The story of Sewa Bharati Delhi is no different
from the River Ganga which after originating from the Goumukh assumes a
gigantic form before joining the Yamuna and the Saraswati in Prayag. Who had
thought that a tiny project started way back in 1979 with 4-5 kids would become
flagship of entire Sewa Bharati work and stand as the talking
monument of social reforms and development?
Our diverse society with uneven economic
and social opportunities can be woven into one thread,
only through love, empathy, co-operation and attitude of sacrifice putting
larger good and welfare in picture. The foundation of the Sewa Bharati work was
laid by the then senior Sangh Pracharak of Delhi the late Shri Vishnu Kumar.
The work informally began in a small room near Valmiki Basti of Sangam Park. Indutai
of Rashtra Sevika Samiti with her warm and affectionate persona won the hearts
of kids through narrating inspirational stories, lucid poems and historical
experiences. It had cascading effect and the work with its right virtue and
intent became instantly popular and talking subject in all houses and families situated
nearby.
Formal
Beginning
Impressed with the success of this project,
the then RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Balasaheb Deoras formally inaugurated the
Sewa Bharati project at E Block of Jehangir Puri on Vijayadashami Day in 1979. Shri
Vishnu Kumar, Shri Sushil Bakhadi, Shri Vishwamitra Pushkarana further
accentuated it by starting child care and development centres. Communication
skills of Shri Om Prakash Pathak saw the work attracting donors and soon the projects
multiplied in numbers. This resulted in simultaneously opening of new coaching
centres in Majnu Ka Tilla, Chandraval and Lalbagh. Many young and adults alike
soon joined the work and in the short duration of one year, 64 centres were
started. After deliberations and consensus, a Constitution of Sewa Bharati was framed to
complete the legal formalities.
Hostel
At the first stage itself the Sewa Bharati
effectively connected with the masses. Soon a hostel for students with peaceful
and harmonious academic environment was started in Sawan Park, which witnessed
a lot of students successfully pursuing academics. Shri Sengram Gupta was
courteous enough to increase the hostel space and rooms. A mobile Medical Van was introduced to serve the
health needs. Professional courses, such as shorthand and typewriting in those
years and full fledged Computer courses at present
have won the trusts of not only the students but also of their parents. To back
these activities ideologically and also to apprise other people of the sewa
activities the publication of Sewa
Samarpan began in 1988 by forming the Sewa Samarpan Nyas.
Sewadham
Residential School
In order to facilitate and inculcate the knowledge
of science, art and sports among youth, Shri Ashok Singhal inspired the
formation of Sewa Dham Residential School in 1985. Shri Jaswant Singh Arora
offered 5 bigha land for this project
at Mandoli village, while Shri Harikishan Rathi nurtured it though his
contribution in construction of building. Over the years the Sewa Dham students
have excelled not only in their academics and professional careers but also
made Sewa Dham proud of through their services to the society. Currently, 322
students from over 23 states are availing the facilities here.
Matrichhaya
The year 1988 proved to be a big milestone in
the history of Sewa Bharati Delhi. It started one
more path breaking initiative in the form of Matrichhaya at Mukherjee Nagar for
the abandoned kids. The Matrichhaya project was formally inaugurated by the
then Deputy Prime Minister of India Shri LK Advani on May 20, 2002. Today the Matrichhaya
centres of Udasin Ashram and Miyanwali Nagar have been issued licences by the Government
of India and Delhi. By now, 500 kids have been adopted by various issueless families
from these centres. Those kids who are not adopted due to some reasons are
nurtured by the Sewa Bharati itself.
Street
Children Project
Delhi might have registered phenomenal
growth during all these years, the fact is that 2/3
of Delhi’s citizens are still deprived of meaningful social benefits like education,
employment and samskars. Kids waste
their time and energy in fighting or begging in the streets. To uplift such
children the Sewa Bharati started a Street Children Project at Dilshad Garden.
Currently, eight such centres in 6 various locations are educating and
uplifting 540 street kids offering them better life and access to
employability. Ministry of Women and Child Welfare bears 90 per cent expenses
of these projects, while the rest 10 per cent is borne by the Sewa Bharati.
Bhajan
Mandalis and cutting tailoring centres
The condition of women is no better in
Delhi. The workers realised that unless the women are financially empowered, the
society cannot make desired progress. Hence, a cutting tailoring centre was
started. Many women of Sewa Bastis found them useful and started availing the
benefits. To increase the awareness and consciousness of women on cleanliness,
health, fitness, self reliance, an initiative of group discussions were started
on Makar Sankaranti Day. Now over 2000 women take part in monthly and biweekly
get togethers over Bhajan-Kirtan and can feel the difference of awareness,
enablement and empowerment. Women from well-to-do families also joined this
initiative in 1988 with the inspiration of Smt Nirmal Mahajan. Today, more than
200 groups of women regularly perform Bhajan-Kirtan on monthly or fortnightly
basis.
Health
Awareness about primary healthcare and
fitness for individuals and families was facilitated by introducing three
medical vans in 1966. Today, this facility is available in the form of
allopathy, homeopathy, Ayurveda, Naturopathy centres at 56 different places.
Dentistry has also been included recently. This service is being availed by
over one lakh people annually. After 20 years of research and hard work, Dr
Dhruv Chakravarti of Kolkata discovered a homeopathic medicine which cures
blood circulation and body wellness. This medicine has given new life of scores
of lepers in Delhi.
Computer
Training
Creativity and development have to go hands
in hands. During the last two decades the Sewa Bharati positively influenced various
strata of the society. However, efforts to inspire the youth were still incomplete.
In 2001, Lt Governor of Delhi Shri Vijay Kapoor inaugurated the first computer
training centre and subsequently 18 such centres were started, which is being benefited over 5000 students.
Adult
Literacy
The period between 2001 and 2008 can be
attributed to the development of education, self-reliance and social security.
In order to make entire Delhi literate the Sewa Bharati conducted a drive from February
1 to April 20, 2006 and made over 10,000 people literate. This work was done
like a movement and people between 12 years to 50 were taught.
Kanya
Pujan
Apart from conducting group marriages, the
Sewa Bharati started another unique step to bring the people of all sections
together. It began in the form of Kanyapujan during Navratras. This
strengthened the social harmony substantially. Apart from it, many women were
helped in starting their own business like opening tea stalls or fruit, etc. Through
this scheme, about 70 families have been uplifted from below
poverty line.
Gopaldham
With the inspiration of the then senior
Pracharak Shri Vishwanathji, Shri Nagpal Bhattewale donated a piece of land in
Bhopura. The project started on that land now also has terrorism-affected
children from J&K. Shri Ramgopalji from Samalkha
and his family also contributed immensely to
this proejct. Today, there are 80 children in Gopaldham of which 24 are Muslims. Former secretary of Sewa Bharati Shri
Rishipal played a key role in starting and nurturing this project.
By and large Sewa Bharati Delhi is
consolidating its efforts and trying to expand its reach to more and more areas
and sections of the needy people. Its prime focus is to expand and strengthen
the organisational base according to the requirements of large geography of the
national capital. The objective is also to enhance the participation of more people
by bringing more workers into its fold so that an active, accountable and
capable team of workers is there from district to Basti level. The increase in
the number projects will automatically follow.
Thirty five year old organisation is young
and full of energy. New experiments are being conducted in the field of sewa.
It is also sincerely working to bring other sewa streams with it to speed up
the round development of the nation.
The
Change
The son of Shri Rameshwar Dutt, a terror
stricken family of Udhampur, was suffering from Elipphenta diseases. Sewa
Bharati borne the expenses of his treatment and he was fully cure. Now both
husband and wife are full time workers of the Sewa Bharati.
2. A rape victim in Keshav Vihar Basti was
rehabilitated.
3. The residents of Keshav Puram refused to
getting influenced by the ills of free liquor distributed during elections.
Instead they resolved to vote only for the candidate, who genuinely works for
their upliftment.
4. Akash a promising student of Sewa Dham
Vidya Mandir, whose mother worked as a maid in a family of Sewa Bharati donor,
has been selected in Merchant Navy. He now gets Rs 40000 per month.
5. The conversion activities going on in
leprosy colony of Nehru Nagar were curbed effectively.
6. Smt Jwala Devi and Smt Manorama were earlier paid workers of Sewa Bharati. Now they are
working selflessly taking responsibilities in the organisation.
7. Shri Prem Sagar Bhatia, who had come to
Sewa Bharati office for offering some donation, is now office secretary of Sewa
Bharati Delhi.
Recognitions
The efforts of Sewa Bharti have been
recognised not only by the society but also by the governments. It has been
felicitated in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995-96 by Delhi Administration. In 2001,
Central Social Welfare Board felicitated it with prestigious Durgabai Deshmukh
Award for Women Empowerment. On October 2, 2002 Mahatma Gandhi Award was
presented. Former President of India Dr Abdul Kalam also praised the work of
Sewa Bharati.
Sewa Bharati, Delhi
13, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, Gole Market,
New Delhi - 110 001
Ph : 011-23345014
Email - sewabharti@ymail.com
via: Smt.Indira
Mohan
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