Sunday, December 27, 2009

तत खालसा की तरफ से पंजाब का माहोल ख़राब करने की कोशिश करने की निंदा - जग बानी


तत खालसा सेवक जत्थे की हंगामी मीटिंग की प्रधानगी करते हुए सरदार गुरमेज सिंह खालसा ने कहा कुछ जत्थे बंदियों ने पंजाब के शांत माहौल में सियासी गर्माहट पैदा करके अपना स्वार्थ सिद्ध करने की कोशिश की है. गुरुद्वारा सिंह सभा फाब्रियानो में हुई मीटिंग में मेजर सिंह हरयाणा और सतबीर सिंह सिद्धू द्वारा आशुतोष जी महाराज जैसे महापुरुष के प्रति तथ्य रहित बयान बाज़ी करना एक घटिया शरारत बताया गया. दिव्य ज्योति जागृति संसथान के प्रचार को भ्रामक प्रचार कहने वालो को सोच कर बोलना चाहिए था. इनको सिखों के सिद्धांत की बिलकुल भी जानकारी नहीं और दुहाई सिख धर्म की दे रहे है. श्री खालसा ने कहा हमने अपनी जथे बंदी के द्वारा दिव्य ज्योति जाग्रति संसथान के प्रचार तथा साहित्य की अच्छी तरह से जांच पड़ताल की है. हमें उसमे से कोई भी एतराज़ योग्य बात दिखाई नहीं दी.
सरदार गुरुमेज सिंह ने खुले शब्दों में कहा, अगर संस्था का प्रचार ऐतराज़ योग्य है तो इसको गुरुबानी के आधार पर सिद्ध किया जाए. उन्होंने कहा कि संत आशुतोष के बारे में गलत धारणा रखने वालो को मैं खुला निमंत्रण देता हू कि वो आमने सामने आकार विचार विमर्श करे. लुधिअना की घटना के बारे में जानकारी न रखने वालो को मैं ये बताना चाहता हू कि संस्था के समागम का विरोध करने वालो ने हाथ में नंगी तलवारे लेकर नारे लगाकर सरे आम अशांति फैलाई थी. वो इस बात से अनभिज्ञ है कि कोई भी मामला तलवार से नहीं बल्कि विचार के साथ हल करना चाहिए. सरदार गुरुमेज सिंह खालसा ने समूची कौम को अपील करते हुए कहा कि हमे हमेशा भड़कने से पहले सच्चाई को जान लेना चाहिए. इस मीटिंग में रणजीत सिंह खालसा, बलबीर सिंह खालसा, गुरुदीप सिंह बराड़, सरबजीत सिंह भोगल, सतबीर सिंह ढिल्लों, गुरुदर्शन सिंह दिलगीर, प्रितपाल रंधावा, दविंदर सिंह संधू, मनिंदर खालसा और अन्य सदस्य शामिल हुए.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

फिर मंडराने लगे कट्टरवाद के काले बादल - प्रथम इम्पैक्ट (मैगज़ीन)










Please provide your feedback to the writer at shantidootr@gmail.com

Thursday, December 17, 2009

विरोध तर्क से हो,कुतर्क और झूठ क्यों ? - हिन्दीलोक


भारत के समृद्ध राज्य पंजाब की औद्योगिक हिन्दीलोक लुधियाना क्षेत्र में 5 दिसम्बर, 2009 को कुछ असामाजिकतत्त्वों और पुलिस के बीच भड़के विवाद के कारण हिंसा का माहौल रहा। सैकड़ों असामाजिक तत्त्वों का जत्था हाथोंमें नंगी तलवारें लिए पुलिस एवं प्रशासनिक अधिकारियों के साथ जा भिड़ा। कारण-दिव्य ज्योति जाग्रति संस्थानके संस्थापक एवं संचालक श्री आशुतोष महाराज जी द्वारा दो दिवसीय आध्यात्मिक प्रवचनों के कार्यक्रम काआयोजन।

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Drug Abuse Eradication Program



In India there are 73 million users of drugs and narcotic substances and of these 24% are under 18 years of age*. On one hand the treatment services are inadequate and relapse rate is high while on the other side it has been observed that people of very young age have started experimentation with drugs. To counter this problem Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) has developed Dhyan therapy for de-addiction and is making concentrated efforts to prevent youth from experimentation with drugs.

Drug abuse and alcoholism have been identified as the root causes of a myriad of social woes. It has been estimated that within India itself, there are 73 million users of drugs and narcotic substances whose addiction ranges from alcohol to cannabis to opiates. Of these, almost 24% are under 18 years of age. Intravenous Drug Use (IDU) has added a new dimension to the problem, and has been identified as a possible cause leading to the spread of HIV-AIDS.

At a very young age, the first use and experiments with drugs, has been observed. This increases the danger and risk of addiction among the youth. On the other hand treatment services available are limited and the relapse rate is high. This means, along the side of developing effective treatment therapy for de-addiction, increased emphasis has to be laid on efforts to prevent young people from the first use of drugs.

DJJS under its Drug Abuse Eradication Program (DAEP) has developed the model of 'Dhyan Therapy' which is effective in overcoming the mental obsession on drugs and promotes detoxification. DJJS has also partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office of South Asia (ROSA) under the project 'Empowering Communities for Prevention of Drugs & HIV in India' (Project G-86). DJJS & UNODC have together worked in schools, colleges, workplaces and communities reaching out across the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi.

DAEP is currently working on two priorities:

(a) Promoting 'Dhyan Therapy' for treating drug dependents

(b) Prevention programs to curtail the spread of drug abuse amongst youth.

Dhyan Therapy

Based on spirituality, the organization has developed a model of Dhyan Therapy that creates an internal resistance of an addict against narcotic substances. It helps in detoxification and overcome the mental obsession that an addict has developed towards drugs and/or substance. Mental obsession is the reason behind frequent relapses that an addict faces even after treatment. This therapy also helps elevate an individual's thought process giving him internal realization of his own situation, and empowers a drug user to change his way of life for the better.

The Dhyan Therapy is promoted through all the branches of DJJS across the world. It has successfully treated many people who have been dependent on substances ranging from tobacco to alcohol and harder drugs such as opiates, smack, chemical drugs and IDUs. At present, there are more than 12,000 de-addicted members registered with our organization, and the number is rapidly increasing.

Prevention

Addiction is a process, not an event. If a person tries a drug once, there are 90% chances that the individual will try it again, and this process leads to addiction. Few are aware that nicotine and alcohol are gateway drugs and that frequent or infrequent habits of intake of these, can lead an individual from using softer drugs to harder drugs. Most people perceive continued consumption of these substances as a bad habit and negate the concept of addiction as a disease.

Under its awareness and prevention program, DJJS is actively motivating youth to stay away from the first trial of drugs. We help youth understand the risks of experimenting with drugs, and caution them about situations and circumstances which can make them vulnerable to drugs abuse. The program tries to develop their immunity towards the 'let's try once' syndrome. Special preventive workshops, advocacy and counseling sessions are conducted in schools, colleges, workplaces and other institutional environments.

The program focuses on environmental sensitization, parenting and teaching skills and provides people with tools that help identify symptoms of children and youngsters who may be facing difficult situations that can often lead them to the consumption of drugs. The organization also forms liaison with industrial units to curtail the spread of drug and substance abuse in the workplace and educates medical and non-medical personnel about the problems of drug abuse.

Through self-awareness, these programs help people channelize their energy in the right direction, and this leads to a holistic improvement in society, which looks forward to a better tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Health

For Indians below the poverty line, the public sector remains a critical source for preventive and basic health services, despite its limited accessibility. Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) provides affordable and continued medical services by make-shift arrangements. Along with this, it also promotes practices of maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation thus, building health awareness.

Currently, only 4.5% of India's GDP is spent on health ; public sector health expenditures are 0.9% of GDP (only 3.9% of total government spending-equivalent to the bottom 10% of countries worldwide). Salaries consume a large percentage of public sector recurrent costs, even though severe staff [in terms of qualified] shortages exist at the national and state levels. The number of basic service providers has not kept pace with population growth, yielding a 30-50% shortage in coverage, mostly for rural populations. Hospitals receive over half of public sector resources. However, the distribution systems for equipments and drugs are poor, and stockouts of basic medicines and supplies occur frequently. The demand for resources by other sectors, notably for subsidies in the power sector, limits opportunities for improved health care financing.
Stagnant, inefficient public sector spending impedes services and results in huge out-of-pocket spending for private sector health care. The public sector health system is "pro-rich" in that the richest 20% of the population benefits from over 33% of the public sector funding for curative services. For Indians below the poverty line, public sector remains a critical source for preventive and basic health services, even though services are generally poor and accessibility is limited (i.e., the public sector provides 93% of immunizations, 74% of antenatal care, and 69% of institutional deliveries). However, about 80% of outpatient care is provided by the private sector. As in most developing countries, richer households purchase more curative care from the private sector than do poorer households.
Poor management of public health services at all levels is reflected in a range of its deficiencies. Outreach to the most vulnerable section of the population is very limited, and the quality of services, in general, is poor. Lack of proper civic amenities and unhygienic practices among the poor and illiterate are causing reoccurrence of preventable diseases. Health information for providers needs to be updated and more broadly disseminated.
DJJS recognizes the existence of these problems in India, both in the developing urban regions as well as the under-developed rural sectors. The organization has taken initiative to work along the following dimensions:
Providing affordable and continued medical services by make-shift arrangements such as medical camps in difficult areas. These are provided for a fixed period of time, where doctors and medical services are made available to people, such camps are organized repeatedly in the targeted areas
Providing regular services of eye care & checkups, prescription, supply of glasses, and referrals to specialty hospitals for surgeries
Advocating healthy practices of maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation and helping build awareness among people for a better civic life. The organization does this through regular contact programs, one-on-one interaction, structured counseling sessions and lecture programs
Serving people who are in need of medical aid in disaster struck areas of natural and man-made calamities. The organization in the recent past has notably provided free emergency medical services in flood affected areas of Bihar and to the victims of Delhi's serial bomb-blasts
Moreover the DJJS recognizes situations of households where the basics of health and hygiene are often neglected. Through our weekly contact programs and spiritual sessions, awareness is created regarding environmental, household and personal hygiene. These initiatives help in raising awareness on health and sanitation.
DJJS is working towards increasing the outreach of its programs for the benefit of masses and help improve standards of health and hygiene across India through:
Spreading awareness on both communicable and non-communicable preventable diseases
Conducting Train the Trainer (TTT) programs for staff and volunteers across India on various pro health practices such as hand washing, safe drinking water, better and low cost sanitation methods
Undertaking various health projects and campaigns through its dedicated and vast network of branches in India
Road Ahead
DJJS shall be working on improving the rural sanitation, providing low cost solutions in collaboration with other specialist organisations; to introduce the best practices in hygiene, sanitation and safe drinking water to the poor of rural and urban areas.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Gender Equality & Women Empoerment

All forms of gender based discrimination and anti-women mindset exists due to misplaced socio-cultural beliefs and religious misconceptions. Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) under the Gender Equality Program has a prime mandate to establish gender equality in the minds of people by breaking these misconceptions.


All forms of discrimination against women are the result of the ingrained gender inequality in the mindset of people thus, resulting in a pro male society. Gender-based violence, economic and political discrimination, reproductive health inequities, dowry, sex selection and other harmful traditional practices – remain the most pervasive and persistent form of inequality.
The preamble to the Constitution of India ensures gender equality as a fundamental right and also empowers the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in the favor of women by legislation and policies. India has also ratified various international conventions and human right forums to secure equal rights for women. But, all provisions have failed to change this pervasive mindset.
This makes the issue of gender equality one of the most attention-demanding area of concern in society. We need to rebuild the social fabric free of anti-women emotion and gender based discrimination with concentrated measures.

Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) recognizes that the root of this problem is seated in the human mind. The core reason behind all forms of gender based discrimination and anti-women mindset has been due to misplaced socio-cultural beliefs and religious misconceptions. DJJS under the Gender Equality Program has a prime mandate to establish gender equality in the minds of people by cracking these misconceptions.
DJJS employs both social and spiritual tools to meet these objectives:
Raising consciousness towards righteous thinking and positive actions
Cracking religious and socio-cultural misconceptions against women
Developing unity forums of women
Empowering women ideologically
The organization has initiated various activities that encompass gender issues and makes them a part of the its regular programs.
Spiritual Initiatives
Regular Spiritual Programs
The regular spiritual programs organized on a weekly, fort-nightly and monthly basis by our branches across the globe which are attended by thousands of people. These programs sensitize people on various social issues including gender issues like dowry, violence against women, sex selection etc. People are also made aware of the high status that religious texts offer to women.
Workshops in corporate and government offices, colleges, schools etc.


The Sansthan is often invited to conduct socio-spiritual lectures. These opportunities are used as a platform to discuss and communicate to the audience gender issues and sensitize them about the related social concerns.
Festive celebrations and cultural programs
Cultural programs are organized by the organization for all Indian festivals. These events are vital occasions to break cultural and religious myths against women.
Our branches in Punjab exclusively organize the 'Girl Child Lohri' in several villages every year. This festival is usually celebrated with much fanfare if a son was born in the family. However, the celebration of 'Girl Child Lohri' has created an environment of acceptance towards girls in the family and the village community. A strong message is conveyed that religion and culture can play an important role in creating space for the girl child that she deserves in the society.



Spiritual and social events on special days such as International Women's Day


The Sansthan holds special socio-spiritual-cultural programs on occasions like the International Women's Day, National Girl Child day etc. to communicate strong messages through spiritual sessions, ballets, plays, etc.
A mistaken belief prevails in India that women cannot do 'Vedic Chanting.' At Divya Jyoti Ved Mandir established by Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, today thousands of women across the country chant the Vedic verses, well.
Social Interventions
Establishment of Women Forum - The need to establish this forum was felt when number of cases of family disputes and violence against women were brought to the notice of the organization. This women forum is working in economically backward, oppressed urban and rural areas to provide education, health care and livelihood training to the under privileged women and children.
Internal administrative system promoting women empowerment
The internal system of DJJS in itself is an example of women empowerment. Women preachers head 80% of the branches in the organization. All major activities and programs are headed and executed by women.
DJJS offers a helping hand and is open for partnership in all its initiatives. It is ready to collaborate for bringing about the change in mindset among the masses and evolving a society where women get the status that they deserve.
Road Ahead
DJJS is planning a scripture based research for eliciting the facts that endorse women equality and bringing clarity to those which are misinterpreted.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Antarkranti- prisoners' reformation and rehabilitation



It is a challenge to deal with people having criminal records. The confines of a jail can at times develop severe personality disorders in an individual. With the result, they become a greater threat to society. A physical sentence may not change the inclination of an individual towards the world of crime. With these realities and the objective of crime prevention, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) during the last 14 years has spread its wings to more than 21 Jails across the length and breadth of India to mould the thought process of prisoners and

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Antardrishti- welfare program for visually & physically impaired

The major challenge that disabled people face is that of unemployment. Disabled adults have far lower employment rates than the general population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) employment amongst the disabled has fallen from 43% in 1991 to 38% in 2002. Under the Antardrishti program, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) is working towards creating avenues and opportunities for people with special needs.

Over 40 million people in the world are blind, and another 120 million suffer with diminished vision which cannot be corrected, cured or treated by conventional refraction, medicine or surgery. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), these figures are expected to double by 2020. Over 90% of these people live in developing countries like India, and less than 15% have access to vision enhancement or vision rehabilitation services that can help change their lives. The major challenge that disabled people face is that of unemployment. Disabled adults have far lower employment rates than the general population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) employment amongst the disabled has fallen from 43% in 1991 to 38% in 2002.


Under the Antardrishti program, DJJS is working towards creating avenues and opportunities for the people with special needs. Currently, the program is focused on people with visual impairment through the following initiatives:
Provide them with training in order to capture their creative energy and vocational skills. This empowers them to work constructively and contribute towards productive activities, helps them attain their self-respect and become financially independent
Awakening the spiritual self, which connects them with their eternal self and helps re-establish individual identities. This in itself is an imperative step that helps them transform from a dependent state to being an able human
Early detection of visual ailments in children for the prevention of permanent visual disability
The organization helps to enhance ability and skills of handicapped individuals and to generate employment for them with appropriate working conditions. Under this program, units have been set up for manufacturing eco-friendly candles and herbal soaps. The proceeds from the sale of these products are duly ploughed back for expansion of welfare activities for people with special needs.


The handicapped workers having found their dignity and pride, feel deeply interested in other program. They are given training in vocal and instrumental music as well. They have organized their own orchestra and give performances of soul-stirring devotional songs.




The organization's counseling and spiritual sessions are specially customized to accommodate their requirements. This provide them a platform where feelings of equality and brotherhood are cultivated, special care is taken to motivate and stir their inner creativity to enable them to be able citizens of the society.
The organization has released its spiritual publications in brail for the visually impaired to read through, and explore the depths of spirituality.


Set up in 2008, the following are few acclaimed achievements of the Antardrishti project:


Distinguished winner for Stall of the Year (First Prize) at the Gandhi Jayanti Mela, Pragati Maidan, held between 2nd to 4th October, 2008














Winner Stall at Krishi Vigyan Mela, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, 23rd to 26th February, 2009


Road Ahead
A wider range of products will be manufactured by handicapped workers, and made available for sale at various sales outlets pan India
Increase the reach of the program so that more people can benefit from such initiatives
Spread awareness of the program in India and other countries; involve students from schools and colleges
Generate wider employment opportunities for this sections of society

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Might is not always right!

Ludhiana – the industrial lifeline of one the most prosperous states of our country is still hung in despair. Thanks to the violent protest against the spiritual congregation of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) by the fanatics on Saturday, Dec 05, 2009. The protestors not only had a showdown with the police and the city administration but also damaged the public transport system. They halted the traffic wherever they wanted, bringing the city to a standstill. The dreadful display of nude swords hogged a great deal of limelight on the national visual media on the news-less day, obviously, until Mr. Rajkhowa, an even bigger threat to the nation, was escorted to a court and our PM fixed his

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Hindustan Times EXCLUSIVE - DJJS chief: Ready for dialogue, even at Akal Takht


Expressing readiness for an "open-minded dialogue" with the Sikh clergy, controversial head ofon Monday said he had no reservations on a meeting even at Akal Takht for an early end to the conflict in the interest of peace and stability in Punjab.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Education

The children from poor backgrounds have limited availability of qualified teachers and good institutions. The population count includes large number of children who have never been to school and drop outs. Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) has resolved to provide education opportunities to out of school children and promoting retention of children from weaker backgrounds.

India is considered as the human resource bank of the world and the Indians have proved their mettle at the global center-stage. However, the prevailing ground level realities of the present day education system do not reflect a promising future for nurturing young potential. The availability and affordability of holistic education in India, which is easily accessible and helps build the character of students is a distant dream. Great amount of disparity exists because of privatization in education which has commercialized the system and only the wealthy can afford it. For the ones who are not fortunate, there is limited availability of qualified teachers and institutions that are willing to work hard and create a good education system for the underserved sections of society. In both the cases there is little focus on building individual character and augmenting the natural skills of students.
As a consequence, the population count includes large number of children who have never been to school, or those who have sought education but have opted to drop out due to various socio economic reasons.
Education Program of DJJS resolves to work in the following areas:
Provide education opportunities to out of school children
Nurturing excellence and promoting retention of children from weaker backgrounds
Focus on building individual character and augmenting the natural skills of students
Literacy for adults
DJJS is working through a non-formal education program by:
Setting up alternative education centers for never been to school children and school drop outs
Establishing tutorials for students of poor families
Clubbing academics and spiritual disciplines
ROAD AHEAD
The organization is working towards developing an education model based on self-discovery. So each student remains connected with the inner-self, and is able to productively focus and channelize his/her energy in realizing the inner potential. This enables them to decide the right career and righteous living for themselves, and tread successfully along that direction.

Natural Resource Management & Environment Protection


Once abundantly available natural resources are now getting diminished due to the growing population pressure, multi-dimensional socio-economic development and its resultant exploitation and misuse of available resources by human beings. Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) is working towards re- establishing the linkage between man and environment to achieve long- term conservation of available resources.

Climate, water and air are the three fundamental factors that distinguish Earth from other planets and lead to origin of

DJJS uncovers the false propoganda by some separatist mindset people and further reveals its efforts for peace and communal harmony

Please click on the news reports for a larger view/पूरा पढ़ने के लिए नीचे दी गयी न्यूज़ रिपोर्ट पर क्लिक करें


Sunday, December 6, 2009

DJJS uncovers the false propoganda by some separatist mindset people and further reveals its efforts for peace and communal harmony

Please click on the news reports for a larger view/पूरा पढ़ने के लिए नीचे दी गयी न्यूज़ रिपोर्ट पर क्लिक करें





Who says we are wrong?

On the second day of violent brawl, Ludhiana witnessed clashes between the extremist groups and the police authorities of the largest city of Punjab. The extremist groups including Damdami Taksaal and Dal Khalsa got out onto the roads with bare swords protesting against the two-day spiritual event of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan. With their hands holding the nude swords high in the air and their voices full of agitation, the group began their protest from Samrala Chowk, about 4 km from the venue of the spiritual discourses by the founder and head of DJJS, Ashutosh Maharaj ji. Within two hours, the agitators reached the one-kilometer vicinity.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Administration supports DJJS’ spiritual congregation

On the second day of violent brawl, Ludhiana has witnessed clashes between the extremist groups and the police authorities of the largest city of Punjab. The extremist groups including Damdami Taksaal and Takht Khalsa have got out onto the roads with bare swords protesting against the two-day spiritual event of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan. The main reason behind the protest as quoted by the protestors is, “DJJS is an anti-Sikh organisation. Their literature and their discourses do not respect the Sikh Gurus. We would not allow them to congregate and organize any of their events here.”