Serving the humanity - Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust

Serving the humanity - Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust

Leprosy-afflicted persons are the   most crippled even amongst the cripples; they are treated as untouchable, neglected by relatives and ostracised by the society. They live the life as in hell, living on pavements or in huts, waiting for the end. To give them human dignity, security and love is a stupendous task. Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust has taken up this task.

Mentally challenged people also pose many problems to their relatives. The heartless society not only mocks at them, but forces them towards madness. Shrimad Rajchandra Mansik Apang Mandir for males is the only residential centre in Gujarat for such adult mentally-challenged males. Founder of the Trust, Sureshbhai, clearly understood that due to misconceptions and strong prejudice of the Indian society against leprosy, the rehabilitated leprosy persons would never be able to lead a normal life in the society. Hence, he extended the service of `Sahyog' not only to treat the patients, but also to rehabilitate them as productive individuals and make them financially independent.

He encouraged marriages among the male and female patients of the Ashram. The married couples are also provided with a house to live. They are also given a charkha (a weaving machine). With this they spin yarn and attain financial independence. 

At present, the Ashram has 111 such rehabilitated couples. Some of them also help in the office administration, hospital, kitchen, farming, construction and in taking care of the mentally challenged persons. The children of these families and also of parents staying in leprosy slums of various cities are also taken care of. These children are provided with good education facilities. They are nurtured to become good citizens. To help them to become financially independent, they are offered loans without interest so that they can become self employed.

The seeds of `Sahyog' were sowed way back in the year 1970, when a young, brilliant lecturer Shri Suresh Soni from the MS University of Baroda started helping leprosy-afflicted persons in the leprosy slums of Baroda. What started as a good cause became a mission for him. Instead of a comfortable materialistic life, he opted to help leprosy-afflicted persons.

The Trust encourages marriages among male and female 

patients of the Ashram. The married couples 

are provided with a house to live. They 

are granted a charkha with 

which they spin yarn and attain 

financial independence. At 

present, the Ashram has 111 

such rehabilitated couples. Dressing 

of a leprosy afflicted patient.

The year 1988 was another turning point when he started Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust. Sarvoday Ashram Mandhi donated 28 acres of land for this cause. Shri Suresh Soni and Smt. Indira Soni (his wife), moved to Rajendranagar crossing, along with 20 leprosy afflicted persons and 6 children.

 At present the Trust serves 433 leprosy-afflicted persons who have come from various states. It includes 123 from Gujarat, 106 from West Bengal, 123 from Maharashtra and 81 from other states. Among them 187 are grossly deformed; 101 spin on amber charkha; 137 help in various jobs of the Ashram and 8 are working on their own. Moreover, the Trust also caters to 244 children.

Each house in the Village has a Tulsikyara where in, every day at 7-30 pm a lamp is lightened to be followed by prayer to pray the almighty God to give happiness to all those who help the Sahyog and also to those who enlighten others to help. The Trust has a science mobile van going to schools to create scientific attitude and also performs science textbook experiments for the students of Std. 5th to 10th. Van also goes to PTC colleges.

The organisation received the Godphrey Philips State Gold Award in 2006. State Award by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the best institute for disabled for the year 2002 was also granted. 

It also bagged the National Award of Rs. 1 lakh from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the best institute for disabled for the year 2003. It was awarded through the hands of the then President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The National Award of Rs. 3 lakh by Ministry of Human Resources, Women and Child Welfare for the services rendered in the field of welfare and development of children.

Contact Address:

Sahyog Kushta Yagna Trust (Regd.No. E3982, Baroda dt 06-06-1988)

Affiliation Number: 415 / GUJARAT

Rajendranagar Crossing, Himatnagar-Shamiaji, National Highway,Tq Himatnagar,

Dist SABARKANTHA-383276,(Gujarat)

Fax.02772-254537,Pres.Sh.Suresh Soni -02772 254337,9825011185,9429241900

Email: sahyogtrust@ymail.com, Website: www.sahyogtrust.org.in

Also Read : Ashadeep Charitable Sewa Samiti, Muzaffarnagar

Thank you!!!