Contribution by means of reaching out to others, is a key message, Pujya Swami Viditatmananda Saraswatiji emphasizes in all Vedanta discourses. This is reflected very evidently through the involvement of Adhyatma Vidya Mandir in social services and related activities. Pujya Swamiji frequently points out that Time and/or Talent and/or Treasure are the best ways to contribute in people’s lives. And the volunteers at Tattvatirtha have very well integrated this message to spread the fullness in their life with the people around by sharing their invaluable time, expertise in various fields such as education, healthcare and other skills, and helping out financially through the social services offered as part of the All India Movement for Seva (AIM for Seva) programs in Gujarat.
Social Services
AIM FOR SEVA (GUJARAT)
All India Movement for Seva (AIM for Seva) activities and various social service activities are carried out by Adhyatma Vidya Mandir in the Education and Health Care sectors. AIM for Seva, a public charitable trust founded by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji, in November 2000, aims to help bridge the gap between the mainstream and marginal sections of Indian society. Awarded consultative status with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) by the United Nations in 2005, this organization is devoted to serving people in the remote areas of India, with focus on Education and Health Care, and integration of programs related to women’s empowerment, environment, and cultural validation for a holistic approach of equipping the rural community. On behalf of the AIM for Seva, Adhyatma Vidya Mandir is presently involved at Shamlaji Hospital offering Health Care services and at Shri Vasant Seva Sankul, Kankanpur, offering Education and support services to tribal children.
Social Services
Shamlaji Hospital is a not-for-profit medical center which has been a successful undertaking of Public-Private-Partnership between Government (GO) and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) since 2003. In Gujarat, Public-Private Partnership between GO-NGO is an innovative approach to improve health care delivery, and is particularly important in rural-tribal area. The AIM for Seva took over the administration of Shamlaji Hospital to provide the best health facilities and services to the poor tribal population of Shamlaji and surrounding areas. Currently, AIM for Seva is running a 50-bed hospital at Shamlaji, within the Aravalli District of Gujarat, under the guidance of Dr. Haren Joshi and Dr. Pratima Tolat. Dr. Haren Joshi is a trauma, vascular, and general surgeon and previously was the medical director of three hospitals in the U.S. and Dr Tolat is an ophthalmologist, and together, they have more than 30 years of medical experience in the US. In 11 years the hospital has been converted to a model rural health care facility serving free healthcare to 100,000 population and 100 villages. The administration and running of the hospital is being carried out by the team of volunteers of Adhyatma Vidya Mandir. This team consists of Shri Kapil Vyas, Dr. Darshit Dalal and Dr. Vipul Oza.
Following is a brief list of medical programs and services offered at Shamlaji Hospital:
- 24 x 7 Emergency & Trauma Care.
- Surgical services are provided on weekly basis for Cataract, ENT, Orthopedic, Urology and General patients.
- Opinion of Super Specialist Doctors available for critical Trauma, Vascular, Opthalmic, Gynecology cases on appointment basis
- Regular Gynec services are provided.
- Regular Out and In patients care.
- Vaccination for new born baby.
- Safe motherhood and new born baby care program.
- Medico Legal Cases care.
- Weekly cataract surgeries
For more information click the link: http://shamlajihospital.org/
Under the banner of AIM for Seva, Adhyatma Vidya Mandir has reached out to the rural communities of the Panchmahal District in Gujarat to offer Educational infrastructure and support services. The Education Facility at Kankanpur operates as Shri Vasant Seva Sankul and provides in – house accommodation to students along with access to modern education facilities such as computers. The facility takes care of accommodation, education and good nutrition for the students. The campus has been designed to be eco-friendly, supporting 3 Bio Gas plants and Solar Panels generating 3.5 KW (KiloWatt) power. There is huge land area under cultivation of vegetables, fruits and fodder which are usually sufficient to meet the in-campus daily needs. There is shelter for cows ‘Roshani Goshala’ which currently supports 28 cows, and provides sufficient milk for the campus needs. This self-sufficient eco-friendly facility not only provides education to the children of the rural communities, it nurtures their whole personality during their stay within the campus through various cultural activities, daily puja and religious rituals followed by Aarti at the Baleshvar Temple located within the premises, Yoga as part of health and mental wellbeing, and putting the theory into practice through the modern computer facilities available within the campus.
Following is a brief list of the available facilities, some of the student activities and other environmental initiatives at the Chhatralaya:
Available Facilities and Environmental Initiatives
- “Shree Mayur Patel Students Home” capable of accommodating 100 students. Presently there are 72 students living in the Chhatralaya;
- Shelter for Cows “Roshani Goshala” supporting 28 cows with calves; Automatic water feeding systems to the cows, and facility to store Gomutra, and regular visit of Veterinary Doctor for personal care of the cows
- 3 Bio Gas Plants with a total capacity of 22 cu.m (cubic meter)
- Solar water heating through Solar power generated at 3.5KW
- Large open fields to cultivate daily vegetable, fruits, fodder
- Spacious computer room with 16 Personal Computers (PCs), Television (LED TV), CD Player and a TV set top box for learning computer basics
- Educational CDs are available for senior students to learn their daily syllabus
Student Activities
- Daily morning cow puja and religious rituals offered at the feet of Lord Shiva, at Baleshwara Temple within the premises
- 30-minute Early Morning Yoga Class to boost self-confidence, improve focus and inner peace
- Students are imparted Computer literacy by computer literate teachers;
- Opportunity to practice the computer skills learnt during the class
- Students regularly gather for Swamini Pratibhanandaji’s class
- Get to engage through playing activities in the large open play ground
- Students are regularly engaged in cleaning activities to create a sense of responsibility for one’s community, and the world and environment
