Women Entrepreneurs Turn Obstacles Into Opportunities

Women entrepreneurs from Sayla Taluka (block) have overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to fulfill an essential community health need and march toward economic independence

With most of society under lockdown owing to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, the livelihood of many has been snatched away, especially in labour-intensive and service-based sectors. Rural areas in the country have very limited jobs that can be done remotely. Furthermore, those with more basic education or disabilities have been hit especially hard by the restrictions imposed upon us for public health and safety.

The Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled, operated by Shree Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal, has been hard at work to find opportunities for disabled residents of Sayla Taluka to earn money and support their families. One story of success and hope in these unprecedented times is a Self Help Group (SHG), comprised of 17 enterprising women from Ovangadh village in Sayla Taluka, that has found a way to turn this obstacle into an opportunity and carved a path to financial independence.

The SHG comprises of disabled women, mothers of disabled children as well as able-bodied women, working to support their families by locally manufacturing sanitary pads. Multiple humanitarian organisations have come together to help these women establish themselves as stable earners for their families. Under the guidance of the Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled and with support from the Blind Peoples Association, the women are using manufacturing equipment and raw materials donated by the Utkarsh Sanstha, Ahmedabad to manufacture 300 - 400 sanitary pads every day. In keeping with the public health guidelines, they wear personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. Not surprisingly, this small-scale, local operation, makes and sells these pads at prices lower than products available in the retail market. 

The women received training in using the equipment. They were also made aware of the benefits of sanitary pads as well as creating a SHG, which typically has a co-operative model of handling finances and resources in order to share responsibility, allowing the group to address the urgent needs of individual members through tools like loans and has a regulatory structure to collectively monitor and manage problems with repayments.

The women faced several obstacles in establishing this SHG and starting their business; primarily from the stigma and secretive attitude that exists in society toward menstruation and menstrual products. They persisted in the face of disgust and aversion among fellow villagers to not only set up their business but also fulfill an essential public health need in their community. Moreover, these women are also handling other responsibilities at home, on farms, etc. and yet, they make sure to arrive at their workplace at the designated time and diligently work on making the sanitary pads.

The success of this operation has been covered by several media outlets:

Source: Sandesh, July 21, 2020

K-News Gujarati Clip:

https://www.facebook.com/112855345492664/posts/3014646821980154/

Source: K-News Gujarati, July 21, 2020

DD Girnar News Clip

https://www.facebook.com/112855345492664/posts/3111781748933327/

Source: DD Girnar, August 1, 2020)

Empowered women who contribute to the financial health of their households and understand the immense social benefits of making affordable sanitary pads easily available to girls and women in their community are sure to improve the prospects of their families as well as their communities. The Ashirward Center is proud to have supported these women in their journey toward self-sufficiency and economic independence. We are in awe of their spirit and are confident that their success and dedication will be a source of inspiration for others who are facing unforeseen obstacles as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Dharmishtha; A Journey Towards Independence

Dharmishtha’s Journey; how the Ashirwad Trust helped a young girl find her independence

Name: Dharmishtha Surendrasingh Parmar

Disability: Cerebral Palsy

Admission date at the Centre: 10/06/2008

Duration at the Centre: 12 years

Family occupation: Driving

About Dharmishtha:

17 year old Dharmishtha is an enthusiastic girl with a smiling face. She has immense grit. Given her optimistic attitude, she is always willing to grasp opportunities given to her. 

Cause of Disability:

Dharmishtha did not cry post birth and just three days after birth, she experienced a jerk that led to Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy affected her mobility as well as speech.

Relationship with Family:

Dharmishtha is raised in a middle class joint family. There are five members in the house. All of them take good care of her and treat her respectfully.

Family hardships:

Owing to her impaired mobility, the family endured struggles initially in taking care of her daily routine. Dharmishtha was unable to sit by herself until she was 3 years old. Attending social events, going to religious places or for physiotherapy became challenging as the family members had to carry her wherever she went.  

Student Needs: 

Dharmishtha required physiotherapy, speech therapy and training to perform various activities of daily living such as brushing, eating and dressing independently. Additionally, to overcome social exclusion, she required training and empowerment to participate in social functions.

Support provided by Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled, Sayla:

Dharmishtha was provided with a medical certificate, identity card, Sant Soordas Health Policy benefits, a Cerebral Palsy chair and an educational kit. She was also given presents such as firecrackers, kites, water guns, etc during the celebration of festivals.

Dharmishtha - first from left

Dharmishtha (first from right) enthusiastically celebrating national festival

Intervention at Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled:

At the centre, Dharmishtha primarily underwent physiotherapy and was prescribed medication by Dr. Paresh Shah.

She was enrolled in a day-care centre where she received various mobility training that included sitting with and without support, helping her stand and eventually walk with the help of a walker. She was also provided educational and intellectual training at the centre.

Undergoing physiotherapy

Dharmishtha (first from left) sitting with the support of a wall

Dharmishtha (first from right) sitting without support

Dharmishtha sitting on a bench without support

Intervention Outcome:

As a result of such extensive training and support, Dharmishtha showed great progress as she could sit independently and stand with only the support of a chair or window frame. Thereafter, she could walk with support. 

Dharmishtha walking with the support of a railing

She is now able enough to take part in the ‘Khel Mahakumbh’, organised by the State of Gujarat, and enthusiastically participates in cultural programs.

Dharmishtha (kneeling down in red dress) dancing with her friends

Dharmishtha is  able to write numbers and letters with the assistance of her teachers; as well as recognise colours, shapes, animals, birds, vegetables and also identify her fellow classmates. 

Consequent to the academic training, Dharmishtha can now grasp and comprehend concepts well. As a matter of pride, she has cleared the Secondary Board exams and is now studying in class XII.

Currently, with her family support and the Centre’s initiatives, Dharmishtha stays busy in her daily routine.

Testimonial of Dharmishtha’s father, Mr Surendrasingh Parmar

"I express my gratitude towards the staff of the Ashirvad Trust who provided Dharmishtha with the wide-ranging support she needed and treated her with the patience and love only a family can. Initially, Dharmishtha was not keen on attending school but meeting children of her age and receiving the care and tenderness of the staff, she now enjoys attending school. The teachers at the school taught her how to eat independently. They patiently help feed Dharmishtha when she faces difficulty in eating her food. 

In fact, during this lockdown she misses her friends and the activities which she used to engage in at school. Before her admission to the centre, Dharmishtha was barely active and would remain sleeping or lying down, completely dependent on us for her needs. However now, though she has difficulty in mobility and speech, she can perform a lot of activities independently. It is not just the fact that she undertakes activities independently that matters; she has been given the encouragement and self-belief that she is capable. She has a sharp mind and strong reflexes and likes to learn and grasp new things. Also, her interests in computers and other digital devices are developing. 

Presently, Dharmishtha is studying in class XII and we sincerely believe she can offer something constructive to society, based on the rehabilitation and care she has received."

Aids and Appliance Camp in Sayla - February 2020

ગુજરાતી લેખ માટે અહીં ક્લિક કરો

Equality of perspective is natural to one who is immersed in the Soul, the equal Soul, which all living beings possess.  Equality of opportunity is, however, yet to be realised in today's society. The differently-abled are equal to us. This is the truth. We call them disabled but their potential is often great. 

How much richer would our world be if we could enjoy the contributions of people who are excluded, simply because of what we call disability or an impairment!

Disability leads to poverty and poverty increases the impact of disability. 

In addition, because of ignorance, superstition and fear, the disabled and their families are often stigmatised. They are excluded. Society does not make any effort  to accommodate them and so society loses out on an opportunity. We lose.

The work of the Ashirvad Trust for the Disabled, with the blessing and vision of Param Pujya Bhaishree, is to strive to ensure that the differently-abled fulfil their potential through various forms of rehabilitation and empowerment.

After an extensive and meticulous process of many weeks of screening in various villages around Surendranagar and Limbdi, 522 opportunities were identified, in the form of assistive devices or livelihood kits.

On 17th February, a camp was held in Sayla to distribute these aids and kits to various beneficiaries.

A grand inclusive inauguration was held in the great Raj Mandir, where Param Pujya Bhaishree and donors lit the symbolic lamp and addressed the audience, which included many who were  differently-abled.

Meaningfully, Bhaishree specifically addressed the differently-abled. He told them, (the ones we call "beneficiaries"), that we are grateful for the opportunity that they have given us. He told them his wish for their lives to improve both materially and spiritually and that they go on to live noble lives.

Bhaishree, in his gentle way, is a revolutionary.  By speaking directly in this way, he is demonstrating the equality and potential of those assembled. He is leading by example to remove stigma. He is redefining the purpose of donors. He transforms the challenges of karma into the opportunity to progress. He transforms the attitude of pity towards a beneficiary into the donor feeling grateful for the opportunity to serve.

The camp, on 17th February, was the 32nd Aids and Appliances camp organised by the Ashram’s Ashirvad Trust for the Disabled.  Such support camps have empowered tens of thousands in the past, enabling them to earn a livelihood, becoming independent and respected members of society.

The support camp was held in the Sayla Ashram premises, and tricycles, wheelchairs, chairs for patients having cerebral palsy, calipers, artificial limbs, crutches, folding walkers, hearing aids and canes for the visually impaired were distributed to beneficiaries. Educational kits were also given to children with learning difficulties, braille kits for the blind and low vision kits for those with impaired vision. Employment kits such as beauty salon kits, sewing machines and farming tools were donated as well. 

Naytika Shah (donor family) recounts: “Each one of us felt so lucky and blessed to participate in such a noble and selfless cause. Many among us, especially the younger generation, have never witnessed such poverty-stricken difficult circumstances, and some donors were moved to tears. During the distribution, we talked to some of the beneficiaries. The acknowledgment of the difficulties they faced in life and having it addressed really mattered to them. They were grateful for all the equipment they received and recognised that it would make a tremendous difference in their lives. The children were an absolute joy to watch; the delight on their faces when they received their aids or kits was a sight to behold. It was humbling, for all of us present, to see those individuals with impairments smiling, even in the midst of such adversity.”

Another donor shares, “We were amazed at the outreach work done by the Ashirvad Trust for the Disabled, Sayla. Their level of dedication and commitment are awe-inspiring. The camp, itself, was very well organised, planned and executed, and the thought put behind the variety of the aids and kits handed out was remarkable. We can see the impact of these camps on the community in and around Sayla. Recently, while we were carrying out the grain distribution, we met a man who had been a recipient of a hand-cycle in one of the previous support camps. He was so proud to show us that it made him self-sufficient and that he was using it to collect his grain. It was wonderful to see the connection between the Ashram and the local community and we look forward to seeing this relationship flourish.”

These camps give the hope of sight to the blind, a voice to those who cannot speak, the ability to stand tall to those without legs, sound to those who cannot hear and, most of all, the camp gives hope to those who lost all hope.

The Ashram acknowledges the generosity of 2 donor families:

1.    Shree Manishkumar Shah, Shree Diptiben Shah and Shree Harsh M Shah from Canada. (son of Brahmnisht Rasikbhai)

2.    In memory of the Late Shree Shantaben Chagganlal Punja Dodhia, her children Shree Mansukhlal and Indumatiben Shah, Shree Manjulaben and Jayantilal Haria, Shree Prabhavatiben Nemchandbhai Shah, Shree Bhartiben Sureshchandra Shah, Shree Nileshbhai and Varshaben Dodhia and Shree Ritaben Sanjaybhai Shah, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from Kenya and the UK.

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દિવ્યાંગો માટે વિનામુલ્યે “સાધન સહાય સેવા કેમ્પ” – ફેબ્રુઆરી ૨૦૨૦

નિજમાં મગ્ન એવા જ્ઞાની મહાત્માઓ સૌ જીવોને સમાન પરિપ્રેક્ષ્યમાં નિહાળે છે કારણકે બધા જ પ્રાણીઓમાં એક સમાન આત્માનો વાસ છે. આમ હોવા છતાં, સૌને સમાન તકની પ્રાપ્તિ હોય તેવી પરિસ્થિતિ હજી સુધી અર્વાચીન સમાજમાં સાકાર નથી થઈ શકી. એ હકીકત છે કે દિવ્યાંગ વ્યક્તિઓ આપણી સમકક્ષ જ છે. જો કે આપણે તેમને ‘વિકલાંગ’ કહીએ છીએ પણ પ્રાયે તેમની ક્ષમતા ગણનાપાત્ર હોય છે.

વિકલાંગ અથવા ઈજાગ્રસ્ત ગણીને આપણે જેમનો બહિષ્કાર કરીએ છીએ તેવી વ્યક્તિઓ દ્વારા સમાજને અર્પણ કરવામાં આવતા ફાળાનો આપણે સમાવેશ અને સન્માન કરીને તેનો ઉપભોગ કરી શકીએ તો વિશ્વ કેટલું સમૃદ્ધ બની શકે!

વિકલાંગપણું નિર્ધનતા તરફ દોરી જાય છે અને નિર્ધનતા વિકલાંગપણાની અસરને વધુ વણસાવે છે. વધુમાં, અજ્ઞાન, અંધશ્રદ્ધા અને ડરને કારણે વિકલાંગો અને તેમના પરિવારોને સમાજ ઘણીવાર દોષિત ઠેરવી ધુત્કારે છે. તેઓનો બહિષ્કાર કરવામાં આવે છે. સમાજ તેમનો સમાવેશ કરવાનો પ્રયત્ન કરતો નથી અને આ કારણે દિવ્યાંગ વ્યક્તિઓની વિશિષ્ટ ક્ષમતાથી ઉપાર્જિત થતા લાભને પ્રાપ્ત કરવાની તક પણ સમાજ ગુમાવે છે.

પરમ પૂજ્ય ભાઈશ્રીના આશિર્વાદ તેમજ દૂરંદેશીથી કાર્યરત એવા આશીર્વાદ વિકલાંગ કન્દ્રનું કાર્ય વિવિધ પ્રકારના પુન:ર્વસન અને સશક્તિકરણના કાર્યક્રમો દ્વારા દિવ્યાંગ વ્યક્તિઓની ક્ષમતાનો મહત્તમ વિકાસ હાંસલ કરવાનું છે.

વિકલાંગોને ઉપયોગી થઈ શકે તેવા સાધનો તેમજ જીવનજરૂરિયાતના સાધનોની કીટની સહાય પૂરી પાડવા સુરેન્દ્રનગર અને લિંબડીની આસપાસના વિવિધ ગામડાઓમાં ઘણા સપ્તાહ સુધી હાથ ધરવામાં આવેલી વ્યાપક અને ચોકસાઈપૂર્વકની તપાસની પ્રક્રિયા બાદ ૫૨૨ વ્યક્તિઓને તારવવામાં આવી.

૧૭મી ફેબ્રુઆરીના રોજ સાયલામાં વિવિધ લાભાર્થીઓને આ સહાય તેમજ કીટ વહેંચવા માટે એક કેમ્પ યોજવામાં આવ્યો. આ દિવસે આપણા રાજ મંદિરમાં એક ભવ્ય સમાવેશન સમારોહનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું જેમાં પરમ પૂજ્ય ભાઈશ્રી અને અન્ય દાનવીરોએ સાંકેતિક દીપ પ્રગટાવીને શ્રોતાગણને સંબોધન કર્યું જેમાં ઘણા દિવ્યાંગ વ્યક્તિઓનો સમાવેશ થતો હતો.

પરમ પૂજ્ય ભાઈશ્રીએ સૂચક રીતે ખાસ કરીને દિવ્યાંગ વ્યક્તિઓને જ સંબોધ્યા. તેઓએ તેમને (જેમને આપણે ‘લાભાર્થી’ તરીકે ઓળખીએ છીએ) જણાવ્યું કે તેમણે જે તકનો લાભ અમોને આપ્યો છે તે માટે અમો તેમના કૃતજ્ઞ છીએ. તેઓએ પોતાની ભાવના વ્યક્ત કરતાં જણાવ્યું કે તેમનું જીવન ભૌતિક તેમજ આધ્યાત્મિક રીતે વધુ ઉન્નત થાઓ અને તેમને સૌને ઉમદા જીવન જીવવાની તક પ્રાપ્ત થાઓ.

પરમ પૂજ્ય ભાઈશ્રીનો અભિગમ મૃદુ છતાં ક્રાંતિકારી છે. આ પ્રકારનું તેઓશ્રીનું સીધુ જ સંબોધન એકઠા થયેલા સૌના સામર્થ્ય તેમજ સમાનતા પ્રત્યેનો નિર્દેશ કરે છે. તેઓશ્રી તેમના પર લાગેલા લાંછનને દૂર કરે છે. તેઓશ્રી દાતાઓના હેતુને પુન:વ્યાખ્યાયિત કરી રહ્યા છે. તેઓશ્રી કર્મના પડકારોને પ્રગતિની તકોમાં રૂપાંતર કરી રહ્યા છે. તેઓશ્રીના સંબોધનથી દાતાઓને લાભાર્થી પ્રત્યે દયાનો ભાવ રાખવાને બદલે લાભાર્થીઓની સેવા કરવા માટે પ્રાપ્ત થયેલી તક માટે તેઓ પ્રત્યે કૃતજ્ઞતાનો ભાવ રાખવાનો મૂક સંદેશ મળી રહ્યો છે.

૧૭ ફેબ્રુઆરીના રોજ આયોજિત કરવામાં આવેલ કેમ્પ એ ૩૨મો “સહાય અને સાધન કેમ્પ” હતો જે આશ્રમના ‘આશીર્વાદ વિકલાંગ ટ્રસ્ટ’ દ્વારા યોજવામાં આવેલ હતો. આવા સહાયક કેમ્પો હજારો વિકલાંગોના સશક્તિકરણમાં અત્યંત લાભરૂપ થયા છે જેના કારણે તેઓ પોતાનો જીવનનો નિર્વાહ સ્વતંત્ર રીતે કરવા અને સમાજમાં સન્માનપૂર્વક રહી શકવા માટે સક્ષમ થયા છે. સાયલા આશ્રમના પટાંગણમાં જ આ કેમ્પનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું જેમાં ટ્રાયસિકલ, વ્હીલચેર, મગજના લકવાથી ગ્રસ્ત એવા દર્દીઓને ખાસ પ્રકારની ખુરશીઓ, કેલીપર્સ, કુત્રિમ અંગો, ઘોડી, ફોલ્ડીંગ વૉકર્સ, શ્રવણ સહાય (hearing aids), નેત્રહીન લોકો માટે ખાસ પ્રકારની લાકડીઓ વિગેરે લાભાર્થીઓને વહેંચવામાં આવ્યા હતા. શિક્ષણપ્રાપ્તિમાં મુશ્કેલી અનુભવતા બાળકોને ખાસ પ્રકારની કેળવણી કીટ્સ, નેત્રહીન લોકોને બ્રેઈલ કીટ્સ અને ક્ષતિયુક્ત દ્રષ્ટિવાળાને લો વિઝન કીટ્સ (low vision kits) પણ આપવામાં આવી. રોજગાર કીટ્સ જેવી કે બ્યુટી સલૂન કીટ્સ, સિવણ યંત્રો અને ખેત ઓજારોનું પણ દાન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું.  

નયતિકા શાહ (દાતા પરિવાર) જણાવે છે: “આવા ઉમદા અને નિ:સ્વાર્થ કાર્યમાં જોડાવા માટે અમને દરેક જણને ભાગ્યશાળી અને ધન્ય હોવાનો અનુભવ થાય છે. અમારામાંના ઘણાએ, ખાસ કરીને આજની યુવા પેઢીએ, આવા મુશ્કેલ સંજોગોનો ક્યારેય અનુભવ નથી કર્યો. ઘણા દાતાઓની આંખમાંથી અશ્રુ વહી ગયા હતાં. સાધનોની વહેંચણી દરમ્યાન અમોને કેટલાક લાભાર્થીઓ જોડે વાત કરવાની તક મળી. આથી તેમના જીવનમાં પડેલી મુશ્કેલીઓમાંથી તેઓ કેવી રીતે પસાર થયા તેના વિષે જાણકારી મળી. તેઓ આ સાધનો પ્રાપ્ત થવાથી ધન્યતાનો અનુભવ કરી રહ્યા હતા અને તેઓએ જણાવ્યું કે આ સાધનો મળવાથી તેમના જીવનમાં હવે મોટું પરિવર્તન આવશે. બાળકોને જોવાનો એક અનેરો આનંદ હતો. તેઓને કીટ્સ પ્રાપ્ત થવાથી તેમના ચહેરા પર આવેલી ચમક તે એક ખરેખર જોવાલાયક દ્રશ્ય હતું. વિકલાંગોને આટલી વિષમતાઓની વચ્ચે હાસ્ય સહિત જોતા અમો હાજર રહેલા સૌ ગદગદ્ થઈ ઉઠ્યા.”

બીજા એક દાતા જણાવે છે કે, “સાયલાના વિકલાંગો માટેના આશીર્વાદ ટ્રસ્ટ દ્વારા કરવામાં આવેલા બાહ્યપ્રસારના આ કાર્યથી અમો આશ્ચર્યચકિત્ થયા છીએ. તેઓના સમર્પણ અને નિષ્ઠાનું સ્તર ખરેખર અચરજ-પ્રેરક છે. આખા કેમ્પની વ્યવસ્થા અત્યંત સુચારુ અને આયોજનબદ્ધ હતી અને વિકલાંગોને આપવામાં આવેલ વિવિધ સહાયો તેમજ કિટ્સની પાછળ મૂકવામાં આવેલા સુવિચારો નોંધપાત્ર હતા. આપણે આ કેમ્પની અસર સાયલાના અને તેની આસપાસના સમુદાય પર જોઈ શકીએ છીએ. તાજેતરમાં અમો જ્યારે અન્ન વિતરણનું કાર્ય કરી રહ્યા હતાં, ત્યારે અમો એક એવી વ્યક્તિને મળ્યા જેને આવા એક કેમ્પમાંથી હેન્ડ-સાયકલ પ્રાપ્ત થયેલી હતી. તે સાયકલને કારણે સ્વનિર્ભર થવાની વાત અમોને જણાવતા તે ગર્વ અનુભવતો હતો અને તેણે જણાવ્યું કે તે સાયકલનો ઉપયોગ તે અનાજ ભેગું કરવા માટે કરે છે. આશ્રમ અને સ્થાનિક સમુદાય વચ્ચેનો આ અદભૂત નાતો છે અને આગળ ઉપર પણ આ સંબંધ વધુ પાંગરે તેવી આપણે આશા રાખીએ. ”    

આ કેમ્પ દ્રષ્ટિહીન લોકોને દ્રષ્ટિની, વાચાહીન લોકોને વાચાની, પગ વગરના લોકોને ઊભા રહેવાની અને બધિર લોકોને અવાજનું શ્રવણ કરી શકવાની આશા આપે છે અને ઘણું કરીને તો જેઓએ બધી જ આશા ગૂમાવી દીધી છે તેવા લોકોના જીવનમાં પણ આશાનું કિરણ ઉગાડે છે.

આશ્રમ બે દાતા પરિવારોની ઉદારતાની કદર કરે છે:

1) કેનેડાવાસી શ્રી મનિષકુમાર શાહ (બ્ર.નિ. શ્રી રસિકભાઈના સુપુત્ર), શ્રીમતિ દિપ્તીબેન શાહ તેમજ શ્રી હર્ષ એમ. શાહ.

2) સ્વ. શ્રીમતિ શાંતાબેન છગનલાલ પૂંજા દોઢીઆની સ્મૃતિમાં તેમના પુત્રો, પૌત્રો અને પ્રપૌત્રો શ્રી મનસુખલાલ અને ઇન્દુમતિબેન શાહ, શ્રીમતિ મંજૂલાબેન અને શ્રી જયંતીભાઈ હરિઆ, શ્રીમતિ પ્રભાવતિબેન નેમચંદભાઈ શાહ, શ્રીમતિ ભારતીબેન સુરેશભાઈ શાહ, શ્રી નિલેશભાઈ અને વર્ષાબેન દોઢીઆ અને શ્રીમતિ રીટાબેન સંજયભાઈ શાહ કેન્યા અને યુકે થી. 

Women's empowerment - Ashirvad Centre

Another social activity undertaken by all the centres is to empower women with skills to enable them to becoming earring members of society. Beauticians and sewing courses are conducted on a regular basis and graduating batches are gifted with equipment to help them become self-employed. 15 women were given hair cutting equipment, all necessary materials to do facials, waxing, beauty treatments etc., and 13 women were gifted with sewing machines.

Charity Run for Unity - Ashirvad Centre

Ahmedabad Defenders, Special Olympics Gujarat Charitable Trust and Ashirvad Centre for the Disabled organised a Charity Run for Unity in the presence of senior officials from the social organisations. From the 60 participants (all challenged with mental health problems), winners were given cash prizes.

Ashirvad - Helping the less fortunate stand on their feet

Assistance to Disabled Persons

On 21st January, 2019, Raj Saubhag Ashram’s Ashirwad Center for the Disabled organized a ceremony to distribute self-employment tools and appliances to people with disabilities. This activity was supported by Wagh Bakri Tea Group as part of their CSR activity.  A total of 102 people challenged with various disabilities were provided with self-employment tool-kits like auto parts toolkit, carpentry, cobbler and computer repairing kit, toolkits for women to run beauty parlours and hair saloons; or earn money providing sewing services.  Disabled men were provided with cycle repairing kit, masonry kit, hand carts to gain employment as vegetable vendors or start tea stalls.  This assistance goes a long way in making them self-sufficient, earn a living and support themselves.  Such voluntary contributions enhance social justice and go a long way in restoring self-worth of the unfortunate souls weighed down by twin ordeals – disability and poverty.

Pujya Bhaishree gave away the self-employment tools, while kindly and graciously encouraging every soul, warming their hearts with his empathy. Present at the occasion were executive director Shri Paragbhai Desai, CEO Shri Saurabhbhai Solanki, company secretary Shri Dineshbhai Patel, chief secretary of Blind people’s association Dr. Punani, executive director Smt. Nandiniben Rawal, Vimalben, director of Sense International-India Shri Akhil Paul and mumukshus of Raj Saubhag Ashram.

Ashirvad Aids and Appliances Support Camp - Botad

On a beautiful morning of 23rd December, thanks to the support from Pallaviben and Parushbhai Shah (UK-based mumukshus), an aids and appliances support camp was organized by Raj Saubhag Ashram in Botad.  On the grounds of Mansi Farm House, 511 people were gifted wheel chairs, artificial limbs, crutches, C.P chair, tricycles, hearing aids etc according to their disability and requirements.

Pujya Bhaishree, Shri Atmanandji Swami (Bhajanand Ashram, Botad), donors Parushbhai and Pallaviben, Sarojben, Prafulbhai, Sheyera, Lara and mumukshus of Raj Saubhag Ashram graced the occasion.

Prior to the support camp, a tremendous amount of work has already been carried out in the form of identifying the target areas (which is often close to 100 villages) where the underprivileged are in need of support equipment, organizing diagnostic camps with in-house doctors to identify the disability and requirements, meticulously documenting the medical conditions and then finally distributing the equipment and training the recipients about how to use these support aids.  The mumukshus applaud and are indebted to the selfless service provided by the healthcare workers.

Three aid and equipment Support Camps for the disabled in Verawal, Thara and Dhanera

Support Camp 1

Location: Veraval

On 23rd of December 2017, Mumbai-based donors Varjivandas Shah family and Raj Saubhag Ashram organized an aid and equipment support camp for the disabled in Verawal.

A total of 405, disabled people were provided wheelchairs, tricycles, artificial limbs, hearing aids, calipers and educational kit for the mentally challenged pupils, and other equipment to help them cope with on-going or recurring physical disabilities.  All equipment was given free of cost.

In the first week of November 2017, 9 volunteers from Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled, Sayla surveyed 40 villages, distributed pamphlets, encouraged people to have their disabilities assessed during two diagnostic camp held in Shri Shantinath Jain Derasar on the 16th-17th of November and Navdurga Mataji Mandir in the last week of November.  The volunteers required 9 days to reach most of the families in these 40 villages.

Doctors then arrived a fortnight after the survey team finished the initial task.  During the diagnostic camp, the patients were assessed and their requirements noted.

On the 23rd of December, the entire support staff, doctors, volunteers and donors arrived to ensure that the equipment was handed over to the patient and he/she was advised about usage of the equipment.  Among the equipment distributed were tricycles, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, crutches, C P walkers, hearing aids, surgical shoes and educational kits.

Support camps for the disabled have been known to provide immense relief to patients twice-cursed – by disease and by poverty.

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Support Camp 2

Location: Thara 

A total of 127 villages like Kankarej, Radhanpur, Harij, and Disa from Patan Zilla were surveyed and 400 people were shortlisted at the diagnostic camp and 322 disabled poor people were given aids and appliances according to their needs.

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Support Camp 3

Location – Dhanera, Banakantha, Palanpur

Several Indian families living in the UK chose to sponsor a support camp for the disabled in Banakantha. Heavy floods, where 10-feet deep water collected in residential areas, causing heavy monetary loss and damage to property and equipment, had struck this region earlier.

Volunteers from Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled, Sayla surveyed Disa, Dantiwada, Lakhani and Tharad talukas.  Diagnostic camps were held in Shri Ramchandra Savrajbhai Shah Hospital

Over 404 disabled people were provided wheelchairs, tricycles, artificial limbs, hearing aids among others.  A month before the actual camp was to be held; about 55-60 villages were surveyed by 7 volunteers, who camped in the region for a week. Following a standard operating procedure, the diagnostic camp was held about a fortnight after the survey team completed their assignment.  The doctors shortlisted the patients and their requirements, and the final support camp is organized in the presence of donors.

Raj Saubhag Ashram thanks donors – Dr. Bhupenbhai and Neetaben Mehta, Nanalal Katariya, Kantaben Katariya, Bhanumati Kataria, Satishbhai Katariya, and Laxmiben and Manjuben Popat family for supporting such a noble cause.