Samajik Sampannata

(Economic Developmnet)

When character, talent and conducive structural arrangements blend together, the society becomes enrished.

The characteristic of an evolved society is qualitative richness of social life. However, most people imply only economic affluence when they speak of prosperity. The fact is that economic affluence when they speak of prosperity. The fat is that economic well-being is a consequence of several underlying factors.
Self-reliance, mutual co-operation and collaboration, ethical living, self-respect, devotion to God: it is these factors which lead to development of a society. Flowering of talents and skills requires education, interest in literature and the arts, and social arrangements conducive to these. Such arrangements include schools, dispensaries, job-training centres, etc.
Thus a fully developed and Dharma-based society desiderates the availability of all the three requisites - namely, character, skill and efficient institutional institutional arrangements. It is in this background that Bharatiya culture formulated a fourfold basis of social life comprising Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. How this concept has guided the varied Sewa activities in pursuit of social development in indicated in the following paragraphs.

All society is one family

Devotion, social perspective, emphasis on self-reliance: it is there which pave the way for a prosperous society. But the primary and basic requirement is the existence of individuals who, in addition to leading independent lives, are eager to serve society and acquire the skills needed therefor. Such people create the environment needed for development of society at large.
Efforts in this direction are in progress throughout the country. The experience of these efforts has been illuminating.

Education is the key

Education may be said to provide the lever for other endeavours.
Education means the externalisation of an individual's potential, exposure to the wide world outside, efficient harnessing of his capabilities, and aggregation of strength through action. Many experiments therein naturally are focused on such liberal education.
Sewa-Bastis in Delhi too face the same problem as elsewhere. In common parlance these Bastis are called "Jhuggi-Jhopdis" (hutments). But, to slave the conscience, people have given one such Basti the euphonious name of J.J.Colony! But calling a beggar by the name Lakshamipati can hardly change his fortunes. The situation in Delhi was no different. The Bastis are full of months-old kids in need of mother's milk, toddler-children in need of medical care, children of 4-7 years left at home by mothers busy elsewhere in bread-earning, mothers saddled with loads of domestic work. Children in these conditions can hardly expect any education or samskars. For such children, Sewa Bharati has been running about 250 centres catering to about 10,000 children.
Once a guest had come to visit a Basti household. He sat for food with the members of the family. Shyam, who is all of five years, told the guests, "Why don't you wash your hands before eating"? None had expected this, Shyam himself went and cleaned his hands and face before joining; and, seeing him, others too had to do likewise. After all were seated, mother announced, "Ever since Shyam started attending the Balwadi, he starts eating only after reciting the mantra". Needless to say, Shyam recited the mantra - "Saha navavatu...." All repeated after him.

Prejudice Supplanted by admiration

Delhi

Education is not mere literacy. Literacy is but the first step. In the past, children of Sewa-Bastis rarely advanced beyond learning the alphabet. But Sewa Bharati bestowed attention on developing the children's capacity to learn more and more progressively.
The coaching centre in Delhi is one such effort. About two thousand children studying in Standards 8 to 10 attend the centre every year. The samskars imparted in the centre brought about a remarkable change in the children. This in turn had an impact on teachers of the schools attended by these children; and the percentage of successes in these schools went up. This made the management of the schools revise their approach to education.
Once, a student came weeping to Sewa Bharati and told the karyakarta: "Guruji, I had correctly answered all the questions; and yet I have failed". The student was known to be good in studies. How then could be have failed? The karyakarta went and met the Head-master of the school. The latter immediately sent for the class teacher. The class teacher said arrogantly: "All have failed". The karyakarta insisted on seeing the answer papers. When the answer papers were fetched, it came out that all the answers were correct, but no marks had been given. This was drawn to the attention of the Head-master. The class teacher then gave a fresh explanation - "This chap has copied the answers". The karyakarta then challenged - "All right. You seat him separately and give him the question paper. If he cannot answer the questions, I will admit that he deserves to fail". The Head-master instructed accordingly. After completion he was surprised that the boy had written all the answers correctly. Totally surprised, the Head-master asked the karyakarta - "How is this boy related to you?" The karyakarta then spoke about the work of Sewa Bharati and said, "This boy is also among the students who attend our coaching centre. He is not an idler. He works hard". This experience had a salutary influence on the Head-master and the class teacher who then shed their opinion about these students. The karyakarta then pointed to the results sheet and said: "60 percent of the students who have passed in the examinations of your school are from the Sewa Bharati coaching centre". This was a further surprise to the Head-master and the class teacher. Since then, any student sent from the Sewa Bharati coaching centre is admitted in that shool without even an entrance test, as is usually done. Such is the result of sustained Sewa-karya.

Karyakartas, a man-moulding laboratory

Delhi

The coaching centre in Delhi did not succeed in making the children aware of their learning potential in the early state. But the karyakartas were not satisfied with this. To make the children rise to the desired level of expectation was not possible through a mere hour's work every day. They therefore hired three sheds above the Arya Samaj Mandir for running special classes during January, February and March, prior to the annual examination. This called for extra effort from both the teachers and the taught. As a result, all the students, without exception, passed in the examinations.
This attracted more people to the hostel. But the space in the Arya Samaj building was inadequate. It was therefore decided to move to Gita Mandir the following year; permission had been obtained. All the students reached the spot. But the doors were closed. All the students reached the spot. But the doors were closed! A meeting of the Mandir committee was going on inside, and there were differences of opinion about letting out the building for our hostel. Some had raised the question, "How can Harijans be admitted into the Mandir?" In reponse, the determined Sewa Bharati karyakarta told the management - "If so, we shall put up a pandal in front of the Mandir and run the classes there". This determination softened the mind of the management, and they accorded permission for the use of the building. Thus, an anachronistic practice came to an end, and the classes were conducted successfully.
The next year, even Gita Mandir building proved insufficient, as the number had grown even further. Now, one of the karyakartas made available a thirteen-room building under his control for the use of the hostel, for a two-year period. The number of students had grown from 15 to 65 in four years. There were many inspiring experiences during these four years. By the fifth year (1983) a permanent place for the hostel became available at Shiv Mandir in Savan Park. Impressed by the achievement of the hostel, many well-wishers took on themselves the responsibility for the construction of the building. Within just eleven months, a spacious three-storey building with 13 rooms, lecture hall, kitchen, etc., was ready. It became a beehive of activity, imparting education and samskars, complete with boarding and lodging arrangements, making it a laboratory for moulding bright students, model citizens and dedicated karyakartas.
Those who have passed out from here till now include engineers, 21 diploma holders and 20 post-graduate who have all earned the administration and respect of society. 20 have become Sewa Bharati karyakartas, 25 have received Sangh Shikhas Varg training, about 100 have gone through the initial Sangh training, and two have become full-time workers (Pracharaks) of Sangh. This shows how, given proper facilities, even Basti-dwellers can blossom like those of the elite section. What is needed is proper direction, determination, and desire to serve. If strong urge is there; all the needed adjuncts will surely become available.

Towards Self-Reliance

Delhi

Swami Vivekananda used to say repeatedly that the aim of education should be chaacter-moulding, growth of mental strength, intellectual vigour and making the youth self-reliant. Instead of becoming glorified clerks in offices through education, the youth must learn some craft or other so that they can sustain themselves independently.
Sewa Bharati in Delhi, in addition to imparting essential samskars, also stared a job training centre to help youth become self-reliant. For training in electrical and electronic trades the trainees are divided into three batches each. There are about 250 trainees in each batch. Those who have passed 8th Standard are admitted to the electrical trade course. After four months' practical training they become electrician-fitters. Boys thus trained are able to earn upwards of Rs. 1,000 per month to start with. For the electronics trade course, students who have passed '10^th Standard are taken and given practical training for six months. The training includes repair and maintenance of television sets. This training enables them to earn as much as Rs.2,000-2,500 per month.
Till now, about four thousand youths have been trained thus and are now leading self-dependent lives.

Role of village dayee

Maharashtra

Paragati Pratishthan in Thane, Maharashtra, offfers obstric nursing (Dayee) training to village women. Child delivery is usually attended to by untrained Dayee in villages. The Dayees used to assist the pregnant woman's mother who was tradition-bound. Often the umbilical cord used to be severed using kitchen knives, with the result that many children became victims of tetanus. To overcome this, it was decided to give the needed technical training to selected village women themselves.

Training

The training covered the following aspects:

The Dayee is taught all the delivery-related technical details, attendant problems and to solve them scientifically.
Use and maintenance of modern instruments are taught, and an 'implements kit' is given to each Dayee.
Training related to inoculation and vaccination, and arrangements for seeing that children receive these at the proper times.
Care of child and post-natal care of mother.

Benefits

Village women no longer need to rush to the cities.
Saving the child from dangers to health resulting from delivery performed by untrained hands.
Saving of considerable expense which becomes inevitable if villagers have to depend upon city nursing-homes.
Availability of obstetric and helth-saftey training at the villagers' doorstep.
Encouraging the self-dependence of villagers.

Blood Donation, An act of love

Karnataka: Maharashtra

Blood donation can save a sinking life. By drawing attention to this, then need for people to care for others is highlighted and it spreads the message of sacrifice. Hence the slogan 'Raktadann - Jeevandan' ('Blood-giving means life-giving'). There are seven major Blood Banks in the country run by Swayamsevaks. One of these is run by Rashtrotthana Parishat at Bangalore in Karnataka, and the other six are in Maharashtra. All these are equipped with up-to-date laboratories, technicians and doctors, and have earned the trust and administration of society. These service-oriented institutions are becoming more popular than the commercial Blood Banks. The Sangh-run Blood Banks provide healthy blood from healthy voluntary donors at cost price.

Pune - Maharashtra

The Blood Bank in Pune (Maharashtra) has been an outstanding example of Sewa. Efforts have also been made to make people socially conscious through blood donation. The blood Bank is fully professionalised and the permanent arrangements and all needed equipment. Many people in the city have been inspired to donate blood on their birthdays. They voluntarily come to the Blood Bank and donate blood with a feeling of satisfaction, respect and happiness. To meet the great demand, the city has been divided into twelve zones. A monthly blood donation camp is organised in each zone, by turns. Thus, there is blood donation activity all through the year, and the city's need is fulfilled. When a person receives blood, his relations are inspired to participate in blood donation. Blood donation here is motivated as a sacred Sewa.

Braj Prant (Western U.P.)

A similar effort has been initiated in the city of Bareilly of Braj region. A committee consisting of doctors and social workers has been formed. As a first step, the committee organised a blood examination camp and prepared a blood donors' directory. The public response was far in excess of expectation. The names, blood groups, addresses, phone numbers and the exact sequential position of each donor in the list are all documented. The response of people has encouraged the karyakartas to expand the programme further, with full faith in God's blessing.<

The Glow of Education

Maharashtra

In many Sewa-Bastis, children of school-going age are usually busy taking care of children even younger than they are; or, if they are slightly older, they go away to earn a few paise, by rag-picking on roadsides. How can rag-picking and school education go on together? This problem engaged the minds of karyakartas of Nashik in Maharashtra and they were able to find a way out. They saw scores of children wearing dirty and torn clothes, with an equally dirty, big-sized gunny bag on their shoulder. Till that bag gets filled, even thoughts of hunger and thirst will have receded. Out of money they earn by selling the rags, they first eat a handful of pakodis and hand over the rest of the money to their homes. That money often reaches the liquor shop by the evening through their father. Going to a cinema when they can afford it is the only diversion for these children who think nothing of either their present of their future.

This sight naturally pained the karyakartas. "These children may not think of their present or future. But why are we not doing anything about it?" A little reflection showed theway. They, to begin with, located a karyakarta engaged in buying and selling rags and paper-waste, and sought his help. He established intimate contact with the rag-pickers, got them interested in studies and told them: "You may all collect as much rags and paper-waste as you can up to 12 o'clock and bring it to me. I shall buy it all at a good price". Form the next day, all of them made a habit of coming to him at noon. He then made arrangements for their bathing and food. After this, classes were held for them from. The habit of cleanliness and learning, along with their daily earning; - this was a wonderful experience. The karyakartas matched the increasing involvement of the children; a Savings Bank Account was opened for each of the boys. This arrangement put a stop to the misuse of money by the fathers for liquor. Thus the fathers became reformed too. This is how the Shram Samskar Kendra lit the lamp of a new life for these fifty children. There will be many more such lamps in future, as one lamp lights another.

Evening study facility

Pune:Mumbai (Maharashtra)

Study during school-hours will not by itself be sufficient. Many more hours of study and revision of lessons will be required. This needs some privacy and a calm environment. But where will the Basti children get these conveniences? Responding to the need, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh in Pune set up a study centre functioning between 6 and 9 in the evening every day. At present over six hundred students use this facility for their daily study. Many houses in this Basti are engaged in hand-rolling beedis. As they are paid according to the number of beedis rolled, naturally it goes on all day. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh not only organises labourers but also has concern for the families of the labourers. When the B.M.S. noticed the problem faced by the school-going children, they started thinking and obtained the premises of the nearby N.M.P. Intermediate College for Girls for a few house every day. Children studying in Junior and High Schools use the premises for their evening study. Some ten karyakartas help the students in their lessons. B.M.S. has also made special arrangements for giving these students refreshments every day and for imparting samskars.

A similar study arrangement has been made in Mumbai too, catering to some five hundred students. The centre opens at 7 p.m. with a prayer. None is admitted inside after the prayer. It is compulsory for all to study up to 8-30, after which those who want to leave for home may do so. The centre remains open till 9 p.m. The average attendance is about 60 per cent. Because of this facility, the students have improved their grades. In fact, school-leaving was rampant, driving children to bad habits. Study centres such as the above inculcate good samskars in children, thus strengthening the society through spread effect.

All society is one family

Karnataka

Success by constant effort

Jammu

Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission in the Ambaphala Nagar of Jammu vividly exemplifies the injunction 'Nar-sewa Narayan-sewa' ('Serving man is serving God'). A thirsty person has to go to the well to quench his thirst. But here, the well itself goes to reach the thirsty. The Medical Mission has been organising medical camps in remote rural regions where it is impossible for people to reach a hospital. Even food is provided free of cost to people coming for the camps. Eye-operations are performed; eye-glasses are supplied free to the needy. But it may not be accurate to describe all this as free service since, in the words of Swami Vivekananda, these people are our God. Does anyone say, "Today I performed God's Pooja free of cost"?

It is with such a spirit of total identification with society that the late Premnath Dogra sowed the seeds of this Mission on 12^th January 1970. Today it has grown into a huge tree offering succour to thousands. The Mission has so far cost about Rs. 20 lakhs. The Mission has established a hospital with 50 beds, outpatient unit, women's unit, dental surgery, X-ray, E.C.G. and other facilities. There are plans to expand these. Because of this Mission, hundreds of villagers have now developed added respect for Hindutwa and have shown willingness to do their mile for the cause of the Hindus.

Gift of sight

Maharashtra

Life for the blind is full of darkness. Can they not be enabled to see light and enjay the glory of sunrise? "Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya" ("Lead me from darkness to light") is the well-known Upanishadic prayer of our Rishis. Should we not try to lead our sightless brethren towards light? The answer is provided by the third Sarsangchalak P.P.Balasaheb Deoras who himself donated his eyes. Every moment of his life was spent in the cause of society; and it is natural that, Dadheechi-like, he made a gift of his eyes. To keep alive this source of inspiration, the karyakartas of Nagpur have set up an Eye Bank with P.P.Balasaheb as the first eye-donor.

Chandigarh (Punjab);Tamilnadu

To inspire people to Netradaan (eye donation), Sewa Bharati of Chandigarh carried on a campaign for mobilising eye donations. Over a thousand donors have declared their intention to gift their eyes. Four persons have already received the gift of sight and can now enjoy the beauty of Nature like the rest of us.
A few years ago, the State Headquarters Karyalaya of the Sangh at Chennai (Madras), Tamilnadu, was destroyed in a bomb blast. It took a toll of several valuable lives including that of the Karyalaya Pramukh Kashinathan. Even in the midst of that indescribable tragedy, the sister of Kashinathan did not forget her social obligation and said, "My brother was all the time engaged in the work of mobilising eye donations. It will therefore please his soul if his eyes are donated, now that he is no more".
For the last fifteen years, eye donation has been pursued, thanks to the work of karyakartas like Kashinathan. Scores of people have received the gift of sight. Kashinathan gave the gift of sight to two others, even as he had served the society when alive, and is alive through his eyes.

According to doctors, eye donation is possible within about 4-6 hours of death of a person. It takes only 7-10 minutes for extracting the organ. There will also be no deformity caused to the dead body. The extracted eye can enable two blind persons to see the world within the following forty-eight hours. Thus, a person can, even in his death, help illumine the life of another. That is why it is said , "Netradaan-Mahadaan" ("Gift of the eyes is among the greatest gifts one can make").

Medical care

Gujarat

It is said that a sound mind needs a sound body. Therefore, along with the work of imparting samskar, karyakartas in many regions have been engaged in health care programme.
In regions where there are a large number of Sewa-Bastis spread over a vast area, it is most useful to run a mobile dispensary to meet the people's medical needs. Scores of such mobile dispensaries are being run by Sangh karyakartas all over the country, serving thousands of people every day.

Radiating Effect of Sewa

In Gujarat, Sewa activities in fact began with a mobile dispensary, which paved the way for other lines of service. Such dispensaries started functioning at first in two Tehsils (counties) of Sadhanpur in Banaskantha district. Along with these mobile units, a doctor from Karnawati (Ahmedabad) and sometimes the Deputy Collector more from village to village to establish contact with people. As a result, during the last couple of years, many local youths have expressed desire to participate in Sewakarya. Through the initiative of such youths, Samskar Kendras have already been established in eighteen villages.
Likewise, a mobile dispensary started in a 'chawl' in fornt of Ashok Mills on Narora Road in Karnawati (Ahmedabad) paved the way for Bal Samskar Kendra and even a Sangh Shakha. Similar efforts led to a Mahila Swavalamban Kendra (Women's Self-reliance Centre) in Premnagar, Ambika Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar in front of Shivaji Park. Some forty women receive job or craft training in this centre. In addition a Bhagini Nivedita Tuition Class is being conducted for girl students of Standards 8 and 9. Several of the karyakartas engaged in these activities are themselves from these Bastis, including a few women. The chief organiser of the Swavalamban Kendra and associates are all from that Basti.
The services of the mobile dispensary have been found to be efficious. Manoj of Gaekwad Sewa-Basti, mentally retarded since birth and also unwell, is now healthy and normal. Sixty-year-old Saketa of Suryanagar, who was a paralytic, is now able to move about on her own with the aid of a stick and attend to her own chores. Eczema of Sudhir-Bhai of Modinagar had kept him away from work for three months. After treatment, he has now resumed work.

Home Remidies

Gujarat

A novel experiment was tried in a village called Rasnal in Jamnagar district of Gujarat. A 'Home Remedy' class was started. Each family was given an Ayurvedic Kit comprising seventeen medicines for treating the commonest ailments. A member in each family is given the simple training needed in the use of these medicines. The success of the scheme may be guessed from the fact that at present at least five villages in each district have adopted this Ayurvedic Kit Scheme. Till now more than two hundred villages are thus equipped, and there is demand from many others.

Herbal Medicine

In Bhid District of Maharashtra, Deendayal Shodh Samsthan has provided a herbal-medicine kit to each family in the villages. These have become very popular because of their day-to-day usefulness.

Village Health Workers

Maharashtra

often villagers have to travel for many kilometers in serch of both doctor and medicine. Because of this, many a patient easily succumbs to death.
Seeing this state of affairs, karyakartas of Nashik District of Maharashtra started a programme for providing primary health training to selected persons from each village. Emphasis was laid on four aspects during the training:

Basic knowledge about a few common ailments and their treatment.
Chlorinating drinking-water wells from time to time.
Disinfecting the spots which are water-logged.
It was insisted that they should not charge fees for medicines; that they should not combine different medicines; that if a certain medicine does not work, the patient should immediately be referred to a professional doctor.

To ensure the efficiency of the scheme, a written guide has been prepared describing common ailments and the medicines applicable to them. Based on it, a medicine kit comprising 20 medicines has been prepared. In order to periodically re-assess the guide, a monthly meeting of health workers in each village is held. People have taken to the scheme enthusiastically.

Tested on the Touchstone

An Inspiring Innovation

Madhya Bharat

Progress of society needs dynamism, motivation, proper direction, and energetic leadeship; and, above all, the wheels have to match the chariot of progress. A combination of all these factors had in the past taken Bharat to heights of glogy.
In course of time, these institutions crumbled, but have not been replaced by new arrangements on par with the old ones. This has led to stagnation in society.
Among the present endeavours for rejuvenation is Sewa-karya all over the country. A programme in Bhopal, Madhya Bharat, is praiseworthy. Inspired by the continuous efforts of our karyakartas, about sixty experienced persons who have retired from various jobs volunteered and declared: "We are dedicating ourselves for the service of the society." They were dedicating ourselves for the service of the society". They were administered the "Vanaprasthi Deeksha" by Sant Sri Vasudevji Maharaj of stayed in the camp and guided the tranees. Sri Ashok Singhal of Vishwa Hindu Parishad guided the programme. Similar programmes have for quite some time been going on in several other parts of the country, and scores of persons have received the 'Vanaprasthi Deeksha'.
A five day training programme for about two hundred Vanaprashti karyakartas from Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Jammu and Himachal was conducted in October 1996 at Hardwar.
Similar response has been received in many parts of the country.
Thus, after a gap of a few centuries, healthy social arrangements of Hindu society are being resurrected.

Links Make a Chain

Madhya Bharat (Western M.P.)

A big rope made from tiny strands of thread can control even a big animal like the elephant. Herein is an important lesson for us. The karyakartas of Indore in Madhya Pradesh were not slow to perceive and act on this lesson.
The Sewa Bharati karyakartas was what there were many Valmiki Bastis, each having its own leader, its own programme. There was no interaction; in fact they did not recoganise one another at all. There was hardly any thought for the children's education or for the improvement of the condition of the Bastis. The karyakartas decided to change this situation. Efforts began in an humble way: a Balwadi here, a Samskar Kendra there, a Coaching Centre elsewhere; a Woman's Tailoring Training Centre in one place, a Bhajan Mandali in another. A screen printing unit was also started under the Rojgar scheme of Government. Some common programmes for all Bastis were arranged. Gradually cohesion developed among people of different Bastis. Their attitudes softened. Soon the different strands began to coalesce to form a single and strong rope. Earlier, each Basti used to have its own Shobha-yatra of its traditional God. Through the efforts of our karyakartas, all the sixteen units came together in a spirit of unity, under a single arrangement. This was welcomed by the entire society. All felt confident that the energies of the Basti-dwellers would henceforth become harnessed in constructive directions.

Friends-In-Need

Madhya Bharat (Western Madhya Pradesh)

The meaningfulness of the proverb "A friend in need is a friend indeed" came to be demonstrated in the Guna and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh. The karyakartas saw that patients from far-away places come to the district hospitals. Most of the time, the patients are accompanied by friends or relations. They often have no contacts in the city, and none they can turn to for suggestion or help in time of need. Sewa Bharati came forward to fill this need through its "Chikitsalay Sewa Programme" and deputed karyakartas to keep the patients company, identify the patients' special needs and offer help to the extent possible. Seeing that food is often a problem, the karyakartas aranged for food at nominal rates. Thus, food is made available to about 23,000-24,000 members of the patients' families every year. Hot milk is supplied to patients free of cost. This Sewa has been going on for the last five years, and has had good impact on people of the districts.
The addresses of patients are collected for record. However, instead of waiting for karyakartas to renew contacts, the hope is that villagers who benefited from the scheme will no their own come forward to do their mite for society.

Latent Goodwill Energised

Madhya Bharat (Western M.P.)

A Hindu orphanage 'Anatha Sewa Ashram' functions in a village called Pipalkheda in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh (M.P.). The Ashram looks after thirty children. The Ashram has proved to be a source of inspiration to soceity. Now, a scheme 'Mutthi Daan (setting apart a handful of grain for Sewa) has started in many villages to sustain the Ashram. Through this scheme, the Ashram receives several quintals of foodgrains every year. About 15 children are maintained by well-off families. These children are thus no longer orphans and have their foster-parents. This proves that there is no need for any one to remain an orphan; society has the potential of looking after all such neglected children.
Two Ashrams for the handicapped have been started in Khandwa and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. This has been a revealing experience.
God had vouchsafed different abilities to different people. Many persons, either born with a handicap or rendered so by some accident, do posses the potential of leading honourable lives without becoming a burden on society. The lack of one limb is usually compensated by the remaining limbs, but the latter capacity remains latent. By energising this latent capacity, the handicapped person can be enabled to become self-reliant in life.
This was the concept behind starting the 'Vikalang Ashrams'. The Ashrams provide training in Braille reading to the blind and also train them in music, religious discourse (pravachan), to identify others through sounds, and to walk in safety on the roads. Many are also taught to make garments to help in earning.
A sight of the products made by these brethren convinces people that while these people lack-sight, they can see things through their entire body.

Reaching Out to Others

Madhya Pradesh (Western M.P.)

A Medicine Bank has been established in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Many people suffering from ailments have difficulty in obtaining the medicines they need. The unused, left-over medicines are collected by Swayamsevaks and deposited in the Medicine bank.
No doubt, God helps those who help themselves. But there is not much that a seriously ill person can do to help himself. He needs the assistance of fellow-beings. To meet such needs is the objective of the Medicine Bank.
The work is coordinated by the Junior Doctors' Association. The Required medicines are supplied free to poor patients. The endeavour is that none should remain sick of want of medicine.

Flowering of A Vision

Chattisgarh (South-Eastern M.P.)

Champa Kusht-Nivarak Sangh (Leprosy Eradication Center) in Chattisgarh is the result of exemplary dedication of some karyakartas. A strong-willed person not only releases himself from adveerse circumstances, but also, takes it on himself to help others in similar situations.
The Leprosy Eradication Centre of Champa was started by the efforts of the late Sadashive Katre who was himself affected by leprosy in 1955. He was at that time obliged to seek relief in a Christian Mission Hospital. Much pressure was brought on him to become a convert to christianity, but he stoutly resisted, saying "Swadharme nidhanam shreyah, paradharmo bhayawahah" (It is better to die with one's Dharma; becoming subject to others' Dharms is a calamity" -Gita, III-35)
As soon as he was cured of leprosy, he took the vow to dedicate himself for the service of leprosy-affected brethren in society. He was no longer dependent upon the Christian Leprosy Mission. P.P.SriGuruji (M. S. Golwalkar) blessed him in his effort. He started work in the backward region of Chattisgarh where leprosy was rampant, in 1961. There were only three leprosy patients when the centre started. Now, the centre can accommodate as many as seven hundreds leprosy patients. Presently some three hundred patients are being treated here. There are facilities for treatment according to all the three different systems - Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homoeopathy.
In the past, healthy children of patients treated in the Mission Hospital used be become Christians automatically. In fact, a very large number of persons now engaged in missionary activities are from the families of leprosy patients. To remedy this, a 'Susheel Balak Grih' was established in 1986, through contributions raised from children of our Vidya Bharati institutions. The centre now houses 175 boys and girls. These children attend nearby schools run by others, so that they are not isolated in society. A nursery is maintained for bestowing motherly care on children from six months to five years of age. This "Jhoola Ghar" (Cradle Home) provides nourishing food and facilities for playing.
In order to make the leprosy-affected people economically self-reliant, the Ashram runs varieties of activities including agriculture, horticulture,livestock-rearing, carpet-making, wheel-making, envelope and file making, etc.

Sewa is Love of Fellow-Beings

Orrisa

To win the hearts of people through service, Vishwa Hindu Parishad started activities in the chronically famine-stricken region of Kalahandi in Orissa. Grains were given to people in the absence of work; children were fed free; Samskar Kendras and mobile dispensaries were started in many villages; medicines were distributed free to the needy.
During one year, rains disrupted major road links; and as ill luck would have it, there was a simultaneous outbreak of cholera. As there were no roads, there was no possibility of getting any doctors from outside. In that situation, our doctors and local karyakartas endeavoured round the clock to prevent deaths. When this came to the notice of the Chief Medical Officer of the region, he wrote a commendatory letter to the District Commissioner. On the basis of that letter, the Commissioner granted a ten-acre plot of land to Vishwa Hindu Parishad for its Sewa activities. A Sewa Centre has been set up on this land.
For the benefit of Vanvasi villages of the region, a hostel and a Vidyalay are being run, in addition to providing medical assistance. Our karyakartas have thus found a place in the hearts of the people. Because of isolation, some distortions had set in, in the lives of the Vanvasis. These are now gradually disappearing. Hardly any one now eats beef. Four full-time karyakartas have now emerged from among the past students of our hostel, to carry on the work of social transformation.

Education wins over people

Braj Prant (Western U.P.)

Many are the children willing to study; but who is to attend to their education, and where are the schools? The parents have neither time nor money. If the school is situated far away, transportation will be needed. School uniforms ae expensive and fees is hefty. In any case not much money would have remained in the father's pocket after his daily dosage of liquor.
In response to this, a single-teacher school was started in Tamolipada, Agra. About fifty boys and girls attend this school from 8 to 12 in the morning. This small initiative bought about changes in several directions.

The Basti-dwellers with their own hands built a Panchayat Ghar, and, saving it from misuse, gave it to Sewa Bharati for running its Vidyalay.
Realising that the children's education is their responsibility, the Basti-dwellers themselves made arrangements for clean maintenance of the school and for the monthly fees.
In order to ensure proper surroundings, they saw to it that there are no unhealthy activities taking place in the vicinity. Many are themselves trying to give up bad habits.
Earlier, newcomers were looked upon with suspicion. But now the karyakartas are warmly received in these house-holds and given all co-operation.
Because of adverse publicity, religious activities used to be constructed as conspiracy of the 'upper' castes. But now Havan, Pooja, etc., are performed in many families.

Behind all this change is many years' selfless work of the Bal Samskar Kendra. In the neighbouring Prithwinath Basti, success of the school led to the restoration of an old temple, and excellent karyakartas have emerged from that community.

Eyes: Window to The World

Braj Prant (Western U.P.)

Many social-service activities take place in Nagla Chandrabhan village of Mathura district of Brij. The village is the birth-place of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Every year, eye camps are regularly conducted by the Smriti Kendra with the collaboration of several organisations and doctors. People from about fifty villages come to the camp. About 250-300 eye operations are preformed every year, and eye-glasses are given. The camp goes on for a week, and all arrangements are made for the stay, food, medicines, operation and eye-glasses. People of about a hundred villages of the region eagerly look forward to this annual camp. In fact people identity Deendayal Dham through the eye camps.
Even as hundreds of people receive the gift of sight, the lamp of patriotism is lit in many hearts by the memorial in the name of Deendayalji whose identification with the society was legendary and who gave every moment of his life for the cause of the nation.

Sewa is The Identity

success of any task implies a good infrastructure and dedicated labour. Sewa-krya has been going on in about fifty Bastis of Agra. There too, people idenity Sewa Bharati through its numerous Sewa activities. To sustain so much activity is not easy, and it needs continuous and strenuous work. With a view to creating the appropriate environment and support-base, a 'Vyavastha Saptah' is organised, to strengthen people's participation, develop the efficiency of teachers, inculcate the habit of reflection among the karyakartas, and to sustain the enthusiasm of the children. This process is continuous.

Fruition of Diligent Labour

Meerut Prant(Northern U.P.)

when a farmer plants a sapling, he nourishes and waters it daily, removes weeds if there are any, and fences it to protect it from stray animals. As the plant grows, so does the expectation from it. When the plant grows fully and starts yielding, the farmer has a sense of fulfilment and goes on to plant other saplings.
Similar is the edeavour of the Sewa Bharati Karyakartas. When the coaching centre was started in Meerut, there were many hurdles. Many tried to have it closed. But the karyakartas persisted with determination. Eventually their labors were rewarded when students who had attended the coaching centre secured high grades in the examinations. After this, the erstwhile opponents turned into admirers, and demands came from other Bastis for starting similar coaching centres in those places. Thus, many now coaching centres sprang up, by the efforts of karyakartas.
Many students attending the coaching centre at Harinagar participate in the Sangh Shikha Varg training every year. Dinesh, Shivkumar and Jaikumar were in the midst of first year Sangh Shikha Varg when they received the results of High School Board examination. All three had passed in first class. This encouraged them to absorb Sangh training with even greater interest. After return, they started Sangh Shakhas in their Bastis. These Shakhas have an average attendence of 30-35. During the last four years, 20 students have received initial Sangh Training; 8 have completed Sangh Shikhas Varg and have now taken responsibility for Shakha work in their areas. This proves that dedicated work will always be rewarded.

Work to all able Hands

Kashi Prant(Eastern U.P.)

It is only after the basic needs of food and shelter have been fulfilled that a person can think of his future. To begin with, all able hands must have employment. With this attention, Sewa Bharati started a 'papad' making centre to provide employment to people of Gorakhpur in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Training and raw-material are provided by our karyakartas. Woman make the papads in their own homes. Thep papads are collected in one centre, packed and sent for marketing. This fetches wages for the women who would otherwise have remained unemployed. This enables them to bestow better care on their children too. Similiarly a tooth-power making unit has been started in Mau district. Our karyakartas help in marketing. This provides occupation to some hands. Many other such home occupations are practicable.

A Temple Rejuvenates a Village

Karnataka

How a temple can become an instrument of social change has been effectively demonstrated in Hiremgalur (Karnataka). Not so long ago the Kodandarama temple in that village was not only neglected but also a den of undesirable activities. Plagued by poverty, illiteracy, untouchability and other telltale problems, the village wore a deserted look. During the last twenty years, however, a sea-change has taken place, due to the twenty years, however, a sea-change has taken place, due o the imaginative efforts of s Swayamsevak who took upon himself the task of improving the condition of the temple and making it a nerve-centre of social life. People of all castes throng to temple now; all artificial barriers have broken down. Religious fervour pervades the whole village; people take pride in maintaining the cleanliness of the village. The percentage of literacy has gone up; more local employment has been generated. Facilities like a Kalyana Mantap for functions, a Rural Bank, etc., are now available.

Interest Culture Awakened

Karnataka

The 'Speak Samskrit' movement in Karnataks has been able also to generate interest in knowledge of Hindu Culture. At the close of a Samskrit camp in a Harijan colony called Ashokapuram in Mysore (Karnataka), one of the participants, organised the camp: "You have been kind enough to introduce us to the language of the gods. But you should also take us to the very source of our Dharma, namely the Vedas".
Efforts have indeed been in progress in this direction too. For instances, every year, month-long Veda Shikshana shibirs are conducted in Hariharapura (Chickmagalore district), Narikombu (Dakshina Kannada district) and other places in Karnataka. These annual shibirs attract hundreds of boys from all sects and castes. Harijan boys attending these camps are seen to recite Vedas as precisely as the others.

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