Press Release: PM Modi Lauds Efforts;60,000 College Students Participate In The Launch Of Drug Free India Campaign On The Ground;About 1 Crore Students From 12000 Colleges Join Through Webcast

Dear Editor,

The two-day launch of The Art of Living's Drug Free India Campaign witnessed the participation of over 60,000 college students on the ground and 1 crore students joined in through live webcast, apart from the presence of eminent personalities from the field of entertainment, politics and academics.

Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the long running efforts of The Art of Living in fighting drug addiction in India. Please find the link to his video address here. 

"We need to strengthen the youth of this country and whatever weakens this (strength), like drugs, needs to be blocked." said Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar while addressing the students. Please find the video link here.

The dignitaries at the two day launch also included Bollywood icon Sanjay Dutt, rapper-songwriter Badshah, comedian Kapil Sharma, popular Punjabi Folk singer Gurdas Maan, Hon. Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, film producer Mahaveer Jain, actor Varun Sharma and Hon. Governor of Punjab, V P Singh Badnore among others.  

For pictures, translations and video bytes of celebrities please click here.

Please find the detailed press release below

60,000 College Students Participate In The Launch Of Drug Free India Campaign On The Ground, About 1 Crore Students From 12000 Colleges Join Through Webcast

PM Modi Lauds The Art of Living's Initiatives To Fight The Menace of Drugs In India

19 February, 2019, Chandigarh/Hisar: The grounds of Chandigarh University reverberated with the chants of 'Na Karunga Na Karne Dunga' (Will Not (Do Drugs) And Will Not Let Anyone Do It) on a drizzly Monday morning.  Over two days, 60000 students turned up to be the part of the launch of Drug Free India, one of The Art of Living's many initiatives towards de-addiction. The campaign was launched at Chandigarh University on 18th February and the second leg of the campaign launch was held at Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, Haryana.

"We need to strengthen the youth of this country and whatever weakens this (strength), like drugs, needs to be blocked." said Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar while addressing the students, "People get into drugs because they are looking for happiness, fun and love. Just, come join us. We'll give you a high that will never go down. Inner high can give love and happiness."  Speaking in Hisar, Gurudev pointed out that time had come for youngsters to place pride with NOT doing drugs, rather than being proud of having them.

Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the years of efforts of The Art of Living in countering the menace of drugs.

"I sincerely appreciate the efforts of Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji and The Art of Living towards a drug free India. I have observed, how this movement has struck a chord with people from all walks of life including entertainment and sports and how people have supported it on social media in large numbers," Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. He mentioned that apart from being a psycho-socio-medico problem, engaging in drugs also goes towards supporting terrorist activities since the narcotic trade is controlled by anti-national elements. He said, communication with families, friends and loved ones was key in helping drug addicts deal with the condition.

On day 1, Chandigarh University hosted dignitaries of the stature of global humanitarian and spiritual leader, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of The Art of Living, Bollywood icon Sanjay Dutt, rapper-songwriter Badshah, comedian Kapil Sharma, popular Punjabi Folk singer Gurdas Maan and Hon. Governor of Punjab, V P Singh Badnore. In Hisar, the event was organized with the support of Government of Haryana, where along with Gurudev, Hon.Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and famous actor Varun Sharma were also present.  

Taking the awareness campaign forward, Gurudev also announced Walkathons across Indian cities and villages on 10^th March, raising awareness and mobilizing communities in the fight against drugs.

Actor Sanjay Dutt talked about his own battle with drug addiction, "I was bleeding from my mouth, my nose. I hadn't eaten in two days. I got scared looking at myself in the mirror. I told my father, I needed help." Dutt was contacted by peddler on his return from rehab, which is when he decided, never to touch drugs again in his life, Dutt shared.

Over a crore students from 12,000 colleges signed up for the campaign against drugs through live webcast from across the country on both the days.

Popular rapper-songwriter Badshah also encouraged the youth to find their life's calling as a way to keep out of addictions. He said, "I've never done them. But I had a friend in college who did, who was better rapper than me. But now he's no more." He further said, "I found my high in music," Badshah said, "Find your high! because you are the future, the nerve of this country."

Part of the initiative also includes formation of SWAT (Social Wellness and Awareness Training) clubs that have been opened across college campuses that will mobilize and raise awareness against drugs and organize preventive interventions.

The Drug Free India movement against drugs has already taken social media by storm with more than 90 eminent personalities from the field of films, sports, politics and business having poured their support for the campaign.

In Tamil Nadu, 25 colleges (Sri Ramachandra University, Ethiraj College, Saveetha School of Engineering, PSG College of Technology, among others) connected Live on 19th Feb (today), for the launch of the movement.

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With warm regards,

Rajalakshmi

Media Co-ordinator - TN

Mobile: 9884017767

www.artofliving.org  

Press Release: What Started As A Trickle Turned Into A Storm, As 80 Eminent Personalities From Across The Field Of Sports, Entertainment And Politics Joined Sri Sri Ravi Shankar In The Fight Against Drugs

Dear Editor,

The nationwide Drug Free India awareness campaign, a key step among The Art of Living's many initiatives in the field of de-addiction, has taken social media by storm with more than 80 (and counting) eminent personalities having already joined the conversation. According to Social Bearing data, within just nine hours, the campaign has received 82 lakh impressions, having engaged 4200 verified accounts on Twitter, according to and the movement continues to grow. 

Please find the detailed PR and translations below and here. Do also find the document entailing details about The Art of Living's work in the area of de-addiction attached here below. 

Do kindly help us spread the word about this rather important campaign against the menace of drugs. Many colleges in Tamil Nadu are participating. 

What Started As A Trickle Turned Into A Storm, As 80 Eminent Personalities From Across The Field Of Sports, Entertainment And Politics Joined Sri Sri Ravi Shankar In The Fight Against Drugs

The Drug Free India, an Art of Living initiative, has brought together celebrities from bollywood as well as the south for a cause, as leading sportsmen and political leaders became part of the campaign too (check out our list here)

16 February, 2019, Bengaluru: The nationwide Drug Free India awareness campaign, a key step among The Art of Living's many initiatives in the field of de-addiction, has taken social media by storm with more than 80 (and counting) eminent personalities having already joined the conversation. DFI has been trending on social media, having sparked an important conversation around the drug problem in India. The campaign has met with an unprecedented response as support continues to pour in for this campaign with 80 celebrities, business leaders, political leaders and iconic sportsmen having joined the DFI campaign already. Within just nine hours, according to Social Bearing data, the campaign has received 82 lakh impressions, having engaged 4200 verified accounts on Twitter, and the movement continues to grow.

"When stress increases, man seeks to get rid of this stress and in this process gets into substance abuse," says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, The Art of Living, "When you train them in handling this stress effectively through spiritual tools like meditation, pranayam and Yoga then their perspective towards life changes totally. Otherwise, so many youth are destroying their lives by getting into addiction. To put an end to this menace, we are organizing this nation-wide movement called the Drug Free India."

Part of the initiative includes formation of SWAT (Social Wellness and Awareness Training) clubs that have been opened across college campuses that comprise of students, teachers, doctors and social workers who will spread the word against drug abuse throughout the year and organize programs that will act as preventive interventions for youngsters to stop them from getting into drugs in the first place.

Highlights of Art of Living's de-addiction work so far

• De-addiction centers in Bengaluru and Kolkata transformed the lives of more than 3000 drug addicts, created awareness among 2 lakh people and counting.

• School based drug-use sensitization workshops in collaboration with AIIMS organized in four states across 1000 schools where principals, teachers, policy makers and administrators were sensitized about prevention of drug use. The program offers preventive strategies, life skill programs and The Art of Living Youth Empowerment Seminars, as a protective barrier against initiation into drug use.

• Reached out to 80 villages in Punjab and about 25,000 addicts underwent The Art of Living programs to fight addiction with regular follow-up for more than six months.

• Mobilized communities to participate and support campaigns to tackle substance abuse. Example, The Art of Living along with other NGOs and eminent citizens of the Chandigarh filed a Public Interest Litigation against the massive abuse of Typewriter Correction Fluid. Haryana High Court prevailed upon the Union Ministry of Health to issue a ban on its production, sale or storage

• In Kareli, inspired by The Art of Living, women sat outside the liquor shop in their village every day till eight in the evening, to rid their village of alcoholism and illicit sale of liquor. Eventually the authorities relented.

• Youth Leadership Training programs with focus on deaddiction conducted in Marathwada for 5500 participants, over 2500 of them have stayed clean, 50 of them grew to take official positions locally and 1 elected as Sarpanch.

The Drug Free India campaign will be launched in Chandigarh University on the 18th and at Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar Haryana with the support of Government of Haryana on 19th February, in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of The Art of Living, who will be joined by popular youth icon Sanjay Dutt, along with Kapil Sharma, and Badshah among others. An estimated 60 thousand students will attend the event on both the days and thousands will connect via live webcast who will take the pledge against drug abuse together.

In Tamil Nadu, more than 25 colleges (Sri Ramachandra University, Ethiraj College, Saveetha School of Engineering, PSG College of Technology, among others) have confirmed their participation in this movement and will connect Live on the 18th, for the launch of the movement. 

With warm regards,

Rajalakshmi

Media Co-ordinator

Mobile: 9884017767

Press Release : The Art of Living Receives The International Geospatial Excellence Award For Using Advanced Geospatial Technologies In Reviving 40 Rivers

The Art of Living Receives The International Geospatial Excellence Award For Using Advanced Geospatial Technologies In Reviving 40 Rivers

12 February, 2019 Bengaluru: The Art of Living has been conferred with the Geospatial Excellence Award for Water Resources Conservation as part of the India Geospatial Awards at GeoSmart India 2019, for the use of advanced geospatial technology and innovation in reviving 40 rivers and tributaries across 4 Indian states benefiting 49.9 lakh people.

"Leading transformative initiatives in the water sector, Art of Living has been recognized as one of the India's leading NGOs in using geospatial technologies towards reviving rivers and fresh water sources across India," the organizers said in an introductory note, "The organization (The Art of Living) has built key platforms and solutions needed to support a robust Resources Management System. Initiating leading technologies and related engineering, Art of Living has managed to enhance the capabilities of the Indian people in responding proactively and efficiently to water scarcity situations and is constantly striving to build a robust and sustainable water resources ecosystem in India."

Dr. Lingaraju, The Art of Living River rejuvenation Project Director says,
"Now the time has come to put back the water in the ground. Five to six decades of surface water mismanagement has brought us to this level. The methodology that we use is to revive nature and bring back the rivers by copying nature to fill the dried up aquifers which will eventually help the river to flow once again. Our model has worked well and can be replicated in other states as well."  

The Art of Living experts use remote sensing and satellite mapping to identify long-buried rivers that have dried up either due to lack of sufficient groundwater or because of silt accumulation, owing to deforestation and industrial waste that lands up in our river ecosystem. Once the catchment areas are identified, network of recharge structures are planned to increase storage of water and raise the water table. Technology is adapted to the topography and the geology of the region and a unique approach is undertaken for different projects. Another aspect of the project, is engagement with local communities-through Art of Living capacity building measures, the individual is empowered, and the community is brought together, resulting in a harmonious environment. Volunteers on ground are trained to interpret remote sensing data, to take the project forward.

The earlier recipients of the award have been esteemed institutions like National Institute of Statistics and Geography, The Nature Conservancy and Australian national water commission.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar-founded The Art of Living has also been included in the Limca Book of Records 2019-India At Her Best for the 'Most extensive river rejuvenation by an NGO' for the organization's effort to resolve the country's severe water problem by reviving 40 rivers and its tributaries in four Indian states and making more water available by raising the water table especially in drought prone regions, benefiting 49.9 lakh people in over 5000 villages.                                           

Geospatial Media and Communications are an internationally accredited organization, a knowledge hub, and media platform, working in the domain since 20 years catering to the stakeholders of Geospatial, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Smart Cities, Location Intelligence and Internet of Things community.

About The Art of Living

Operating in 156 countries, The Art of Living is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual teacher - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. All our programs are guided by Gurudev's philosophy: "Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world peace." The Art of Living movement has promoted development and progress across communities through diverse humanitarian projects. These projects span diverse areas including:

• Integrated Community Development projects
  
• Education
  
• Health and hygiene
  
• Environment protection and sustainability
  
• Women empowerment and child protection

Please find the translations below and the pictures here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=10bqOP6dhxk-NNmskq2fcozD7c3YEoBXI

 

Warm regards,

Rajalakshmi

TN media co-ordinator

Mobile; 9884017767

Press Release: Limca Book Of Records for ‘Most Extensive River Rejuvenation By Any NGO’

Dear Editor,

We would like to share that, The Art of Living has been included in the Limca Book of Records 2019 - India At Her Best for the 'Most extensive river rejuvenation by an NGO' for its efforts in reviving 40 rivers and its tributaries in 4 states that have benefited 49.9 lakh people in over 5000 villages and counting.

Please find the detailed Press Release below:

            ----------------------------- Press Release----------------------------------

Limca Book Of Records for 'Most Extensive River Rejuvenation By Any NGO'

Bengaluru, 8 February 2019: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar-founded The Art of Living has been included in the Limca Book of Records 2019-India At Her Best for the 'Most extensive river rejuvenation by an NGO' for the organization's effort to resolve the country's severe water problem by reviving 40 rivers and its tributaries in four Indian states and making more water available by raising the water table especially in drought prone regions, benefiting 49.9 lakh people in over 5000 villages.

The Limca Book Of Records India stated, 'In January 2013, Art of Living an NGO, launched a campaign in the river basin of four states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Odisha) to revive 40 rivers and streams, and 26 lakes and ponds of nine river basins…The project will benefit 5,055 villages and impact 4,993,840 people.'

The environmental, social and economic impact of The Art of Living's river rejuvenation project has been far reaching and sustainable, bringing communities together in the common goal of mitigating the crucial water crisis.

Shweta Singhal, District Collector of Satara has shared, "Wherever The Art of Living has worked, conflicts have stopped, people have come together and worked for the project. There is a lot of work done in watershed by The Art of Living in Satara where villages dependent on tankers are now tanker free."

Results of third party impact assessment indicated that the ground water levels in areas with Art of Living interventions are 20% higher than those without. Ground water recharge mechanisms have been reinstated leading to availability of water even in peak summers.

"For the last 8 years there was no water," says Dayanand, a farmer from Kalaspur village, "Farming was dependent only on rains, hence had only 1 crop a year. Now water is available throughout the year and I grow 3 crops a year. Earlier my income was Rs. 30,000 to 40,000. Now it is over Rs. 3 lakh. My family and me are very happy."

The project works on the philosophical principle that individual transformation alone can bring social transformation. As a nodal agency, The Art of Living collaborates with local communities, corporations and government to get the massive task of river rejuvenation underway. First, geological scientists and environmental experts carry out extensive scientific assessment of the area using geohydrological surveys and remote sensing technologies. Then, with the help of community participation programs, contribution of Art of Living volunteers and over 5000 locals, ground water recharge structures are constructed and desilting of pollutants carried out. For the long term, steps have been taken to encourage afforestation and shifting to cropping patterns for climate resilient farming practices.

Please find the translations below along with the pictures: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gpv6gCQCFeV1ojkZv4kpPli55nGQYnhP

Tamil Release

'எந்த தொண்டு நிறுவனத்தாலும் செய்ய முடியாத அளவு மிக அதிகமான நதி மறுசீரமைப்பு' : லிம்கா உலக சாதனைப்  புத்தகத்தின் பதிவு

பெங்களூரு, பெப்ரவரி 8, 2019: குருதேவர்   ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் அவர்களால் நிறுவப்பட்ட தி ஆர்ட் ஆப் லிவிங் அமைப்பு லிம்கா உலக சாதனைப்  புத்தகம்  2019- இந்தியா  பதிவில் இடம் பெற்றுள் ளது." நாட்டின் கடுமையான நீர் பிரச்சினையைத் தீர்க்கும் வகையில் நான்கு இந்திய மாநிலங் களில் 40 இந்திய நதிகள்  மற்றும் அதன் கிளைநதிகளுக்குப்  புத்துயிர் அளிப்பதன் மூலம், அதிக நீர்வளம் குறிப்பாக வறட்சியான பகுதிகளில் நிலத்தடி நீர் மட்டத்தை உயர்த்தி 5,900 கிராமங் களில் 49.9 லட்சம் மக்களுக்கு அதிக நீர் கிடைக்க வழி செய்துள்ளது'' என்று குறிப்பிடப் பட்டுள்ளது 

லிம்கா உலக சாதனைப் புத்தகத்தில் "  ஒரு அரசு  சார்பற்ற நிறுவனமாகிய தி ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங் 2013 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஜனவரி மாதம் ,  நான்கு மாநிலங்களில்   (கர்நாடகா, தமிழ்நாடு, மகாராஷ்டிரா மற்றும் ஒடிசா) 40 நதிகள் மற்றும் நீரோடைகள் , 26 ஏரிகள்,  ஒன்பது ஆற்றுப் பள்ளத்தாக்கு  குளங்கள் ஆகியவற்றைப் புதுப்பிக்கும்  திட்டத்தின் மூலம்  5,055 கிராமங்களில் உள்ள    49 .9  லட்சம் மக்களுக்கு நீர் கிடைக்க வழி செய்து செய்துள்ளது." என்று பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. 

தி ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங் அமைப்பின் நதி நீர்  புத்துயிர் திட்டத்தின் சுற்றுச்சூழல், சமூக மற்றும் பொருளாதாரத்  தாக்கங்கள் நீடித்த பயனளித்து , முக்கியமான நீர் நெருக்கடியைக் குறைப்பதற் கான பொதுவான இலக்கின் மூலம்  சமூகங்களை ஒன்றாக இணைத்துள்ளது .

சதாரா மாவட்ட ஆணையரான ஸ்வேதா  சிங்கல், "எங்கு தி ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங்  பணிபுரிந்தாலும் அங்கு மோதல்கள் தீர்க்கப்பட்டு , மக்கள் ஒன்றிணைந்து  பணி புரிகின்றனர். சதாராவில் ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங் மூலம் நீர்த்தேக்கங்களில்  ஏராளமான வேலைகள் நடைபெறுகின்றன, அங்கு நீர் டாங்கர்களை பெரிதும் சார்ந்திருந்த கிராமங்கள் இப்போது அவற்றின் உதவியின்றி  நீர் வளம் பெற்றுள்ளன."  என்று பகிர்ந்து கொண்டார்.

தி ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங்  தலையீடுகளுடன் நிலத்தடி நீர்மட்டங்கள் 20 சதவிகிதம் வரையில் அதிகமாகி  இருப்பதை மூன்றாம் தரப்பினரின் தாக்க மதிப்பீட்டின் முடிவுகள் , சுட்டிக்  காட்டியுள்ளன. நிலத்தடி நீர் மீள் நிரப்பு  வழிமுறைகள், உச்ச கோடைகளில் கூட நீர் கிடைப் பதற்கு வழிவகுக்கின்றன.

காலாஸ்பூர் கிராமத்திலுள்ள  ஒரு விவசாயியான  தயானந்த் , "கடந்த 8 ஆண்டுகளாக நீர் இல்லை, வேளாண்மை மழை நீரை  மட்டுமே சார்ந்தது, எனவே வருடத்திற்கு ஒரு முறை மட்டுமே  பயிர் விளைவிக்க முடிந்தது. இப்போது ஆண்டு  முழுவதும் நீர் கிடைக்கிறது; மற்றும்  ஒரு ஆண்டில்  3 முறை பயிரிடுகிறேன். முன்பு என் வருமானம் ரூ. 30,000 முதல் 40,000 வரை இருந்து வந்தது. இப்போது அது ரூ. 3 லட்சமாக உயர்ந்துள்ளது. என் குடும்பமும் நானும் மிகவும் சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கிறோம். " என்று கூறுகிறார் 

தனித்த மாற்றம் மட்டுமே சமூக மாற்றத்தைக் கொண்டு வர முடியும் என்னும்  தத்துவக் கொள்கையில் இத் திட்டம் இயங்குகிறது. நதியின் மறுசீரமைப்பு நடைபெற்று வரும் பெரும் பணியின் பொருட்டு உள்ளூர் சமூகங்கள், பெருநிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் அரசாங்கத்துடன் இணைந்து  தி ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங்  நிறுவனம் செயல்படுகின்றது. முதலாவதாக புவியியல் விஞ்ஞானிகள் மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சூழல் வல்லுநர்கள், நிலப்பரப்பு ஆய்வுகள் மற்றும் ரிமோட் உணர்திறன் தொழில்நுட்பங்களைப் பயன்படுத்தி விரிவான விஞ்ஞான மதிப்பீட்டை மேற் கொள்கின்றனர். பின்னர், சமூக பங்கேற்பின் உதவியுடனும், தி ஆர்ட் ஆஃப் லிவிங் அமைப்பின்  தன்னார்வ தொண்டர்கள்  மற்றும் 5000 க்கும் மேற்பட்ட உள்ளூர்வாசிகள் ஆகியோரின் பங்களிப்பின் மூலமும்  , நிலத்தடி நீர் மீள்நிரப்பு   கட்டமைப்புகள் நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்டு, மாசுகள் தூர் எடுக்கப் படுகின்றன.  நீண்ட காலமாக, வனப்பகுதியை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கும்  மற்றும் காலநிலை செழிப்பான விவசாய நடைமுறைகளுக்கு பயிர் முறைகள் மாற்றப்படுவதற்கும்  நடவடிக்கைகள்   எடுக்கப் பட்டு வருகின்றன.

Do let me know if you would like to see some of the work done in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.

With warm regards,

Rajalakshmi

Media Co-ordinator: 9884017767