ISKCON aims at rural uplift through project 'Prayag'

Starting as a 'satsang' initiative of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) among villagers, a programme titled 'The Prayag' has taken shape in Maharashtra to bring about rural development in the fields of health, economy, society and culture.
The programme, already pioneered in several villages of Maharashtra, has been initiated by ISKCON spiritual leader Radhanath Swami Maharaj of Radha Gopinath Temple at Girgaon Chowpatty in south Mumbai, says a release here.
'The Prayag' now aims at reaching out to 500 villages of Maharashtra in the next five years of its implementation.
According to Radhanath Swami, 'The Prayag' has been conceptualised over a period of time and finally structured under three umbrellas - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, where economic upliftment of villagers is taken care of by Ganga and spiritual and cultural needs are addressed by Yamuna while Saraswati (coined after the hidden holy river as per Indian scriptures) works towards education of the villagers.

"The economic, social, spiritual and cultural development of villages in this way will lead to a self-sustaining ecosystem creating more harmony and happiness within the society," Swami said in the release.
Ganga will ensure agro-based economic development, cow protection and breed preservation, improving cow economics through cow products, native seed preservation by creating seed banks, soil and water conservation among other activities aimed at making villages self-dependent and economically robust from within, it said.
"As a part of Prayag, Yamuna works on building solid spiritual foundation through regular satsang programs, encouraging and taking people for Yatra to holy places with the congregation and youth, creating programs for kids based on stories from Puranas and other activities," it added.

"Saraswati will also look at conducting general health checkup camps, eye camps, cancer camps, providing accessible and affordable quality health care to rural people by opening health centers, identifying and encouraging local traditional healing or curing methods and giving nourishing meals to kids in schools," it added.