Aneesh
My SaathNirbhar Story:
When travel was a restriction in lockdown, the national general secretary of Ekta Parishad, Bhopal travelled 32,000 kms in a month across nine states- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and Northeastern states to ensure help reached to around 1 lakh expecting mothers and malnourished children. In the second wave of Covid, Aneesh through Ekta Parishad not only emphasized helping women and children but also engaged the same women in preparing malnutrition kits boosting the grassroot economy. “The time of Covid helped me identify the ones with a compassionate heart ready to help people in a crisis, '' says Aneesh. Aneesh also helped 52,000 migrant workers reach their destination in the first wave of Covid.
About Aneesh
Ekta Parishad is a mass-based peoples' movement for land rights with an active membership of 250,000 landless poor and is regarded as one of the biggest people’s movement in India with an iconic status globally.
Since inception (1989) as a Gandhian organization - Ekta Parishad is constantly promoting nonviolence as a way for the struggle, dialogue, and constructive actions towards building a peaceful and just society.
Founded by Rajagopal PV as well known Gandhian and other grassroots activists – today Ekta Parishad is actively working in 12000 villages across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Puducherry, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Ekta Parishad is known for several milestone successes including securing land rights to nearly 500,000 families, creating grassroots leadership of more than 10,000 people, protecting forest and water bodies, and framing several laws and policies related to the land reforms in India.
Aneesh worked as a part of Ekta Parishad responding to the crisis directly in tribal areas of MP and Rajasthan. He travelled across villages and settlements convincing people to get tested, get vaccinated and providing relief materials. He also mobilized resources and enabled the government to reach places where Ekta Parishad has a strong network. His work in directly connecting to the last mile is unprecedented. The work has touched the most underprivileged of India and provided support to them.
