Rural
Upliftment and Social Rehabilitation
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Whether it is organizing an annual mela that empowers destitute women or building orphanages that give children a better life, the Foundation's activities address the needs of society's most neglected.
The Foundation has organized unique annual melas in different parts of the country, including Bangalore and Sedam in Karnataka, and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, to distribute sewing machines to destitute women and help them earn a livelihood. Prior to the mela, the Foundation even holds tailoring classes and provides materials for the same at some centers.
The Foundation has conducted relief work after natural disasters. Apart from monetary contributions, it believes in assessing the real needs of those affected and contributing accordingly. It has worked in the tsunami-affected areas of Tamil Nadu and the Andaman Islands, earthquake-affected areas of Kutch, cyclone-devastated areas of Orissa, tribal areas of Kalahandi in Orissa and drought-hit areas of Andhra Pradesh
The Foundation made a donation towards the mid-day meal program of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, Bangalore, for poor children in North Karnataka.
It established counseling centers to rehabilitate marginalized devadasis in North Karnataka
The Foundation has offered compensation to families whose bread-winners have served in our Defence Forces and died fighting for the country.
The Foundation worked with the Red Cross Society to supply aid equipment to the physically challenged in rural areas and economically weaker sections of Karnataka
The Foundation offers monetary aid to the Divine Life Society, which is based in the Himalayas. The Society helps senior citizens and destitutes, often picking them up from the street and looking after them with the help of volunteers, some of whom are foreign tourists in the region
The Foundation improved a rehabilitation center in Chennai for mentally retarded women
The Foundation has improved the lives of children with leprosy and those living on the streets, and in slums
The Foundation has constructed:
Hostel buildings for under-privileged students at
Ramakrishna Mission centers in Tamil Nadu, Orissa,
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh
Orphanages in rural areas of these states, to provide
shelter to children of local communities.
A free girls' hostel at Maharshi Karve Sthree Shikshana
Samsthe, Hingne, Pune
A girls' hostel for the blind in Banapur, Orissa,
Jagruthi Blind School in Pune, Sri Ramana Maharshi
Academy for the Blind in Bangalore and Sri Sharada
Andhara Vikasa Kendra in Shimoga, Karnataka
Relief shelters in several parts of Orissa
The Sri Ramakrishna Students' Home in Chennai, Tamil
Nadu
The Shakthidhama Destitute Center for Women in Mysore,
Karnataka
A hall for people with physical disabilities in
Belgaum, Karnataka |
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The Foundation's sewing machine melas have made hundreds of women economically independent.
Several success stories have emerged from these melas. One woman who applied and received a sewing machine from the Foundation, chose to earn a living through tailoring, rather than enter a life of prostitution after her husband died. She now sells petticoats at weekly local fairs and earns between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 1,000 per month.
The Foundation has worked consistently to rehabilitate devadasis in North Karnataka. It runs campaigns to increase awareness about AIDS. The message is also spread through novel forums like street dramas and jatras. For the past three years, Abhay Kumar, a former engineer, has worked with the Foundation to coordinate programs and hold counseling sessions. Financial support is also offered to the devadasis for their children’s education, among other things. |
