Project profile
Leading
ONG : Jan Kala Sahythia Manch Sanstha (JKSMS) http://www.jksms.org/
General management of the
project. This Indian ONG has been active since 1988 in the field of
street children shelter, women empowerment and general social awareness
in the slum belt and rural areas around Jaipur. It is already supported
by public funds for these activities.
Partner
in launching phase
: University of Lausanne – Centef http://www.multimusee.ch/set.html
Region
of implementation
: Vagad – South Rajasthan
Duration : 1st phase (launching)
2 years – total duration : 5 years
Details of project
The
problem we are addressing :
- Rural exodus and growing slum
belts in Rajasthani cities.
- Poor state of development of Vagad
region in general, due to drought and lack of economic activities.
- Particularly poor state of health
and education and general welfare of Vagad Bhil tribal populations
(living outside the villages).
- Deforestation and lack of water.
- Vanishing cultural heritage (non
documented and non-protected).
- Low level of tourism and economical
activity.
Leading
idea, - how does it address the problems issues
The
big idea is to revive Vagad region so as to prevent people from leaving
: prioritarily address Bhil tribals' very low standard of life, but
also to create a place where Vagad culture, economical activity and
environmental awareness are being revived and supported.
We
believe
1)
that sustainable
development needs to be rooted in a strong feeling of identity and
self empowerment of concerned populations; and
2)
that creativity and
cultural jubilation as well as contact with people from outside are
going to support motivation and sustainable economical activity.
We
thus plan to create a Vagad House of Culture (VHC) that will address
cultural, social, health, educational, economical and communicational
issues.
We
want this center to be situated near to the archeological site of
Arthuna temples so as to benefit from regular worhipers' and -yet
still low - touristic flow. Cultural activities will attract foreign
customers as well as local users and allow a good communicative approach
to locals for health and social issues. A flexible staff trained to
artistic expression techniques (street theatre and visual arts) as
well as aware of social and environmental questions guarantees a people
centered approach.
How
are we going to Implement that
idea
-
JKSMS is going to buy a piece of land and start building
a complex that will comprise :
o
A Museum
o
A Social and Healthcare Center
o
An Education and Vocational Training
center
1) Life Style Museum: collect objects, localise craftsmen,
set up display.
2) Visual Arts and
Creative Activities : lead next annual International Site specific
Art workshops; publish catalogues; organise collecting of old photos
and set up exhibitions; organise visual art workshops.
3) Forum Theatre and clowning : set up 2004 International summer
workshop, perform in villages;
set up
4) Literature, Heritage and Library. Identify Vagad concerned
literature. Create library. Identify and document unprotected architectural
heritage.
5) Education. Start environmental awareness program with 10
schools. Start water harvesting awareness program in villages. Set
up MCT and teach computer user skills.
6) Health care and Population Control. Run 10 theatre performances
on health issues and display information; provide mobile health consultancy
and services to Tribal population. Run health education programs for
6 women's groups.
7) Social Awareness and Micro-financing. Set up women's groups. Design communities' resource
maps. Start micro-financing and set up 6 income generation program.
8) Guesthouse : welcome foreign participants
to theatre and visual arts workshops
How
is our idea innovative or different from existing solutions
Our
innovative idea is to combine artistic commitment with social experience
(http://www.jksms.org/) and academic resources (http://www.multimusee.ch/set.html - Carnets d'Etape).
It relies on following cumulated elements :
1) Main actors are confirmed experts in their field and Vagad rooted;
they have a strong local and professional network.
2) Artistic and development activities are tightly linked. Art can
support and boost development by creating economic activity. Cf .
Bruce Barber?s Sentences on Littoral Art (http://www.wizya.net/sentence.htm)
3) Choice of communication techniques is relevant :
Forum Theatre : Carvan Theatre performs following the Augusto Boal
technique (http://www.unomaha.edu/~pto/augusto.htm)
Site specific art is a concept that involves social, political, economical,
geographical, religious, genealogical, philosophical and historical
concerns.
4)
We inspire from
-
Cholamandal artists’
village ("http://www.cholamandalartvillage.com/" ) near Chennai
-
Shilpgram Crafts
village (http://www.udaipurplus.com/wzcc/shilpgram.htm) near Udaipur.
-
Water haversting
: JKSMS has already built a "johad" with Phagi population
(near Jaipur) following Tarun Bharat Sangh technique (http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/inspirational/tbs.html)
5) Reproductibility
: Our project mainly relies on the fact that its actors are
1)
socially
aware and active artists and
2)
locally
rooted.
A Western academic
documentation, support and possible assessment could make Vagad House
of Culture be a pilot project. Follow up of the project
on an internet website will allow others to inspire from our experience.
What
are the expected outcomes/results of our project? Whom will they benefit?
Social
and health care :
-
Bhil families develop
local economical activity through micro-financing.
-
Bhil communities
state of health improves through
1)
action of mobile
health care unit
2)
Carvan Theatre Forum
performances on health and population control issues
-
Bhil Women empowerment
through vocational training programs.
-
Rural communities
linked together through Multipurpose Community Telecenter
Environment
:
-
with schools
-
with tribal communities
Culture
and tourism:
-
Save heritage
1)
Tape complete Galaleng
saga by old professional storytellers
2)
Document unprotected
temples and sculptures
-
Publish and update
a website on Vagad culture
-
Build and run guesthouse
How
will your project be sustainable ?
1)
JKSMS (http://www.jksms.org/) is well known in Rajasthan for its 20 year long achievements. We may
expect continued governmental help on social issues.
2)
Cultural activities
and guesthouse will generate income (museum customers, workshops'
participants and artists' residencies)
3)
Carvan Theatre Company
has become professional and well known beyond borders. Generates income.
4)
Microfinance will
generate income and allow customers to pay for services.
5)
Local community has
been contacted and is willing to support.