Jamnalal Bajaj Vishwaneedam

Jamnalal Bajaj Vishwaneedam is a non-profit organization advancing women's empowerment in India. Many women from low-income homes in India struggle to complete their education and have limited access to employment opportunities. Lack of freedom and choice forces them to depend on others at home for their needs. JBV aims to tackle this issue by teaching them skills that are in demand in the local market. Apart from employability and soft skills, women students at JBV receive training on language and communication, life and positive thinking, personality development, management, and behaviour and etiquette.

Jamnalal Bajaj Vishwaneedam (JBV) was founded on 14 April 1960 by Shri. Kamalnayan Bajaj at the suggestion of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, an advocate of human rights and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Formerly known as Vishwaneedam--International Sarvodaya Centre, JBV is a not-for-profit organization run by the Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust (JBST), a public trust funded by the Bajaj Family.
 

On 14 October 1957, during his Bhoodan Yajna Padyatra, Acharya Vinoba Bhave spent six days in Bangalore and was inspired by people he met and the lovely weather. He wanted to create a 'Sarvodaya Nagar' to promote the 'Sarvodaya' philosophy, which is to 'devote oneself to the service of others'. The overarching idea was to have people from all walks of life come together to share knowledge and experiences that would benefit the local community and the country as a whole.

To realize this dream, Shri. Kamalnayan Bajaj decided to build a campus, called 'Vishwaneedam'. In Sanskrit, 'vishwa' means world and 'needam' means nest or home. In other words, Vishwaneedam stands for a home to all in the world.

Vision:

To empower people with the optimal skills to help them achieve economic independence and self reliance.

Mission:

To provide our students a safe and inspirational environment with well-structured and relevant courses and well-trained teachers who maximize their potential. and help them achieve their goal of being gainfully employed or starting their own business.
 

Background & Purpose:

Many underprivileged women in India struggle to complete their education, or their qualifications do not align with their ambitions. These women also have the added responsibilities of being a wife, mother, and homemaker. All these factors limit their ability to earn a living or set up a home-based business.

JBV's skill-based training serves as a stepping stone for these women. The trainings aim at elevating their economic status and boosting their confidence and sense of autonomy.

JBV currently provides free-of-charge skill-based training to underprivileged women to help them become economically independent and self-reliant. Driven by Shri. Jamnalal Bajaj's words, 'In society, men and women have the same status and both have the same needs', the institution recognizes that a nation cannot truly progress until its women have the same educational, economic, and social opportunities as the men.

JBV's efforts can be broadly grouped into 3 categories:

• 1. Skill-Based training - JBV offers vocational training in tailoring, embroidery, fashion designing, and computer skills. The courses are designed to be short-term and intensive, and are taught by experienced teachers. The courses are free of charge and students are provided with all the necessary materials.

• 2. Balwadi - JBV also runs a balwadi (an informal pre-primary learning centre) to support students who are mothers. During course hours, mothers can leave their infants and toddlers in the care of trained professionals at the balwadi. Like their mothers, the children also learn in a comfortable and safe space.

• 3. Goushala - In line with the beliefs of Shri. Jamnalal Bajaj and Mahatma Gandhi, JBV gives a lot of importance to the idea of gou-seva (taking care of cows). The JBV campus has a large cattle shelter that takes care of the medical and nutritional requirements of many cows.

The work for Gou – Seva halts not because of cow slaughter by non-believers but because of our own indifference and tyrannies towards the cow – Jamnalal Bajaj

JBV cares for multiple cows and their calves by fulfilling their nutritional and medical requirements. Their feed is grown organically on the campus and a vet checks them on a weekly basis. The milk produced is given to the children at Balwadi.

Courses offered:

• Computers – Basic | Intermediate,
• Desktop Publishing – DTP,
• Tally,
• Tailoring – Basic | Intermediate | Advanced,
• Saree Tassels, Embroidery – Hand made | Machine,
• Artificial Jwellery, Terracota Jewellery,
• Jhula Wire design,
• Art & Craft, Yoga, Mehendi,
• Painting etc.

Equip women from underprivileged backgrounds with the skillset they need to earn a livelihood for themselves and their families.
Help the students gain employment or start a business.
Offer courses that are relevant to the market and impart skills which are in high demand such as tailoring, embroidery, handicrafts and mehendi.
Encourage traditional trades if relevant -such as pottery, plumbing, carpentry, welding, masonry, weaving, local handicraft and tailoring.

 

Mobilization:

JBV reaches out and mobilizes women from local communities through various schools, colleges, anganwadis, community centres and self-help groups (SHGs). Our faculty members talk to these women about JBV and distribute informative pamphlets about the courses offered.

 

Socio-economic status:

Most of the students belong to lowincome families with single earners who earn on average INR 18,000 a month. The amount is enough to manage basic household expenses, but an added income stream can uplift their quality of life.