The Third World War

Following is the Preface of the book ‘The Third World War’, compiled from the series of editorials written by Dr. Aniruddha Dhairyadhar Joshi on the third world war, in the ‘Daily Pratyaksha’ in March 2006.
Only because....On the 11th of September 2001, i।e. no sooner had the third millenium begun, than every nation in the world began to reflect over its protection and to consider afresh, its future political policies. Most of the prominent nations in the world had already acquainted themselves with the ways of terrorism. The U.S.A. and Russia had, instigating terrorist outfits, even used them against one another. However, the 11th September episode happened in so less a time and with so little an expense, that the U.S.A. which considered itself the one and only supreme power on earth and, therefore, indomitable, became conscious and mindful of the real strength and capacity of terrorism. The misery inflicted by terrorist activity that India had been suffering through many years, boomed so powerfully into the face of the U.S.A. that it ended up scorching it completely. And the U.S.A., that had hitherto constantly turned a blind eye towards the evidence presented by India, was forced to roll up its sleeves and prepare to fight terrorism, the very terrorism that it had once nurtured and fostered.The subject of this series of articles is not merely terrorism or anti-terrorism war based on the study of events that have occurred till now; it is a reflection over the possibilities that will unravel in the times to come.

There is no doubt that over the next twenty to twenty-five years, conflict will become an aspect of everyday doings and in every region on earth। Values based on theory or principles will have no place whatsoever in this conflict and ‘survival of the fittest’ will, on the contrary, be the only commandment. Thus, although political games and secret conspiracies are going to be sure directives, quantitative power that can resort to aggression, violence and extreme ruthlessness is going to prove more dominant and successful in the conflict and for a long time to come. Once the war begins and more and more allies begin to take their stand on either side, the open and defiant violation of all ethics, one after another along with that of restraint begins with equal pace. Then there comes a stage when neither side feels the need to give any moral justification of its deeds, not even a superficial one. This is what has already started to happen and with every coming year, such instances are going to mount rapidly.

The common man and sometimes even the political leadership is of the opinion that a discussion on war or analysis of war cannot be done openly because war is a sudden and surprise manifestation of secret schemes and conspiracies। Besides, more than ninety percent of the people, not only of India but of every country in the world, can base their contemplation over war, the political reasons behind the war as also the realization of these on just a bare minimum of information. However, it is these very people, who have not only to suffer but to withstand hundred percent of the consequences of war.Pure democracy is the only strength that can mellow down the horrific face of war; but today, how many nations of the world are real democracies? The democracy in Great Britain that boasts of being the father of the parliamentary democratic system too is growing feeble owing to corruption and internal conflicts. Though democracy has struck firm and deep roots in the Indian subcontinent, the innumerable big and small political parties tend to lead it astray, not to mention the eternal downpour of corruption that drowns it in deep sorrow. Russia and China, both super powers, have not even a trace of democracy in them. Although the American democracy might seem relatively healthy and capable, at least apparently, problems like the rapid increase in addiction among the youth alongside the fall in the number of well-educated native Americans as also that of the diminishing participation of the citizens are factors that adversely affect the health of the American democracy. To add to this, the widespread and extensive network of propaganda and communication set up by the American secret organizations has succeeded in taking control of the mass media of several nations of the world, including those of the U.S.A. Pakistan, the eternal enemy of India, is in itself, ‘the foreboding and inauspicious prelude’ to the book of terrorism and Pakistan will, in the times to come, openly go about setting the stage with terrorist props for the purpose of the plot of the drama that will be war.

In the coming times, the equation of today might not be valid tomorrow and what was valid at seven in the morning, might be flung right out of the window after its purpose is served, and at five minutes past seven.This is not telling the future. This is a study, a study of history and of the present circumstances. This is research, a research of the intent of the various characters on the stage of the world. In the next twenty years, a thousand occurrences will happen and literally in a hundred different places and that is one fact that every wise and studious thinker is aware of. A hundred different occurrences might be happening even at this very moment but here, there is a figurative mention of only ten selected ones. It is just that the remaining ninety occurrences have not been recorded, though they have certainly been part of the study undertaken.The calendar is released every once in a year because there is a definite kind of mathematical formula and construction involved. The calendar of the coming ‘third world war’ is however, going to be a new one every day.I wanted that all My friends, ordinary as they are just like I am, acquaint themselves with at least two percent of what the third world war means. Hence this written endeavour........for My friends,

From

Socio-cultural Activities

SHREE ANIRUDDHA UPASANA FOUNDATION

Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation was incorporated as a charitable organization under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, in April 2005. From the time of its inception, apart from pursuing its principal object of carrying out the Upasana of Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu, Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, along with its sister organization such as Shree Aniruddha Aadesh Pathak, Aniruddha’s Academy of Disaster Management etc., all of which are registered charitable organizations, has undertaken various socio-cultural activities, with the devine blessing and inspiration of Param Poojya Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu, prominent among which are enumerated herein below:

1. Annapurna Mahaprasadam Project
Under this project, free mid-day meals are provided to children from schools in tribal areas and in municipal schools in rural areas. This is made possible by sponsors / donors who donate rice, wheat, pulses, oil, sugar etc. Presently, mid-day meals are being provided to nearly 4000 students across 31 different schools in the rural areas by our dedicated volunteers, who themselves cook the food and serve it to the students attending the schools. However, the single largest activity undertaken under the Annapurna Mahaprasadam Project is the Kolhapur Medical Camp, during which nearly 40,000 people, including nearly 7500 school children are served food in a single day.
Ever since the project has been introduced, there has been a marked improvement not only in the health profile of the children but also in their attendance, leading to improved grade.


2. Eco – Friendly Ganesh Murti

This unique project involves the making of Lord Ganesh idols from Paper Pulp. These idols are made from shredded paper of ‘Ramnaam’ notebooks used by the devotees, who write ‘Ramnaam’ and deposit the notebooks with the sister organization, Aniruddha’s Universal Bank of Ramnaam.

These idols disintegrate easily upon submersion in water, as compared to idols made from plaster-of-paris, which take significantly longer to disintegrate. A notable aspect is that, paints used are non-toxic, thus contributing significantly to the control over pollution of the environment.

The volunteers of Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, Aniruddha’s Universal Bank of Ramnaam and other organizations collectively make these idols for the Ganapati festival every year. In the year 2008, the organization prepared and distributed nearly 3500 Lord Ganesh idols.

3. Medical and Healthcare Camp

For the welfare of the people in rural areas, medical camps are being conducted. For the past five years, a unique mega medical camp is being conducted in a backward area of Kolhapur District, covering nearly 200 villages. The medical team comprises of Physicians, Ophthalmologists, Dentists, Pediatricians, Gynecologists, ENT surgeons, Cardiologists, Orthopaedicians and General Practitioners.

Although the camp is held for one day, the planning commences months in advance. Post the camp, regular follow up activity is maintained, leading right up to the time of planning for the next camp। Date of every remote village and villagers covered by the camp is maintained by volunteers to meet exact requirements of the villagers. During the recently concluded 2008 mega medical camp, 16300 villagers from 200 villages, including 7634 school children, benefited from the camp.

Major Activities of the Camp:

• Free Medical Check-up of 16,300 villagers (including 7,639 Students from 108 schools) was conducted.
• Distribution of medicines free of cost, to the villagers and distribution of medicines, tonics, syrups etc. to school going children twice during the year.
• Distribution of used clothes to villagers and two sets of uniforms to school going children. During the 2008 camp, 15,268 sets of uniforms, which were stitched from the cloth prepared under the Charkha Yojana, were distributed to 7,634 students (2 sets per student).
• Distribution of caps, slippers, sports materials for school children – This year 7634 sets of slippers and caps were distributed among school going children.
• Distribution of hygiene material such as water purification liquid, anti-lice lotion, toothpowder, soaps, combs etc। and to make the village people aware about the importance of hygiene in their day-today life.

This year, the above mentioned material was distributed among 3600 families from 34 remote villages situated within a specified radius of the camp site.

4. Blood Donation Camps

A mega blood donation camp is organized once in a year by the Foundation with the help of its sister organizations. In the last camp held on 4th May 2008, twenty three reputed Blood Banks of major Government and Municipal Hospitals, such as Nair Hospital, KEM Hospital, TATA Memorial Hospital, J. J. Hospital Cooper Hospital, Bhabha Hospital,, to name a few, participated. In all, 2866 bottles of blood were collected. 56 doctors and 37 paramedical personnel also voluntarily participated in this event.

The Foundation also arranges blood donation camps on a regular basis in different areas across Mumbai and Maharashtra. In the year 2007, a total of 68 blood donation camps were organized by the Foundation, collecting 6059 units of blood.

5. Aniruddha’s Bank For The Blind

As the name suggests, this is a bank, but one that stands apart from the rest. This is a knowledge bank that stores knowledge in the form of Audio Cassettes/CDs for the benefit of the visually challenged. Audio Cassettes/CDs based on the academic curriculum are prepared and given to the visually challenged students of various blind schools and colleges.

Curriculum of courses meant for blind adults, viz. physiotherapy, as also technical courses like lathe training are also recorded on cassettes and CDs. The project has been targeted to reach out to the entire country over the next three years, wherein the cassettes/CDs will be prepared in different languages of the country, depending on the requirement. Volunteers, primarily ladies, record the cassettes/CDs sitting at home, which gives them an opportunity of balancing home and work, and in the process getting a sense of fulfillment. To date, this project has reached out to the needs of such reputed charitable institutions for the visually challenged, such as ‘The Kamala Mehta School for the Blind’ and the ‘National Association for the Blind’ and is now in the process of connecting with a wider user base. So far, more than 30,000 cassettes and CDs have been distributed to various schools and institutions, free of cost, across India and other countries. So far, the curriculum has been recorded on CDs and cassettes in 11 Indian languages, not only for school going students but also for people pursuing post-graduate and vocational courses.

Till date, nearly 65,000 students have benefited from these recorded audio books. Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, through its 250 odd centers and thousands of volunteers, has commenced work in co-ordination with Shree Aniruddha Aadesh pathak and Aniruddha Samarpan Pathak for achieving the ultimate objective of Samartha Bharat – a strong and self relient India.

6. “Clothing with Charkha” (Charkha Vastra Yojana)
Even today there are many children, not just in villages but also in cities, who do not have enough clothing to cover their bodie. As a result, they abstain from attending school and remain deprived of educationIlliteracy breeds blind faith and wrong traditions, which in turn perpetuates poverty. The “Charkha Yojana” had been specifically implemented to break this vicious circle of poverty and illiteracy. Thousands of followers of parampoojya Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu spin Amber charkhas for making thread. The hanks produced from threads are collected and converted into cloth.

School uniforms of various sizes are stitched from this cloth after proper processing and are distributed, free of cost, among the students, in order to motivate and encourage them to attend school Till date, 59,085 sets of uniforms have been distributed to 24,544 students। More than 1,43,000 meters of cloth have been prepared under the Charkha Project upto March 2008। Presently, a total of 3871 Amber Charkhas are in operation। The Foundation also conducts special camps at its affiliated centers throughout the year, in which devotees run the “Amber Charkha”.

7. “Round the year water, farming and fodder plan (Barmass pani-sheti-chara yojana – Gogras yojana)”

Under this scheme, people in urban areas, where water is available in abundance, grow “grass” in their houses and in open spaces, just as we do during the “Navarathri Festival”। It is possible to have a yield of sugarcane, wheat, rice and maize between 3 to 4 times a year. The grass so collected is sent to farmers in the drought stricken areas to feed their cattle. Till date, truckloads of grass has been distributed through our Pune centre in Purander Taluka.

8. “Raddi (used paper) Yojana”

Devotees of P.P Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu, instead of selling old/used newspapers/magazines/notebooks as scrap, donate the same to the Foundation. These are then converted into such useful articles, as paper bags, which not only go a long way in solving the plastic bag problem but also contribute, in its own small yet significant way, in the conservation of the environment. Further, paper pulp made out of this paper is used to make articles such as Word chart, toys and alphabetical blocks, which are distributed to poor students as an incentive for them to attend school.

9. “Old is Gold”

The Foundation collects used (but not torn) clothes, old utensils, old text books and blank pages of notebooks (to convert them into new notebooks) and old toys (not battery operated) and many more. These articles are properly serviced and then distributed to the families of poor students, in order to encourage them to send their children to school. The clothes and utensils so collected are also distributed amongst the people affected by the natural calamities and disasters. The distribution is done in different needy areas all over Maharashtra. Thus so far, around 7,84,000 pieces of different types of clothes and around 3,00,000 utensils, have been distributed to more than 2,00,000 needy people. In addition, approximately 55,000 students from 182 schools have been given different articles, including clothing, for their use. Clothes and Utensils were also distributed in flood affected areas across Maharashtra and in Mumbai during the unprecedented and devastating floods of 26th July, 2005.

10. “The Warmth of Love Project” (Maayechi Oob Yojana)

Torn clothes or pieces of cloth are collected by devotees and converted into quilts, which are then gifted to needy workers, students, women and old persons। The volunteers, both men and women are imparted training on how to make quilts. So far, 2148 pieces of quilts have been prepared and distributed amongst needy people.

11. “The Light of Knowledge Project (Vidya Prakash Yojana)”

Under this program, candles and matchboxes donated by devotees are distributed free of cost to poor students in rural areas, where there is no supply of electricity, thus enabling them to study in candlelight.

12. “Ahilya Sangh Project”

Ahilya is the personification of the misery of the Indian woman; caught between the injustice of society and that of her husband. The Ahilya Sangh has been formed for suitably equipped women with the requisite strength and resolve to counter any exploitation and to face any adversity with fortitude. All the Indian martial arts needed for the self protection of women have been taught to a selected batch of 15 volunteers “free of cost”. These fully trained volunteers are now, in turn, training subsequent batches, each comprising of 80 volunteers. Besides, all women who have been wronged, or are facing a crisis situation in their lives, receive support from the “Ahilya Sangh”.

Women, who suffer because of the addiction of their husbands, also receive help from Ahilya Sangh. Till date, more than 800 ladies have been trained under the Ahilya Sangh Project. The Ahilya Sangh also undertakes tree plantation projects across Maharashtra. The sangh also takes care of the planted trees.

13. “Bharatiya Bhasha Sangam”

Out of all streams of knowledge, the knowledge of language is considered supreme, which is why the Foundation has been carrying out a project of the study of various languages. Each one is expected to learn a language apart from the mother tongue and languages that are already known. A facility to house this activity is being created. Around 1200 volunteers are already studying different Indian languages, apart from their mother tongue which, in time to come, will be of national integration in its truest sense.

14. “The Institute of Studies of Five Continents”

An Institute aimed at the study of the five continents, on the lines of the Institute of Regional Studies is being formed. The progress and politics of the five continents, scientific and educational progress, cultural progress and regression, all will be a part of the study. The study of the world around us only helps in doing a meaningful self-introspection. This Institute will produce social scientists in order to bring the disparate communities of the world together.

15. Re-immersion of Ganapati Idols, cleaning of beaches and cleanliness Drives

Every year, during and after the “Ganapati Festival”, the Lord Ganesh Idols that get washed on to the shore on following the day of immersion, are re-immersed into the sea by the volunteers of the Foundation in association with the volunteers of Aniruddha’s Academy of Disaster Management.

For the past four years, cleanliness drives have been undertaken at the city’s beaches at Girgaum, Dadar, Mahim, Juhu and Versova in Mumbai and also at Kalyan and Ulhasnagar in the suburbs, as well as at the entire shoreline of Maharashtra. During the 2008 celebrations, thousands of volunteers toiled selflessly to re-immerse approximately 10,000 idols, disposed off 45 truckloads of waste dumped on the beaches during the immersion proceedings.

Cleanliness drives are also undertaken on a regular basis at municipal schools, at the public places of worship and at an organization for mentally challenged children in Mankhurd, an eastern suburb of Mumbai.

16. Work in Mental Hospitals and Orphanages

Volunteers of the Foundation, in association with volunteers of sister organizations, regularly visit mental asylums at Thane, Pune and Ratnagiri, along with local doctors and attend to patients with varying ailments. Work is also going on in orphanages at Kolhapur and Mumbai, where the inmates are trained in physical fitness and are taught to recite prayers. Those desirous of pursuing their education are given tuitions. Seva is also being performed at the Sion Paraplegic Foundation, wherein the volunteers regularly interact with students suffering from mental depression due to their physical handicap and help them regain their lost confidence.

Reforming Juvenile Delinquents

This activity is carried out at the David Sasoon School for Juvenile Delinquents at Matunga, Mumbai, where children below 18 years of age, who have run away from home, or who have been disowned by their parents, orphans, or those who have committed crimes are provided shelter and education. The volunteers perform the following sevas in Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur:

• Jaap and Upasana
• Periodic medical examination and provision of medicines
• Conducting regular classes for students
• Special tuitions for SSC students
• Distribution of sweets during festivals
• Physical training
  

17. Work in Hospitals

The volunteers of the organization assist the staff of TATA Memorial Hospital and Nair Hospital in Mumbai, as well as Sasoon Municipal Hospital, Pune, in their day to day work. The scope of work at these hospitals includes:

Registration of patients in registration department

• Guiding outstation patients by filling their railway forms, assisting them in terms of availing the available facilities
• Directing patients to various wards
• Arranging medicines for patients
• Assisting the process for admitting a patient in a ward
• Helping boost the moral of patients during the phase when they have to undergo radiation/chemo therapy. At the Nair hospital, volunteers accompany lonely patients and provide moral support.
• Cleanliness programs are undertaken at Municipal and Government hospitals, where the entire hospital premises, including stairs, toilets, wards, corridors etc. are thoroughly dusted, scrubbed, washed and cleaned.

Total no. of volunteers present for the seva at Sasoon Hospital on a regular basis are:
· Cleanliness Seva for the Hospital – 214
· Blood Donation – 278
· General Seva (above mentioned) – 250

18. Mobile Medication Facilities

Through this project, Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation and other organizations, with the help of trained doctors, offer free medical aid to the poor and under-privileged in Mumbai.

The mobile medical van tours various slum areas in Mumbai every week providing free medical checkup and distributing free medicines, wherever essential.

The mobile medical van covers areas of Worli Naka and Jijamata Nagar every Monday and Thursday, the areas of Mahim, every Tuesday and Friday. Teams of trained doctors, who are volunteers of the Foundation, make themselves available on a rotation basis.

The mobile medical camp is also carried out outside Mumbai, in the under-privileged areas of Virar. Mobile medication facilities, along with cleanliness drives, are carried out at around 9 schools at remote places in Virar, once in every 3 months. Volunteers of Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation clean the surroundings and school areas an medical aid is given to the needy children by trained doctors of the Foundation.

19. Work in Institutions for the Blind

The Social Services wing of the Foundation regularly carries out seva for blind children at the following 4 insstitutions:

1. National Association for Blind (NAB)-
Seva is carried out under two heads
a. Rehabilitation Department – Volunteers assist the children in English speaking, in preparing for various competitions and sports, and teach them cookery skills.

b. Providing Readers and Writers – Every year 20-25 volunteers offer seva as readers and writers for blind children. The readers help them read and understand various topics from their syllabus, while the writers help the children in writing exam papers.

2. Smt. Kamala Mehta School for the Blind (Dadar) –
At this school, which is exclusively for blind girls, volunteers help students from the 1st Std to the 7th Std in their day-to-day studies. The girls are also taught cookery. Doctors, who are volunteers of the Foundation, are present at the time of medical check-up of the students.

3. Victoria Memorial School for the Blind –
Volunteers help students from the 1st Std to the 10th Std in their day-today studies. Volunteers also help students to learn vocational subjects such as handicrafts etc. Doctors, who are volunteers of the Foundation, are present at the time of medical check-up of the students.

4. Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work –
Volunteers offer seva as writers for the blind students.

20. De-addiction centers

Daily sessions are conducted between 6.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. at various centers in the presence of volunteers of the organization and trained doctors. A combination of spiritual and medical therapy is used for the treatment. There is chanting of prayers and meditation on Lord Hanuman, after which the patients are checked and administered the necessary medicines. The prayer and meditation gives mental strength and fortitude to those who seek de-addiction. Till date, approximately 2750 people have benefited from the de-addiction programme and almost 70% (1950 people) have been completely cured. Currently, the de-addiction programme is being conducted at 26 Upasana Centers in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra.

21. Aatmabal Pragram for Women

Although our nation has been making steady economic progress, the state of the average Indian woman, who is the backbone of the family, does not seem to have improved appreciably. Keeping this in view, women are encouraged to attend classes, wherein they are imparted training in day-to-day requirements of life and a positive mindset is nurtured.

This free training program of 6 months encompasses a variety of innovative activities to make women self sufficient in the daily affairs of their respective lives. The training includes learning to handle bank transactions, cultivating and improving speaking skills in the English language, knitting, craft, beauty care, dramatics, dance and also other domestic activities such as changing of gas cylinders, small electrical solutions etc. The main objective of these classes is to develop and enhance the self confidence of women and make them bold enough to face any adversity / setback in their lives.

22. Training in Ancient Indian Martial Arts – ‘Bala Vidya’
(Bala = Strength and Power together)

Param Poojya Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu is himself an exponent of the ancient Indian Martial Arts (Bala Vidya) such as Mudgal Vidya, Ashva Vidya, Suryabhedan Vidya and Yashwanti Malla Vidya, to name a few. Param Poojya Bapu believes that the energy acquired through these Vidyas can bring about major positive changes in the world. During ancient times, India was known and valued for its physical and mental health, to which the comprehensive study and judicious practice of these Vidyas made a significant contribution.

With the purpose of bringing back the bygone golden era and to make his devotees strong and self-reliant, Param Poojya Bapu has personally trained the Pratham Acharya in these ancient martial arts. The Pratham Acharya now trains sunsequent batches of dedicated volunteers.

23. Free Summer Camp for Children – DhangadDhinga

To nurture the potential and to explore the hidden talent of children, a fifteen day summer vacation camp by the name ‘DhangadDhinga’ is organized every year by the Foundation in collaboration with Sai Samartha Vidnyan Prabodhini. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years are given 15 days practical training, keeping in view the overall development of their personality, which is commensurate with their age. In this campo, through free interaction and a playful atmosphere, children are encouraged to develop a positive and healthy attitude and to inculcate self discipline in them which, in turn, gives a tremendous boost to their self confidence.

24. Shree Sai Sachhcharit Panchsheel Examination

These examinations, conducted by the Foundation in collaboration with Sai Samarth Vidnyan Prabodhini are based on the “Shree Sai Sachcharit” – a compilation of the life and teachings of Shree Sai Baba by Shree Govind Raghunath Dabholkar – Hemadpant. The examination intends to instill human values and propagate the path of “Bhakti” to the public at large and to future generations in particular. Half yearly examinations, based on this spiritual text, are conducted free of cost. People of different age groups and from different walks of life appear for this examination. Till date more than 1 lakh people have appeared for the examinations, which ha five levels. These examination papers can be answered in Marathi, Hindi, English, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Oriya, Bengali, Punjabi and German languages.

Recently, the examination format was revised to bring it on the lines of an Open University concept, under which participants can write their examination papers sitting at home and send their answer papers either by post or even via internet.

25. Free Distribution of Notebooks

Every year, around the time when schools reopen, notebooks are distributed to needy and poor students. This year 1 lakh notebooks were distributed to thousands of poor and needy students in Maharahstra and Karnataka. Over the last 5 years, the Foundation along with its sister organizations has distributed about 7 lakhs notebook to needy students.

Aniruddha's Academy of Disaster Management

Aniruddha's Academy Of Disaster Management (AADM), is a charitable organization incorporated in April 2005 with 'Disaster Management' as its principal object. It is the culmination of Param Poojya Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu's divine foresight and vision that has given concrete shape to the idea of having an academy of disaster management, that would impart basic training to the citizens of the country at large and specialized training to the would be trainers, on how to cope with all kind of disasters, both natural and man-made. The trained volunteers would, in turn, reach out amoung the masses across the lenght and breadth of the country.

Disaster Management, as an idea and concept took shape in the year 2001 under the auspices of Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Upasana Trust. A 14-day workshop organized from 14th February 2002 to 27th February 2002 marked a definite and successful beginning in that direction. On the occasion, highly qualified officers from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Mumbai Police, Mumbai Fire Brigade and institutes such as KEM Hospital, BYL Nair Hospital and IIT Mumbai delivered lectures on various aspects of possible disasters and disaster management plans. It was in early 2005, when the activity had gathered the requisite 'critical mass' that the need was felt to hive off this activity into a seperate organization, in order to get focus and attention that it deserved.

Currently, AADM's scope of operation covers conducting basic training courses, providing assistance to local and civic bodies during any unforeseen natural and man-made disasters and providing crowd control seva at various public functions. AADM has also undertaken projects such as Vermiculture and Pulse Polio Vaccination drives for the general welfare of society.

Below is a summary of the various activities undertaken by the Academy over the years.

1. Basic Training Course

The basic Training Course includes training Disaster Management Volunteers (DMVs) in the finer aspects of the first-aid with the objective of saving lives until proper medical assistance arrives. Apart from the first-aid techniques the training course also covers information on all possible kinds of disasters and ways to effectively respond to them. This includes natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, famines, drought, etc. and man-made disasters such as bomb blasts, communal riots etc., as also nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, which have come to pose a genuine and serious threat to the very survivl of mankind and civilization

The training course also includes pratical sessions that teach the participants various Rescue Methods, Cardio-Pulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation (CPCR techinques), Fire fighting etc. These training courses are offered free cost. The Academy has so far successfully trained more than forty-thousand citizens, many of whom become DMVs.

'The Textbook of Disaster Management' prepared by the Academy has proved to be of great help in training the average citizen on how to effectively face disaster situations. The basic aim of this disaster management course is to teach a person to save one's life first in order to be able to save other people's lives.

2. Natural Disasters

When Mumbai and in fact the entire state of Maharashtra was caught unawares in the grip of the floods caused by the torrential rains of 26th July 2005, the disaster management team of AADM reached out to several places within and outside Mumbai to assist the local administration and the police in the rescue operations.

The efforts put in by the DMVs of AADM during the rescue operations was greatly appreciated and was acknowledged in the form of an invitation to participate in the 'Mansoon Disaster Plan (2007)' launched by the municipal authorities of Mumbai. The heavy showers in July 2007 too led to floods in several areas of Mumbai. The AADM, adhering to its basic objective, rushed its DMVs to the sites where flooding had occured and helped regulate traffic and transport people to safety.

• Landslides like the one that occured at Saki Naka, Mumbai on 26th July 2005, are instance of disasters, that require trained human intervention. The DMVs palyed a major role in assisting the local authorities, fire brigade and police in extricating bodies that were trapped in the rubble of the landslide and also helpled in saving lives, under extremly challenging conditions.



• Being trained in handling incidents of fire, the DMVs extend help and first aid, as they did at Jogeshwari (a fire at the office of Fairdeal Corporation Ltd.) and Sakinaka (fire caused by short circuit at Hansa Ind. Estate) in Mumbai on 26th January, 2006 an d6th July, 2006, respectively.

3. Man-Made Diasaters

In the recent past, the city of Mumbai has been witnes to acts of terrorism by way of bomb basts, in which many an innocent life has been lost. The serial blasts in the suburban train compartments of the Western Railway on 11th July 2006, sent a wave of panic among the citizens. the DMVs promptly reached the various sites and assisted the authorities in rescuing people from the debris and transporting the injured as well as the dead bodies to nearby hospitals.

The DMVs also actively participated in the relief work following the bomb blasts in Mumbai at Ghatkopar on 02nd December, 2002 and at Mumbai Central on 06th December, 2002; they not only helped trasport victims to local hospitals but also helped their relatives to complete the registration formalities at the hospital.

4. Crowd Control during Festivals

Fairs and festivals at religious places attract crowds in large numbers and from regions far and wide. The DMVs help the police and local authorities in controlling and regulating the crowds queuing up for darshan, as also in the channels where large crowd movement takes place. In the year 2005, during the annual festival fair at Mandhardevi, Satara, a huge DMVs from the nearby centers (males as well as females) rushed to the disaster site immediately and commenced rescue operations.

DMVs carried the dead bodies to a safe place with the help of ropes and other specialised techniques. Female DMVs also actively helped staff in receiving and attending to the patients/dead bodies.

Apart from this, DMVs had also helped in managing the angry and panicking crowd around the hospital.

This seva was appreciated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Vilasroa Deshmukh as well as the Dy. Chief Minister Shri R.R.Patil, who personally met the DMVs and appreciated the seva.

The DMVs of the AADM have invited on a regular basis to manage crowds of bhaktas at the annual festival of Jyotiba, at the Kumbh Mela and at the Mandhardevi fair for the last 3 years. AADM also offers, on a regular basis, seva at the Shree Siddhivinayak temple (Prabhadevi, Mumbai) on the day of 'Sankashta Chaturthi' and during the 'Navaratri festival' at the Mahalakshmi temple (Mahalakshmi, Mumbai).

Moreover, since past two years, AADM has been offering crowd control seva at the Mount Mary Fair organised annually at the Mount Mary Church, Bandra. At each of these venues, the Academy alsa sets up a well-equipped medical counter to take care of any medical emergencies.

The Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrated in Maharashtra has certain specific days for the immersion of idols. On these days the DMVs help the civic authorities and play a major role in the management of the massive getherings. On the request of the Fire Brigade, for the past two years DMVs of the Academy arte being posted in the immediate vicinity of at least 22 different immersion spots of Navi Mumbai in order to control & regulate the huge crowds that gether on the occasion of immersion.

5. Lord Ganesh Idols re-immersion seva

Lord Ganesh idols are usually made of Plaster of Paris and, therefore, take a long time to completely dissolve in water. Consequently, these idols are washed back to the shore, which is certainly not a pleasant sight to behold. The DMVs, alongwith the volunteers of its sister organisation Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, then undertake the re-immersion of such idols in the deeper water with the help of boats. The beaches are also fully cleaned and spruced up with infrastructural support from the Municipal authorities by way of garbage vans, equipments, etc.

6. Vermiculture and Pulse Polio Vaccination drive
Vermiculture

Vermiculture means artificial cultivation of earthworms. Vermicompost is the excreta of earthworms which is considered as one of the most effective and environment friendly fertilizers, without any harmful side effects. Earthworms eat cow dung and other solid wastes like household garbage and give out vermicompost. Municipal waste and non-toxic solid and liquid waste generated by industies can also similarly be converted into vermicompost. Earthworms not only convert garbage into valuable manure but also keep the environment healthy.

The conversion of garbage by earthworms into compost and the multiplication of earthworms are simple processes and can be easily carried out even at one’s residence.

P. P. Aniruddha Bapu’s blessings and inspiration, the vermiculture project is currently being run successfully by the AADM.

The project was first started at the residence of volunteers, who created vermiculture bins from household items and with an initial ‘seed’ provided by the Academy. Efforts yielded large amount of vermicompost by feeding earthworms with day to day household garbage / waste.

After a specified duration, the entire vermicompost and vermiwash so generated is handed over by volunteers to the Academy. The vermicompost is also used for pre plantation activity carried out by Upasana Centers throughout the state of Maharashtra.

Till date, aprox. 15 tonnes of vermicompost has been distributed amongst needy farmers, absolutely free of cost.

AADM conducted a large scale project of Vermiculture at the Central Railway Workshop (Mumbai) using their canteen and garden waste. This project was hugely appreciated by the local civic bodies as well as by the corporate sector. The team which implemented this project now acts as a training team for setting up such projects on a large scale, as well as on a small scale (i.e. at the household level) and upon request, also offers consultancy to various housing societies, public institutions, the corporate sector, schools, colleges etc.

Basic aims and objectives of this project are :

1। Working towards a better environment by disposing of garbage and waste in a productive manner.

2. Production of vermicompost through vermiculture technology which can be put to effective use for :

• Tree plantation project


• Supply of the produce to drought prone areas and to needy farmers.

Pulse Polio Vaccination

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It attacks the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in matter of hours. It can strike at any age, but mainly affects children under the age of three. (Accounting for over 50% of all cases) There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented through immunization. Various polio vaccines, administered in multiple doses, at monthly intervals almost always protect a child for life.

The polio virus generally spreads though contaminated water. As there is lack of awareness about the importance of hygiene in our country, polio tends to spread at a faster rate. Thus, to make children immune to Polio and to eradicate it completely from our city/country, the Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika / Govt of India has, from time to time, undertaken Pulse Polio Vaccination drives, wherein every child below six years of age is administered polio vaccine every month for a specified period.

In May 2005, the Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika asked AADM to provide volunteers for its vaccination programme. Since then, AADM had been regularly providing volunteers for this pulse polio vaccination seva.

This seva is carried out on a Sunday of every month (as decided by BMC). The vaccinations are provided by BMC, and a trained Doctor provides guidance to the volunteers about the usage of medicine and the necessary precaution to be taken while giving the vaccine the children. The DMVs provide seva at pulse polio booths, which are usually situated at railway platforms and at area having maximum crowd density; the idea being to cover the maximum number of children and to make every child free from polio. DMVs from Mumbai and also from areas like Thane, Kalyan-Dombivali and Navi Mumbai have been actively participating in the Pulse Polio Vaccination Drive.