Under the benign guidance of Shri Heggade, Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala has looked at all mankind as one family, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or tradition. Taking this belief to a higher level, Shri Manjayya Heggade, the earlier Dharmadhikari, hosted the first Sarva Dharma Sammelana (Conference of all religions) and the Sahithya Sammelana (Literary conference) to spread the tenets of sarva dharma samanvaya (Integration of religious practices).
Sri Veerendra Heggade also provides charity to community activities. He has successfully organized many public programmes like the Kannada Sahithya Sammelana, Tulu Sammelana (Literary festivals) and Kissan Mela (farmers’ fair).
Women Empowerment
“There is no tool more effective than the empowerment of women.”
Realizing that the women and children in rural India too need urgent help, Dr. Heggade introduced special self-help programs like Jnana Vikasa and SIRI that taught women to empower themselves and live with dignity and self respect. Creating employment opportunities was also a huge part of such programs.
The empowerment programme done by SKDRDP is called as Jnanavikasa.
Beedi (hand-rolled cigarettes) rolling and farm labor are two of the major revenue sources for women in the coastal district, who can earn up to Rs. 800/- per month from these activities. However, women do not retain much in savings and continue to remain socially backward. SKDRDP recognized the need to empower women into developing a habit of thrift and hence began organizing the Jnanavikasa Program.
Jnanavikasa Kendras are unique centers of socio-economic empowerment for uneducated, unemployed rural women with no land. In the Jnanavikasa Kendras, women empower themselves through weekly two-hour group sessions sharing knowledge on health, family welfare, hygiene, children’s education and clean surroundings. Besides finding inspiration from each other, women also learn about inculcating family values and developing savings habits. Such participation imbues usually shy women with confidence and transforms them into self-respecting, determined women.
Jnanavikasa Kendras are now attempting to train women in various production activities like floriculture, dairying, vegetable cultivation and home industries.