Jain Digest 1995 04

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 17

Press Release About Paryushan and Daslaxana Parva
A letter about Paryshan and Daslaxana Parva was sent out to major newspapers in twenty-two cities. Thus far the letter has been published in Dallas, TX and Edmonton, AL - Canada.
World Community Service
Dhiraj Shah - Chair
A Jain Doctor Dedicates Her Life To serve Poor
Dr. Daxa Patel, born and raised in Bombay and educated in West, returned to India in 1982 to serve the poorest of the poor. Dr. Patel and her husband Dr. Anil Patel have settled in the tribal area of Mangrol, Gujarat (near the borders of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, on the banks of the river Narmada). In 1982, they founded an institution called ARCH - Action Research in Community Health and Development - to serve the poorest people of India. They took upon themselves an immense challenge to solve the massive health problems in the rural community of Mangrol. Daxaben's service have been recognized by the Young Men's Gandhian Association and she was awarded their highest honor Ashok Gondhia Award in 1993.
They started the Mangrol Dispensary which treats about 12,500 patients from the surrounding 200 villages. An additional 10,000 patients are treated in their villages by voluntary health workers. The Tuberculosis Control Program is treating 225 patients each year. The Women's Health Care Program handles more than 250 pregnant women each year. This service include pre and post-natal care, dai (traditional birth attendant) training program, birth control, family planning and health education for women. The Child Health Care Program provides immunizations and provides nutritional and health education for children. The Health Educational Program prepares materials for health care workers and the general population in collaboration with other non-government organization.
Dhiraj Shah visited Mangrol Dispensary in December, 1993 and was very impressed by the work of this dedicated couple.
ARCH has embarked on a major expansion program. This program includes building a TB Center, Women Center, Inpatient Facilities and a Documentation Center. Daxaben met with JAINA's Executive Committee and the World Community Services Committee members at Siddhachalam in October, 1994 and requested support for this project. JAINA's Executive Committee and World Community Services Committee decided to sponsor the Women Center in cooperation with Jain Center of America, New York, NY. JAINA is requesting that the Jain Community join hands with these dedicated doctors and generously contribute to their cause.
Please send your tax-deductible contributions, payable to JAINA, in the USA to: Dhiraj Shah, 135 Morningside Drive, Grand Island, NY 14072 or in Canada to: Shri S. S. Jain Foundation, 276 Carlow Avenue, Unit 200, Toronto, Ont. M4M 3L1. For more information, please contact Dhiraj Shah at 716/7731314.
March 1995
Support for the Orphans of the Earthquake in Maharastra
JAINA helps support the orphans of the Maharashtra Earthquake. In his recent visit to the area, Dhiraj Shah saw the reconstructed site, devastated by this earthquake and was impressed by the construction of 55 houses in Jain Nagar, which is located in village Kawatha, 45 miles south of Latur. The construction of these houses was possible through the generous donations of the Jain Community in North America. It is heartening to witness the joy on the faces of the victims who now have new homes to live in.
$30,000 of the Maharashtra Earthquake Relief Fund has been donated to the Bhartiya Jain Sanghatana of Pune which has adopted more than 1,000 children who became orphans by this devestating earthquake. Bhartiya Jain Sanghatana provides lodging and boarding for these children, ranging from ages 5 and 17.
At the same time, with the assistance of Maharashtra government, a school grades, K-12 has started to educate these children. B.J. S. have taken the enormous responsibility to raise and educate these children until they are able to stand on their own feet.
We would like to do our share in support of this noble cause and put Lord Mahavir's preaching into practice. Many prominent Jains, Dipchandji Gardi, Mafatkaka Mehta, Navalmal Firodia, are the trustees of this institution. Dhiraj Shah visited this institution on January 19, 1995 and spent an entire day with children and officers of the institution. The WCS intends to donate $30,000.00 for this noble cause when Shantilal Muttha, President of Bhartiya
FEDERATION OF JAINA WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE
Construction of Jain Nagar
Jain Sanghatana visits the United States and Canada in April, 1995. For more information please contact Dhiraj Shah at 716/ 773-1314.
JAIN DIGEST
Offers of Help for Victims of Earthquake in Kobe, Japan
In a letter to the Jain Sangh of Kobe, Japan, Jagat Jain, President and Dhiraj Shah Chair of World Community Service of JAINA, have conveyed condolences to the families affected by the devastating earthquake which struck Kobe on January 17, 1995. They have offered JAINA's assistance to the victims. There are many Jain families and a Jain Temple in Kobe. JAINA is willing to help.
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