‘Vision 2026’ Gramin Dosti Project to Adopt 100 Villages: T. Arif Ali

Vice President Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Chairman Human Welfare Foundation T. Arif Ali said that ‘Vision 2026’ has taken up the project to adopt and renovate 100 villages within the next 10 years. The plan to adopt villages is prepared under the project called ‘Gramin Dosti’.
The new project is formed on the experience and lessons learnt from the previous activities in the villages. When the Sachar Committee Report was published, the realisation that the backwardness of the Muslim society cannot be solved only by the government schemes gave impetus to the project ‘Vision 2016’ which was started in 2006.
Mr. Ali, who had come to attend the Youth Convention held under the auspices of Doha International Centre for Inter-Faith Dialogue, while speaking to Gulf Madhyamam, said the projects under ‘Vision 2016’ have benefitted a lot in solving the backwardness of the minority communities.
In ‘Vision 2026’ centralised activities are more in focus. The projects have been crafted aiming at laying the foundation of sustainable development in North Indian villages.
The aim is to nurture and cultivate the village people instead of providing them with charities and financial support. Targets which will fulfil the necessities of a sustainable development like availing themselves of educational facilities, teaching them matters of hygiene, maintenance of health standard, and procurement of nutritious food, etc. have been formulated.
A method in which the youth of the villages are made to volunteer and participate in the activities will be implemented. The programmes will be formulated by both of us and our aim will be to create strength and confidence in them so as to hand over the project to the next generation if we back away from the project. Instead of spending much money, the efforts will be done to avail the government projects which have not reached them yet. The programme to avail themselves of and benefit from the hundreds of projects to empower villages, for the welfare of the Dalit and backward communities, for the minorities etc. under the state as well as central governments will be carried out. The skill will be nurtured in the people to benefit and get advantage from the government schemes and other non-governmental agencies. Training and guidance will be provided for the same. For this, training centres will be opened in Delhi as well as in backward states on district as well as Taluka basis.
Which are the villages to be adopted, what are the activities to be implemented etc. are all under process. This project is not confined to or aimed at Muslims only. The project will be implemented in places where there is a need of peaceful co-existence among different religious people. Besides taking efforts to fulfil their basic needs, the aim is to foster them culturally and present them the lessons of mutual love and respect.
The project focuses on the states like U.P, West Bengal, Assam, and Manipur, etc. Around 72% of the Muslim population in India resides in these regions. Along with this the aim is to develop the human resource in these states which have huge populations.
‘Vision 2016’ received good response and support from Kerala. Some of the organisations co-operated with us directly and others bearing the message decided to work in North India. Organisations like M.E.S, M.S.S, Muslim League etc. have co-operated with the project. The focus was on education, health, community development, women empowerment, entrepreneurship, micro-finance, etc. The regions where the projects were implemented in the last 10 years have advanced in these fields and have been able to strengthen the communal bonds. Around 10 lakh people have availed themselves of the benefit of ‘Vision 2016’. It has reached them in the form of food, educational projects, health benefits, etc. Talent search exams and educational awards have also been conducted. The next project has been formulated on the lessons learnt from the last 10 years of activism and work.
We shall request those in the business field in the Gulf to establish business units which can provide employment for the youth in states like Assam, West Bengal, etc. These projects will surely succeed as they can provide employment at low cost for thousands of youth.