Creating leaders for social change
The word "nirman" means to "create" and that is what the initiative "Nirman" is aimed at - to create a new generation of leadership to take up social challenges like poverty, food shortage, energy crisis, child deaths, global warming, unemployment, and others.
"Have you ever felt that there is something beyond completing your education and having a safe job? Have you ever felt the need to do something more in life than just earn money? Do you get motivated to use your talents to grapple with the several social, scientific and technological challenges around? Does the question of finding the Purpose of your Life move you?" These are the questions which the home page of Nirman's website (nirman.mkcl.org) poses to you. NIRMAN, says the page, is a platform for such restless youth to come together and seek answers to these questions.
Amrut Bang, the youngest son of doctor couple Abhay and Rani Bang who have dedicated their lives to social work, is the moving force behind Nirman which was started in June 2006 as an initiative to sensitize selected youth in Maharashtra to societal problems and to identify and nurture social change makers.
Nirman is an educational process to train the youth to take up crucial issues and problems in society. It provides guidance, expertise and the environment to inculcate self-learning, and encourages the youth towards social action. Nirman aims to help youngsters find meaning to their lives to bridge the gap between various social, scientific and technological challenges around and to unleash the tremendous potential of the youth, says Amrut.
Amrut, who holds a BE (Computer Science) degree got a job in Symantec after completing his engineering but realised that formal education had provided him with certain skills and information, but not the sense of purpose of life.
Nirman has developed a unique educational process to systematically cultivate young social leadership from selected students and professionals between 18 and 26 years. Accordingly, each batch of around 75 selected youth goes through a series of three residential camps that are organised once every six months. The camps are conducted at Shodhgram in Gadchiroli. Along with the camps, study visits, educative sessions, reading assignments, internships, fellowships, individual mentoring, group actions and various other activities are carried out which help to sensitise the youth towards societal challenges through exposure and experience.
Till date, four Nirman batches, covering 350 participants, have undergone training so far. Out of these 350, 100 are doctors and 100 engineers.
(Source: Sakal Times)