India
The Bharat Scouts and Guides: the Girl Guide Section
Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting introduced: 1911 - Founder Member of WAGGGS (in conjunction with present day Bangladesh and Pakistan under the name of India)
Number of Girl Guides/Girl Scouts: 1305028 (01/01/2006)
Status:
Full Member
Guiding Introduced on: 01/01/1911
WAGGGS Region:
Asia Pacific
Contact us
Joint Director (Guides)
16 Mahatma Gandhi Marg
Indraprastha Estate
P. O. Box 7043
NEW DELHI 110002
Email: tbsgnet@del2.vsnl.net.in
Click here to view additional information on this organisation
Promise:
Guide Promise
On my honour, I promise that I will do my best:
To do my duty to God‡ and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Guide Law.
Bulbul Promise
I promise to do my best:
To do my duty to God‡ and my country,
To keep the Law of the Bulbul flock and
To do a good turn every day.
‡The world ‘Dharma’ may be substituted for ‘God’ if so desired.
Ranger Promise - Same as Guide Promise
Law:
Guide Law
1 A Guide is trustworthy.
2 A Guide is loyal.
3 A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other Guide.
4 A Guide is courteous.
5 A Guide is a friend to animals and loves nature.
6 A Guide is disciplined and helps protect public property.
7 A Guide is courageous.
8 A Guide is thrifty.
9 A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.
Bulbul Law
The Bulbul gives in to the elders.
The Bulbul is clean and courteous.
Ranger Law - same as Guide Law
Motto:
Guide Motto - Be Prepared
Bulbul Motto - Do your best
Ranger Motto - Service
Age groups:
Ranger 16-25
Guide 10-17+
Bulbul 5-10
Development of the movement:
In 1948 India was welcomed as a separate member of WAGGGS, having been a Founder Member of the World Association, together with present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, under the name of India, in 1928.
The Girl Guides Association (India) joined together with the nationally recognized Joint Movement in 1951, shortly after India became a Republic, to form the Bharat Scouts and Guides (Bharat being the ancient name for India). Guides and Scouts take part in jamborees, camp fires and other special events together,
Programme:
Guiding exists in all the administrative States in India including all the Railway Zones, Kendriya Vidyala Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalayas Simiti, in both rural and urban areas. It is chiefly associated with schools, and in some schools it forms part of the curriculum of optional extra activities. There are also many open units in which girls who do not attend school participate. The programme is based on community service and development, and is updated periodically to suit the changing needs of girls in India. Although the Association has some special groups for disabled girls, it encourages their integration into standard existing units where possible. Air Guiding is increasing in popularity and plans are under way to offer Guides water-based activities. In a few States, Bunny groups have been introduced on an experimental basis for girls aged 3-5 years.
Relationship to society:
The Bharat Scouts and Guides run several national schemes to encourage community service and development. The Prime Minister’s Shield Competition is open to groups of Guides. For Rangers, the Upa Rashtrapati (Vice President of India) Award Scheme was introduced in 1994-1995, and involves organizing and carrying out projects in such areas as conservation of plants and animals, health and hygiene, and adult education. The Rashtrapati Guide and Rashtrapati Ranger programmes are for individual Guides and Rangers working on projects in the same subjects. Tree plantation, an immunization campaign, literacy, leprosy and AIDS awareness campaigns and oral rehydration therapy (ORT) are some of the ongoing activities organized throughout the year at local/district and State level. Guides and Rangers are involved in Community Development projects through the Prime Minister’s Shield Competition, the Upa Rashtrapati Award Competition and working for Proficiency Badges offered in APRO-III. Important days on health, environment, food and nutrition, sanitation and so on are celebrated.
HAPI (Healthy Adolescent Project in India)
In December 1999, WAGGGS and Family Health International were awarded a grant by the Lucile and David Packard Foundation to implement the Healthy Adolescent Project in India. Young people take part in a Badge Curriculum on adolescent health issues. These include physical and emotional changes during adolescence, family planning, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, exercise, personal hygiene, drugs, alcohol and domestic violence. They are supported by Leaders who in turn are supported by Adult Trainers. The young people will also be trained as Peer Educators. Each person is challenged to make at least 25 peer contacts. Health Providers support both the young people and Leaders in providing technical knowledge. Full time coordinators support all these people and manage the project.
The project is implemented with the support of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in West Bengal State. The Curriculum and Leader’s Handbook have been produced in English, Bengali, Hindi, and Nepali to reflect the languages spoken by participants.
Community sensitisation is taking place in the sites where the project is being implemented to ensure the full support of parents and communities for their daughters and sons to take part. It is hoped that the project will reach 22,500 Peer Education contacts by August 2003. The project will then by extended into other parts of India if funding is available. So far, the project has been one of the most successful projects of the Triennium with the participants proud of the knowledge they have gained and respected in their communities for this knowledge.
Communication and Co-operation
The Bharat Scouts and Guides have always participated actively in international events. As Sangam, one of the four World Centres, is in India, many girls have had the opportunity to meet members of the Movement from abroad.
The Bharat Scouts and Guides informs the general public about Guiding through the press, radio and television. The Association receives much support from the central and State Governments, and this has resulted in the doubling of membership over ten years. The Guide wing co-operates with all other major voluntary youth organizations working for the development of girls and young women in India. Literature for all three sections of Guiding is being made available in English as well as in the regional language. The organization has a monthly newsletter and magazine.
Administration and training skills are enhanced with the introduction of computers. Networking with other youth and voluntary organizations has created a distinct place for Guiding in society.
Training:
The Guide wing has its own training scheme for Adult Leaders, organized by the National and the State Training Commissioners for Guides. Modular training has been introduced for promotion of leader training. The scheme involves basic, advanced and Himalaya Wood Badge courses. Training camps, day courses and weekend training are frequently held, and there are separate training camps for each section. SANDHAN, a meet of the members of the training team, is held once in three years to evaluate and update the programme and training.
Outdoor and Environmental Activities
Guides actively participate in adventure activities at the National Adventure Institute founded by the Bharat Scouts and Guides in the year 1992. Ample opportunities for rock climbing, trekking, hiking, etc., are provided to girls under the leadership of Guide leaders.
The Association organizes frequent national and regional Integration Camps, Cub/Bulbul Utsavs and Rover/Ranger Samagams, where members of the Movement are drawn together, regardless of caste, creed, nationality or faith, in order to create a feeling of national integration and stress unity in diversity. All Faiths Prayer meeting is a unique feature of the Bharat Scouts and Guides which binds all into one.
