MINI SHODH YATRA

From Vachhraj Bet Zinzuwada (Desert) To Kharaghoda, Surendranagar
District, Gujarat

Date: 11/5/09 to 14/5/2009

Organizing Institute: Sristi and Gantar

Meeting Venue for the research campaign: Gantar Campus, Patadi, Dasada Road,
District-Surendranagar. Phone: 02757-227836, 94272 16069

 (All the Shodhyatries are expected to be at the meeting
venue on Monday 11/5/09, at 3 p.m. from where they will depart for Vachhraj Bet
as a single group)

 Aims of the Shodhyatra:

 (1)    To ponder over the alternatives to improve  the socio-economic conditions of the salt-workers working with hardship in extreme conditions
 (2)    To understand the lifestyle of the salt farmers and their struggle.
 (3)    To consider various health issues of the laborers working in salt-pan and to study the feasibility of improving their life
 (4)    To know and learn about the methods of salt production and to study the feasibility of industries that can be based on salt production.
 (5)    To document the traditional wisdom and knowledge of locals and strive to see if any value can be added to it
 (6)    To identify and reward the traditional knowledge holders and new researches.
 (7)    To built a check dam of knowledge by organizing plant food competitions, knowledge garden, (herbal plantation), and detailed village knowledge registers.
 (8)    To spread awareness among the local women folk about the nutritional value of less used food items and grains and also about the various food preservation techniques by organising food recipe diversity competitions.
 (9)    To evaluate if any knowledge based enterprises can be set up by documenting knowledge about the diversities of the plant world of desert areas and its preservation
 (10) To learn about the struggle of the life of village people without water, during the years of famine especially in dry areas.
 (11) To organise discussions to seek solutions of local problems, and also to include new socially relevant topics in the syllabus of primary education textbooks.

 The Yatra has been organised considering the above objectives and to achieve the same your active participation is solicited. We believe that such a tour will be a landmark for all similar forthcoming activities.

Important message:

(1)  
Knowledge
Journey: In this special tour the planning of food and accommodation will
be done by the youth of the salt farming community under the guidance of
Gantar. As you would appreciate that this study tour is not a part of any
project rather it is a journey to discover, experience and to reward the
hardship, the diversities, and to peep into the rural way of living of salt
workers of the surrounding areas. Gantar is carrying a campaign to educate the children
of salt-workers, for the last 12 years. This study tour will also help to understand
and promote this experimental education system.

(2)  
Registration:
We all will have to share lodging, boarding and transport expense contributing
equally. Thus you are requested to send a total of Rs 450 to the address of
Institute Office of Gantar, for the three days (daily contribution being Rs 150
per day per head) to register your name in advance. Registration fees will be
accepted at the Gantar Office in the form of Money order, payable at par cheque,
Demand Draft or cash. Advance registration is must and no body will be allowed later
without advance enrolment.

Address: 
Gantar Office:

Gantar, Prabha
Colony, Last tenement, Underbridge end, Usmanpura, Nr. Vidhyanagar Highschool,
Ahmedabad-380014, Phone: 27542681, Fax-27542683,

E.Mail.: gantar@dataone.on, gantar@gmail.com

(3)   Temperature:

Participant must
be in good health and be able to walk 20 to 25 kms daily under hot and dry
conditions. It is useful to remind that this is a tough voyage, in the heat of a
desert with heat waves and stormy sandy winds. So it is advisable to carry
relevant items of need/use including light clothes, cap, sunglass, water-bag,
shoes etc. suitable for hot conditions.