Jain Digest 2004 01 Vol 23 No 1

SR No.: 527091
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 48
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 9 MB

Page 13

Herculean Task on Humannitarian Front
Shree Bidada Sarvoday Trust follows Mother Teresa's footsteps in remote areas of Kutch
By Sharda Tarasaria
C
Bidada, Kutch:- A humongous annual medical camp Prafulla Shah of LA in memory of their sister in law. organized by Shree Bidada Sarvodaya trust(SBST), an NGO, The feeling of hundreds of people suffering from various at Bidada, to help poor and needy in remote areas of Kutch. The diseases in remote rural areas of Kutch in Western India is difficult annual camp is organized every year for twenty days where
to express. The men and women volunteers, high ranking medicos thousands of patients take advantage of the facility and expertise
and supporters of the SBST have changed the lives of thousands of the doctors from USA, Canada, UK and big cities of India.
and generated hope for those who are alive but live life as dead. "A strong mind always hopes, and has always a cause to A land of extremities and hardship, the region has given birth to hope. SBST has proved to be an oasis in the desert of Kutch many generous and adventurous people in Kutch, who have when it started its 30th Annual Medical camp on January 1 scattered all around the globe but still have strong ties with the ushering in a new ray of hope to the people having health problems. birthplace. They donate and help open heartedly to the poor and
Anop Vora needy in their motherland. inaugurated the event on Bidada is a small town in Mandvi taluka about 45 kms away January 14, 2004 in from Bhuj in Kutch district. As its logo says-"Compassion in presence of many Action"- a small non-profit charitable organization, SBST dignitaries including arranged its first “Eye and Dental camp' in a Panjrapol (Animal Acharya Chandanaji, Dr. Shelter) in 1974 in the remote area where no medical help was Dhiraj Shah, Vijay
available at that time. Chheda, Bachubhai
In 30 years, with Rambhia, Inder Bindra,
dedication and and Peter Bhedda of
devotion, the Trust has Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation. He was moved by the
expanded its services dedication and hard work of hundreds of volunteers who came
and has become a from far away places to serve the poor and sick of people of rural
household name in the India where scarcities are plenty. He was able to relate the pain
area. It has a 50-bed of the rural folks because he himself has come from a small village
hospital and arranges Pachhegam near Vallabhipur in Gujarat.
many medical camps JAINA got involved with Bidada Sarvodaya Trust in 1992
during the year. The and Dr.Dhiraj Shah, Chairman of World Community Service, a Annual
Annual Medical camps draw many patients from not only Kutch service arm of JAINA took the responsibility of providing doctors. but also from far away Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. volunteers and all the expenses of 1992-93 medical camp. He Chairman of the Trust Bachubhai Rambhia informed, "If the with the help of Dr, Manibhai Mehta of LA brought 40 doctors, treatment is not available in SBST, we send patients to Mumbai 40 volunteers and $130,000 to start this long lasting partnership for further treatment or major operations and patients do not have between these two organizations. JAINA was honored by 49 to pay anything." different organizations from all over INDIA including the Dr Dhirai Shoh of Buffalo Ny thanked the val,
Dr Dhiraj Shah of Buffalo, NY thanked the volunteers and parliament of India represented by speaker Shivraj Patil and donors for their time, talent and treasure and to build a bridge Health minister Mafatlal Fotedar. Since then this partenership
mis partenersmp between Land of Deeds ( karmabhumi) and Land of Birth. Anop
between I has progressed and more and more doctors, volunteers and vora said. "I am honored to be a part of this noble work to help financial help is being provided by JAINA and Jain center of
our community" S.California. This year's camp was sponsored by Ramesh and
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