Right to Food - Bhiloda

RTF-Bhiloda

Enthused by the success of the RTF sammelan held at BSC Ahmedabad in November 2011 by JESA, Gujarat, the leaders and volunteers from Sabarkantha and Banaskantha organised a similar one at Shamlaji, the temple town of Bhiloda taluka, on 14-15 February. The objective was to spread awareness on RTF and the positive experiences of many, to more people at the village level. Over 700 leaders under the leadership of  RTF volunteers from Amirghadh, Danta and Khedbrahma talukas of Banaskantha and Meghraj, Modasa, Malpur, Vijaynagar and Bhiloda talukas of Sabarkantha participated in the sammelan. The meals and overnight stay were organized in one of the temple premises available at Shamlaji. The most notable point of the sammelan was that the OBC's, Dalits and the Adivasis came together to share their struggles and success stories and experienced the support of one another. The participants came with dhols and musical instruments and celebrated their togetherness with a cultural programme on 14th evening, singing awareness songs, dances and so on. For the 125 OBC's from Malpur and Modasa, it was their first experience of being with Adivasis and Dalits. They also gave a stunning dance performance which surprised every one present. All the participants left the sammelan venue empowered and assuring each other that they would carry the experience to every home in their respective villages.