DELEGATION OF UK MPs PRESENTS £1 MILLION: On the 28^th January 2002 a delegation of 7 UK MPs presented a £1 Million GBP cheque to Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat on behalf of Sewa International UK, for rehabilitation of earthquake affected in that state through Sewa Bharati Gujrat.

1.3 Million Indians reside in Great Britain and in the aftermath of last years massive earthquake in Gujarat raised a tremendous amount of funds to assist with the rebuilding of communities and infrastructure in Gujarat. Sewa International (UK) are a leading charity in the UK and raised £4.3 Million GBP.

The delegations’ main focus was to review the reconstruction in Gujarat and visited sites in Kutch to interact with the various NGO's and local communities that were affected trying to get a first hand understanding of the tragedy that happened last year and the following effort for rehabilitation.

Shri Shyam Parande, Coordinator of Sewa International Bharat commented “We thank the people of Great Britain for all their efforts in collecting such huge amounts of money and more importantly for the hope they have provided to the ordinary citizens of Gujarat in such distressing times as we experienced last year”.

PRESENTATION OF CHEQUE BY MR. BARRY GARDINER MP TO SHRI NARENDER MODI, CHIEF MINISTER, GUJARAT.

Mr. Barry Gardiner MP and Chair of Labour Friends of India commented "It fills me with pride to hand over this huge sum of money on behalf of the UK communities at large. The UK Indian community worked hard to raise funds by standing at train stations, grocery supermarkets in bitter cold temperatures, in fact anywhere the public were gathered you would hear the sound of a rattling money box. Charities like Sewa International (UK) gained major support and worked hard to ensure that the money raised is effectively utilized and have adopted 15 Villages in Kutch with their partner organisation Sewa Bharati".

Mr. Narendra Modi, CM of Gujarat commented "We are grateful for the funds being donated for the earthquake rehabilitation effort by the UK community. Sewa Bharati, an exemplary organization, has done some fantastic work since the disaster struck, they had 27,000 volunteers on ground zero. Even today, they are working and are committed to this noble humanitarian cause.”

Traditional Wisdom

Planning of proposed task:-

There are five aspects of planning the proposed task viz. 1. Method of starting work, 2. Human and financial resources available, 3. Consideration of place and time, 4. Handling difficulties and unforeseen calamities, & 5. One’s resolve for success. Page 46, Book 10, Ch. 14, part of III stanza, Kautiliya Arthashashtra.

Promoting Munificence

Noble deeds generally go unnoticed while the crimes steal the limelight in the media. It will be entirely wrong to mention that the noble deeds are not at all observed by the people. Well, people do view them and appreciate also. But then, these are not discussed in the drawing rooms or over dinner tables. Creative activity, for many, is restricted to the dance & drama performances. One just cannot ignore the appearances of such an activity on the chatter-box.

Once in a few years, the newspapers discover some heroes like Rajendra Singh of Alwar, Rajasthan, though only after the person was awarded prestigious Magasasay award. And even then, instead of educating the people on his mission and its intricacies, what we read in the media is how he criticized the government policy or its functioning.

There are of course, some under circulated monthlies or periodicals, which carry the developmental news or are focused on social creativity. Most of these do not reach the people who are really interested in serving the society selflessly or who really need some guidance in their endeavour to improve the social life. A large population interested in receiving such news and the finer details thereof, have to be satisfied with whichever small opportunity they receive to quench the thirst of their heart, the longing of their mind to help the needy in whatever way they can.

We cannot ignore the presence of certain organizations that exploit such noble endeavaour by churning out impressive colourful flyers. The cause for which the donations are received changes halfway through. The crying child in distress on the flyer, becomes a ‘business strategy’.

Sewa International addressed itself to be a bridge between the sincerely social serving organizations and the well-meaning people- the donor. Till now a large number of organizationsare enlisted with Sewa International, serving the society through their wide ranging canvass of the social service activity. This was the first task that we addressed ourselves to.

Now with launching of this ‘little’ news bulletin, we are trying to reach out the people all over the world and provide them with some information or news that will be like solace to their heart. That, in a distant village in a backward district, there are people trying to improve their living standards, trying to be self-reliant, not looking only up to international funding agencies all the time, but joining all the available hands in the village. Least concerned about the flashes of the glaring media, whether media pushes them to the front page or just ignores their effort, or even decries their struggle for development, they never seize their enterprise.

Reaching such people and organizations, and joining hands with them by encouraging benevolence in the society, is one of the important objectives of SI. Though such an effort might not mean much as compared to the efforts being put in by the people who are directly involved in these socially beneficial projects.

We welcome all the benevolent people across the world to join hands with us in this gigantic humanitarian effort.

DEVELOPING TALENT IN STUDENTS FROM POOR FAMILIES: The free residential school was founded in the year 1998, run by SEWA BHARATI. At present there are 287 students from 21 different states. Sewadham is a center of all-round development for boys of economically and socially backward, under privileged Tribals and Vanvasis. Out of the 165 pass out students, 25 are Engineers, 8 are Doctors, 4 are Teachers, 8 are in Indian Army, 42 are serving with various Government Departments, 2 in Social service and 76 have completed Graduation and are in look out for a good job.

STUDENTS ATTENDING YOGA BASED EDUCATION

Shri L.K.Advani, India’s Honb’le Home Minister on a chance visit to Sewa Dham, exclaimed that he did not know that such an exemplary institution for the children of deprived sections of our society is running in Delhi. Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs visited the school recently and was very impressed to see the all-round development of the children, specially the Tribal boys and told the boys that it is not the comforts, but proper education which inculcates feelings of patriotism and builds strong character.

As the boys belong to different states, their language and dialects are different. So, when they come together to Sewa Dham for the formal schooling in class 6, they are unable to understand any language apart from their own and unable to interact and even understand alphabets. After few years of schooling, all score more than 75% marks in high school exams. The boys in the school have excelled in sports too and the school team has won Top position in All India Millennium Football Competition organized by C.B.S.E. in 2000. The boys even perform drama, chant slokas and sing scores of patriotic songs.

The school has 5 acres of land under its possession. It has 80 rooms, an auditorium with seating capacity of 1200, a well furnished Dining hall with

capacity of 400, a vast play ground spread in 3 Acres, a well equipped Library consists of more than 7000 books. The school also has laboratories of Physics,

Chemistry and Biology; Computer Lab., Drawing room, a Gymnasium and a well-equipped Hospital for the inmates of the school. .Seva Dham has inspired many more organizations to open residential schools, as said by Swami Parama Nand Ji Maharaj on his visit to the school.

The arrangement of land, building, educational equipment of this school has been created with the contribution of kind hearted people from India as well as abroad. But the perpetual growth of expenses has put the school in the dire need of more financial help.

*Education with culture (samskar) and residential facility from VI to XII standard is free of any charges.

*Special emphasis is given on the physical, mental intellectual & spiritual development of the student.

*Infuse in them the love for the nation, self- respect, social responsibilities and dutifulness.

*To explore the most creative and talented students from poorer sections of society and to provide them proper environment for development.

*Protection, nourishment and development of the talents of the children belonging to economically poor, socially backward and culturally neglected sections of our society.

To sum up, all round development of the children so as to be able to face the challenges of the modern society.

The school has dedicated and qualified teachers under the able guidance of the Principal, along with social workers, who work cohesively for the fulfillment of the noble cause undertaken by this organisation.

SEEMAJAN CHHATRAVAS - SERVING BORDER VILLAGES OF RAJASTHAN.

The border regions of Rajasthan face multiple problems. Such as drought, illiteracy and even problems like untouchability. The Seemajan Chhatravas (Hostel) had started with mere 10 students in the year 1991 in the premises of Adarsh Vidya Mandir. Presently it has 33 students staying in the Chhatravas. Selection procedure adopted to recruit the students for the Hostel are – 1. The student should belong to the villages and towns situated on the Rajasthan borders. 2. Students from economically and socially backward families.

STUDENTS DOING HOMEWORK IN THE HOSTEL

3. The students are selected through an entrance examination and interview

· For the first time a student of Jogi Tribes has passed his High school examination by staying in this Hostel. He has set an example for other students of his tribe to study.

· Chaohatan Block situated in the area of Rann of Kutchh is largely inhabited by Koli Tribes. Some students of this tribe are now pursuing higher studies who are alumni of this hostel.

· Establishing contact with the family of the student and his village. By doing so, various on-going activities of the area is known and these people are motivated to participate in the relief activities in the famine struck area and take part in developmental activities.

· The students staying in the hostel are inculcated the patriotism. The parents of these students have developed the same following their children and are always ready to join hands with our army in protecting the borders.

The border regions lack general facilities so there is a great need to expand social welfare activities in these areas. With the limited resources available out of the local donations, it’s becoming difficult to fulfil the desired goal. In the next session it is proposed to increase the number of students to hundred.

Seemajan Chhatravas of Lalsagar is situated in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in the midst of rugged hilly terrain. It’s functioning in the campus of Hanwant Adarsh Vidya Mandir. The students securing first division marks are only admitted in this chhatravas. This session the chhatravas has 23 students and have future plans of inducting more students in the next session.

From time to time educational and sports competitions are held to inculcate the feeling of competition in the students. All the students go out on educational tour twice a year. One being a local trip and the other one to a historical trip outside Jodhpur. The family members of the students of the chhatravas take active part in various activities regarding security of our border regions. The parents also remain in the forefront conducting various relief and rehabilitation activities in the drought effected areas. They also help our military personals posted in the area in conducting various operations of border protections.

‘Sanjeevani’ has lived up to it’s name, by reaching the un-reached and to take basic medical amenities to the doorsteps of dwellers of slums who had been ignorant about sanitation, intensity of illness and medical treatment. But ‘Sanjeevani’ in it’s present shape is not just a health project but a comprehensive project to transform the community living in slum areas. The project is concentrating on aspects such as educating the slum dwellers in health, sanitation, improving living standards, basic education, & moral support. Self reliance & self confidence helps them to tackle their unending problems. Medical Checkup by Dr. Surendra Reddy with in the van

‘Sanjeevani’- the modern mobile medical hospital, reaches 9 thickly populated slums of Hyderabad City. Temple comes handy for running the Health center and without much hassle. Firstly, temple premises is cleaned and made a hub of different creative activities like Rangoli competition, sports competition, national songs competition, Shakha, celebration of religious and cultural festivals.A group of three to five young boys and girls is picked up and the group is provided training in health education and cultural values. These community workers are given a medical kit, which contains first aid and some necessary medicines. Needy families are selected and given a health card. Their health is checked up and given medicines free of cost in weekly visit by doctors of ‘Sanjeevani’ project. Complicated Cases are referred to select panel of expert doctors with whom ‘Sanjeevani’ has a tie-up.

Once the project wins confidence of people it starts Bal Samskar Kendra, Single Teacher Schools, Matru Mandali, Bhajan Mandali, etc.

Sanjeevani has treated thousands of people and distributed medicines worth many millions. “Sanjeevani” even reached the victims of Orissa Cyclone serving them with a team of Doctors for nearly 15 days and medicines worth Rs.150,000/- were distributed.

Sanjeevani receives moral and material support from the socially conscious individuals that strengthens it’s aspirations. No government help has been sought for this project till now.

Philanthropists and well meaning people are most welcome in joining hands with Sanjeevani. Donate money or medicines or join for a short period for serving the society.

The sheer size of the mobile medical van ‘Sanjeevani’ equipped with all the possible medical facilities, does not allow it to tread the narrow lanes of some of the slums and the project urgently requires a smaller vehicle that will run through the narrow lanes of slums. Is someone listening?

E-mail: sevabharati@yahoo.com {Seva Bharati, AP is registered under FCRA and is entitled to receive funds from abroad.}

NEWS SNIPPETS:

*Medical Camp in Chhipabarod, Rajasthan :

A medical camp was held on the 29^th of December 2001 in a Harijan locality. Dr. Pradumn Goyal and Dr. Satendra Goyal treated 179 patients and distributed free medicines to them. Seva Bharati is running a free health centre in Yadav Mohalla Lal Bai Chawk every Sunday from 4.00 P.M.-6.00 P.M. since July 2001. Till date more than 600 patients have been benifitted.

A unique camp was held on 27^th December 2001 for treating patients suffering from Knee pain. Dr. Vinay Naik of Bhavnagar (Gujrat) treated 150 patients by a newly found technique by using knee straps. No operation or medicine is required.

A five day Eye camp was held from 2^nd to 6^th of December 2001. The camp was organised in the premises of Shri Chandra Jain Hospital. 332 patients were tested, out of which 84 patients were selected for Cataract operation and rest patients were given medicines as needed for different problems. Out of the 84 selected, 50 patients underwent lens transplantation and rest were operated either for Cataract or Glaucoma. Patients were given free food, fruits, medicines, lodging and even power glasses

*Bharat Vikas Rehabilitation Centre convened a two day handicapped service camp on 22^nd and 23^rd December 2001 in Patna (Bihar). Marchi block has already been made handicapped free block and the target is to make Patna City area handicapped free by the year 2002.

*Karimganj branch of Bharat Vikas Parishad organized an Eye-testing cum free Medicines and Spectacle distribution camp on 16^th Dec.’01 at Karimganj college, for the poor and needy people of this locality. A team of Eye specialists headed by renowned eye-surgeon of Silchar Medical College, Dr. Ashish Deb attended the camp. A total of 239 patients were examined by the five Doctors with utmost care.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center was inaugurated on 24-06-2001. Started with the blessings of people like Shri Dineshbhai Amin, President of Gujrat unit and Shri Harin Pathak, Central Minister of State for Defense Production, the center is progressing by leaps and bounds and is presently serving about 55 patients per day with utmost satisfaction. It has been reported that one of the patients treated recently was Shri Kashiram Rana, Central Minister of textiles.

Viklang Punarvas Sansthan, launched the project of Candle Making in mid October, 2001 giving employment to two handicapped persons after providing them proper training in Viklang Sahayata Kendra, Ludhiana. Around Diwali eve all the manufactured candles worth around 5,000/- were put on sale on “No profit, No Loss” basis.

The Bharat Vikas Parishad, Ashoknagar Kendra under its SEVA Chennai project, participated in collaboration with the corporation of Chennai, in the Polio Vaccine Programme on 2^nd December 2001 and on 20^th January 2002. The volunteer members of the Kendra administered polio vaccine to 2250 children by visiting the individual houses of the hut-dwellers in the area.

On 1^st February 2002, this Kendra donated Rs.One Lakh, collected through contribution to the Hindu Mission Hospital, Tambaram, towards a room in the name of the Kendra.

NRI adopts Punjab’s historic village

Chandigarh- The historical Shangol (Fatehgarh Sahib) village has been adopted by United Kingdom- based NRI entrepreneur Dr. Diljit Rana, to be developed into a place of learning and a model village, along the lines of the garden village concept in the UK.

*Holi celebration by IDRF in Boston The festival of colors, “HOLI” was celebrated with much gaiety and fanfare on March 30^th at the beautiful premises of Saraswati Mandiram in Epping, NH. The celebrations organised by IDRF, in association with Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation and VPS, drew more than 600 people.

The fanfare started by spraying of colors on each other and “Holika Dahan”-the bonfire followed amidst the chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Durga Mata Ki Jai”. The fanfare continued with more Garba and tunes of Bhangra till it was dark.

The IDRF chose the occasion to raise money for charity and collected $2,900 from the celebrations. The money will be sent for Ekal Vidyalaya project. It aims to bring primary education to 100,000 remote and tribal villages of India.

Women’s self-help groups:- Women in large numbers in the southernmost district of India- Kanyakumari- are joining hands through Seva Bharati to ameliorate their financial position. Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu state, is the smallest district in area in whole of the country. 28000 women through 1004 such Self Help groups meet weekly wherein they discuss various social issues, and then submit their weekly savings in their own account. Whenever they need some smaller loan, they apply for the same and the committee formed among themselves impartially reviews the applications. The needy women receive the easy loan and the cases of defaulters are extremely rare. Of course, these women do not miss the ‘Samskar’ in their weekly meetings. Women from villages where there are no such Thrift society working are approaching Sewa Bharati to guide them for proper conduction of such groups.

Thrift Societies in Kannanur: While women in Tamil Nadu are vying to join hands for starting the Self Help groups, how women in Kerala be left behind. Women from the leftist dominated Kannanur have formed 140 such societies under the banner of Sewa Bharati. Women, irrespective of their class, caste, even the political affiliations, have shown their confidence in Sewa Bharati for their financial independence.

Mahila Jagriti Shibir in Karnataka: Hindu Sewa Pratishthan, Karnataka, conducted a 15 days Mahila Jagriti Shibir for creating social awareness among the women and for encouraging them to join various social service projects in the state. More than 150 women attended this shibir and have already started participating in various voluntary activities being run by HSP. Swamiji of Adi Chinchungiri Math, a very influential Swamiji in the state, blessed the participants and urged them to work for the betterment of society.

Arogya Rakshaks for Villages: 805 Health Volunteers are serving the needy people in 698 villages in 19 districts of Assam. Health facilities are difficult in this state because of the terrain, Sewa Bharati has launched the Arogya Rakshak Scheme, encouraging the educated youth in the villages to get trained through 8-days training camp. The problem of “where there is no Doctor” is being tackled by Sewa Bharati successfully through this scheme. The trained volunteers are provided with Homeopathy medicine kits to be used in the villages. Qualified Doctors visit these villages or some cases are referred to them whenever needed. The volunteers support the conduction of training camps by bringing the farm products from their villages. Sewa Bharati is planning to reach 1500 such volunteers this year.

Assam Sewa Bharati plans Tailoring Classes: 44 women trainees joined a 20-day training camp in Guwahati last month to get trained in running Tailoring classes. They were drawn from 15 districts and are expected to start classes in their villages soon.

Free Eye Treatment camp in Delhi A one day Eye treatment camp was held in Haiderpur Bal Niketan Kendra, Rohini on the 17^th of March 2002. 476 people were treated. 350 patients were distributed free medicines and 35 patients were operated and free lens transplantation was performed by Dr. Prem Chaddha, Eye specialist in his private clinic.

The camp was organized by volunteers of Rohini. Notable were Shri Brijmohan Gupta, Shri Bhimsen Vaid and their team of volunteers. The female teachers also volunteered for this noble cause. The holding for such an Eye treatment camp by Seva Bharati has sent messages far and wide in the local slum dwellings and even among the elite society about various welfare activities undertaken by Seva Bharati, Delhi.

Traditional Wisdom

Planning of proposed task:-

Thus spake Swami Vivekanda:-

NEWS SNIPPETS:

*Medical Camp in Chhipabarod, Rajasthan :

NRI adopts Punjab’s historic village