national under-13 champion in 2008 and then took a giant leap ahead to win the Asian under-14 crown in the meet held in New Delhi in 2009. She did not sit on her wins; instead she raced on to win the u-17 nationals the same year.
Her aim in life is simple: “I want to give my mother a good life. She has had a tough time so far. I want her to eat well, dress well and relax,” says Saranya. It’s certainly motivation enough.
Courtesy: Anupama Tripathi, The Hindustan Times
Neerja Bhanot belongs to India's Hall of Courage
Half of India's population today wasn't born when she died in 1986 in a hail of gunfire on a hijacked plane after courageously saving scores of passengers, a feat for which she was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in India, Tamgha-e-Insaniyat in Pakistan and the Justice for Crimes Award in the US. Earlier this week, some 24 years after her heroism, one of her killers died a dog's death in the badlands of Pakistan, reportedly shot to pieces in a US drone attack.The saga of Neerja Bhanot transfixed India at a time where there was no 24-hour news television and it had little to do with the fact that her father was a New Delhi journalist. She was a flight attendant on Pan Am Flight 73 as it headed out of Mumbai to Karachi en route to Frankfurt and onward to New York City. Four armed men dressed as airport security guards stormed the plane in Karachi. The cabin crew managed to alert the pilots, who decamped, effectively grounding the flight.
In the hours-long ordeal that followed, Neerja showed exemplary courage, attested by some 350 passengers who survived the nightmare, although some 20 died and 120 were wounded after hijackers opened fire on them when Pakistani commandos prepared to storm the plane. Among her acts of courage was her refusal to collect US passports and hiding some of them as the hijackers sought to isolate Americans and Indians. She knew they meant business when one of the hijackers pulled Rajesh Kumar, a 29-year-old Indian American California resident to the front of the aircraft, asked him to kneel at the door, and shot him in the head when their demand for a new flight crew was not met.
Neerja died shielding three children from gunfire as a bloody massacre erupted on the plane. The hijackers, who were said to be from the Abu Nidal Organisation, were eventually captured, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in 1988. But in a Pakistan that became increasingly permissive about terrorism, the sentences were later commuted to life in prison.
In 2001, Zayd Hassan Abd Al-Latif Masud Al Safarini, the hijacker who shot Rajesh Kumar among others, was captured by the FBI in Bangkok after he was released in Pakistan and was on his way back to Jordan. He was taken to the US where he was sentenced to a 160-year prison term he is now serving in Colorado. Four others who were in Pakistan's Adiala jail were freed in January 2008 even as the US fumed about Islamabad's action. The FBI announced a $5 million bounty on their head, pretty much ensuring their days are numbered.
Earlier this week, Pakistani intelligence officials announced that a January 9 missile strike in the North Waziristan tribal region killed Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, one of the hijackers. His affiliation is disputed. The FBI's web site lists him as a Palestinian with possible Lebanese citizenship. The Pakistani officials called him an al-Qaida member, but the FBI site says he was a member of the Abu Nidal Palestinian terrorist group.
There are no doubts about Neerja's affiliation though. She belongs to India's Hall of Courage.
Courtesy: Chidanand Rajghatta, The Times of India
Thursday, January 21, 2010
VISION OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Let us dare to dream!
Last week, we had two visually challenged participants in the citizenship orientation programme for subordinate staff . Moved by their tearful stories of faith and courage, Ms Harina Sharma wonders why some of us take the blessings of life for granted...
‘Himmat nahi harna chahiye. Apne siddanth kamjhor nahi ho. Aaj ka kaam kal peh na chode’ (Courage should not be lost. Our values should not be weak. Today’s job should not be left for tomorrow.)
These are words of Shri Prakash Bausar, Messenger at Junnardeo branch, Chinndwara, nearly blind but shouldering responsibilities of life single handedly.
When his father died, Prakash was working in a tailor’s shop without much knowledge about cutting and designing clothes. He was married with two children and had a brother to support. He was not born blind but gradually lost his vision due to some disease of the eye. His life speaks of struggle throughout but also of having overcome troubles by simply having faith in God and positive thoughts.
Losing one’s sight is a misfortune, but Prakash never lost sight of his vision in life. He sold newspapers, exchanged currency notes for a petty commission, learnt tailoring and finally got a job in the Bank as a messenger.
Gradually, he managed to educate his sons, who are postgraduates in Chemistry and are owners of two electric shops on date.
Prakash does not appear depressed or unhappy with life. He has no complaints. Despite his handicap he still believes in doing good for others, especially the dumb animals and birds for whom he expresses special love and care by providing them with water and grains. He travels alone and believes God walks with him and adds with a smile that even if the train is crowded, he gets a seat- such is his faith in himself and the omnipotent Lord.
*******************************
Shri Karan Singh, Messenger at Ranapur branch, lost one eye at the age of 13 years. Born to a poor family, he was required to support his two brothers and his own family with his income as a messenger on one-third salary with the bank.
He worked very hard and has been fully devoted to customers as a result of which today he is a full time messenger of the bank and has been recognized as an excellent employee by his seniors.
He states with pride, that he mobilized 20 lacs deposit for his branch and has been instrumental in opening 220 recurring deposit accounts, mostly of teachers and government employees. He pays special attention to pensioners and guides them about investing their hard earned money. He believes in building and maintaining relations.
As he recollects his past, tears flow from his eyes, that there was nobody to wipe his tears when he was sad. He struggled alone and others were not bothered at all. But he meets the needs of all customers and adds to the business of the bank. He is available with his services to all who need him.
****************************
We need to count our blessings in life which very often we take for granted. At times of struggle or sorrow we look at ourselves as the most unfortunate and get into a depression. We mess our life and with that those of our near and dear ones also. Only if we could look around and watch the less privileged who happily go about life with a song in their heart and a vision in their eyes, relentlessly and courageously weaving and actually living their dreams. Can we be grateful for what we have and what we can make out of it? Can we dare to dream?
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC, INDORE .
A Citizen Moment From Sarangarh
During the citizenship orientation programme for subordinate staff dated 15-16th January one of the participants shared his contribution which is reproduced hereunder:
The participant Shri Tarachand Yadav, is posted at A.D B. Sarangarh.
During the year 1977, he resided at Phuljharia Para, Kamla Nagar Ward No 01, Sarangarh. The locality was backward and had no schooling facilities in the nearby vicinity. Shri Yadav observed that there were many small children in his locality who were not subjected to any education at all. He also noticed that there was one building identified to be used for “ Kanji house” , but was not being used at all. He collected a few people from his locality and met Shri Mohan Singh Thakur, who was the ex-president of Nagar Nigam and with his help, obtained the required permission to start a private school for children of his locality. After obtention of the same, they started a single classroom school with a part time tutor, who was being paid by collecting money from the local residents. Slowly and steadily with the collective support of the local community Shri Yadav was able to garner more students and continued the classes for nearly two years. During this period he also worked towards ensuring that a government aided school may be opened in the area. Finally with the support of several delegations and communications to the then local Legislator, District Collector and District Education Officials, the approval for a Govt. aided school was obtained by Shri Yadav and his friends. The amount sanctioned initially was Rs.30000.00 and the venue for the school was finalized in 1979. The aid was raised to Rs 50000.00 for additional construction of the school premises and the efforts of Shri Yadav and his friends finally bore the desired fruits.
Shri Yadav was also happy to share that the school is running by the name “ Shashkiya Navin Kanya Shala” Kamla Nagar , ward No 01, Sarangarh and is holding classes upto middle school.
Submitted by Debjeet Mitra, Facilitator , Intervention-I, State Bank Learning Centre, Raipur
d.mitra@sbi.co.in
Dated 21/01/09
The participant Shri Tarachand Yadav, is posted at A.D B. Sarangarh.
During the year 1977, he resided at Phuljharia Para, Kamla Nagar Ward No 01, Sarangarh. The locality was backward and had no schooling facilities in the nearby vicinity. Shri Yadav observed that there were many small children in his locality who were not subjected to any education at all. He also noticed that there was one building identified to be used for “ Kanji house” , but was not being used at all. He collected a few people from his locality and met Shri Mohan Singh Thakur, who was the ex-president of Nagar Nigam and with his help, obtained the required permission to start a private school for children of his locality. After obtention of the same, they started a single classroom school with a part time tutor, who was being paid by collecting money from the local residents. Slowly and steadily with the collective support of the local community Shri Yadav was able to garner more students and continued the classes for nearly two years. During this period he also worked towards ensuring that a government aided school may be opened in the area. Finally with the support of several delegations and communications to the then local Legislator, District Collector and District Education Officials, the approval for a Govt. aided school was obtained by Shri Yadav and his friends. The amount sanctioned initially was Rs.30000.00 and the venue for the school was finalized in 1979. The aid was raised to Rs 50000.00 for additional construction of the school premises and the efforts of Shri Yadav and his friends finally bore the desired fruits.
Shri Yadav was also happy to share that the school is running by the name “ Shashkiya Navin Kanya Shala” Kamla Nagar , ward No 01, Sarangarh and is holding classes upto middle school.
Submitted by Debjeet Mitra, Facilitator , Intervention-I, State Bank Learning Centre, Raipur
d.mitra@sbi.co.in
Dated 21/01/09
Citizen Behaviour
During the programme dated 18-19th January one of the participants shared his contribution which is reproduced hereunder:
I Gulab Singh, PF Index 4332776, Bank Guard , presently posted at Kharsia Branch was earlier with the Indian Army and was sent to Sri Lanka as a part of “ Shanti Sena” in the year 1987.
As a part of the mission on the dark and chilly night of 02/12/1987 , while on search, his search party confronted the LTTE extremists. The confrontation took place near village Odamawali, Belachina . During the battle “ Shanti Sena“ suffered a large number of casualties . Shri Gulab Singh however survived but was cut off from the rest of his search party. He could somehow return to his post after surviving for seven days in the dense forest without any food supplies. During these seven days he had the responsibility of saving the arms and ammunition he and his colleagues were carrying and also the bodies of three of his martyr friends . He struggled and finally reached his post after seven days with the bodies of three of his colleagues and was also able to save seven guns and some ammunition. Shri Gulab Singh was later on promoted for his act of valour.
The participant also submitted that at the end of this two day programme, he has now understood the fruits relating to “ Citizen Behaviour” and has taken a “ Sankalp” as a part of Module 4 of the programme that he will ensure that he will no more behave with any of his colleagues and friends as well as customers rudely and will ensure courteous behaviour keeping “ Manavta” always in mind.
Submitted by Debjeet Mitra, Facilitator , Intervention-I, State Bank Learning Centre, Raipur
d.mitra@sbi.co.in
Dated 21/01/09
I Gulab Singh, PF Index 4332776, Bank Guard , presently posted at Kharsia Branch was earlier with the Indian Army and was sent to Sri Lanka as a part of “ Shanti Sena” in the year 1987.
As a part of the mission on the dark and chilly night of 02/12/1987 , while on search, his search party confronted the LTTE extremists. The confrontation took place near village Odamawali, Belachina . During the battle “ Shanti Sena“ suffered a large number of casualties . Shri Gulab Singh however survived but was cut off from the rest of his search party. He could somehow return to his post after surviving for seven days in the dense forest without any food supplies. During these seven days he had the responsibility of saving the arms and ammunition he and his colleagues were carrying and also the bodies of three of his martyr friends . He struggled and finally reached his post after seven days with the bodies of three of his colleagues and was also able to save seven guns and some ammunition. Shri Gulab Singh was later on promoted for his act of valour.
The participant also submitted that at the end of this two day programme, he has now understood the fruits relating to “ Citizen Behaviour” and has taken a “ Sankalp” as a part of Module 4 of the programme that he will ensure that he will no more behave with any of his colleagues and friends as well as customers rudely and will ensure courteous behaviour keeping “ Manavta” always in mind.
Submitted by Debjeet Mitra, Facilitator , Intervention-I, State Bank Learning Centre, Raipur
d.mitra@sbi.co.in
Dated 21/01/09
काँच की बरनी और दो कप चाय
एक बोध कथा
जीवन में जब सब कुछ एक साथ और जल्दी - जल्दी करने की इच्छा होती है, सब कुछ तेजी
से पा लेने की इच्छा होती है, और हमें लगने लगता है कि दिन के चौबीस घंटे भी कम
पड़ते हैं, उस समय ये बोध कथा, " काँच की बरनी और दो कप चाय " हमें याद आती
है ।
दर्शनशास्त्र के एक प्रोफ़ेसर कक्षा में आये और उन्होंने छात्रों से कहा कि वे
आज जीवन का एक महत्वपूर्ण पाठ पढाने वाले हैं ...
उन्होंने अपने साथ लाई एक काँच की बडी़ बरनी ( जार ) टेबल पर रखा और उसमें
टेनिस की गेंदें डालने लगे और तब तक डालते रहे जब तक कि उसमें एक भी गेंद समाने की जगह नहीं बची ...
उन्होंने छात्रों से पूछा - क्या बरनी पूरी भर गई ?
हाँ ... आवाज आई ...
फ़िर प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने छोटे - छोटे कंकर उसमें भरने शुरु किये. धीरे - धीरे बरनी को हिलाया तो काफ़ी सारे कंकर उसमें जहाँ जगह खाली थी, समा गये,
फ़िर से प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने पूछा, क्या अब बरनी भर गई है, छात्रों ने एक बार फ़िर हाँ ... कहा
अब प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने रेत की थैली से हौले - हौले उस बरनी में रेत डालना शुरु किया, वह रेत भी उस जार में जहाँ संभव था बैठ गई, अब छात्र अपनी नादानी पर हँसे ...
फ़िर प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने पूछा, क्यों अब तो यह बरनी पूरी भर गई ना ? हाँ
.. अब तो पूरी भर गई है .. सभी ने एक स्वर में कहा ..
सर ने टेबल के नीचे से
चाय के दो कप निकालकर उसमें की चाय जार में डाली, चाय भी रेत के बीच स्थित
थोडी़ सी जगह में सोख ली गई ...
प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने गंभीर आवाज में समझाना शुरु किया –
इस काँच की बरनी को तुम लोग अपना जीवन समझो ....
टेबल टेनिस की गेंदें सबसे महत्वपूर्ण भाग अर्थात भगवान, परिवार, बच्चे, मित्र, स्वास्थ्य और शौक हैं,
छोटे कंकर मतलब तुम्हारी नौकरी, कार, बडा़ मकान आदि हैं, और
रेत का मतलब और भी छोटी - छोटी बेकार सी बातें, मनमुटाव, झगडे़ है ..
अब यदि तुमने काँच की बरनी में सबसे पहले रेत भरी होती तो टेबल टेनिस की गेंदों और कंकरों के लिये जगह ही नहीं बचती, या
कंकर भर दिये होते तो गेंदें नहीं भर पाते, रेत जरूर आ सकती थी ...
ठीक यही बात जीवन पर लागू होती है ...
यदि तुम छोटी - छोटी बातों के पीछे पडे़ रहोगे
और अपनी ऊर्जा उसमें नष्ट करोगे तो तुम्हारे पास मुख्य बातों के लिये अधिक समय
नहीं रहेगा ...
मन के सुख के लिये क्या जरूरी है ये तुम्हें तय करना है । अपने
बच्चों के साथ खेलो, बगीचे में पानी डालो, सुबह पत्नी के साथ घूमने निकल जाओ,
घर के बेकार सामान को बाहर निकाल फ़ेंको, मेडिकल चेक - अप करवाओ ...
टेबल टेनिस गेंदों की फ़िक्र पहले करो, वही महत्वपूर्ण है ... पहले तय करो कि क्या जरूरी है
... बाकी सब तो रेत है ..
छात्र बडे़ ध्यान से सुन रहे थे ..
अचानक एक ने पूछा, सर लेकिन आपने यह नहीं बताया
कि " चाय के दो कप " क्या हैं ?
प्रोफ़ेसर मुस्कुराये, बोले .. मैं सोच ही रहा था कि अभी तक ये सवाल किसी ने क्यों नहीं किया ...
इसका उत्तर यह है कि, जीवन हमें कितना ही परिपूर्ण और संतुष्ट लगे, लेकिन
अपने खास मित्र के साथ दो कप चाय पीने की जगह हमेशा होनी चाहिये ।
हेम चन्द्र कर्णाटक (लखनऊ) द्वारा प्रेषित
hckarnatak@yahoo.co.in
जीवन में जब सब कुछ एक साथ और जल्दी - जल्दी करने की इच्छा होती है, सब कुछ तेजी
से पा लेने की इच्छा होती है, और हमें लगने लगता है कि दिन के चौबीस घंटे भी कम
पड़ते हैं, उस समय ये बोध कथा, " काँच की बरनी और दो कप चाय " हमें याद आती
है ।
दर्शनशास्त्र के एक प्रोफ़ेसर कक्षा में आये और उन्होंने छात्रों से कहा कि वे
आज जीवन का एक महत्वपूर्ण पाठ पढाने वाले हैं ...
उन्होंने अपने साथ लाई एक काँच की बडी़ बरनी ( जार ) टेबल पर रखा और उसमें
टेनिस की गेंदें डालने लगे और तब तक डालते रहे जब तक कि उसमें एक भी गेंद समाने की जगह नहीं बची ...
उन्होंने छात्रों से पूछा - क्या बरनी पूरी भर गई ?
हाँ ... आवाज आई ...
फ़िर प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने छोटे - छोटे कंकर उसमें भरने शुरु किये. धीरे - धीरे बरनी को हिलाया तो काफ़ी सारे कंकर उसमें जहाँ जगह खाली थी, समा गये,
फ़िर से प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने पूछा, क्या अब बरनी भर गई है, छात्रों ने एक बार फ़िर हाँ ... कहा
अब प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने रेत की थैली से हौले - हौले उस बरनी में रेत डालना शुरु किया, वह रेत भी उस जार में जहाँ संभव था बैठ गई, अब छात्र अपनी नादानी पर हँसे ...
फ़िर प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने पूछा, क्यों अब तो यह बरनी पूरी भर गई ना ? हाँ
.. अब तो पूरी भर गई है .. सभी ने एक स्वर में कहा ..
सर ने टेबल के नीचे से
चाय के दो कप निकालकर उसमें की चाय जार में डाली, चाय भी रेत के बीच स्थित
थोडी़ सी जगह में सोख ली गई ...
प्रोफ़ेसर साहब ने गंभीर आवाज में समझाना शुरु किया –
इस काँच की बरनी को तुम लोग अपना जीवन समझो ....
टेबल टेनिस की गेंदें सबसे महत्वपूर्ण भाग अर्थात भगवान, परिवार, बच्चे, मित्र, स्वास्थ्य और शौक हैं,
छोटे कंकर मतलब तुम्हारी नौकरी, कार, बडा़ मकान आदि हैं, और
रेत का मतलब और भी छोटी - छोटी बेकार सी बातें, मनमुटाव, झगडे़ है ..
अब यदि तुमने काँच की बरनी में सबसे पहले रेत भरी होती तो टेबल टेनिस की गेंदों और कंकरों के लिये जगह ही नहीं बचती, या
कंकर भर दिये होते तो गेंदें नहीं भर पाते, रेत जरूर आ सकती थी ...
ठीक यही बात जीवन पर लागू होती है ...
यदि तुम छोटी - छोटी बातों के पीछे पडे़ रहोगे
और अपनी ऊर्जा उसमें नष्ट करोगे तो तुम्हारे पास मुख्य बातों के लिये अधिक समय
नहीं रहेगा ...
मन के सुख के लिये क्या जरूरी है ये तुम्हें तय करना है । अपने
बच्चों के साथ खेलो, बगीचे में पानी डालो, सुबह पत्नी के साथ घूमने निकल जाओ,
घर के बेकार सामान को बाहर निकाल फ़ेंको, मेडिकल चेक - अप करवाओ ...
टेबल टेनिस गेंदों की फ़िक्र पहले करो, वही महत्वपूर्ण है ... पहले तय करो कि क्या जरूरी है
... बाकी सब तो रेत है ..
छात्र बडे़ ध्यान से सुन रहे थे ..
अचानक एक ने पूछा, सर लेकिन आपने यह नहीं बताया
कि " चाय के दो कप " क्या हैं ?
प्रोफ़ेसर मुस्कुराये, बोले .. मैं सोच ही रहा था कि अभी तक ये सवाल किसी ने क्यों नहीं किया ...
इसका उत्तर यह है कि, जीवन हमें कितना ही परिपूर्ण और संतुष्ट लगे, लेकिन
अपने खास मित्र के साथ दो कप चाय पीने की जगह हमेशा होनी चाहिये ।
हेम चन्द्र कर्णाटक (लखनऊ) द्वारा प्रेषित
hckarnatak@yahoo.co.in
REWRITING DESTINY
A New Ray Of Light
A small act can change a life – a radical change from rags to riches!
On the path of life we often pass by people, who have the streets as their home, the leftovers thrown into the dustbin as their food and oversized or undersized torn clothes to cover their skin and bones. It is a far cry to think of them having the greater joys of life like love, respect and belongingness. Yet, their condemned state hardly hits the heart of the many who would not even give them a glance of compassion, who walk away indifferent to the pain of hunger borne by innocent children and adults.
One such moment made Shri Jai Prakash Pandey, Manager, Microfinance Branch, Bhopal dedicate his entire life to the poor and make tremendous positive differences in the life of women and children, especially in the tribal areas.
A recent experience he had is worth mentioning here and emulating by others, where a small loan provided by him changed the destiny of a student.
SBI, the great Bank that it is, had come up with a new concept, for the first time in India , where with the help of NGOs, in unbanked areas, women upliftment is given top priority. In Jhabua, at Jobat village, Alirajpur which is one of the Adivasi areas, Shri Jai Prakash conducted a meeting of 50 women, with the aim of bringing about a smile on their face, prosperity in their life by making available small funds without much formalities, through NGOs, so that they can be released from the deadly clutches of moneylenders.
The small loan amount was ‘nai roshni ki kiran’ (a new ray of light) for the women in their own words. For 30 kms and more the area had no banks, people were unaware of banking facilities and also scared to step into a neat looking bank for the fear of the fact that they are not welcome anywhere!
In the meeting, a woman narrated how Rs. 3000/- provided by the State Bank of India in time helped her pay the college fees of her son, who was doing engineering; else he would have lost about 3 years of his valuable time. This small amount enabled her son to write his exam. No wonder, since the brilliant boy had the ability and with Mr. Jai Prakash taking keen interest in their welfare, he topped the college and brought laurels to his poor parents and his village!
Our Micro Finance branch has disbursed about 80 lacs in unbanked and remote areas on an average of Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 5000/- per family, introducing the joy of life to the downtrodden.
Mr Jai Prakash Pandey interacting with the members of Priyasakhi Mahila Sangh, Indore
Working for the tribals and the masses that are cut off from the society, has become part of Shri Jai Prakash’s nature. He was also BM, at Narayanganj Branch (District Mandla) and was convener of ‘Chutka Jagrati Manch’, which is a social and welfare organization for tribals. His records reveal that he has been able to uplift 80000 women in M.P. and Chattisgarh. Our Micro Finance branch has also sanctioned 13 crores since April this year - branch where he supports his CM and both have no other staff for assistance. His motive in life is to make SBI the prime bank through putting into action Citizenship in him and increasing it by soul searching all the time. He adds with a bright smile that he has been able to introduce banking to the common man who is underprivileged. This is his inner fruit that adds to his passion to do more for the ignored.
The Almighty lent his pen to Shri Jai Prakash to rewrite the destiny of the Engineer boy. Can we also do our might for the unfortunate who have all the ability but lack the small amount of help that we can so easily provide and be in the good books of the Almighty?
Remember, He loves those who love His creatures and cares for them. As promised then our Destiny is also taken care of by Him.
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC, INDORE
reena.sharma@sbi.co.in
A small act can change a life – a radical change from rags to riches!
On the path of life we often pass by people, who have the streets as their home, the leftovers thrown into the dustbin as their food and oversized or undersized torn clothes to cover their skin and bones. It is a far cry to think of them having the greater joys of life like love, respect and belongingness. Yet, their condemned state hardly hits the heart of the many who would not even give them a glance of compassion, who walk away indifferent to the pain of hunger borne by innocent children and adults.
One such moment made Shri Jai Prakash Pandey, Manager, Microfinance Branch, Bhopal dedicate his entire life to the poor and make tremendous positive differences in the life of women and children, especially in the tribal areas.A recent experience he had is worth mentioning here and emulating by others, where a small loan provided by him changed the destiny of a student.
SBI, the great Bank that it is, had come up with a new concept, for the first time in India , where with the help of NGOs, in unbanked areas, women upliftment is given top priority. In Jhabua, at Jobat village, Alirajpur which is one of the Adivasi areas, Shri Jai Prakash conducted a meeting of 50 women, with the aim of bringing about a smile on their face, prosperity in their life by making available small funds without much formalities, through NGOs, so that they can be released from the deadly clutches of moneylenders.
The small loan amount was ‘nai roshni ki kiran’ (a new ray of light) for the women in their own words. For 30 kms and more the area had no banks, people were unaware of banking facilities and also scared to step into a neat looking bank for the fear of the fact that they are not welcome anywhere!
In the meeting, a woman narrated how Rs. 3000/- provided by the State Bank of India in time helped her pay the college fees of her son, who was doing engineering; else he would have lost about 3 years of his valuable time. This small amount enabled her son to write his exam. No wonder, since the brilliant boy had the ability and with Mr. Jai Prakash taking keen interest in their welfare, he topped the college and brought laurels to his poor parents and his village!
Our Micro Finance branch has disbursed about 80 lacs in unbanked and remote areas on an average of Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 5000/- per family, introducing the joy of life to the downtrodden.
Mr Jai Prakash Pandey interacting with the members of Priyasakhi Mahila Sangh, IndoreWorking for the tribals and the masses that are cut off from the society, has become part of Shri Jai Prakash’s nature. He was also BM, at Narayanganj Branch (District Mandla) and was convener of ‘Chutka Jagrati Manch’, which is a social and welfare organization for tribals. His records reveal that he has been able to uplift 80000 women in M.P. and Chattisgarh. Our Micro Finance branch has also sanctioned 13 crores since April this year - branch where he supports his CM and both have no other staff for assistance. His motive in life is to make SBI the prime bank through putting into action Citizenship in him and increasing it by soul searching all the time. He adds with a bright smile that he has been able to introduce banking to the common man who is underprivileged. This is his inner fruit that adds to his passion to do more for the ignored.
The Almighty lent his pen to Shri Jai Prakash to rewrite the destiny of the Engineer boy. Can we also do our might for the unfortunate who have all the ability but lack the small amount of help that we can so easily provide and be in the good books of the Almighty?
Remember, He loves those who love His creatures and cares for them. As promised then our Destiny is also taken care of by Him.
Contributed by: MS. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY, SBLC, INDORE
reena.sharma@sbi.co.in
Saving Grace: Becoming More Alive And Alert
Speech of Swami Sukhabodhananda
Why do some people carry the pain of criticism or defeat all their lives?
Rigidity is a part of identification. An important aspect of spiritual teaching is non-identification. If identification is our pattern, then we identify ourselves with everything. This identification is mechanical. One develops rigidity and fails to see other variables in life.You get upset that your point of view is not respected. This causes pain. The hurt body creates an imaginary self as a survival tactic. Carrying the pain of differences for long is part of a mechanical mind. Unless we transform our mechanical centre into a magnetic centre negative patterns will continue. In my workshops, I wish the participants ‘Good morning’. Then I question them as to how many of them meant the morning to be good? Most of them would have said it mechanically. A mind given to ‘mechanicalness’ has relatively less consciousness. The more we bring in ‘presence’ in whatever we do, the greater the chance that consciousness would give rise to a magnetic centre.
Once a magnetic centre is opened in us, we see the foolishness of carrying pain. It is like mixing bread with cement. People are living miserable lives because they function mechanically. They are victims of their programming. One of my relatives who is a multi millionaire leads a poor life as he is unwilling to sell part of his property. It is against his concept of family dignity, but he lives in poverty.
Is the knowledge acquired from you enough to change my life?
There are two domains: the domain of ‘knowledge’ and the domain of ‘being’. Knowledge should be applied in life to enhance one’s state of being, thereby your life matures. From a matured being if you look at the same knowledge it has a deeper meaning. By applying the deeper meaning in life and in your being, your life becomes more mature and in the process, something profound happens. Hence, knowledge should be applied; else you would be like a donkey carrying sandalwood. Be conscious of your body. Are you relaxed or tense? Be conscious of your emotions. Do you mechanically hate or like someone? Watch your thoughts. Become more conscious of your mind. Mere conceptual knowledge does not help.
How do we change our mechanical attitude to life?
It can be changed through the teachings of enlightened masters. On each occasion when we are forced to behave mechanically, bring the teachings of masters to the fore. Through constant practice, a different dimension will flow, of grace. The first factor is our ‘mechanicalness’. The second, the teachings of enlightened masters and the third is grace. Grace can come only when we apply teachings in real life situations. Then the law of grace transforms our lives.
How does grace operate?
In the constant struggle to apply great teachings in all walks of life, there will be an opening in which grace will flow. It is beyond the known structure of logic. Something mysterious happens, an illogical factor emerges and you find life to be fine and prolific. Be open to grace. Grace operates not in a way you want it to, but in its own way. Learn to appreciate the language of grace. God gives us what we need more than what we want.
Courtesy: The Speaking Tree, The Times of India, 21st January 2010
Why do some people carry the pain of criticism or defeat all their lives?
Rigidity is a part of identification. An important aspect of spiritual teaching is non-identification. If identification is our pattern, then we identify ourselves with everything. This identification is mechanical. One develops rigidity and fails to see other variables in life.You get upset that your point of view is not respected. This causes pain. The hurt body creates an imaginary self as a survival tactic. Carrying the pain of differences for long is part of a mechanical mind. Unless we transform our mechanical centre into a magnetic centre negative patterns will continue. In my workshops, I wish the participants ‘Good morning’. Then I question them as to how many of them meant the morning to be good? Most of them would have said it mechanically. A mind given to ‘mechanicalness’ has relatively less consciousness. The more we bring in ‘presence’ in whatever we do, the greater the chance that consciousness would give rise to a magnetic centre.
Once a magnetic centre is opened in us, we see the foolishness of carrying pain. It is like mixing bread with cement. People are living miserable lives because they function mechanically. They are victims of their programming. One of my relatives who is a multi millionaire leads a poor life as he is unwilling to sell part of his property. It is against his concept of family dignity, but he lives in poverty.
Is the knowledge acquired from you enough to change my life?
There are two domains: the domain of ‘knowledge’ and the domain of ‘being’. Knowledge should be applied in life to enhance one’s state of being, thereby your life matures. From a matured being if you look at the same knowledge it has a deeper meaning. By applying the deeper meaning in life and in your being, your life becomes more mature and in the process, something profound happens. Hence, knowledge should be applied; else you would be like a donkey carrying sandalwood. Be conscious of your body. Are you relaxed or tense? Be conscious of your emotions. Do you mechanically hate or like someone? Watch your thoughts. Become more conscious of your mind. Mere conceptual knowledge does not help.
How do we change our mechanical attitude to life?
It can be changed through the teachings of enlightened masters. On each occasion when we are forced to behave mechanically, bring the teachings of masters to the fore. Through constant practice, a different dimension will flow, of grace. The first factor is our ‘mechanicalness’. The second, the teachings of enlightened masters and the third is grace. Grace can come only when we apply teachings in real life situations. Then the law of grace transforms our lives.
How does grace operate?
In the constant struggle to apply great teachings in all walks of life, there will be an opening in which grace will flow. It is beyond the known structure of logic. Something mysterious happens, an illogical factor emerges and you find life to be fine and prolific. Be open to grace. Grace operates not in a way you want it to, but in its own way. Learn to appreciate the language of grace. God gives us what we need more than what we want.
Courtesy: The Speaking Tree, The Times of India, 21st January 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Rehabilitating a Dacoit...
...From The Ravines of Chambal
This incident has taken place about 30 years ago.
One day a man came to my house and requested me to help him in getting a job. I asked him how he knows me. He told me that he knows an uncle of mine who had advised that I could help him in getting a job. I said I will try. Then I forgot that person but he came back again after 1 week.
I did not pay much attention to him. In the evening I enquired about him from my uncle. He told that he is a dacoit of Chambal and he is now trying to lead a normal life. He also told me that he was working as a goldsmith on a very low scale but his business has now closed. His brother had been killed in an encounter and he is now trying his best to lead a normal life. He wants to come back into the mainstream.
Frankly speaking, I was frightened for a moment. Suddenly one day he came to my house at about 10.00 PM in the night and said he will commit suicide by shooting himself if he did not get any work. He was very hungry also. Looking at his pathetic condition, I decided to help him and to get him a job but people were reluctant to employ him because of his back ground.
I really tried hard and after a lot of persuasion I managed a job for him as a cleaner of a truck. He started working as a cleaner. He worked very hard and soon became the driver of the truck. Meanwhile, I also got a job in the Bank.
He used to visit me regularly to express his gratitude. He is now leading a normal life. Looking back I also feel a deep sense of accomplishment by helping a dacoit of Chambal to lead a changed life who would have otherwise become a dacoit again.
VIJAY KUMAR VAISH
ASSTT MANAGER
RCPC, KARCHANA.
(CitizenSBI blog thanks Mr Hem Chandra Karnatak, IL-1, Lucknow Circle for arranging to send contributions from his Circle.)
This incident has taken place about 30 years ago.
One day a man came to my house and requested me to help him in getting a job. I asked him how he knows me. He told me that he knows an uncle of mine who had advised that I could help him in getting a job. I said I will try. Then I forgot that person but he came back again after 1 week.
I did not pay much attention to him. In the evening I enquired about him from my uncle. He told that he is a dacoit of Chambal and he is now trying to lead a normal life. He also told me that he was working as a goldsmith on a very low scale but his business has now closed. His brother had been killed in an encounter and he is now trying his best to lead a normal life. He wants to come back into the mainstream.
Frankly speaking, I was frightened for a moment. Suddenly one day he came to my house at about 10.00 PM in the night and said he will commit suicide by shooting himself if he did not get any work. He was very hungry also. Looking at his pathetic condition, I decided to help him and to get him a job but people were reluctant to employ him because of his back ground.
I really tried hard and after a lot of persuasion I managed a job for him as a cleaner of a truck. He started working as a cleaner. He worked very hard and soon became the driver of the truck. Meanwhile, I also got a job in the Bank.
He used to visit me regularly to express his gratitude. He is now leading a normal life. Looking back I also feel a deep sense of accomplishment by helping a dacoit of Chambal to lead a changed life who would have otherwise become a dacoit again.
VIJAY KUMAR VAISH
ASSTT MANAGER
RCPC, KARCHANA.
(CitizenSBI blog thanks Mr Hem Chandra Karnatak, IL-1, Lucknow Circle for arranging to send contributions from his Circle.)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Lighter Citizen Moments
A senior facilitator to the class - Don't discuss now. First reflect silently for two minutes. Please reflect, don't deflect....
One facilitator to another - Madam, next week also citizen?
"No-no, I have got some important work."
Facilitator - What will happen if all of us become Anthonys?
Participant - Hum sab amar ho jayenge!Citizen-SBI is the Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati
Right now, the Citizenship Orientation Programme is running simultaneously for the messengers and guards, assistants to AGMs and GMs and DGMs. Here Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati merge and become one. One cannot differentiate one from the other at the being level. They all contribute equally and have the same feelings and devotion. Citizen-SBI is the "sangam" of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. CitizenSBI blog is pleased to bring to you moments from all the three programme versions, thanks to its committed contributors. Please read on...
When a senior DGM was asked to attend the citizenship orientation programme, he told his boss that he would be retiring at the end of the month and would not be able to give anything to the Bank from the programme. He was told that the programme is meant only for individual growth and the Bank does not expect anything in return. He was overwhelmed and feels grateful for this gesture of the Bank when he is on the verge of retirement.
Another DGM, while undergoing the programme, felt that he had only made a few positive contributions here and there but could have done much better. He said he felt sad about it and decided to make a solid, transformative contribution in his present assignment.
Two young CRAs were thinking of leaving the Bank and taking up the job as Asst. Professors in a college. After going through the programme, they realized that the Bank thinks so much about its employees and decided to stay back.
A senior manager at one of the remote centres derived a lot of strength while sharing his citizen moments. He cherishes the new friends he made during the programme and keeps in regular touch with them. His wife is a cancer patient, his son is not suitably employed and he is looking for a match for his grown up daughter. Moreover, his current boss is foul tempered and he found his going tough but thanks to the citizenship orientation programme he has found himself rejuvenated.
A messenger told me in the class this morning that the programme has removed the dust from his mind and given values which he would like to go back and share with his family. Others in the class supported him and said in unison that they would now be better individuals, parents and employees. One of them said that he behaved like an Amar so far but would strive to attain Anthonyhood.
Compiled by Jagat Bisht, SBLC, Indore
coolbisht@hotmail.com
When a senior DGM was asked to attend the citizenship orientation programme, he told his boss that he would be retiring at the end of the month and would not be able to give anything to the Bank from the programme. He was told that the programme is meant only for individual growth and the Bank does not expect anything in return. He was overwhelmed and feels grateful for this gesture of the Bank when he is on the verge of retirement.
Another DGM, while undergoing the programme, felt that he had only made a few positive contributions here and there but could have done much better. He said he felt sad about it and decided to make a solid, transformative contribution in his present assignment.
Two young CRAs were thinking of leaving the Bank and taking up the job as Asst. Professors in a college. After going through the programme, they realized that the Bank thinks so much about its employees and decided to stay back.
A senior manager at one of the remote centres derived a lot of strength while sharing his citizen moments. He cherishes the new friends he made during the programme and keeps in regular touch with them. His wife is a cancer patient, his son is not suitably employed and he is looking for a match for his grown up daughter. Moreover, his current boss is foul tempered and he found his going tough but thanks to the citizenship orientation programme he has found himself rejuvenated.
A messenger told me in the class this morning that the programme has removed the dust from his mind and given values which he would like to go back and share with his family. Others in the class supported him and said in unison that they would now be better individuals, parents and employees. One of them said that he behaved like an Amar so far but would strive to attain Anthonyhood.
Compiled by Jagat Bisht, SBLC, Indore
coolbisht@hotmail.com
Pure Citizenship, Nothing Else
All the faculty of State Bank Learning Centre, Indore were enjoying a picnic with their families at Nakhrali Dhani on sunday evening.
At about 7.30 p.m. I called my son working at Gurgaon to ask him how he spent his day. I was not prepared for the reply I got from the other end.
He said - Papa, I have met with an accident. I was travelling with my friend on a bike from Gurgaon to Delhi. Somewhere near Dhaula Kuan, there was a big hole on the road and, as I slowed down a bit, a speeding vehicle from behind hit us hard. We were thrown away and lost our consciousness. A traffic constable called for an ambulance and we are now at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences waiting our turn to be attended in a long queue. My right shoulder has apparently been damaged and friend's face bruised.
Two youngsters stranded all alone. I could sense the pain, shock and trauma they were undergoing. The last flight from Indore had left for Delhi. My heart missed a beat...
I called two of my friends there - Mr Jagdish Chandra Joshi, Chief Manager, AIIMS branch and Mr Amar Pal Singh, AGM(Faculty) at State Bank Academy, Gurgaon.
They rushed to the hospital immediately and used their good offices to get them attended. CT scan and X-ray showed no major damage or fracture. The right shoulder ligaments of my son were torn giving way to the collar bone and the shoulder joint there while his friend had bruises on the face. A plaster of crepe bandage was put around his shoulder.
It was almost midnight by then. My friends kept me updated and assured that the children would get the best attention. I need not rush to Delhi the next day and they would take a second opinion next morning from Dr Kamran Farookh.
Meanwhile, my son's friends reached from Gurgaon and took him back after midnight. The other injured friend's uncle had also arrived.
Next morning, the senior doctor examined my son and confirmed the treatment given by the resident doctors on the previous evening and opined that there was no need to go in for surgery.
The two children are now fine by God's grace. Joshi uncle and AP uncle were there with them during the crucial moments to take care just as their parents would have.
Pure Citizenship, Nothing Else.....
Jagat Singh Bisht
SBLC, Indore
coolbisht@hotmail.com
At about 7.30 p.m. I called my son working at Gurgaon to ask him how he spent his day. I was not prepared for the reply I got from the other end.
He said - Papa, I have met with an accident. I was travelling with my friend on a bike from Gurgaon to Delhi. Somewhere near Dhaula Kuan, there was a big hole on the road and, as I slowed down a bit, a speeding vehicle from behind hit us hard. We were thrown away and lost our consciousness. A traffic constable called for an ambulance and we are now at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences waiting our turn to be attended in a long queue. My right shoulder has apparently been damaged and friend's face bruised.
Two youngsters stranded all alone. I could sense the pain, shock and trauma they were undergoing. The last flight from Indore had left for Delhi. My heart missed a beat...
I called two of my friends there - Mr Jagdish Chandra Joshi, Chief Manager, AIIMS branch and Mr Amar Pal Singh, AGM(Faculty) at State Bank Academy, Gurgaon.
They rushed to the hospital immediately and used their good offices to get them attended. CT scan and X-ray showed no major damage or fracture. The right shoulder ligaments of my son were torn giving way to the collar bone and the shoulder joint there while his friend had bruises on the face. A plaster of crepe bandage was put around his shoulder.
It was almost midnight by then. My friends kept me updated and assured that the children would get the best attention. I need not rush to Delhi the next day and they would take a second opinion next morning from Dr Kamran Farookh.
Meanwhile, my son's friends reached from Gurgaon and took him back after midnight. The other injured friend's uncle had also arrived.
Next morning, the senior doctor examined my son and confirmed the treatment given by the resident doctors on the previous evening and opined that there was no need to go in for surgery.
The two children are now fine by God's grace. Joshi uncle and AP uncle were there with them during the crucial moments to take care just as their parents would have.
Pure Citizenship, Nothing Else.....
Jagat Singh Bisht
SBLC, Indore
coolbisht@hotmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
