Eco-village

When the terms like ‘global warming’ and ‘environmental pollution’ are puzzling the human minds across the globe, a silent process to protect the ecosystem is on in this oldest living city of the world, though it is small and in nascent stage. A recently developed organisation -Bal Ashram (children’s ashram), run by Aghor Guru Seva Peeth, on the bank on Ganga in Samene Ghat area, has evolved a programme to develop an ‘Eco-village’ on the opposite bank of Ganga for which land is being procured. The Eco-village programme will raise awareness in this ancient sacred city now beset by many urban problems about recycling, renewable energy, sustainable farming and traditional Indian (ayurvedic) herbal medicines. “There is a vision of making Bal Ashram and its Eco-village a model that can be copied not only in India but also anywhere in the world,” said Baba Harihar Ramji, one of the followers of Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ram. “We have procured some land on the other side of Ganga and we are planning to have some more land for this purpose so that a green belt can be developed along the river with active participation of local populace,” said Harihar Ramji, who runs the Bal Ashram for orphans. And, a group of foreigners is also interested in this venture of developing the eco-village and green belt along the river. “It is an effort to connect the people with the environment,” said Richard E Sclove, a US national who runs a non-governmental organisation in his country. Being overwhelmed with the serene beauty of Ganga, he was very enthusiastic about the development of eco-friendly venture on its babk. His attachment with nature could be viewed in his visiting card displaying the view of rising sun above the flowing Ganga. Like him other Americans including Paul Rozer and Peter Moras, who recently made a visit to the ashram, also showed their concern over the shrinking greenery and other gifts of nature. “By developing eco-village we also intend to preserve the rare ‘jari-buti’ (medicinal plants), which are at the verge of extinction,” said Harihar Ramji, who also has an ashram in Sonoma, California (US). He said that the local people would be encouraged to join such ventures for the survival of humanity. The Bal Ashram, developed in 2000, is not only an orphanage but also a loving home for the children without parents. “The objectives of the ashram as a whole remain the same as Aghoreshwar Baba Bhagwan Ramji had envisioned for all his Ashrams in India and abroad”, he said adding that presently 18 children were being looked after at the ashram.