Supporting farmers - Kisan Samruddhi Mahotsav 3.0

 

"No Farmer Should Have to Resort to Suicide," says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a powerful message at Kisan Samruddhi Mahotsav 3.0

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“No Farmer Should Have to Resort to Suicide,” says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a powerful message at Kisan Samruddhi Mahotsav 3.0

January 29, 2025
Bengaluru

“A few years ago, Vidarbha witnessed a tragic wave of farmer suicides. During that time, everyone was concerned about how to support the farmers,” shared Shweta Mahale (MLA, Chikhli Constituency) in a poignant address at Kishan Samruddhi Mahotsav 3.0, which has drawn 1000 farmers from drought-prone districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha to The Art of Living International Center, “It was Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who extended a helping hand to them.”

She added, “He uplifted the morale of the farmers. The Art of Living is the only organization that works holistically on mental health, society, and nature. Through initiatives like Jalyukt Shivar and The Art of Living’s various projects, significant improvements have been made across Maharashtra. In 2024 alone, these efforts led to a rise in groundwater levels, directly improving the quality of life for farmers.”

Gurudev’s Call for a Future Without Farmer Suicides

Delivering a powerful message, the global humanitarian leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “No farmer should have to resort to suicide.” He further emphasized, “Our country is a land of sages and agriculture. If there were no sages, meaning the wise, and no farmers, the nation would have perished long ago.”

Highlighting the need for inner resilience, he stated, “When there is inner strength and self-confidence, no task is impossible.” He also spoke about Project Bharat, under which five individuals in every village are selected to work for the upliftment of the village community and strengthen farmers’ morale.

The Art of Living has created an ecosystem for farmers to thrive economically, physically, and mentally, having trained over 23 lakh farmers in natural farming, and constructing over 1 lakh recharge structures benefiting 3.45 crore people in over 20,000 villages so far. The Kisan Samruddhi Mahotsav is a platform for farmers to inspire others, and allow them to learn and share their own stories of powerful transformation. The visible change is owing to the multipronged initiatives of The Art of Living in their regions, blending and compounding the benefits of water conservation, natural farming techniques, and agricultural innovations to enhance productivity and farm income.

Farmers and Officials Testify to the Impact of The Art of Living’s Efforts

Sanjay Yeul, a farmer from Akola who owns 205 acres of land, shared, “In 2017-18, the water level had decreased significantly in my village. However, due to The Art of Living’s water conservation work, the water level has now risen to 25 feet, benefiting not just me but all the farmers in the surrounding areas. Tree plantation initiatives have further helped the farmers.”

Government officials shared their accounts of the extensive work being done by The Art of Living. Sandeep Sasane, Sub-Divisional Water Conservation Officer, Wardha said, “I am from the land of Gandhi. I won’t lie. I have been working with The Art of Living since 2017. Thanks to their water conservation efforts, groundwater levels have increased, and farmers’ livelihoods have improved. This year, due to their interventions, even in flood-prone villages, not a single acre of farmland was damaged. When organizations like The Art of Living collaborate with the administration, great work happens.”

Evidence of the change is that 300 farmers personally funded their flight tickets to attend the conference—a stark contrast to a financially distressing past. These farmers came to express their heartfelt gratitude to Gurudev for the prosperity they now experience, made possible by his vision and The Art of Living’s relentless commitment to their well-being.

“You all have a great responsibility—to uplift everyone’s spirits, to take everyone forward together,” Gurudev told the farmer-beneficiaries, “And we are with you in this journey.”

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