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JAIN DIGEST
cial attention on nutrition, health, sanitation and environmental conditions has provided demonstrable benefits to the whole village. Education not only promises path out of cycle of poverty for the students, but also creates solid and decent citizens for a brighter future for India and for humanity.
Shiksha, Seva and Sadhana come togetherat Veerayatan International(USA) Global Conference By: Dilip V Shah; Philadelphia
A town with a Tirthdham eventually develops a culture of dependency - dependence on pilgrims for their generosity in absence of major industry or commerce providing job opportunities. Furthermore the pilgrims arrive in high spirits with charity in their heart but they have no attachment to the town or the town's population. The local population views pilgrims only as targets of opportunity to make some money and waits for new pilgrims for the same purpose. To break this deplorable situation at every Tirthdham perhaps for years, a new approach is needed.
All of our Tirthdhams, without exception are a hotbed of supporters, volunteers poverty. Many Jains left the towns for cities and remaintan had gathered at ing Jains slowly converted to other religions. So much ki Shah in NJ to attend so that many of our Tirths have no local jain population. nual General Body Abandonment of these towns by Jains has proven to be a of the mill meeting. Not great loss to the community. Many of the families living in dent Shri Abhay Firodia these areas have Jain ancestors but "Jainism" is forgotmeeting but Acharya ten. In Bihar, you could meet a person named "Jin-das" or Shilapisi, Sadhvi Shri Sarak (Shravak) but does not even know where his name hmitaji were also going comes from. that something great - to take place.
Veeraytan's focus on Jain Tirthdhams is very instructive.
By creating opportunities for their new generation to be pectations in the room educated, prosper, be healthier and becoming a useful to unfold - Acharya member of their society, Veerayatan sees this as our duty to present a vision - to the town hosting our Jain Tirth providing an opportuthe giant leap forward nity to practice Mahavir's message of compassion and
for Veeraytan that will service to the needy. Gradual transformation/ betterment transform for the better, lives of thousands of young and of a town by establishment of an ideal school is not just a poor villagers of India and in the process improve rural theory. Veerayatan has shown again and again that such health and environmental conditions that will also change a school can be an instrument of change. The schools in the face of Jainism in India.
Bihar and Kutch built by Veeraytan over the last 12 years
have proved to be an exemplary laboratory for this social The benevolent and ambitious plan envisioned by Acha- and educational experiment. Now is the time to expand rya Shri Chandanaji called for building 200 model primary our horizon and make every one of our Tirthdhams an and secondary schools each for 500 students at various ideal village, by providing decent education, will help in Jain Tirthdhams. All schools will be named Tirthankar decline of poverty, life expectancies of children will rise Mahavir Vidyalya providing value-based education with- and Jains will be seen as protectors of their town. By folout regard to cast, creed or religion of students. After the lowing Bhagwan Mahavir's message, we can bring these phenomenal success of such schools built and operated towns to their former glory and revive Jainism the places by Veeraytan since 2001 in Lachhwad, Pawapuri and where Jainism was once a dominant presence. Kutch, Veeraytan has seen multitude of benefits of school projects undertaken in small impoverished villages. For the proposal to build schools at our Tirthdhams by Achadetails, go to http://veerayatan-intl.org/projects/complet- rya Shri Chandanaji received overwhelming support from ed/ Value based academic curriculum not only provided those who were present at the meeting - one after anquality education to thousands of poor children but spe- other, 20 individuals stood up - each pledging to sponsor
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