Village work by org. AGSSBK

Sanyasi Lohar, currently head of the RSV primary school, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala-Bhavan, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. He sees himself as a professional artist. As part of his professional career as an artist, he visited Europe several times, especially Germany, Austria, England, Switzerland and the Netherlands. He also accompanied three times a “Santal Cultural Team” from “Ghosaldanga Adibasi Seva Sangha” (GASS) to Europe, which was headed by Martin Kämpchen.

Martin Kämpchen has been working with a circle of young friends from the Santal villages of Ghosaldanga and Bishnubati for more than 35 years. These include especially Sona Murmu, Boro Baski, Snehadri S. Chakraborty, Gokul Hansda and also Sanyasi Lohar. They are involved in various sectors with the Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adibasi Trust (GBAT), e.g as a teacher or social worker.

Sanyasi Lohar is a resident of Ashadullapur / Bishnubati. From birth he has lived with the rural community of District Birbhum all his life, which is reflected in his art work. He has also been shaped by the trips and visits of numerous places within India and by his international exposure. These influences made him realize, that he should do some service for the development of the rural poor people, in addition to his work under the GBAT.

To realize this dormant wish, he founded a registered organization, Ashadullapur Gramin Silpa & Sastha Bidhan Kendra (AGSSBK) in the year 2007-2008, this with the help and active participation of some of his like-minded Indian friends and some foreign well-wishers. In 2008 he started social work in the poor rural community of Rindanga, a Konra tribe village.

The organization focuses primarily on promoting rural crafts and creating better health and education facilities.

History of the Organization

In the beginning the organisation  started with several small Awareness Generation Camps. Sick people were taken to the government hospital for free treatment. An Eye Operation Camp was organized with the Town Lion's Club, a Medical Unit Society in Guskara, West Bengal. As a part of a Livelihood Development and an Income Generating Programme (I.G.P.), three Self-Help Groups (S.H.G.) were formed, regular meetings were conducted and the record of each each session were kept.

In March 2009, Mr Alan Rousham from England and Dr. Monika Golembiewski, a child specialist from Germany, visited the organization. They were impressed to see these activities and began to help. With their limited funds in 2008, a Children Art Workshop was conducted in Kamalakantapur Primary School. Further, a Nutrition and Feeding Programme was started at Rindanga tribal village.

Also, Nico and Silvia Golembiewski as well as „Friends of Ghosaldanga and Bishnubati e.V.“ from Germany donated some funds through the Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adibasi Trust (GBAT) for building community toilets and bathrooms. Three of them are in use, two in Rindanga, and one in Panchabanpur

Target communities and programs

Target communities of AGSSBK are women, children, tribals, members of Schedule Castes and artisans. It is now working in Kasba, Ruppur and Sattore Panchayats of Bolpur-Sriniketan Block of Birbhum District of West Bengal (INDIA).

The programmes of AGSSBK are as broadly directed at:

  1. Health Awareness,Community Health Organization, Women’s Empowerment;
  2. Nutrition & Feeding Programmes;
  3. Evening Coaching Centres, Education;
  4. Training in Arts and Crafts.

Current situation (as of 2019)

Rindanga Village Profile

Location: Rindanga , Bolpur Sriniketan Block, Birbhum Dist. (W.B) – five km from Bolpur.
Number of families: 63; number of inhabitants: 307
Occupation:  daily labourers 
Community: Konra Tribal
Main activities since 2008: nutrition programmes, sanitation, kitchen gardens, medical help.

Providing nutritious food for children from birth to 5 years
Number of children: 28
Pregnant women: 04
Lactating women: 06
Total: 38
Cook: 01
Helper: 01

 

Tanthbuni Village Profile

Location: Tanthbuni , Bolpur Sriniketan Block, Birbhum Dist. (W.B)
Number of families 30,  
Number of inhabitants: 145.
Occupation: daily labourers
Community: Santal Tribal
Main activities (since 2012): nutrition programmes, sanitation, kitchen gardens, medical help and education (Evening Coaching Centre since 2018).

Providing nutritious food for children from birth to 5 years
Number of children: 19
Pregnant women: 07
Lactating women:  05
Total: 31
Cook: 01
Helper: 01
Evening Coaching Centre:  Class V to IX.
Teacher: 01

Rayerpukur Village Profile

Location: Rayerpukur, Bolpur Sriniketan Block, Birbhum Dist (W.B) (15 km west of Santiniketan and Bolpur town)
Activities in this village was started in July 2014
Number of families: 64, number of inhabitants: 475
Occupation: Daily labourers
Community: Santal Tribal
Main activities (since 2012): nutrition programmes, sanitation, kitchen gardens, medical help and education (Evening Coaching Centre since 2019), arts and crafts projects.

Providing nutritious food for children from birth to 5 years
Number of Children: 19
Pregnant women: 07
Lactating women:  05
Cook: 01
Total: 31
Helper 01
Evening Coaching Centre: Class V to X 
Teacher: 01