Author : Sriman Rupa Vilas das E-Mail : rvd_rns@rediffmail.com Date Produced : AprilL, 2007 Edited : Sriman Prafullakumar Seelam Serial No. : 24 of 54

2. Author : Sriman Rupa Vilas das
E-Mail : rvd_rns@rediffmail.com
Date Produced : AprilL, 2007
Edited : Sriman Prafullakumar Seelam
Serial No. : 24 of 54

3. VENU MADHURIVENU MADHURI

4. I wish to open centers in the villages…
Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami, Perth,
I am very much pleased ----- that we do not stick only to
the cities, but we train people in the remote villages also.
Letter to Brahmanand Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada on village organization

5. So if you can organize in the villages, they are
interested in chanting Hare Krishna mantra and getting
nice prasädam
Room conservation, Sept-12th, 1976 Vrindavan
Srila Prabhupada on village organization

6. My beloved sannyasi disciple Swami Pusta Krishna
has promised to give me a car, and as soon as I get it I shall
move from village to village along with some selected
assistants and organize this farming village development
program
Letter to Kartikeya Mahadevia
Srila Prabhupada on village organization

7. The immediate program should be village
organization as Mahatma Gandhi contemplated. In
India the majority of the population is in the villages.
The difficulty is that there is no sufficient supply of
water to produce food grains.
Srila Prabhupada on village organization

8. The mass problem at the present
moment in India is actually a food
problem. I have therefore decided to
start some village organization
program--I shall arrange for the
irrigation of the land and the people
living there should give their labor for
their own food and clothing, and then
chant Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and
cultivate Krishna Consciousness. ----
Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami, Perth,
Australia, 10th May 1975.

9. Srila Prabhupada on village organization
–In India, they are not less than
95% villagers and Mahatma
Gandhi wanted this village
organization. I think this is a solid
program
Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami,
Perth, Australia 10th
May 1975

10. So peaceful atmosphere can be attained only when
there is large-scale village organization, actually village
life.
Letter to Rayarama
Srila Prabhupada on village organization

11. Srila Prabhupada on village organization
If we establish such
projects (village
organization projects) all
over India, we shall
be the proprietors of
India..
Letter to Mahavirya
Vrindavan 7th Sept 1975

12. Aims and
Objectives
Use as a tool and conduit for preaching
Krishna conscious philosophy in rural India
Develop ideal villages based on Vedic principles
Promoting Sustainable Development through
Traditional Wisdom
Work with existing villages to make a model village
aiming towards self sufficiency

14. Mission statement
We shall strive with sincerity, to promote
integrated, sustainable rural
development that is based on traditional,
time-tested wisdom, which aims towards
local self-sufficiency with special
emphasis on preservation of indigenous
breeds of cattle and which foster the
highest human values.

15. Key Result Areas
 Watershed development
 Organic farming
 Animal husbandry (Cow protection)
 Cottage industry
 Education
 Culture &
 Health

16. Selection of Project Area
Survey of few villages was started in year 2000
based on the need for development
Village named Ramanwadi (Site no.1)
Located in Radhanagari taluka of Kolhapur district,
state-Maharashtra

18. Village Ramanwadi from distance

19. Our vision for Ramanwadi
Work towards development of Ramanwadi
and its community into a self-sufficient unit
A model village for other villages to follow
Target time of 12 years

20. Key Result Area – an interim report
Watershed development
Organic farming
Animal husbandry (Cow protection)
Education
Cottage industry
Health
Spiritual Culture

21. Watershed Management
Aim: Making adequate water available for drinking and irrigation
Till date 3Projects
1] Percolation tank - May-2003
2] Gravity scheme 1 - March- 2004
3] Gravity scheme 2 - December-2006

23. Watershed Management - results
Percolation tank - May-2003
Under the guidance of Venu Madhuri, villagers worked
together and constructed a 40 feet long and 15 feet high
mud check dam
Villagers rallied months together to contribute money and
free labor
The dam was constructed using locally available
construction material
In first rains, the dam was partially washed away due to
the force of water
Villagers have rallied once again to repair the dam

27. Watershed Management - results
Gravity scheme-1 (2004)
3000 feet pipeline to carry water from stream to farms
Villagers contributed in cash,free labor and grains.
Contribution of villagers 50%to project cost
10 acres of land under perennial irrigation
villagers recovered their money in first 3 months
40 Families benefited from project

28. Watershed Management - results
Gravity scheme.2 (2006)
9500 feet pipeline to carry water from stream in
deep forest to farms
Villagers contributed in cash,free labor and grains.
23acres of land under perennial irrigation
18 Families benefited from project

29. Survey
Action

30. Hand in hand we stand

31. Villagers Participation
Free Labor + Grains/ Cash

32. Agriculture before irrigation projects
Total village had 1 hectare
of land under irrigation

33. Agriculture after irrigation
projectsNow 33acre of irrigated land

34. Water Basis of development (Village produce for imp. crops)
I shall arrange for the irrigation of the land-S.P
Year Sugarcane
(in tones)
Wheat
(in Quintal)
Groundnut
(in Quintal)
2003
(Before irrigation
project)
80 - -
2004
(Before irrigation
project)
75 - -
2005
(After irrigation
project)
75 - -
2006 150 - 7
2007 200 - 25
2008 400 8 45
2009 650 25
With successful irrigation projects, migration to cities is being reduced

35. Organic Farming
Awareness through regular training program
Villagers have realized the damage to their farmland
due to chemical fertilizers and pesticides
More than 15 farmers have started their shift by
utilizing cow dung, urine slurry, vermicompost and
doing “bija samskara”
35 Vermicomposting units distributed
Various demonstration plots
1000 + horticulture plants were distributed amongst 55
families

37. organic farming
Pump provided for herbal /cow urine spray
Sapling distribution

38. Vermicomposting
Towards self reliance in farming

39. Animal husbandry (cow protection)
In India
everyday more than
60,000 cattle are
slaughtered
Animal Welfare Board
“--keep a careful eye on the cattle wealth of village. If we cannot use this wealth
properly India is doomed to disaster and we also shall perish. For these animals
will then, as in the West, becomes an economic burden to us and we shall have
no option before us save killing them”. - M.K. Gandhi,
The barometer of the spirituality of any society is how happy
and protected the cows are - Srila Prabhupada

40. Cow Protection (Animal Husbandry)
A young devotee from Ramanwadi sponsored by Venu
Madhuri completed two year diploma course in Veterinary
Science
Villagers are getting cows back from the forests
3 youths have taken vows for cow protection
A full time vet taking care of cows in five villages
A veterinary clinic set at Ramanwadi
Tooth powder developed is in demand
Cow Protection awareness film developed. Watched by
more than 1 lakh people.
Villagers decided to care for cattle as family member

43. Revival of culture and tradition of Bendur
(Festival to worship oxen)

44. Cows naming ceremony

45. Some Inspiring stories

46. Gobar gas
• 22 plants constructed for
individuals
• Cattle became more
productive
• Benefits from local to
universal level

47. Impact of intervention
Immediate (personal) Impact Reduce drudgery of household woman for fuel wood
collection. On an average 2-3 km daily
Immediate (personal) Impact Freedom for family (6 heads) from Indoor Air
Pollution*
Agriculture (Personal) impact Good organic fertilizer for fields
Local Ecological Impact Approximately 93.6 tones of fuel wood saved every
year (because of 18 plants)
Local Gene bank Impact Local cow breed will get preserved and developed as
dung gained importance.
Universal Impact 169.2 tones of Carbon Dioxide causing green house
effect will not be emitted per year. Other wise that
would have emitted by burning fuel wood by 18
families
*Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) is a major health threat for women and children under five in
the developing world. According to W.H.O, annually, 500,000 women and children in rural
India die prematurely due to diseases linked to long term exposure to IAP. A major cause of
IAP is smoke in the rural kitchen, due to use of firewood, agrowaste as biofuels in traditional
cookstoves. (Source ARTI)

48. Dark nights to . . . . . .
Sustainable gobar gas light

49. Traditional yet scientific
• Entrepreneurship development – Satisfied
youth
• Happy women – because of smokeless,
faster, clean and fuel efficient cooking

50. Cattle rise at lower hamlet
(8 houses)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
No.
of
cows
in
2001
No.
of
cows
in
2008
No. of cows

51. Cow Protection (Animal Husbandry)
• Ex. of Yuvraj’s family with no
cow in 2002 and in 2008
have four cows and two bulls
Researched posters developed
for awareness
Promoting organic
jaggery as important
part of cow protection

52. Cow Protection (Animal Husbandry)
“It’s sinful not to engage the bulls in service” – S.P
Bull powered
Flourmill
(An successful R&D
experiment)

53. Efforts recognized
Daily Sakal on the occasion of
‘Maharastrian Bendur’ covered VMT’s bull
power experiment
Times of India, Pune
cover the news in detail
Star TV (Marathi) called with a desire to
cover the story

54. Education “Samskara Varga ” (7th
year)
Instill spiritual and moral values, ethics, culture, community spirit
environmental awareness and value-based non-formal education
Impart knowledge of traditional sciences and certain skills
required as part of modern educational curriculum
Provide tuitions to village school students
Daily training for 5 days a week
Special training programs/ activities during school vacations

55. Our simple temple

56. Mangal arti

57. Tulsi Arti

58. Morning activities

59. Learning traditional science

60. Education “Samskara Vargas” - results
Children are influencing their parents
Prince of Kolhapur visits the school
Children win prizes at taluka level by singing devotional
songs
Inspiring example of Usha’s determination

63. Cottage Industry
Special training in Handloom at Ramanwadi
Profitable business of striping Bamboo
Mataji from 3 villages trained in Papad making
Mataji trained in bead bag stitching
Self Help Group Formed

65. Health – “Annamrita” (7th
year)
Free, nutritious,
sumptuous lunch
prasad for rural
school children for
the development of
physical and
spiritual health

67. Health – “Annamrita”
Every day 40 school children are served hot, nutritious
prasadam (program going for last 6 years)
After every Tuesday satsang program around 60
devotees are served with Dinner Prasadam
Once in a month feast to whole village
Villagers constructed a kitchen
Villagers regularly contribute rice & fuel wood for this
program

69. Annamrit –Kitchen and temple room

70. Regular health checkups

71. Hygiene & environment drive
Toilet for every house scheme of Govt.. stimulated
VMT introduced 1st toilet and guided all
Because of this Ramanwadi is selected as ideal village and villagers were
awarded by President in Delhi
Environment awareness activity consisting of rally & several activities
conducted for villagers and school students on behalf of Ministry of
Environment and Forest, GOI.

72. Toilets constructed

73. Free dental camp
Annual Dental camp with help of K.L.E.S-Belgaum
Photos
Annual Free Dental Camp

75. Weekly satsang program on Tuesday attended by
around 65 villagers
Preaching programs in neighborhood villages
Vedic marriages
Every Ekadashi kirtan in evening
Spiritual festivals celebrated
For major festivals, villagers visit Kolhapur ISKCON
center
Cultural Results

76. Simple temple

78. Cultural Results
Most of the political and caste groups dissolved creating
an atmosphere of unity and love
Meetings and programs start with harinaam kirtan
Animal slaughter during social festivals stopped
Once in every month whole village get together for a
cultural program, consisting of traditional games,
dramas by youth and children, sumptuous meals and
much more

80. Village meal program

81. ¥ 50 devotees chanting
¥ 15 devotees wore kanthi & chant 16 rounds
¥ Three marriages as per vedic culture
¥ Land donated for trust activities by police Patil of
Ramanwadi
¥ Villagers have unanimously chosen their leader for the
post of Sarpanch, avoiding election process
Cultural Results- Village Ramanwadi

82. Cultural Results- Village Ghosarwad
ℓ Twenty seven devotees are chanting 16 rounds and are wearing kanthi.
ℓ Twenty plus devotees are chanting less than 16 rounds.
ℓ Six families have altar at home that includes one who welcomed Gaur
Nitai deity
ℓ Four devotees are cleared and waiting on list for Harinaam initiation
ℓ First VTA (Vaishnava Training Academy) started by ISKCON-Kolhapur,
under the observation of H.G Radha Gopinath Prabhu has 7 members of
which 6 are from Ghosarwad congregation and 1 from Ramanwadi
ℓ Visiting Preachers: Among the regular visiting preachers are
1] Krishnanand Prabhu 2] Radha Gopinath Prabhu
3] Gopijan Vallabh Prabhu 4] Nitaipaad Prabhu
ℓ All major Vaishnava festivals celebrated are attended by hundreds of villagers

85. Cultural Results
For all trust activities excellent support from
villagers
Active participation of women and youth
Village meetings (Gram sabha) on regular basis
Regular meeting of Village development committee

87. Neighboring villagers are inviting Venu Madhuri to start activities
in their villages
Staff nominated and selected for various courses offered by well
known organizations in India NIRD,ANTHRA, PRINCE, NWA.
Staff member selected as free seat, for 12 day Permaculture training
at Sri Lanka. The selection was from amongst several candidates
from Asia and Australia
TEAM achievements

88. Success story
VMT’s Ramanwadi success
story goes to national scientist,
policy makers and high rank
Govt. officers from
Nation workshop at Hyderabad
in Dec-2008.

90. For people with people

91. Connection with prominent personalities in rural
development like Anna Hazare, Rajendra Singh,
Anupam Mishra, Max Lindiger and many more
Team achievements

92. Additional Projects in the pipeline
Rural Technology center (Vedic based)
Quarterly newsletter on rural development
Goshala
Irrigation project in village Bharibhambar
Gobargas for 100 houses
Ambulance for cows

93. Presently working with
Four villages
1] Ramanwadi
2] Bhari Bhambar
3] Ghosarwad
4] Khotwadi
& invited by few other villages

94. Our struggle
12 false police cases were filed against the staff under
the heading of atrocity, fight, misleading people, etc

95. Our some Visitors
Photos with title
Mohit - New Mexico (USA)
Dr Suresh-Hyderabad
Shrayas, New York-USA
Sameer, Pennsylvania-USA
Nitin from Dallas
V
I
S
I
T
O
R
S

96. Major Supporters
Sriman Arvindbhai Mafatlal
Sriman Krsnacandra Prabhu
Sriman Krsnanaam Prabhu
Sriman Srigaurang Prabhu
Sriman Krishna Kumar Prabhu
Sriman Radha Giridhari Prabhu
Sriman Amala Bhakta Prabhu
Sriman Rakesh Mahapatra

97. Major Supporters .. Cont..
Er. Sadashiv M Khatakalle
Rajesh Bajaj
Association for India’s Development - USA
Global Ecovillage Networking - Australia
Sri Dagdulal Marda Charitable and Research Foundation
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Sri Walwalkar Kapad Dukan Trust
Siddeishwar Krishi Va Gramin Vikas Samstha
National Institute of Rural Development
National Water Academy
ANTHRA - Pune
Promoters & Research in Non-Conventional Energy
Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (K.L.E.S)
Department of Animal Husbandry
Rotary Club
Ministry of Environment and Forest

98. Keep your self updated
by visiting us on
www.venumadhuri.com
Hare Krishna
Thank you very much
rvd_rns@rediffmail.com
Rupa vilas das- 09372 208 108