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JAINA sponsors a teacher's workshop in Raleigh, N.C., organized by the Jain Center of North Carolina.
December 1998
The JAINA Charitable Trust sends $35,111 for the Bhagyodaya Teerth Medical College, Sagar, M.P.
The Samarpan Jain Sangh publishes a registration form and provides details for the 10th JAINA Convention. I appoint Dr. Mahendra Pandya as the Chairman of the JAINA convention committee.
JAINA, with the help of Veeryatan, applies for a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Aid foundation to bring the mortality rate of children under 5 from 115 to 75 per thousand per year in the Nalanda district of Bihar.
January 1999
JAINA, with 48 doctors and volunteers, under the leadership of Dr. Manibhai Mehta and myself, goes to the 25th Annual Bidada Medical Camp and treats 17,000 needy patients. Funds for 25 heart surgeries were collected from Jains in North America.
I meet Home Minister Advani, opposition leader Dr. Manmohn Singh, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Pramod Mahajan, ex-Ministers Khurana and Sushma Swaraj to brief them about the planning for the 2001 celebration for Lord Mahavir's 26th Centenary Celebration and to request their cooperation. Minister Pramod Mahajan gave me a commitment to produce a documentary on Mahavir during the 26th Centenary birthday celebration of Lord Mahavir.
February 1999
I visit Dubai and attend three gatherings and brief Jains there about the activities of JAINA.
The JAINA Executive Committee meets in Los Angeles and decides to become a sponsor member of the Federation of Jain Academics.
On February 28th, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee accepts demands by JAINA and the Mahavir Memorial Committee and sets up the National and International Committee to celebrate Lord Mahavir's 2600th birthday as well as the 100th Nirvan Anniversary of Shrimad Rajchandra and V.R. Gandhi.
March 1999
Jirnodhdhar Committee helps Navkar Center of Ahmedabad in carrying out their humanitarian work. The Southeast regional convention of YJA in Atlanta proves to be a success for all involved.
Jain Education International
April 1999
Baltimore, St. Louis, Louisville, Kentucky, and Hartford, Connecticut announce a Prathista Mahotsava in May, June, and July respectively.
JAINA sends a stress test machine and 10,000 pounds of clothes to India to help the needy. The 2nd Pathsala Teacher's workshop takes place in Houston and proves to be very successful.
May 1999
Baltimore and St. Louis celebrate the Pratistha Mahotsava of their temples.
Chicago organizes a teacher's workshop during the Memorial Day weekend.
JAINA's delegation meets the Consul General Mrs. Tripathi on the 11th of May and briefs her about JAINA's activities. Subsequently, she offers her help in setting up the India booth at the convention.
JAINA launches a Kosova relief fund and a JAINA delegation visits the United Nations and presents a $10,000 check for the Kosovar refugees to Director Kofi Asomani of the UNHCR Liaison's office.
Toronto celebrates the Silver Jubilee of the Toronto Jain Society on May 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.
June 1999
Preparations for the convention in Philadelphia are at full
speed.
As you can see, in the last two years JAINA has become more transparent, financially secure, more inclusive and nonsectarian. Humanitarian activities of JAINA has received national and international praise. It is fully responsive to its' constituents, confident in itself, and a world class organization, which promotes the principles of Jainism not only among its constituents, but also with the head of governments, ambassadors, consul generals, United Nations, American Red Cross, and many others.
I hope that JAINA will continue to grow and I wish good luck to the next administration. I may be stepping down from the Presidency, but I will continue to work for JAINA and Jain principles till my last breath.
See you all at the convention in Philadelphia. Jai Jinendra!
shah
ܐ ܶ
Dhiraj Shah
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