Jain Digest 2002 01

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

Page 12

WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE (WCS)
It is a matter of great pride and pleasure to inform all of you that the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) has raised in excess of US$550,000.00 to help victims of the Gujarat Earthquake. JAINA sincerely appreciates the generosity of all the Jain Sanghs and 569 Jain families who donated such a large amount to alleviate the pain and suffering caused by this massive natural calamity.
JAINA'S RESPONSE:
With your financial and moral support, JAINA was able to respond to this disaster in an immediate fashion. JAINA was able to respond, NOT within. months, weeks or days; but within HOURS. Immediately after the earthquake, JAINA set the wheels of relief in motion by distributing over 500 blankets, 10,000 food packages, 10,000 mineral water bottles, 1,000 flashlights and many other survival essentials.
GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE AND JAINA
SHORT-TERM RELIEF EFFORTS:
With the immediate effort and problems of food and recovery essentials being addressed, JAINA now turned its attention toward the short-term community goals. JAINA built a temporary school at Samakhyali so those children would not go without an educational environment for an entire year. JAINA also donated ten computers to Veerayatan Vidhyapeeth. Bhuj for the students whose education was threatened by the earthquake. JAINA also shipped 100,000 lbs. of clothes, 100 wheelchairs, 50 walkers, 100 crutches, 100 canes and medical supplies to the earthquake affected area within a few days after the earthquake.
LONG-TERM RELIEF EFFORTS:
JAINA has now turned its resources and attention to addressing the more long-term and permanent issues to rehabilitate the victims of the earthquake. JAINA is building a township, namely Vardhman Nagar, near Bhujodi, Kutch - 6.3 kilometers to the
10/JAIN DIGEST SPRING 2002 Jain Education International
By Dr. Dhiraj H. Shah - Project Manager, Vardhman Nagar
east of Bhuj. The township will include 250 houses (each unit comprising 367 square feet), a school (primary, middle, and high school will be included), a library, a community center, a medical clinic, and a computer and science center. The houses are targeted to those who are most needy. JAINA intends on allocating the houses to those who have lost everything and have no source of current income. For example, JAINA plans on offering the houses to widows with child or children, widower with child or children who have lost their means of livelihood, the physically handicapped,
and to elderly couples who do not have family members to provide support.
SPONSORSHIPS:
Each house will cost approximately $3,000 of which
JAINA will contribute 50% and local NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) will provide other 50%. JAINA, the JAIN center of America, New York, NY and the Indian Earthquake Relief Organizations of Michigan are sponsoring the entire Vardhman Nagar Township. The primary school is sponsored by the Jain Society of Toronto. The middle school is sponsored by Tulsa Jain Sangh and the High School is sponsored by the Jain Center of Greater Boston. The science and computer center is sponsored by the Gujarat Disaster Relief Fund of Rochester, NY. The community center and medical clinic are sponsored by the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago. The major road going through the Vardhman Nagar Township is sponsored by the Jain Center of Southern California. The library is sponsored by the India Cultural Center of Triple City, New York.
વર્ષમાન ગર નર્સ એપિ
Renais 7657-કચ્છ
Photos: Top: Bachubhai Ajmera, JAINA representative at the ground breaking ceremony, Centre scenes from ground breaking ceremony, Bottom: North American Youth & Adults on January 7th, 2002 for their Shramyatra.