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COMMITTEE NEWS (continued)
Jirnodhar Committee
Purpose: To identify Jain Tirth, Derasars, and Upashryas needing help for renovation and/or remodeling. Select such projects based on overall appeal to Jain Community, keeping in line with Jain teachings. Market such projects through JAINA Newsletters, website of JAINA and other Jain newsletters (in India and other countries) for wider awareness and acceptance. Present such projects through local JAINA directors to receive acceptance and financial support at local Sangh level. We would also undertake Vaiyyavacha and other projects, which would help Jain Sadhus and sadhvijis.
Activities
1. We have undertaken a project to help Shri Navkar Center of Ahemdabad. Their group goes in Van, including 2 vaidraj and opthalomogist to provide them with medicine. Their medicine is all Aryuvedic, and also nirdosh (no animal testing, etc). They also provide free glasses to sadhus and sadhvijis.
We have so far raised so $1,153. Of this $900 has been sent over to Shri Navkar center. We will wait for next $500 to be collected, before we send them this amount. Our goal is to reach over $10,000 in collection by year 2000. We propose to establish Jirnnodhar chapters at local level. The details are being worked out.
2. There has been keen interest by few members to undertake Samet Sikhar as one of the Tirth needing help. Members have found this Tirth does not have proper facilities to do proper puja, etc. once they go up to various Derasars. They also feel that local people does not respect such facilities. These members want respect and proper care given by locals. They are willing to undertake projects to
Jiv Daya Committee
Jiv Daya Committee presently working on getting the Panjrapole board in Chembur, Bombay area to set up a free sterilization clinic for animals and free medical care clinic. We are also working on a donkey sanctuary at the school in Maharashtra, the 4,000 students and teachers and staff are very excited to incorporate Jiv Daya into the daily life of the students and the 30 surrounding villages. We are negotiating the purchase of 15 acres next to the school's present land. This sanctuary will be paid for by us. We also need Jain dentists who would be willing to run a dental camp/ teach proper care of teeth and give dental check ups at the school. We presently have medical camps at the school for the kids and for the surrounding 30 villages.
Our goal is to provide medical and dental care for the area and for the animals of the area. I would suggest that every jain family donate $5.00 per year for the Jiv Daya Committee. Your $5.00 will go a long way to stop animal suffering, to get them medical care and proper food. For more Information please call Bonny and R.N. Shah, Chairperson 817/430-8638.
Jain Education Intemational 2010_02
renovate and build simple facilities such as providing hot water for bath before doing puja, etc. They also want to build simple halls and facilities to stay overnight at the top of the mountain, where such facilities do not exist. They want to involve local and state government to help carry out such projects.
3. Some members want JAINA to select one Tirth per every two years, and provide full support to uplift the facilities. One such of interest is Rajgruhi's Jalmandir, Pawapuri, lachwad, etc.
So far we have two members from Chicago and Dallas area who are willing to spend one month/year in India, so they could monitor and expedite projects in India. Once JAINA approves the projects, they would be published in next issue of JAINA Digest.
4. The committee will take a booth at JAINA convention. Local Jain leaders from India, who are carrying out Vaiyavachha and other projects, would man it. This would give better exposure to the project, and where their donation is being spent.
In our Tatvarth Sutra, there is a chapter on Nirjara. That is Sakam Nirjara of our Karma. Tap (Penance) is needed for Nirjara. Vaiyavachha is one of the ways of doing sakam nirjara. Vaiyavachha has several categories. The one which is most important is doing Vaiyavachha (give them medical treatment) where needed, of our sadhujis and sadhvijis. Shri Navkar Sarvar Kendra is carrying out such a project.
The best way to do Vaiyyavacha is to go personally and do it, and next best is send financial support to those who are carrying out such mission. With Jirnnodhar committee now in existence, our members now have more qualified choices for donations in India.
V. R. Gandhi Scholarship Fund
The concept of this project and list of donors who contributed $100.00 and more until Nov 98 were published in the Winter Edition,97 and subsequent 1998 Editions of JAIN DIGEST respectively. If enough funds become available, this project may be expanded beyond India i.c. in North America.
We are planning to open a VRG booth at the 10th JAINA biennial convention to be held in Philadelphia in July 1999. Besides the year 2001 is VRG's death centenary, we wish to celebrate these two events by raising more funds. No stone is to be left unturned at this convention to make the whole world aware of VRG's mission. We need your help and cooperation.
Your generous tax-deductible contributions to this worthy cause will be greatly appreciated. Please make your check payable to JAINA. Indicate in the memo VRG Scholarship Fund and mail it to: Mr. Jitendra Turakhia, Treasurer, JAINA, 4013 Pawnee Drive, Liverpool, NY 13090.
For more information, please contract Pravin C. Shah phone 516/248-8265 or Kanti Mepani at 203/921-1950.
JAIN DIGEST SPRING 1999/11 www.jainelibrary.org
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