Forging Sustainable Global Alliances: A Transformative Encounter in Varanasi for Positive Social Change

 On December 24, 2023, a pivotal meeting unfolded in Varanasi, India, bringing together esteemed individuals dedicated to positive social change. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shirin Shabana Khan, and Abimanyu Pratap from PVCHR engaged in discussions with Ms. Sita Bista, a Member of Parliament from Makawanpur and Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), who also chairs Integrated Village Development Services Nepal.

Integrated Village Development Service (IVDS), located in Hetauda-2, Makwanpur, is a non-profit national non-governmental organization committed to fostering positive societal transformations in Nepal. The purpose of their visit to India was centered around the South-South exchange program at Parmarth in Orai, UP, facilitated by the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec).

Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan, the organization in Orai, has been actively addressing water crises in the water-stressed Bundelkhand region of UP & MP since 1996. With a focus on qualitative improvements and uplifting vulnerable communities, Parmarth collaborates with stakeholders such as institutions, corporations, government bodies, local communities, and individuals. Their interventions span across water conservation, environmental protection, village development, sustainable agriculture, river rejuvenation, sanitation, waste management, women empowerment, education, and skill development.

The visit was a result of a sustainable friendship and relationship-building approach. Notably, Nirmal Kumar Paudel, a fellow from the first batch of the South-South youth exchange, initiated by INSEC-PVCHR and financed by NOREC, played a pivotal role. Trained and supported by PVCHR, Paudel's connection with Parmarth exemplifies the enduring impact of collaborative efforts.

Dilshad Khan, a fellow at PVCHR, meticulously orchestrated the arrangements for the Varanasi visit of the chairperson and associates of Integrated Village Development Services, Nepal, exemplifying the sustainable way of fostering global friendships for a better world.

The article sheds light on the comprehensive evaluation report of the Youth Exchange Program funded by Norec, conducted by Alliance for Social Mobilization Pvt. Ltd, Nepal. It delves into various aspects, including the purpose, methodology, key results, challenges, conclusions, recommendations, lessons learned, and annexes.

The report commends the grassroots HR work of PVCHR, community-based methodologies, counseling therapy like Testimony Therapy, and the documentation of issues such as police torture, child rights, and landless people’s concerns. These methodologies have been lauded by INSEC staff and youth trainees, with some already transitioning into full-time roles within PVCHR and various organizations and government agencies in Nepal.

The narrative expands to the global landscape, emphasizing the dangerous trend of masculinity-driven militarist traditions and the concept of superman as part of hegemonic masculinity. Lenin Raghuvanshi, CEO, and founder of PVCHR, draws upon his childhood learning to address these issues. His insights on hegemonic masculinity were acknowledged by film actor Aamir Khan, leading to his participation in the Satyamev Jayate TV series in 2014, focusing on violence and hegemonic masculinity.

Despite facing manipulation and conspiracy, PVCHR received notable recognition as a "Friend of German Parliament" during a significant dinner meeting with Vice President Claudia Roth at Lodhi Garden Restaurant on February 20, 2015. This acknowledgment marked a crucial milestone in PVCHR's international advocacy for human rights, solidifying a deepening partnership with the German Parliament and emphasizing shared commitments to advancing global human rights.