CHICAGO: “Sahiyaru Abhiyan”, a social and humanitarian organization established about three years ago in Ahmedabad, India to provide food, educational assistance, medical help and any required necessities of life to the very poor, handicapped, widows and mentally retarded individuals and their families, is now set for expanding its activities with other like minded organizations and support from Indian Diaspora across the world.
One of the biggest motivating factors behind Sahiyaru Abhiyan was a stark contrast in the help being given to the poor in India and in USA. In US, the poor people get food stamps, welfare, housing, Medicaid and other facilities so that everybody hopes to live a relative easy life. Back home in India nothing of this sort is available. It is therefore considered important that volunteered efforts such as “Manav Sadhna”, “Ekal Vidyalay” and many others should help the Indian needy people with the resources generated in and outside India.
Sahiyaru Abhiyan started with providing one month’s ration to about 30 needy families in February of 2010. After three years of existence, the number of families getting monthly food supply has grown to 80 families. The organization also provides scholarships to needy students by paying their fees directly to the schools. The number of students getting such help has grown from 15 to about 70.
The Abhiyan also provides exercise books to school children at much discounted rates. The number of discounted exercise books provided has grown to tens of thousands. Yearly health fair is arranged to provide free medical check up. Volunteer doctors and health care professionals provide their services with great devotion.
The organization is managed by a group of seven volunteers in India with support from volunteers in USA. There are no office bearers and no administrative expense is incurred. Abhiyan is registered as a Not for Profit organization both in India and in the State of Illinois. Donations in India are tax free and the volunteers are working on obtaining a tax exempt status from IRS in the US.
A donors’ appreciation day was celebrated in the Brahma Premanand Ashram in Hoffman Estates in August 2012. All the donors were invited and were acquainted with the activities and working of the Abhiyan. Donors made some important suggestions such as providing work to the needy to make them self sufficient, start some kitchen activities for creating employment and may be making some profit, collecting, transporting used clothing from here to India.
With these suggestions in mind, a similar donors’ appreciation program was arranged in Ahmedabad on February 10, 2013. More than 250 donors, well wishers and donation recipients attended the program. The trustees outlined steps for employment thru providing sewing machines, starting home udyog and expanding the scholarships and medical services programs. The activities of the organization were well received and a lot of encouragement was given to the trustees.
Suresh Shah
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