Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
Awareness Movement (NAAM) 16 , The Rotary Club 17 , The Lions Club 18 , The Indian Red
Cross 19 , and Joint Action for Sustainable Livelihood (JASuL) 20 . Greenhands also associated
with Grow your Trees Foundation, GVN Trust, Velicham, Go Sakthi, Best Trust etc.
Tamilaga Iyarkai Uzavar Iyakkam (Tamilnadu Organic Farmers Movement), founded by Dr
Nammazvaar 21 , was another organization that GreenHands partnered with, to promote
organic farming to farmers. Dr Nammazvaar visited many villages to promote awareness
about GreenHands.
RESOURCE MOBILISATION
Bhim, who had done the Isha Yoga programme, felt that raising funds had been one of
the difficult tasks. When Greenhands started preparing for the Guinness World Record
endeavor, there was no money in the Greenhands account. There was no assured funding
for the project. The initial support came from Isha Foundation. Greenhands spent
approximately Rs 40 for nurturing the sapling, planting it and monitoring it for one year.
Planting 114 million trees required substantial funding support.
“There is no assured funding. The theme of donor organizations varies every year. The
risk is always there. We want to increase our focus on individual donors through web
based fund raising,” said K (Sekar), Project Director of Isha’s Social Outreach programmes.
Greenhands provided a number of contribution options for donors. From 2007 onwards,
there was a gradual improvement in the availability of funds. Greenhands also came out
with a “Gift of Trees” scheme were one can gift a donation of trees in the name of another
person, with a monetary donation of fifty rupees for each tree sapling that needs to be
planted (Refer Annexure VIII for a sample of “Gift of Trees” certificate). Greenhands
delivered a gift certificate to the donor or to the person on whose name the gift was made.
In an interview given to Blue Planet Green Living, Sadhguru had mentioned the need for
cash as a limiting factor in expansion of the project. A similar sentiment was echoed by
Swami who said, “Monetary support is necessary for the project. People are appreciative
about the project. They now need to come forward and support the project.” Greenhands
16 An India based national organization working towards new farming methodologies
17 Rotary Clubs are located across the globe and its purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders to
provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace
in the world
18 Founded in United States, Lions Club motto is “We Serve” and the organization focus on activities related to sight
conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations,
environmental issues, and other programs that support the local communities where Lions live
19 A voluntary organization, which is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent organization. The Indian
Red Cross engage in providing health and care to vulnerable people and communities
20 JASUL, based at Madurai, is a forum of several NGOs across Tamilnadu. The forum was created with the objective
of preservation of natural water sources
21 A farmer and an agricultural scientist known for his experience in organic farming and agro-forestry
Annexures
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