Sponsors for the month of April

In the month of April, we had some generous sponsors and to all of them we are thankful for their kind donations. It has gone a long way to help some of the most under-privileged families in Bangalore, India.

I would like to mention a few people have been very generous with their donations:

1. Karneet Enterprises(India) Pvt Ltd, Bangalore

2. Southern Silica Mines, Gudur, Andhra Pradesh

3. B. Jayaprakash, Chief Manager, State Bank of Mysore, Bangalore

4. V M Corporation, Mumbai

5. Mascot Engineering Company, Mumbai

6. K Rambabu, Hyderabad

A special mention to Balaji B and his friends of RV College of Engineering for thinking of celebrating Balaji's birthday by serving the poor at our office. A wonderful gesture!

This link given below will give you the details of all sponsors for the month

http://www.wipeatearremoveapain.org/india/html/donate_list.htm

In the spirit of Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

www.wipeatearremoveapain.org

Books distribution at Kanakapura

Books Distribution at Kanakapura

After completing our books distribution events at Ganjam and Devanahalli, our next location was Kanakapura which is a small town 50 kms away from Bangalore. One of our ashram devotees received a request from a school official stating their need for school books and hence a small group of youngsters decided to go there and bring smiles on the students faces. As we entered the school premises, we saw these high school students busy studying in their classes. But within a few minutes, in a very disciplined manner all the 250 students were out on the playground arranging themselves and sitting down in orderly rows eagerly waiting for the books to be distributed. The event started off with a prayer done by our ashram volunteers which was then followed by a small talk about the mission and vision of Wipe a Tear, remove a pain. All the students listened to this with great interest and with pin drop silence. It is difficult to hold the attention of young minds for too long but it was nice to see the discipline and decorum they maintained throughout the event. As we started distributing the books, all the students came up to the stage in a line, collected their books, posed for a photograph and quietly returned to their seats. They also enthusiastically recited the shlokas with the volunteers, which are written on either side of the books and promised to continue doing so every day. We concluded the formal session with a stimulating chanting of Om Jai Matha, Om Jai Gurudeva!

After the formal session, our volunteers spent some time with the students and even played a game of volleyball with them. We could see the happiness on all the children’s faces as the volunteers spoke to them on a more personal note. The staff of the school where very thankful and requested us to make more such visits to keep the students motivated and inspired.

To view the complete album of our books donations drive click on http://www.shrinimishamba.org/html/photo_edu.htm

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

Education Initiatives

As part of Education initiative, we also recognise the importance of identifying and nurturing the talents of young kids and youth. So apart from sponsoring education we are also doing good progress in organising talent shows, sponsoring job based education for those who cannot afford to pay for such expensive courses.

SPONSORING JOB ORIENTED EDUCATION
To help those who are in the economically backward sections of society to start earning as soon as possible and to reduce the migration of rural population to towns and cities, Shree Public Charitable Trust sponsors the education of students who opt for rural based Job Oriented Courses like Handloom Weaving, Sericulture, Organic Farming, Water Management, School Teaching, Tailoring etc.

FOSTERING TALENTS AND SKILLS
In addition to sponsoring the formal education of children below the poverty line, Shree Public Charitable Trust also believes in fostering and encouraging their talents. Very few of them get an opportunity to display their talents as an appropriate forum is rarely available to them.

Shree Public Charitable Trust sponsored a talent show called “Pratibha Karanji” or “The Fount Of Talent” where more than 500 children from 23 Government and Aided Schools participated in this 3 day event. Free Food was provided to all the students, participants, teachers and organizers. As seen in the photograph many handicapped children also participated in this joyful event.

A special workshop was organized for the students and teachers of The National Association for the Blind, India, where they were taught special techniques to release stress and enhance their awareness and concentration. At this event the children who had collected funds for the NAB were also felicitated.

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!!

Education initiatives

We at Shree Public Charitable Trust understand the dire need for making education accessible for the rural kids. Like before I would like to first give you the present education scene in India.

INDIAN EDUCATION SCENARIO:

Though the Indian government is making a great effort to make education accessible to the masses, India is still lagging behind other developing nations as far as education is concerned. India's literacy rate is 64.8% (53.7% for females and 75.3% for males). The literacy rate for Youth (15-24 years of age) in the middle-income countries is 87.8 per cent whereas in India it is 73.3 per cent (Human Development Report-2003). Out of 94 developing countries, the position of India is 76th so far as educational development index is concerned. Percentage of students who enrolled in Class-1 and reached to Class-Vth standard is 77 in the developing countries, but in India it is only 60. (The State of World Children-2004). Even among the working class, 40% of the of workforce is illiterate and another 40% almost illiterate.

Through the Shree Public Charitable Trust, Shri Chakra Foundation is engaged in sponsoring the School Education of children below the poverty line, encouraging rural based job oriented education and fostering other talents and skills in under-privileged children.

1. SPONSORING SCHOOL EDUCATION
In India it is very difficult for the under privileged to afford education even in Government schools as each poor family has many mouths to feed. When a family is unable to pay the fees, young children are often removed from school and sent to work in order to earn for the family.

According to the surveys conducted by Education Science and Technology Ministry, India, 39.70% boys and 41.90% girls drop out of school between Class I and Class V due to poverty. 53.30% of the students drop out of school before they reach Class X. As per the 7th All India Educational Survey of 2002, 17 million children in India are engaged in child labour.

Shree Public Charitable Trust identified 1695 under privileged children in Bangalore who could not afford to pay their school fees and is sponsoring their education so that they could continue their schooling. The details of the schools where these children are studying are provided below.

1. Government Primary School, Halagevadera Halli – 155 children
2. Government Primary School, Mallatha Halli – 229 children
3. Government Primary School, Uttarahalli – 353 children
4. Government Higher Primary School, Hosakerehalli – 329 children
5. Government Higher Primary School, Jnanabharati – 48 children
6. Government Higher Primary School, Channasandra – 279 children
7. Government High School, Uttarahalli – 302 children.

Our Volunteers at some of the above schools

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!!

Inspiring video on the importance of helping people

Parama Pujya Shri Shri Nimishanada Guruji, the Divine force behind Shree Public Charitable trust talks to the youth in Toronto, Canada about the importance of helping people. This was part of a question - answer session at a youth meet in Toronto, where someone asked Pujya Guruji, if its our duty to help other people in need?

I am sure youth like us, need such talks to keep us motivated in working towards our society,
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=V4odKUcX9Ns

Enjoy the Video,
Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

Health Care Initiatives

As most us know the health care system in India and we all must have read and seen the number of people suffering and dying each day due to lack of good medical care. Shree Public Charitable Trust is also working towards providing the medical help to the economically backward in India.

Before I go on to explain what our Trust is provinding, let me give you a reality on the health care in our country.

HEALTHCARE IN INDIA

The United Nations' World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Health is a major factor that influences the rate of growth and development of a country. There is a vast discrepancy in access to health care and public health initiatives between developed countries and developing countries. In the developing world where public health infrastructures are still in the formative stage, there may not be enough trained health workers or monetary resources to provide the required level of medical care and disease prevention that is necessary to cater to the entire population.

In India, though the Government has set up many progressive health programs, the ever increasing regional, economic and gender disparities continue to pose challenges to the health sector in the country. About 75% of health infrastructure, medical man power and other health resources are concentrated in high income urban areas where 27% of the population lives. The people in the rural areas and slums still suffer from ill health due to lack of awareness, inaccessibility of health care facilities and poverty. This is where the non governmental organizations play a crucial role in reaching out to the masses.

Our initiatives:
A. Curative Healthcare
PERIODICAL FREE MEDICAL CAMPS

Free medical camps are arranged periodically for the slum dwellers in Bangalore where more than 1500 patients are treated at each camp.
Starting one week before the medical camp, an awareness drive is launched in the chosen slum by putting up posters, distributing leaflets, public audio-announcements and door to door visits.
Free transport is arranged to bring the patients from the slums and drop them back and they are also given a good nutritious meal.
Medical Specialists from the fields of general medicine, surgery, ENT, gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, dentistry, geriatrics, orthopaedics, oncology and dermatology offer their expertise to the patients.
Basic diagnostic facilities and medicines are also provided free of cost to all the patients.
Free eye check up and spectacles are provided to patients with eye defects.
In special cases where there is a requirement for surgery like kidney transplantation, cardiac surgery, cancer surgery etc., the entire expenditure of the surgery and post surgical treatment like chemotherapy, radiation etc. is taken care of.
Medical Camps are also conducted on special days such as World Heart Day, World Diabetes Day etc. to address specific health problems.

We also believe in providing preventive health care facilities, about which I will write in my next post!

Till then, Lets Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!