In Nandwal village, through SALT activities, I have met almost all the boys and discovered their good qualities. All of them have the strength to play the role of a leader. About a month before the Ganesh festival, we had organized a meeting in the gym. In that meeting, the boys participated enthusiastically and shared their various dreams. Some of these they had planned to carry out during the Ganesh festival, but for some reason, it did not happen. After that, the rains began. For the past…

Family, a web of relationships that everyone longs for. It is the place where human life begins and where learning takes root. Today, I had the opportunity to meet such a family, through a SALT activity.

The conversation began in a light and easy manner. Each member shared their interests in a few sentences, which created a relaxed and open atmosphere. Soon, the parents started talking about the youth and children in the village. They said, Our children, as well as the children in the…

In Nandwal, I often hold SALT activities in the evenings along with discussions on masculinity. SALT provides people a platform to express their feelings, which makes conversations about masculinity much easier.

Today I had such a discussion with a middle aged man named Dinkar. He recently underwent surgery and is currently not working. As soon as we…

Today, a SALT activity was conducted with a 23-year-old youth, followed by a discussion on masculinity.

Saurabh, 23 years old, has completed his education and is currently working in a company. When asked to recall a happy moment in his life, he shared an emotional memory with his group of friends. He said that since childhood, they were a group of 7 to 8 friends who always helped each other.…

I was returning after conducting a SALT activity in one of the lanes of Nandwal village. While walking in the heat, I noticed an elderly man sitting alone in front of a house. It was Shamarao Nikam. I went to him and asked for some time. He called out to me,  “Come, Mauli.” The sweetness in his voice touched my heart, and I went inside. We sat down on a mat on the floor and began chatting.…

I met Sachin Shinde, a 34-year-old farmer from Nandwal village. He had just returned from the fields, tired, and was sitting at his doorstep with a mobile phone in his hand. I approached him and asked for some time, and when I started the conversation, he happily agreed. His wife is currently working as a member of the Nandwal Gram Panchayat.

I shared with him some information about the Joyful Village research, where the community members themselves had taken initiative and worked. He…

This evening, around six o’clock, I set out for Nandwal village. My purpose today was to meet the men of the village. I know that on Mondays, many men and young people are on holiday, so I try to meet them at that time.

I saw a few men sitting on the katta, chatting. I joined their discussion and quietly listened for some time. They were talking about several issues related to the development of the village. For nearly half an hour, I just listened to what they were saying. Then, I asked…

On the evening of September 4th, I went to Nandwal village for my regular SALT activity. As I walked through Patil Galli, I noticed a man standing outside his house. I introduced myself and asked if he could spare some time for a conversation. He gladly agreed, and our discussion began.I asked him if he could recall any joyful events in his life. Without a moment’s delay, he shared: I used to be a farmer. But now, I supply milk in the city. I own six cows, and that’s how we run our…