Servants of the People Society, Bhavnagar
Balwant Bhawan, Plot No. 1496-A
Bhavnagar-364001
Ph. 0278-2432304/2427038
Lok Sevak Mandai, Bhavnagar (Gujarat) was established in 1968 by late Shri Jadavbhai Modi, who was Life Member of the Society. After his retirement in 1984, Shri Prasannvadan Mehta has been the Chairman and Incharge of the Centre.
The Local Advisory Committee of the Centre comprising important persons of the area meet once in two months and decide about the future plans to be undertaken for the development of the Centre. The activities of the Centre are as under:
1. Allotment of Houses:
For providing minimum possible residential accommodation to the Jhugi Jhaumpari dwellers of Jawahar Maidan, whose Jhuggies were demolished by the State Government, Shri Kirtibhai Pandya alongwith other social activists approached the Department of Social Welfare, Housing Board and persuaded them to allot houses to the Jhugi-Jhaumpari dwellers. On constant persuasion, the concerned Department allotted accommodation to the 400 families costing RS.34,000/- each house. In addition to the allotment of the houses, a sum of RS.15,000/- was given to each family for carrying out repairs. The remaining (524-400) 124 families were not allotted any accommodation. For these 124 families the Society took up vigorously with the concerned authorities and ultimately persuaded them to allot houses to these 124 families. The Department of Social Welfare agreed to the request and allotted houses to them. Thus all the 524 dwellers of Jhugi-Jhaumpari were allotted residential houses. On 24.4.2009 keys of these houses were handed over to the 524 families in the presence of Shri P.M. Mehta and officials of the Housing Board, Gujarat. In addition to the allotment of houses, help to the tune of RS.2.52 crore was also given them.
2. Adult Education:
To provide minimum possible education to the adults, living in the slum area, the Bhavnagar Centre decided to start educational facilities in the nearby areas. Accodingly two adult education centres were started at Mahavir Nagar and Shivsar with 25 and 35 students respectively. The adult education programme is quite popular in the area and is functioning satisfactorily.
3. Felicitation function:
Gujarat Vidyapeeth and SOPS jointly organized the felicitation function and gave away RS.1 001- plus a blanket to ten lady workers in recognition of the services rendered by them for the development ofthe Centre.
4. Kathak Nritya Group:
Kathak Dance group is being run by Mrs. Kajal Mulle, an exponent of classical danceThe Group is recognized by Gandharv Mahavidyalaya. In addition dance students from outside also appeared in the examination conducted by Gandharv Vidyalaya.
5. Tabla Harmonium classes:
The classical instruments, like Tabla, Harmoniam classes are held on the Ground Floor of Balvant Bhawan. The training in the instrumental music is given from primary to higher level.
6. Training and painting competitions:
Training in painting/art classes are also held in the Balvant Bhawan run by Shri Bharatbhai, an eminent artist. There are about twenty students who are getting training under this programme and three students were awarded Gold Medal for their excellent performances.
12. Shri Balvantrai Mehta MahavirnagarTrust:
To eliminate consumption of drugs and liquor by men and women, the Trust has provided necessary infrastructure and facilities to the poor sisters (ladies) to learn stitching of bags, uniforms, embroidery etc. so that they could earn their livelihood. They are also provided with small interest free loans for starting their business.
13. L. Kamlaben Harilal Suryabhai Gandhi Memorial Trust:
This new Trust was established by Shri Kirtibhai Pandya with the help of Shri Harshadbhai Gandhi an NRI and got it registered. A new building was constructed on the premises which was named as ‘Mangal Vihar’ Society. Shri P.M. Mehta was appointed as its Chairman and Shri Kirtibhai Pandya as Treasurer. Its open ground has been converted into a playground for the children where necessary play items such as jhulas, slides and merri-go-round etc. have been installed.
Servants of the People Society, Vadodara
Lajpat Bhawan, Harni Road, Vadodra-310006
Ph. 0265-2481623
Shri Balvantray Mehta, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, was President of the Servants of the People Society from 11.8.1962 to 6.11.1963. During his tenure as President of the Society he had an idea that one of the Centres of the Society should also be started at Vadodra a large princely city in Gujarat with a potential for the activities being carried out by the Society. On the advice of Shri Balvantray Mehta, the matter was discussed in detail and decided to start a Branch of the society atVadodra, then known as ‘Baroda’.
A plot of ten acres of land was allotted by the Government of Gujarat in 1965 for this purpose. Today, the total area of the Branch is 27 acres. Shri Manubhai Patel, then a Senior Life Member’s of the Society from Vadodra was requested to take charge of its development. He constructed a Life Members’ cottage in the plot and shifted his family there in 1968 with a view to personally supervise the development of the Centre. The Centre grew steadily under his dynamic leadership and today we are proud to say that it is the biggest and most prosperous Centre of the Society with the following activities:
1. Educational
2. Health
3. Social Work
The Branch runs under mentioned educational institutions:
1. Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya Secondary and Higher Secondary School.
2. Lala Lajpat Rai Central School.
3. Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya Primary Section
4. Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya Balwadi Section
5. Morarji Desai Primary Section
6. Gijubhai Badeka Balwadi Section
7. Morarji Desai College
8. Lal Bahadur Shastri Sarvajanik Pustakalaya
The present strength of the above mentioned first three schools is over three thousand. For higher classes there are separate well known laboratories for Biology, Physics and Chemistry. The Senior Secondary School has a well established and well known Library with more than ten thousand books on different subjects, encyclopedia and copies of all the Vedas. All the students wear khadiuniform.
Lal Bahadur Shastri School is established on five acres of land with K.G., Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary sections with 2000 children. The Primary Section was inaugurated by late Shri Hitendra Desai ex. Chief Minister, Gujarat. The Secondary Section was inaugurated by late Shri Sadiq Ali, Governor of Maharashtra. Late Smt. Lalita Shastri donated the bust of Lal Bahadur Shastri which was inaugurated by late Shri B.N. Pandey, ex-Governor, Madhya Pradesh on the main road crossing, named as Shastri circle. Shri Morarji Desai, Smt. Sharda Mukherji, Governor of Gujarat, Shri Prabodas Patvari, Governor of Tamilnadu, Justice Rajender Sachar have visited the site. The school has 5000 children and a teaching staff of 85.
Central school at Baroda was established as a part of Lalaji’s centenary celebrations in 1968 and was inaugurated by late Sri Biswanath Das, President SOPS, Shri Manubhai Patel was the Chairman till the school was coverted under the control of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan with 1700 children.
SARDAR PATEL VIDYARTHI SABHA GRUHA :
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The Sardar Patel Sabha Gruha was inaugurated by late Shri Krishan Kant, President ofthe Society and presided over by hon’ble Sunder Lal Bhandari, the Governor of Gujarat. This unit was started in 1969. The Centre has recently built an auditorium with a sitting capacity of two thousand. The auditorium is used by students of all the classes for their daily prayers and other stage shows/activities and indoor sports. |
BALVANTRAY MEHTA AROGYA BHAWAN :
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The Arogya Bhawan is a well known Naturopathy Hospital in the entire West Gujarat and is spread over eight acres of land with one hundred beds out of which ten are AC cottages. Those who are not cured or satisfied with other systems of treatement like alopathy, ayurvedic, homeopathy, unani etc. come to the Arogya Bhawan for their treatment. It provides all necessary facilities such as well qualified Doctors, paramedical staff, medicines and very light vegetarian diet.
For the indoor patients, various activities such as Yoga, Gym, and indoor games have been provided in the four huge halls built in the Centre. Because of natural environment equipped with solar garden lights, the Bhawan has become very popular not only among the patients but for others also. Patients from America, U.K. and African countries have taken treatment from Arogya Bhawan. During the year 2008, there were thirty five indoor patients in addition to a large number of outdoor patients. Arogya Bhawan also supports the degree college students for practical training.
MORARJI DESAI INSTITUTE OF NATUROPATHY AND YOGIC SCIENCES:
Naturopathy and Yoga are part of India’s unique and priceless heritage, which both as a science of life and an art of living have received world-wide acclaim. Being inexpensive and free from negative effects, naturopathy and yoga not only promise to help achieve a healthier and happier human society, but also can solve the problem of affordable health care for the millions of world’s poor.
The necessity of starting naturopathy degree college was felt all the more necessary because there are 50 to 20 nature cure hospitals in Gujarat whereas there was no provision of any qualified naturopathy doctors.
Keeping this objective in view, the Executive Council of the Society met a number of times and decided to establish an institute of naturopathy and yogic science at Vadodra, later named as ‘Morarji Desai Institute of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences’ Its foundation was laid on 30th May 2002. As a degree college of naturopathy which was subsequently affiliated to Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, to conduct the courses of Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (B.N.Y.S.) (Graduate Courses) from the academic year 2005-6.
The establishment of this institute in the Vadodra Branch is a lifetime, landmark achievement and the entire credit goes to Shri Manubhai Patel, Life Member-Incharge of Vadodra Branch and the President of the Society. The institute was inaugurated by Shri I.K. Gujaral, Trustee, SOPS, and former Prime Minister of India on 27.6.2004.
SENIOR CITIZEN FEDERATION:
Vadodra Branch started Senior Citizens Federation in 1997. Today it has become very popular in Vadodra with the strength of 10,000 members in its 16 branches. The Centre has constructed a separate building for Senior Citizens’ activities. A free Homeopathy Centre, Yoga Classes and Meditation Centre, Reading Room and Library form part of the Centre.
About 300 persons, both men and women participate daily in the morning and evening exercises and yoga classes. Every week a Satsang is held where a large number of senior citizens participate. It has been a very successful religious venture.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES:
a) Hostel: The Society has constructed a double storey hostel in the name of Smt. Pramodaben Patel wlo Shri Manubhai Patel with thirty rooms for providing accommodation to the students of Morarji Desai Institute of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences.
b) Tailoring Centre: A Contractor has been engaged for stitching and tailoring of clothes for the patients.
d) Shopping Complex: The Centre has constructed seventy shops around the Lajpat Bhawan Complex. Since the shops are located on the main road, there is usually a great rush of the customers. The market has become very popular in the area and the shops have been rented out at a reasonable rent. This is a major source of earning and useful to run the activities of the Society especially for the welfare of the poor.
e) Farm House: Within the Naturopathy Institute, a small agricultural farm has been developed where paddy, wheat and green fodder etc. is produced. The paddy and wheat is used in the Arogya Hospital for the patients and the green fodder for cattle.
f) Cattle Farm : A small cattle farm with 20-25 good breed cows such as Gir, Red Sindi, Haryana has been developed in the campus. For preservation of milk a small Dairy Farm has been developed and the milk produced daily is used in the Arogya Hospital for the patients.
g) Kitchen Garden: In the vacant land a small kitchen garden has also been developed for producing vegetables for use in the Hospital for the patients.
