PREM’s 40 years journey (1982-2022)
Bureau,Odishabarta
Berhampur: People‘s Rural Education Movement (PREM), a voluntary organisation, celebrated the jubilee of its 40 years journey committed to the cause of the Adivasis, Dalits, fisher people, marginal farmers and other ultra poor communities, with a special focus on women and children, on the 19th of February, 2023 at the same ground of Mohana block where had launched its movement four decades ago. More than 1500 people from different corners of Gajapati district had gathered for the celebration.
Mr. Chandra Sekhar Sahu, honorable MP, Berhampur constituency had graced the occasion as the chief guest and Mr. Dasharathi Gomango, MLA, Mohana, Mr. K. Narayan Rao, MLA, Parlakhemundi, Mr. Ali Kishore Patnaik , general secretary, CPM Odisha state, Mr. Rabi Rath, editor Nabeen, Mr. Jaya Krishna Hota , senior media person, were the honorable guests present for the function. Among the distinguished dignitaries from donor agencies who along with the guests adorned the dais with their inspiring presence were Mr. Babu Joseph, Ex-Executive Officer, Axis Bank Foundation, Mr.Augustin Ullatill, Ex-Regional Director, Community Aid Abroad, Mr. Guru Prasad Rao, Country Director, EDUCO, India and Mr.Balban (EDUCO). Also present were Mr. Tirupati Mishra, Mr. Kumar Prasant, Mr. Kaali Charan Dash, Mr. Rabi Mohanty, Mr. Pruthvi Raj Dandasena, Gangeba Nayak, Mr. Marshal Nayak and Mr. Sudhir Kant Lima , the ex-associates of People’s Rural Education Movement and Mr. Cyril Nayak and Innocent Pani, the comrades of the founders Dr, Jacob Thundyil and Dr. Chacko Paruvanany at the outset of the movement.
Mr. Sudhir Digal, a senior programme manager, PREM, anchored and Dr. Jacob Thundyil presided over the function; the president PREM welcomed all the guests, dignitaries, the media persons, the VIPs and all other participants of the jubilee. He found himself fulfilling to have come back to the same ground where PREM’s journey had began forty years ago and to have reached out to 10 million poor people during the journey that started with 15 villages of Mohana block, walked into 15 districts of Odisha and the East Coast from West Bengal to Kanaya Kumari and strode out into 15 other states of tribal concentration in India.
The report of forty years journey, read out by Mr. Valerian D’Lima, termed the journey to be a Special history of the second freedom movement of the socially oppressed, tortured, despised, exploited, neglected and excluded sections of society spearheaded by PREM. He briefed PREM’s holistic approach to the liberation and development of these communities; PREM was said to have achieved milestones of replicable models along all domains of human life; Support of 100000 Adivasi and Dalit children to complete secondary education and of 3000, to do English medium education, horticulture in 30000acres of shift cultivation area regaining forest ecology, its health promotion scheme turning into Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana of the government of India, the Mother Tongue Based Multilingual ECE for tribal area replicated by the State and Central governments, Universal Birth registration of 5200000 under 18-years children, Malaria prevention and Control program, more than 150 model villages molded after Gudang Garjang, imbibed with 10 standard attributes(called 10 commandments) , gender equity, women’s empowerment, extensive emergency and restoration measures during the catastrophes during the period, CORONA preventive actions, advocacy for Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area Act and the Forest Rights Act etc. The chief guests and others on the dais appreciated the founders of PREM, Dr. Jacob and Dr. Chacko for their persevering effort that helped the organisation complete forty years of its existence bringing about socio-economic and political transformation. They expressed their happiness over being associated with PREM and contributing to the development of its focal groups.
Two booklets-one on PREM’s people led Advocacy and the other being on PREM’s forty years commitment, were released by the guests on the dais. PREM honored all the guests and dignitaries on the dais and other s who were with it in its journey with shawls and mementos.
The tribal dance, an English song by a group of girls from St.Anne’s and the songs of awareness building sung by a choir group seated near the stage , among others, boosted the jovial environment of the jubilee.
The function came to a close with Mr. Ratan Mishra, the Public Relation Officer, PREM, making the vote of thanks. Special thanks were given to the teams of PREM family that were engaged in different tasks to make the whole program a success.
