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Part IV. Rise and Glory
Jain Youth League. Free eye examinations, treatment to preserve better eyesight, surgery and other necessary procedures are done here for poor people. The full support to this project to keep it running also comes from Nairobi, Muranga (Fort Hall) and other Oshwal Communities. Nine or ten-day camps are conducted every year. Doctors and other medical support staff from India have been running these camps diligently up to the present. By the year 2003 A.D., over 220,000 patients have been screened, over 12,000 patients have been operated upon, over 45,000 reading glasses dispensed, 1,250 lenses implanted and 100 hearing aids have been provided.
In 1953 A.D. additional land for the mahajanwadi was obtained. In 1956 A.D. construction of a kitchen, dining hall and store area was started and completed in 1957 A.D.
During the 1962 A.D. Oshwal Education and Relief Board's annual meeting held in Thika, Bharmal Kanji, then President of the Thika Community, donated one hundred thousand shillings for a girls hostel on behalf of the Jain Youth League.
In June 1997 A.D. construction of a large prayer hall, guest rooms, an office block, two residential blocks, a kitchen and store was started and completed in November 1997.
Nakuru: Settlement in Nakuru started in 1913 A.D. The first Oshwal business was a soda water factory. Nakuru being in the center of rich agricultural highland was becoming an important market town for nearby large and small farms. This created a demand for consumer goods and attracted several businesses. Also there were good education facilities. Education up to high school was available. Until 1951 A.D. Hemraj Hadha Shah was chairman of the Oshwal Community. After Kenya became independent in 1963 A.D. many changes took place. There