Organization

Seva Bharati, Ichalkaranji

Seva Bharati, Ichalkaranji, is one of the unique organizations in the era of project based Non Government Organisations (NGO). In the year 1989, the birth centenary year of late Hon’ble Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),the idea transpired that some work, related to the service of the under privileged people should be initiated in Ichalkaranji city in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. With this inspiration, Seva Bharati, Ichalkaranji was established in 1990 and is working in the field of health, education and related dimensions for the last 20years.

A sizable team of dedicated voluntary workers (karyakartas), about 3000 strong year-round contributors on “ a rupee, a day ” basis, occasional generous donors and well-wishers are the strengths of Seva Bharati.

Seva Bharati’s appeal to the well-to -do section of the society to contribute intellectually, materially and financially for the upliftment of “ less fortunate section” to establish a firm bond of social cohesion has been of unique in nature.

Today Seva Bharati has been able to spread its SEVA initiatives (service) in Ichalkaranji city itself and surrounding 12 villages, two of which are from Karnataka state.

This spread of Seva work has come up with the strong conviction that “"service to mankind is service to god” (नरसेवा नारायण सेवा) and on sheer will power & ethics of the volunteers of Seva Bharati, in spite of any institutional funding.

Vision:

Conscious efforts towards building sound and healthy society along with value based education system.

Mission:

Providing selfless services of health and education for needy class of society especially underprivileged.

Sources of inspiration:

Main source of inspiration for establishment of Seva Bharati was the dedicated life of late Hon’ble Dr. Hedgewar – founder of RSS.

Background:

In the year 1989, the birth centenary year of late Hon’ble Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, (founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh -RSS), the idea transpired that some work, related to the service of the underprivileged people should be initiated in Ichalkaranji city in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.

With this inspiration, Seva Bharati, Ichalkaranji was established in 1990 and is working in the field of health, education and related dimensions for the last 20 years.

Ichalkaranji, also known as Manchester of Maharashtra, is a textile town. Handlooms in earlier days are replaced by power-looms & auto-looms in due course. Workers of this loom industry use to come from nearby villages. Labor class of the city consists of both agricultural & loom workers. Health facilities, though available in the town, were not affordable for this working labor class. Limited financial stature of this class supported by negligence towards health related issues results in worsening of general health status of the villages. With this background volunteers of Seva Bharati decided to work over this issue with a planned way. Initial survey helped in selection of villages for health services. An OPD initiated in the beginning eventually turned up into a mobile clinical service after availability of a suitable vehicle. Volunteers visiting the villages with mobile clinic noticed that children of these labor families spend time in roaming around. This led to initiation of balwadi – kinder garden class. Seva initiatives today of Seva Bharati thus have come out of the need of local community, reaffirming its conviction “service to mankind is service to god.”

 

Organisations we work with:

  • Rotary club on pulse polio immunisation,

  • Indian Medical Association on disaster management ,

  • Lions Club for Blood donation camps ,

  • National Association for Blinds (NAB), Miraj

  • Shri Sai Swadhyay Mandal

Felicitations:

Seva Bharati has been acknowledged by the felicitations conferred upon us by Janata Sahakari Bank, Pune and FIE Foundation, Ichalkaranji.

Infosys Foundation, Bajaj Foundation, Goenka Foundation, Sai Swadhyay Mandal,etc have also offered their contributions towards this noble cause underlining the trustworthiness of Seva Bharati.