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[The effect of the 2004 Training and his own trainings]
(Can you share some examples of what you have done in the area of training after the national training on the RBA, held in Bangalore in 2004?)

Actually, my trainings took a very big chunk. And fortunately, the RBA also. . . my provincial. . . I was asking for it. . . He allowed me to have one year in the Social Centre where I was free to give trainings. And at one stage, at one year, I gave about 96 trainings in just a year’s time. In fact, they think I was mad. . . there was not day that I was free. Nearly every day, there was something or another. And this energy, I still have that. From morning to evening, I was getting too tired. . . in over a period of days. But I found that these trainings gave me new life and taught our people new life. What I was shocked about. . . I came to many remote villages, all over Maharashtra actually, in North Maharashtra, in Amravati etc , in the south of Maharashtra, actually, all over Maharashtra, and I have given a lot of trainings to different groups… trainings have been given to. . . I have given trainings to many self-help groups; women of self-help groups, men of self-help groups, I have given trainings to many leaders, village leaders. Trainings to village leaders and self-help group leaders, college students, to animators, social workers, to priests in villages, actually, many many groups. And so far, Jesuit groups also. And they have appreciated these trainings very much, they have been calling me very often to give trainings. But unfortunately I can’t . . . now unfortunately I am tied down, I am in charge of a mission in Shirpur and still I try to come out.

You know what, the training of two years back in Rights-Based Approach helped me to give a theory, a good framework in which I put a lot of examples local examples, Indian situation, the Indian government, Indian constitution, fundamental rights. And I think that worked very well, and this makes a big difference. It becomes very real for them.

After this training, it has been a very short time, so it’s difficult to pinpoint, but when these people have come for training again; sometimes I give them trainings, for 2 days a month, for a period of 6 or 7 months. They have come back always and they will say how the last trainings have helped them, to enable them to do some things. You know, they have been able to call the government officers, to get their rights, when their rights are not given, they have insisted on their rights, they have grouped together and come together to get their rights, I find women are easier to conscientize than men, and once you work with them, they really get together.

Knowledge of one’s rights gives many a lot of courage. It gives us a lot of strength to go ahead, because you know that you are within the law. I sometimes challenge the police officers. . I even pointed out that the officers were breaking the law.