| A NEW PHILOSOPHY OF WORKS |
Swami Vivekananda has given a new philosophy of work for the modern world. All work in the Ramakrishna Math and Mission is done according to this philosophy of work, which is based on the following principles:
a) According to Vedanta, the physical universe is a manifestation of God known as Virat. Hence, as Sister Nivedita has stated, there is ‘no distinction between the sacred and the secular’. What this statement means is that all work is sacred. Even menial work such as sweeping the floor or mending shoes is to be done with as much attention and devotion as work in the shrine.
b) The Gita (18.46 & 9.24) states that the all-pervading God is the ultimate source of all work and the enjoyer of the fruits of all sacrifice. Hence all work is to be done as worship and the fruits of actions are to be offered to the Lord.
c) One of the important principles Swami Vivekananda learned from his Master was Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva, ‘to serve Jiva as Shiva’. Since man is potentially Divine, service to man is indeed service to God. Instead of looking upon a needy person as an object of pity, he is looked upon as an object of worship. Such an attitude elevates both the giver and the recipient.
d) Swami Vivekananda was the first religious leader in India to speak for the poor and the downtrodden and to state boldly, ‘He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak and the diseased, really worships Shiva; and with him Shiva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.’ It was Swamiji who coined the word daridra-narayana to refer to the poor. Swamiji’s love and concern for the poor continues as a directive principle in Ramakrishna Mission’s service programmes.
e) When work, any work, is done fulfilling the above conditions, it becomes a spiritual discipline: the mind gets purified and the potential Divinity of the soul manifests itself more and more. Thus work done as worshipful service benefits the doer himself spiritually: it becomes a spiritual discipline or Yoga. It is with this understanding of work as a spiritual discipline (Karma Yoga) that all the service activities of the Ramakrishna Mission, such as giving food and clothing to the poor, nursing the sick etc. are undertaken. Thus service done as worship of God in man helps in two ways: it helps physically or mentally the person who is served and it helps spiritually the person who serves.
| MOTTO OF RAMAKRISHNA MISSION |
ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAT HITAYA CHA, it means “For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world” – Formulated by Swami Vivekananda
| WHEN JOURNEY WAS ON |
Swami Vivekananda visualised a regenerated India through blending of oriental spirituality with occidental science and technology. He said that the aim of education must be to solve the problems of life. In his view education is all round development of physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual values. His greatest contribution was to open the minds of individuals to their duty to the downtrodden masses. He fought to revive the spirit of humanism in education. In his view education is not identical with information. He said education should lay proper emphasis on creativity, originality and excellence. With this vision in mind “Ramakrishna Mission Samaj Sevak Sikshan Mandir” started its maiden journey in the year 1986 under the aegis of Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha, a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal.
In the same year the flagship programme of the institute – 10 month long free residential course viz. “Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme (REDP)” was launched with the following objectives:
| OBJECTIVES & CHARACTERISTIC |
* To develop human resources in the rural India and to improve the socio-economic condition of its people through skill development and income generation.
* To upgrade the traditional knowledge and skill of the farmers and the rural artisans in the light of continuous research and development in the national and international level.
* To create scientific temperament amongst the rural folks and an eagerness to adopt new technology and innovation.
* To build character on the basis of higher truths of spirituality and value education as character building was fundamental in Vivekananda’s concept of education.
* To instil confidence and determination in the minds of trainees.
* Generate self-confidence & determination in the minds of trainees so that they can venture to float new enterprises for self-employment at their respective villages after completing the training.
| TURNING EVENTS DURING LONG PASSAGE OF JOURNEY |
* In the year 2007-08 (17 March 2008) the institute entered into a tie-up arrangement with UBI (United Bank of India) and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development) to function as a RUDSETI (Rural Development & Self Employment Training Institute) type institute for conducting various skill development training programmes on equal cost sharing basis.
* The RSETI in its new form continued with the REDP (Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme), the flagship residential training programme of 10 months’ duration. Subsequently, it introduced various SDI (Skill Development Initiative) programmes of short duration, aiming at skill development and income generation. These were mainly held at the sub-centres scattered over various districts of West Bengal. SDI programmes are generally non-residential and held on various trades in farm & non-farm sector sponsored by NABARD / Govt. of West Bengal / Govt. of India etc.
Entered into Annual Grading System
* During the course of its long journey some events of 2011-12 and 2012-13 deserves special mention. On the basis of its performance during 2011-12 the institute earned ‘A’ grade and on the performance of 2012-13 ranked 3rd best RSETI amongst all the RSETIs in India by NAR (National Academy of RUDSETI) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India.
* Principal and Faculty Members of the institute has been invited by NAR to attend Trainers’ Training Programme (TTP) and Refresher Training Programme (RTP) at Bengaluru sponsored by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India.
* The Institute continues to enjoy “AA” grade status for the last several years. Several other short term training programmes are sponsored separately by NABARD, West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd. (WBSCL), DRDC, Howrah; DIC, Howrah; Coconut Development Board (CDB), Govt. of India; Hindalco Industries Ltd. etc.
| SPECIAL STATUS : AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTRE |
The Department of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal has recognised Ramakrishna Mission Samaj Sevak Sikshan Mandir as a resource centre for training of farmers and is sponsoring different training programmes for groups of farmers from different districts of West Bengal.
| COURSES |
At now we are conducting mainly two types of training programmes –
1) REDP (Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme) the flagship training programme of the institute is being conducted uninterruptedly since its introduction in the year 1986. This is a free residential comprehensive training of 10 months’ duration given to 35 odd unemployed male students hailing from rural Bengal purely on the basis of merit irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.
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2) Various short duration EDP (Entrepreneurship Development Programme) and others specified training programmes on various trades like agricultural, product & process under both farm & non-farm sectors are conducted mainly at our different sub-centres located in different districts of West Bengal.
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Beside above mentioned training programmes few training programme conducted under direct sponsorship of NABARD, DIC, DRDC & other government agencies.
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