Welfare Activities

Relief Work

In the recent past (October – December 2009) Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore and ourselves jointly coordinated to undertake flood relief work in the badly rain affected areas of Bellary, Raichur, Bagalkot, Belgaum & Koppal districts.

We endeavoured to provide whatever was the immediate need of the people affected. Relief materials worth more than Rs.20 lakhs in the form of providing cooked food, clothing, blankets, utensils, food materials, plastic tarpaulins, etc were provided to more than 3600 families. Rehabilitation work and construction of more than 200 houses was also undertaken.

Eye Camps : Sri Sharada Netralaya – charitable eye clinic

As a part of its social service activities aimed at serving the underprivileged, we conduct monthly eye camps. These camps are aimed at preventing avoidable blindness caused due to cataract. Cataract, affecting the vision of the aged, makes them dependent. A simple operation, giving them back their vision also restores to them their independence and dignity.

These camps called ‘Free Cataract screening and Eye Operation Camps’ are conducted weekly at the Mission premises. Surgeons and paramedics screen the patients and identify those needing cataract surgeries. Patients are discharged a day after surgery after necessary post-operative treatment. Patients are again rendered post-operative treatment as and when necessary.

To render this service more effectively and reach a wider population, the Mission has built an Eye Clinic of its own – Sri Sharada Netralaya. The clinic has facilities to conduct screening camps as also perform surgeries. Surgeries are designed to be suture-less with IOL implants and the patients are discharged on the same day of surgery. These surgeries are performed free of cost. Eminent ophthalmologists of Belgaum and nearby districts are offering their services to this noble cause.

Sri Sharada Netralaya was started in 2008 in an independent single-storeyed  building.  The  building was  repurposed to include a Doctor’s consultation / screening room, Refraction screening, minor OT (for cataract surgery), store, etc. In its more than 16 years of  existence, the  Netralaya has screened 23000+ patients and performed more than 7000 cataract surgeries free of cost (until end of 2023).

Screening camps are now held twice a week. Two sheds – metal sheet covered roof with open sides – within the same compound served as waiting areas for patients and their attenders. Due to an increasing  number of patients, the existing sheds were found inadequate. A Waiting room-cum-Post-operative rest room for patients was constructed in 2024 with the help of donations from the public.

We are also grateful to IDBI Bank Ltd., Mumbai, who have provided financial help of nearly Rs.9.4 lakhs as part of their CSR Initiative in 2023-24. These funds were used

i) to repair and repurpose an existing two-storeyed structure adjacent to the main building to serve as the Doctor Consultation-cum-Screening room on the ground floor.

ii) to provide metal sheet roofing for the long corridor between the Netralaya main building and the

newly built Waiting room-cum-Post-Operative rest room (fabricated structure and metal sheets) for use during all weather conditions.

iii) to erect an outdoor metal shed for washing and drying OT linen (surgeon and patients gowns, bedsheets, towels, etc.)

iv) to purchase a 20kVA Diesel Generator for the Netralaya

GADADHAR ABHYUDAYA PRAKALPA

(Integrated Children’s Welfare Project)

The aim of this project is the physical, mental and intellectual development of children. Children are daily given milk, nutrient supplements (like purak-ahar made of soya bean, groundnut, oil, bajra, besan, and molasses) and vitamin tablets. School uniforms, notebooks, text books and other stationery items are also provided. The students are trained in matters on health and hygiene. They are also urged to do regular exercise like Yogasanas and play games. A routine health checkup is also performed.

Their aesthetic sense is nurtured by providing the children training on music, drama, Vedic and Gita chanting, etc. Discussing the lives of great men and women, national heroes, and displaying the Ramayana, Mahabharata and other inspirational movies nourishes their value and moral sense. The children are encouraged to participate in campus cleaning, classroom cleaning, watering plants, community services, etc.

Miscellany : Distribution to the Needy

Distribution of clothes (Blankets, sarees, dhotis, etc) :
Since the beginning of the Ashrama, distribution of woolen blankets, bedsheets, towels, sarees, dhotis are being distributed amongst the students and the poor and needy people every year.

Distribution of physical aids :
Around 50 tricycles, 100 wheel chairs at an estimated expenditure of Rs.5 lakhs were distributed to physically challed persons below poverty line in the district of Belgaum

Feeding of around 60 poor school going children daily :
These poor children go to the local government schools. We arrange to feed them with milk and snacks once a day. When they come to eat, they are taught simple disciplines like cleanliness, orderliness along with some simple prayers and vedic chanting.

Swami Vivekananda Health Care Project :
We have initiated a periodical health checkup camp for poor people in a nearby village. The medicines are administered free of charge. The people are educated on topics such as personal hygiene, sanitation and the need for drinking pure drinking water. We also maintain data and visual logs as part of periodic surveys.