My experiences at 6th Convocation of Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy Fellowships, MSSRF, Chennai (1st to 4th December 2009)

My experiences at 6th Convocation of Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy Fellowships, MSSRF, Chennai (1st to 4th December 2009)

I got a call from MSSRF’s Project Coordinator and Director about me participating in the NVA Induction and Convocation as Facilitator on 30th, I readily accepted the same.

Day 1- 1st December 2009:

I reached MSSRF, Chennai along with my friend Sadayappan who is also an IAS aspirant like me. We met the Project Coordinator and Director. We were asked to attend a 2 day training programme on Facilitation and Rapporteuring.

The first day training was conducted by an Assistant Professor from Anna University. Rapporteuring training on the first day helped both of us in improving our understanding about listening, notes taking and report writing. We also had practical sessions. We felt if we had had this class before main exam it would had been great.

Day 2- 2nd December 2009:

On the second day we had introduction to concept of fellowship under JNT-NVA. We were also instructed on the facilitation of the 1 day induction programme for the new NVA fellows. It was fun as the induction programme itself had lot of games like ice breaking session, balloon balancing and web of thread etc.

Day 3- 3rd December 2009:

I was allocated with 5 others as Facilitator for 56 new NVA fellows from Tamil Nadu under Social Welfare and Awareness category. We first welcomed them gave a PPT presentation on the concept of NVA fellowship, roles and responsibility.

I administered the President A.P.J. Abdul Kalams oath for NVA Fellows. It mentioned that one has to educate at least 5 children for 3 years, plant 5 fruit bearing tree, harvest rain in a village pond, drop at least one family dispute or court case for familial amity, be honest and not to take bribe, treat male and girl child as equal while providing education etc and not to take drugs or alcohol.

After that we used various interviewing technique to find out
 Their unique aspect which helped them in getting the fellowship
 The List of organisations or individual which helped them in getting the fellowship
 Methods they are currently using for collection and dissemination of content and capacity building
 Challenges and gap in their tasks
 The things they are expecting from JNT-NVA and its Training school
 Individual future plan
 And finally updated their profile

I met various men and women from various walks of life, for example…
 Mr.Ezhilan a fisherman from Thoothukudi was very serious about saving sea environment, corals, sea turtles for the future generation, his sincerity made me emotionally charged up
 Mr.Arumuga Pandiyan had lots of knowledge about various traditional herbs and wanted help to further his study on plants and herbs, he had the Childs enthusiasm for innovation
 Mr.Chandrasekar a 27 year old youth wanted to empower and guide youth of his taluk through education and capacity building, he wanted to know about NREGA’s Social Audit etc
 75 year old tribesman Andi wanted to establish a government teacher trainng school in his tribal village, his earlier efforts in educating his tribesman has helped a ward to become an IAS officer
 Palpandian is also called as Birdman as he and his wife has dedicated their life for conserving birds and bird’s habitat in forests of Thirunelveli.
 Balamugundan a youth leader from Karaikal wanted to make his village alcohol free
 Selvakumari was a orthopedically handicapped who was helping fellow handicapped people to rise up in their life. She wanted to expand her garment export business.
 Kumudha a SHG leader wanted to take possession of the Women Activity Center building allocated for SHG’s by the government from the male dominated Panchayats control.
 If I remember right Vijaya, Anburaj, Sundaramurthy and one more women came forward to lead some of the discussions.
 There was serious effort from Women to convey their displeasure over male domination in the society
 Sundaramurthy was for a surprise when he came to know that all Panchayats in Tamil Nadu has a Library, but it was not so in Puducherry U.T.
 Former Leprosy patient and Muslim women Ujala Begum was very determined in expanding her already successful SHG groups to Scheduled Caste section of her village. Really she will spread her inner Ujala to others further

At end of the session I realized that....
 if they all could do so much without proper know how, how much I can do for the society with my present knowledge.
 I saw a raw courage in them in fighting for social justice, which I have to develop further consciously.
 If we could help them to develop their leadership skills and provide details about their duties and entitlements, they could quicken the silent revolution they are already leading for long.
 I could see immense creativity and ability to innovate in them all.
 Even when facing heavy odd, they have withstood their alone to realize their dream, which mostly are too big for them

Day 4: 4th December 2009

We typed out reports on the Induction programme we conducted the previous day. I also coordinated to prepare a speech on behalf all fellows of Social Welfare and awareness group. It was finally delivered by a fellow from Andhra in Telugu. It listed all the activities they did and their outcome.

Events During the Convocation

In the fellows speech the fellow from our group mentioned their needs as follows..
• Certification for existing knowledge
• Certificate training courses
• ID Card for NVA fellows
• Toll free common helpline numbers for NVA fellows
• Communication and Leadership skill Training course
• Accounts, Office Management and Documentation Training
• Basic English and Hindi Knowledge

In the convocation function the coordinator of the programme mentioned some of the important needs as expressed by the fellows of Social Welfare and awareness group, such as…

• Popularize NVA fellows at district level
• Prof.M.S.Swaminathan can speak often in TV about importance of agriculture and NVA fellows

The Coordinator also mentioned about the individual future plans of the fellows of Social Welfare and awareness group as
 One young fellow wants to make his village free from alcohol (Balamugundan from Karaikal)

Dr. Bruce Albert released two Photo book on the silent knowledge revolution the MSSRF-JNT-NVA is brining about in rural India. It was photographically authored by internationally acclaimed photographer Mr.Suchit Nanda.

Dr. Bruce Albert in his convocation speech mentioned that
 The induction of fellows in JNT-NVA is as significant as US National Academy of science does.
 He said that this induction process is just the beginning and he is expecting lot from the new fellows
 He envisioned a day when thousands get inducted every year
 He said that JNT-NVA has become a world wide movement
 He admired M.S.Swaminathan for his ability to think big and the same time implement it too.

Professor M.S.Swaminathan in his presidential address mentioned that…
 these fellows rise to this level is as blossoms in the desert
 He appreciated the commitment for social cause
 He mentioned that he missed new fellows from Punjab who are currently facing acute water shortage
 fellows are role model for all of us
 He lamented about the stagnation in the crop productivity in India, this years drought, 18% food inflation, the rise in international rice price due to India’s decision to import it.
 He mentioned that the poor return from agriculture is making India the home to world largest population of hungry people and children suffering from malnutrition
 He said that farmers have to be guided in Post Disaster sowing choices and process
 He envisioned that JNT-NVA will be largest academy with 1.2 million fellows as he wishes at least 1 male and female fellow for each of the 0.6 million Indian villages.
 He was worried about the rising input cost and declining return from the investment in agriculture
 He was greatly stressed by the fact that the yield gap is 50% in India
 He said MSSRF will launch entitlement passbook for Indian farmers in order to help them know the entitlement from government as farmers
 He wished that the projects like National Agriculture development Project (Rs.25,000 crore), National Horticulture Mission (Rs 3000 crore), National Food Security Mission (Rs 5000 crore) and NREGA (Rs 30,000 crore) will be honestly implemented by the government and that the poor farmers will get full benefit of the programmes.
 He mentioned NREGA as World’s largest environment and ecological conservation project
 He was worried that Agriculture growth has shrank to 0.9% in Q2 and population growth stays at 2% per annum
 He wanted pairty in the number of men and women fellows in the JNT-NVA.
 He said that the “Fish for all and ever” School will be inaugurated on 26th December in Poombuhar in Tamilnadu.
 He mentioned that MSSRF is trying to help the animal herders of Phokran (Nuclear Testing field of India) in Rajasthan to improve their income earning capacity. (Prof.Swaminathan is the Past President of PugWash group)
 His speech reflected the grim situation the poor world and Indian farmers are facing today. He was mentioning about dangers of global warming more than once


Presentation of the fellowship:

One could see the great regard these new fellows had towards the fellowship, Dr.Bruce Alberts and Prof.Swaminathan. Maram Kandasamy or Tree Kandasamy – a new fellow presented tree samplings to Prof and Dr.Bruce Alberts, which is his life long habit. He arranged for distribution of free sampling to all the participants.