Moulding character through service - Vaidehi Seva Samiti (Andhra Pradesh)
VAIDEHI KISHORI VIKAS
YOJANA :
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Children moving around with
untidy and scantly clad clothes, open drain overflowing, this is the common
scene when one visits the unlimited slums irrespective of their geographical
locations. Such unhygienic setting spreads disease and robs the slum dwellers
of their precious hard-earn income. Also one more observation made by
Seva bharathi volunteers is that any activity can sustain only if it is taken
up and owned by the local people. Even after half a century of freedom we have
such slums in the cities which should be engines of development. But they today
end up as undeveloped islands of poverty, diseases and unemployment.
There are an approximate
400 and odd slums in the twin cities, after a detailed survey and observative
study is the Vaidehi Kishori
Vikas Yojana. The scheme shall have its administrative headquarters
at Vaidehi Seva samithi, Saidabad and launched by Sri Sitaram Kedaliya, Akhila
bharatha Seva pramukh in Jan ‘05. This is an effort to bring self reliance,
health, education and awareness to the young and the old alike in the slums. The
young volunteers in the age group 12-18 and especially girls shall be selected
and trained, to equip them with information as well as the motivation to be the
catalyst for the change.
In the first phase of the scheme 25 youth are selected and trained in Vocational skills, informal schooling, literacy campaigns, health and hygiene, good food habits and diet, Simple physical work out including Yoga. Simple educative and entertaining stories, songs, folk arts etc., are also part of volunteers training. The scheme demands 3 hours of daily volunteering when he / she shall make 3 visits to the allotted slums. The young volunteer goes about building relationships as well as bridges towards development and shall grow as a nucleus for development activities.
There are 6 matajis
(wardens) to look after and to care the ashram girls.7/8 retired voluntaries will come to ashram daily
and share the work of the ashram .One will see the education of the children,
one will maintain the accounts, the other will take care the health of the
children, purchases provisions, stationery etc and they receive the guest show
the building and the ashram girls and explain them about they secrete work of
Vaidehi Ashram.
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On 15th August 2013 one of the ashram girl named P.Umadevi who
has completed her diploma, MBA married to Shravan completed his B.Tech
and working as a Software Engineer in TCS. With this 17 marriages are performed
in the ashram.
Vaidehi Seva Samiti was started in Hyderabad
in 1993. The prime objective has been to adopt the girls from 5-9 years of age
who have no family and no shelter. It brings them up in a very congenial
atmosphere assuring them love and affection which they rightly deserve. The
Samiti develops in them a sense of patriotism and discipline and a feeling of
love for life and values. A respect for Bharatiya culture and traditions is
also inculcated among them. Finally they are provided with all the
opportunities and help E lead a decent life.
To achieve these objectives a small Ashram
with 3 rooms was started in 1993. Later, with donations from the society, the
Samiti built its own three-story building which can accommodate 150 girls in the
premises of 1750 sq. yards at Saraswati Nagar in Hyderabad.Presently the Vaidehi Seva Samiti runs three
major projects—Vaidehi Ashram (Nirashrita Balika Vasati Griham), Vaidehi
Kishori Vikas Yojana, (Development Project for Adolescent Girls of Slums) and Vaidehi
Mahila Vikas Yojana (Development Project for Poor and Neglected Women).
All these projects are managed by separate
Executive Bodies constituted by the Samiti. Vaidehi Seva Samiti has been
recognised by the Women and Child Welfare Department of Andhra Pradesh
Government.
One of the girls is studying in B.tech 3rd
year, one in B.Sc final year, one in nursing and one is practicing weight
lifting in a reputed sports school of Vijayawada. Three girls have completed
diploma in civil engineering and are doing apprentice. The other six girls are
studying in Polytechnic Colleges in Hyderabad, Suryapet and Nizamabad. Apart
from this formal education they are also taught fine arts like music, painting,
dance and handicrafts like embroidery, tailoring, screen printing. Physical
exercises like Karate, yogasan and Surya Namaskar are regularly. 66 The girls
are imparted training for overall development and to enable theni to be
responsible citizens of the country. They are not only educated and trained but
are also provided with sufficient opportunities to lead an independent life.
The Ashram has also taken the responsibility to arrange and conduct the
marriage of the grown up girls.
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They are also exposed to special personality
courses conducted by eminent persons. Daily one hour shakha of Rashtra Sevika
Samiti is also held which helps them to acquire courage, patriotism and
attitude of service to others. Thus, the residents of the Ashram are given
training for overall development and enable them to be responsible citizens of
the country. The girls are not only educated and trained but are also provided
with sufficient opportunities to lead an independent life. The Ashram has also
taken the responsibility to arrange and conduct marriages of the grown up
girls. As of now the Ashram has taken care of marriages of 10 Ashram girls
during the last ten years.
Vaidehi Kishori Vikas Yojna Under this
project, 50 slum areas have been selected to impart training in various aspects
to adolescent girls with special emphasis on education, health and hygiene,
cultural development and samskars. This training helped them starting
self-employment. Vaidehi Mahila Vikas Yojna Under this project, economically
deprived women are imparted various kinds of training like computer, fashion
designing, embroidery work, etc. so as to make them economically self-reliant. Telugu
Association of Metro Atlanta (TAMA) conducted a scholarship examination on June
28, 2009. It awarded scholarship to 21 Ashram girls. This programme was
attended by several dignitaries and eminent persons. Board members of an
organisation of retired IAS and IFS officers visited the Ashram on July 26,
2009. They sponsored one year education expenses of nine girls of the Ashram
studying polytechnic.
The Ashram is
frequently visited by doctors from various medical colleges to guide and help
maintain the health of the Ashram girls. Annual function Annual function is
organised every year.
All visitors and donors are invited in the
function. As of now 17, such functions have been conducted. These events are
presided over by high profile people like High Court judges, IAS and IPS
Officers, philanthropist's etc. In the event, vocal, cultural and patriotic
performances are given by the Ashram girls. Yogasan and Karate abilities of
girls are also demonstrated. The iperformances are applauded and appreciated by
one and all.
Grand daughters perform last rites of Granny
Daughters are still regarded as burden in
some families. They take the birth of a girl in the family as a curse. Majority
of the people feel that girls cannot perform any ritual. hi such an atmosphere,
performing last rites of grand mother by the grand daughters is an admirable
step in the male-dominated society. In order to establish the involvement of
girls in rituals, the last journey of grand mother was taken out on the
shoulders of the grand daughters in Gaya, Bihar.
People wish for a son due to superstitions
and male-dominance in the society. But now some people have started a campaign
to change this mentality. When Sugia Devi (86) of Vidhi village under
Barachatti police station (Gaya district) died, her last rites were performed
by her two grand daughters. Sugia Devi was the mother of Prof. Ramkrishna
Yadavv.
He encouraged his two daughters Neelam and
Swikriti to perform the last rites. They not only carried the dead body on
their soldiers but also performed the last rites. All family members of Prof.
Yadav were present at that time. There are some families who indulge in
foeticide due to superstitions. Prof. Yadav shows the way by allowing his
daughters to perform last rites of his mother. Before inspiring others he
started this campaign from his own house.
Contact Address:
Vaidehi Seva
Samithi Regd.No.4559/1997
Door No.
17-1-473/v/3&4,
Beside Sri
Saraswati Sishu Mandir High School,
Krishna Nagar,
Saidabad,HYDERABAD -500059,
State: Andhra
Pradesh
Cont-K.Balkrishnaiah
Secy 9440667595, 040-24075544, 9032152105, 9440667495,
B.Sunder
Reddy Pres.-9440813620. ,Treas. P. Prakash Rao- 9866181573
Email:
vaidehisevasamithi@gmail.com
,www.vaidehiashram.org
A
Donor Comments on Visiting Vaidehi
”All girls are well dressed, appeared to be very happy and looked to be well treated. These children possessed excellent self- confidence in themselves and in their future”
Vaidehi Ashram run by Sevabharati is an affection home (when all of us are hero to care of them, who can dare to call it an orphanage) for the destitute Girls.
Children start their day at 5:30 am with fresh-up and chanting their morning hymns in a single tone. Then at 6:30 am a small physical workout with a blend of yoga and exercise. Then they get ready to school with their lunch box.
Again at 4:45 pm the ashram comes alive with the children’s playfulness. At 5:30 pm they come out after their snacks for a drill and games. Then at 8:00pm they sit for dinner, later homework and study hour. At 10pm lights off with the chant of shanti mantra.
Vocational training in lamination, crafts, candle making, painting, making of jute-bags, stitching and embroidery is imparted. Last but not the least, the girls are trained in self defence.
Donate to Vaidehi Seva Samithi
Online donations Donate to Vaidehi Seva Samithi only
For Foreign Donations only:
SBH A/C No. 52199469853
Dilsukhnagar Branch,
IFSC Code. SBHY0020269
For Local Donations :
Canara Bank A/c No.281810100609,
Saidabad, Jayanagar branch,
Hyderabad - 500059.
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