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Tribal Welfare
Small minority groups in India whose racial origins, culture and lifestyle are unique are called Tribal. Today these groups are facing diversity problems. Most groups are economically backward but almost all suffer from loss of identity. The culture of tribal groups preserved for thousands of years is now threatened with extinction. This is a loss to the entire humanity.
The aim of this 5H program is to aid tribal groups which are in a destitute condition, to improve their standard of living and to create awareness among them about the richness of their own culture, as well as aid them towards living with the modern temperament of today.
Influence of mainstream society, media and improvements in industry and infrastructure has made it impossible for these groups to remain oblivious of the temperament of an industrial civilization and cut off from the rest of the world.
At the same time of today, lack of education has prevented them from becoming mainstream. This has proved to be a deadly combination for the new generation who are finding it increasing difficult to adjust both to their own surrounding as well as living a mainstream existence. Frustration, crime, and violence in tribal areas is on the rise.
Art of Living, Nagaland
Nagaland, a land of lush green hills, jolly people, and one of the most colourful cultures, a few decades ago began to lose its true nature. Being weighed down by terrorism, drug abuse, unemployment and various other socio-economic, political issues. In the midst of all this, just when the state was dangling on a delicate string hope, Art of Living emerged to uplift the people of Nagaland.
Courses
Art of Living started work in Nagaland in 2003 touching hearts from every section of society. The first course was in the Dimapur for a few locals.
Prison Smart
From there Art of Living was invited by the then Minister of law and justice, to kohima(state capital) to conduct the Prison Smart program for 60 inmates of the Kohima Jail. The course though began with a lot of resistance from the inmates, Jail Authorities and Religious Social workers, it ended with tears of gratitude in the inmates eyes and gratefulness in the hearts of the jail authorities for helping the inmates overcome feelings of revenge, guilt, anger, aggression and stress.
Courses were conducted at the Kohima Raj Bhavan for His Excellency, Sri Shyamal Datta, The Governor of Nagaland, the First Lady and a number of other government officials. 65 people attended the workshop.
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YES Programme
YES courses were conducted in Jain college and Pranabananda college in Dimapur for the students. 50-70 students in each course were participated.
Drug abuse being one of the most prominent problem in nagaland Art of Living worked to create awareness against drug addiction. Since music thrives naturally in this part of the country, a musical concert were organised where a renowned artist called Seema Ramchandani, sang motivational and inspirational songs to a houseful audience of youths at the town hall in Dimapur. The local media covered the event saying, For the first time in Nagaland a concert took place without any usage of alcohol or drugs or violence among the audience.
Youth Leadership Training Programme
In 2004 AOL's focus area was to conduct YLTP in the villages of Nagaland. Our Art of living teachers traveled to villages which required hours of driving in jeeps, trucks, etc on dilapidated roads. Youths were gathered from different parts of Nagaland and 3 successful Art of livng courses were conducted in Chipobozo, Visema, and Medziphema with 30-40 students in each. 35 of these youths were chosen to take with us to the International Head quarters in Bangalore. Most of them had never even traveled outside their own village. In Bangalore they were given the opportunity to have a private audience with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and present their rich Nagaland cultural Heritage in front of thousands of International Guests present there from all over the globe.
A field trip to Mysore was included in the trip too to give them a broader vision of the world.
In 2005 AOL worked with the urban youth in colleges of Kohima conducting YES programs for them. Initially the youth resisted to meditate and even do yoga. But the first day itself there were seen the ice melt. By the end of the courses the youth became children again! These courses were conducted predominantly in Alder College and the Nagaland University.
Sri Sri Ayurveda
2006 saw the Art of Living branch out into different fields. Though this is a land full of natures' bounty with medicinal herbs almost growing wild, Ayurveda was considered a taboo and a religious practice, until the Art of Living changed this perception by introducing Sri Sri Ayurveda to the people of Nagaland.
The first Ayurveda camp was held in Kohima. The Doctor was invited from Bangalore who had to give conduct Nadi Pariksha for 70 patients in one day. Kohima, a place where offices, markets and roads begin to get deserted by 4.30 p.m., the camp went on until 7.30 p.m.! the constant overflow of patients. And there were still more who we had to request to come back for a later camp due to lack of time.
A small personal consultation was also held at the Raj Bhavan for the Governor, the first lady and the staff of the Raj Bhavan.
AOL then moved on to Tamenlong, a remote village in Manipur that has a huge naga population. Terrorism is at its peak here and development at its lowest. A beautifull , almost like a parallel world this place is hidden behind mountains, touching passing clouds. After a never ending bumpy drive of 7hrs we finally reached Tamenlong where the District Commissioner had invited AOL for the camp. After looking at the standard of living of the people apprehensive, the camp was started hoping to see a few patients at least. But to the amazement like Kohima packed schedule was happened there too!
Apart from all this a number of courses have been conducted for the Assam Rifles, CRPF, and the local people.
In short approximately 300 people have attended the Art of Living workshops and have befitted by the Sudarshan Kriya in the last 3 yrs.
The Governor also attended the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Art of Living as a speaker on he 17 th of Feb, 2006.
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