History
His Holiness Revered Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj, the 10th President of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math during His visit to Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Hyderabad for the temple consecration ceremony, appealed to the devotees present in the public meeting for dedicating them in social services to one’s own limit and thereby help the needy, the backward and the wretched class of people in the society. It was His silent formative influence and awakening inspiration that lit the lamp within and encouraged few teachers to establish Sarada Kalyan Bhandar (SKB). Located at Midnapore, this Trust is motivated to help, even with trifle effort, the backward youths of India in the field of education, nutrition, health care and environmental awareness. Sarada Kalyan Bhandar has all its perennial sources of inspiration in the ideal life of Sri Ramakrishna Dev, Sri Sri Sarada Devi & Srimat Swami Vivekananda –Trinity of love, renunciation and service. The dynamic message of Swami Vivekananda, the prophet of modern India – “Atmano Mokshartham – Jagadhitaya cha” inspired them and the charitable trust was formally formed on 14th July, 1984 with four Trustees. Sarada Kalyan Bhadar lodged in the ground floor, west side room of Sarada Bhawan at Sector – E/1, Saratpally, Midnapore till 1995.
The fund was created by Prof. Umesh Chandra Dutta, Prof. Bharati Ghosh, Prof. Rekha Sarkar, Prof. Tapati Sinha and Sm. Mitali Das. It was blessed by the contribution of Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj. The deed of Trust was registered at the Sub Registrar’s office, Midnapore on 21st July, 1984 with a fixed fund of Rs.5,100/- only. Sri Shyamalendu Krishna Maity, a well reputed lawyer of Midnapore helped profusely to complete all formalities in legalizing matters concerning registration of Deed and formation of constitution of the Trust.
The significant monogram was designed by a renowned artist, Sri Bimal Chandra Ghorai of Natun Bazar, Midnapore.
It deserves mentioning here that Sarada Bhawan is a pilgrim home for us all as it is consecrated with the footprints of Revered Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Bhutasanandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Ranganathanandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Atmasthanandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Lokeswaranandajee Maharaj, Revered Pravrajika Mokshaprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Dayaprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Shraddhaprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Bhaktiprana Matajee and other senior Monks of Ramakrishana Math & Ramakrishana Mission, Belur Math and senior Sannyasinis of Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Kolkata.
Sarada Kalyan Bhandar is enjoying their Blessings every moment.
A well guarded constitution was formed with four Trustees working as the members of the Managing Committee. The Committee started functioning with Prof. Bharati Ghosh as President, Prof. Rekha Sarkar as General Secretary & Chief Functionary, Sm. Mitali Das as Assistant Secretary and Prof. Tapati Sinha as Treasurer. The Managing Committee was extended to six membered body in the meeting of the Trustees held on 15th March 1995 with the inclusion of Dr. Swapna Banerjee, Professor, Dept. of E&ECE, IIT Kharagpur and Sm. Jharna Chakrabarti of Prembazar, Kharagpur. The post of Assistant Secretary was abolished in 1997 and in lieu of that two new posts had been created as joint secretaries where Sm. Mitali Das and Dr. Swapna Banerjee were placed. In the year 2000, Dr. Krishna Bhattacharya, Head of the Dept. of Physiology, National Medical College came as 5th member on the Board of Trustees but she could not continue as Trustee being selected as Member of Public Service Commission, West Bengal. In the same year Dr. Swapna Banerjee and Smt. Jharna Chakraborty were included in the Board of Trustees. The Executive Committee was formed with the inclusion of Sm. Manjula Singh, Consultant, National Centre for Jute Diversification, Govt. of India and Sm. Debarati Sengupta, Teacher, Salua Central School, Kharagpur. Mrs. Singh resigned from the Executive Committee of SKB for going out of India to Jakarta. Smt . Debarati Sengupta was included in the Board of Trustees in 2010. After sad demise of Professor Bharati Ghosh, Founder President of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar Trust in 2013, Smt Jharna Chakraborty has been functioning till date as the President of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar. Smt. Banhisikha Chakraborty was included as one of the trustee members in 2014.
Sarada Kalyan Bhandar had a mission, a goal and a charter. Its vast field of activities covers education, nutrition, health care, women liberalization and literacy drive program. It planned to bring difference in the life style of the underdeveloped society, especially among youth, women and children coming from underdeveloped rural background.
Since its inception in 1984, the organization was registered under 12A of Income Tax Act and enjoyed the Income-tax exemption status by the donors under section 80G of Income-tax Act, 1961. Sm. Kalyani Dhar who retired as Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax extended her cooperation in this matter.
A savings fund account was opened at Punjab National Bank, Midnapore. M/s D. Desarkar & Co., Chartered Accountant, Sahid Nagar, Midnapore was appointed as Auditor for the FY 1984-85. The first audit on the books of accounts for the FY 1984-85 was carried out bearing Auditor’s commendable opinion on accounting procedure.
Five girl students of Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College, Midnapore were the first batch each of whom received Rs.50 per month as stipend for their higher education from the Trust. They were the children of extremely poor indentured labours working on farms all their lives. Since then the organizers are the sojourners with the pathos of young talents, fighting with the grim battle of life and yet full of exuberant life energy to rise above all diversities for continuing their studies. At this stage our prime importance was to give support to poor meritorious under graduate students. Gradually in due course we started supporting students from Higher Secondary level also.
Needless to say that Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh (Basu Ghosh) of Los Angles, USA inspired the organizers with the idea of enrolling sponsorship and started contributing Rs.1000/- per month as working capital. Since inception he is the principle supporter and fully attuned with Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
During this period only 10 Sponsors joined us and 10 eminent persons were in the panel of Patrons. A small library with 50 books donated by well wishers was established. Mr. Indrajit Gupta, the then Home Minister, Govt. of India and MP from Midnapore compassionately contributed Rupees One Lakh in the year 1997 for furniture, fixture and books which enriched our library. In this context, I like to mention that Swami Lokeswaranandajee Maharaj, Secretary, The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Calcutta, out of compassion and tender feeling towards Sarada Kalyan Bhandar allowed sponsorship to good number of students, as, for lack of funds we had to deny financial support to candidates really eligible for the scholarship.
Sri Arabinda Karan & Sm. Sagarika Rajak were appointed on part time basis to work for 2 hours thrice a week with remuneration of Rs.100/- per month per person. Till 1993 Trustees used to run the office by themselves, even though they were working in the colleges on full time basis.
During 1996-97, Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh realized the problem of working team in the administration. He started contributing Rs.2 Lakh 40 thousand yearly for administration so that better arrangements can be done in the staff pattern, allowing substantial allowances for their skill and full time service. Accordingly in 1998, the administrative set up was revised with a set of skilled workers on full time basis. This minimized the over load on daily routine of the organization. Mr. Ghosh also donated stationeries worth Rs.92,019.40 for smooth running of the office.
In 1989, a scheme was taken up to help the poor children of the villages and improve their education and health. Dr. Sachindra Nath Pradhan of Washington DC was the active force behind this incredible adventure. Baisakhipally at the outskirt of Midnapore was taken up with 34 children under this scheme. Students receiving financial assistance from us were involved in rendering free coaching to the community. The remedial coaching centre of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar was named Kalyanpith. It started at Bakul Mancha of Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College in the Gope Campus. This project mainly acted on improving the standard of education of children coming from rural backward villages. In the meantime 256 children from few more villages like Gabnala, Khejurdanda, Pakhijapally and Bhagabatipally were enrolled. Besides remedial coaching, children were provided study materials, uniforms, woolen garments, bread and biscuits for four days a week. Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana Matajee, General Secretary, Sri Sarada Math and The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Kolkata very kindly made provisions for milk for the children. Children were happy and overwhelmed to get milk in a regular basis.
Due to official inconvenience of the authority of Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College, the centre had to shift from the college campus. At this juncture we had to face problems for lack of space where the tiny tots could be taught. We had to adjust in the open ground near paddy field, in the huts of the villagers, under the banyan tree and even some times in the varanda or small spare class rooms of primary schools. At this stage, villagers, realizing their children’s future welfare, cooperated with us heartily.
Memorial fund was introduced by Sm. Kalyani Dhar of Calcutta in memory of her father Phanindra Nath Ghosh. She contributed Rs.2000 to be kept under Memorial Fixed Fund from the interest of which the prize is to be given to the student securing highest marks among SKB students in the university examination every year. Lakshmi Kanta Bera was first awarded Phanindra Nath Ghosh Memorial Prize in 1991. Now there are 52 such memorial endowments from where students of various streams enjoy the award.
A new chapter opened with the purchase of 4 kathas of land in Narampur Mouza, Saratpally, Midnapore for SKB’s own administrative wing, community hall, library etc on 5th October 1991. It was on 5th July 1992 that the foundation stone of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar’s new construction has been very auspiciously laid by Her Holiness Pravrajika Mokshaprana Matajee, the then President of Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission of Dakshineswar, Kolkata. It was a turning point in the history of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
Prof. Sanghamitra Basu, Dept. of Architecture, IIT Kharagpur took immense interest in making the plan of the proposed administrative building of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar. Dr. Swapan Majumdar, Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur took care of looking after the structural side of the construction. Even to this day they are giving us all guidance we need time to time. Their voluntary service and sincere attachment to Sarada Kalyan Bhandar can never be over estimated.
There being no fund source for the construction of the building, each and every member of the organization including students started collecting funds door to door. A Music programme by Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee, a renowned Sitarist was arranged on 02.12.1994 at Kalamandir, Kolkata. Prof. Anandagopal Banerjee accompanied him on Tabla. It was the generosity of Pandit Buddhaditya Mukherjee that he very kindly donated the fund collected from the program to us for the construction.
It is with unsolicited support of our sponsors, donors, friends and well wishers especially from Jamshedpur, IIT Kharagpur and Kolkata that we could complete the building. On 25th September 1995, the administrative building of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar at F/1, Saratpally, Midnapore was inaugurated by Pravrajika Shraddhaprana Matajee, the then General Secretary, Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission of Dakshineswar, Kolkata in a very solemn atmosphere. A good number of Sannyasinis from Sri Sarada Math, devotees, friends and well wishers of SKB graced the occasion and joined the august gathering.
It was an unbearable loss to the organization when Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana Matajee, the first General Secretary of Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission of Dakshineswar, Kolkata passed away on 6th May 1994. She was our guiding spirit and encouraged us always in all our activities towards the poor community. A combined memorial meeting with Vivek Chetana, Nibedita Bratisangha of Calcutta and Sarada Kalyan Bhandar was arranged on 03.07.1994 at Birla Sabhaghar to pay Homage to the departed Holy Soul. Eminent speakers like Sri Sankari Prasad Bose, Dr. Nimai Sadhan Bose, Pravrajika Amalprana Matajee and few others spoke. Their speech was mind blowing. The entire meeting was conducted with solemnity.
It was with the gracious contribution by Sri Subhas Chakraborty, Hon’ble Minister, Youth & Sports, Govt. of West Bengal that the gymnasium hall and yoga training centre for ladies in the first floor of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar could be constructed. Valuable gymnastic equipments were purchased. He contributed Rupees 3 Lakh 35 thousand for this purpose. His compassion for this women organization is praiseworthy. Dr. J.N. Banerjee, Dept. of Civil engineering IIT Kharagpur helped us in preparing the estimate regarding the construction of the community building. Padmashree Bachendri Pal, the first woman Everest Climber and Director of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, Jamshedpur very kindly accepted to inaugurate the gymnasium hall and the gymnasium training centre for ladies in 1996. Various dignitaries attended the function.
During 1997-98, Evaluation & Monitoring unit of the organization explored few salient features on health status of children and women of the villages covered by us. Due to ignorance of health awareness, health hazards and absence of medical health centre in close proximity of the living areas, most of the children suffered from various diseases.
The inauguration of Child Health Care Mission & Rural Health Awareness of our Child Welfare Centre was held on 25th April, 1999. Dr. Manoj Bhattacharya, Professor & Head of the Dept. of Neurosurgery, BIN, IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata presided and Sm. Champa Dutta, Deputy Director of Health Services (Nursing), Govt. of West Bengal was the Guest in Chief. Dr. K. M. Hossen, CMOH, Midnapore with eminent dignitaries and doctors graced the occasion. We are indebted to Lions Club of Kangsabati of Midnapore, Rural Development Association and Nehru Yuba Kendra Midnapore for conducting health camps with the help of eminent doctors of Midnapore. We are really grateful to The Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences of Kolkata for carrying out cardiac check-up of 173 children at Gabnala. Our children were also sent for detection of Thalassaemia blood screening organized at Midnapore by Thalassaemia Foundation, Kolkata. We are registered under Drug Control to have the permission of collecting sample medicine and this has helped us very much in collecting medicines.
Mother, being the nucleus of the family, can build a well-balanced productive society, if she has education, culture and respect for traditional values. Implementation of Women Self-Independence Promoting Scheme was introduced in the year 1999 to take the overall responsibility of lady student. Sm. Mousumi Manna of 1st year Mathematics Hons., studying at Midnapore College, was our first experiment under this scheme. She was sponsored by Prof. Sanghamitra Basu of IIT, Kharagpur till she completed her post graduation successfully.
In 2000, women awareness camps were arranged in collaboration with School of Women Studies, Jadavpur University & UNICEF to motivate women folk in understanding some of the programs of social progress including Health, Sanitation, Environment, mother- child care and Legal Rights.
This year music and drawing classes were also introduced for children with the generous commitment of Rs.2000/- per month by Mr. R. N. Malhotra of New Delhi. Sm. Sunita Mukhopadhyay donated her musical instruments for music culture.
In the same year under our Literacy Programme, it became mandatory for all outstation students, not involved in Child Welfare Programme, to utilize their summer and puja vacations in literacy drive programme.
Regular classes on scriptures started this year where Prof. Bharati Ghosh, Ex-Professor and Head of the Dept of Philosophy, Raja N.L.Khan Women’s College, conducted the class on Gita & Upanishad. Classes on Isha-Upanisad were being conducted once in a month by Pravrajika Bhaswarprana Matajee, Principal, Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vidyabhawan, Kolkata and Ramcharitmanas by Prof. Dampti Bansal, once in a week.
It was with the interest, inspiration and financial support from Prof. Ligy Philip, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur that Girl Child Efficiency Development Scheme started with Kabita Barman of Hamarpata Village. The overall education of a child from class four is ensured. The aim was to make the girl child grow with all her potentiality.
In the year 2002, the Govt. of West Bengal very kindly allotted 0.33 acres of land in Rangamati Mouza, Paschim Medinipur for Child Welfare Building. The design of the building was made by Prof. Sanghamitra Basu and the structural aspect was looked after by Dr. Swapan Majumdar. The estimated cost of construction of ground floor was Rs.26,19,838.00. It was really impossible to collect this huge amount in short span of time but with our strong conviction that noble causes never go waste, the construction started bit by bit. We could complete the ground floor of Child welfare building with the major contributions of Asha For Education – NYC/NJ, Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh of CA, Dipu Ghosh & Shyamali Ghosh of Iceland, Naren & Rina Gupta of USA and few potential donors from India & abroad. We thank the Authorities of Centre for Advancement of Higher Education, Midnapore for providing water from their deep tube well for constructional work.
It was on 4th May 2003 that the Building was dedicated to Her Holiness Sri Sri Sarada Devi by Pravrajika Satyaprana Matajee, Sannyasini of Sri Sarada Math & the Secretary of their branch center Ramakrishan Sarada Mission at Thakurnagar, Purba Medinipur. Mr. M.V. Rao, IAS, Hon’ble District Magistrate, Midnapore inaugurated the building. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Ananda Deb Mukhopadhyay, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Vidyasagar University in a solemn atmosphere.
Hon’ble District Magistrate, Mr. Rao made provision of drinking water in the campus of Kalyanpith within very short time without which it would have been very difficult for us to conduct child welfare programme there. We are grateful to him.
All the children of different villages were brought under one roof in the new Child Welfare Building of Kalyanpith.
We are grateful to Hon’ble Member of The Parliament, Mr. Prabodh Panda who very kindly allotted Rs.2 Lakh from his MPLAD fund for two rooms of the Child Welfare Building.
We commemorated the 150th Birth Anniversary of Holy Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi by organizing women and youth conferences in Feb,2004 where 300 women and 200 youth participated. A Research cell was established in the name of Holy Mother.
It was on the concluding celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Holy Mother at Belur Math on 4th January, 2005 in the special business session, General Secretary of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar was invited to speak on the role of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar in the society.
On 4th September 2005, Swami Vireswarananda Memorial Lecture was introduced by the organization. Revered Swami Viswanathanandaji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math, Kamarpukur delivered memorial lecture in the august gathering. ‘Sri Sri Ma O Saraswatchinta’ was published by Sarada Kalyan Bhandar to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Her Holiness Sri Sri Sarada Devi. The book was released by Swami Achyutanandaji Maharaj on this day.
We decided to arrange the Memorial lecture every year as our humble homage to Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj, the tenth President of Ramakrishna Math & Mission. He was the inspiring flame behind our social activities and creation of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar Trust.
We are happy to record in the Silver Jubilee year the introduction of Pravrajika Muktiprana Memorial Lecture as our Humble Homage to the Great Soul whose inspiration for uplift of distressed women and children gave us revolutionary thought of creating Women and Child Projects.
The website of the organization was first created by Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh at LA, USA in 1986 but it could not be activated long due to lack of regular connections. It was in 2004 that Dr. Serene Banerjee in Texas, Austin created the website once again and purchased the domain for SKB and renovated the website. Both Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh, CA, USA & Dr. Serene Banerjee were supporting the website. At present, a new website is being designed.
We place on record the names of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Calcutta, The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Calcutta, Bina Mukherjee & B.D. Bodhanwala of Jamshedpur, Dr. J. N. Banerjee, Dr. N. B. Chakrabarti, Dr. Swapan Majumdar of IIT Kharagpur, S J Jindal Trust, New Delhi, The Peerless General Finance & Investment Company Ltd., Calcutta, Sudipta K Ghosh LA, Sm. Meera Mukherjee Kenya, India Friends Association CA, Asha For Education – LA, Street Children International CA, Association for India’s Development CA, SRAI LA, USA, Dr. Serene Banerjee, Texas, Austin & Mr. M. K. Singh who rocked the cradle when we were fighting the grim battle to give stability to the organization.
The need for providing service to the disadvantaged people gradually intensified because of the increasing population, depleting per capita resource and the then political-economic conditions. These necessitated the well being of the poor on the one hand and rapid healthy outlook to do well to others for a better society on the other hand. It was realized by the people at large that compassion towards humanity need to be enhanced for a decent society. It was the growing awareness of the people that gradually inspired the management to give expansion to its various activities. The success of the voluntary organization depends on these factors - paucity of funds which can be adjusted by establishing credibility of fund-raisers, goodwill of the organization depends on the faith in proper utilization of the contributions received from public sources.
Team spirit depends mostly on the administrative capacity of the leader and the quality workers selected for the organization. Mobilization of human resources with selfless service is the toughest part in the process known as dedication. Dedicated workers are the most vital instruments for an organization to sustain and give dignified quality of life to the poor.
The contribution and commitments of Mr. Saibal Mitra, CA, USA from 2007 has not only given strong financial stability to different field of activities but enriched our administration. Mr. Mitra has also proposed to start spoken English training for our children, staff and teachers from June 2008. He has committed to bear all financial responsibility for this training.
Present decade witnessed rapid growth of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar in its various facets.
Presently the overall management of the organization is entrusted to six Trustees and nine members Executive Committee which implements its motto through their services for the betterment of society and welfare of impoverished backward class. Sarada Kalyan Bhandar is supported by 10 potential personalities as Patrons, 37 lady members on the General Body, 224 sponsors from the India, 32 from Abroad and a good number of well wishers from India and Abroad. Socially rejuvenated people are supporting us wholeheartedly. Their spontaneous deep emotional identification is our asset.
We have been able to organize a small children’s library in Kalyanpith, Child welfare Centre, with the fund donated by Dipu Ghosh of Iceland and Rajarshee Chakraborty of Mumbai.
Dr Anupam Basu, Dept. of Computer Science, IIT Kharagpur has supported us with two computers and software for Computer Aided Children Education. This has brought a revolution in the learning process of our children. We are grateful to him for his empathy towards the children of poor community.
One project In-charge, two lady Supervisors, six shift In-charge and 56 student tutors are overall responsible for day-to-day running of its activities. Children are showing wonderful results in their school examinations. Percentage of success varies between 98 and 99. Children are showing good results in their Madhyamik and Higher Secondary Board examinations. Annual functions and sports are organized every year for their encouragement.
Regular health measures including supply of medicine, weekly check up etc. are routine work. Dr. Ruma Das and Dr. Neelkamal Sau are visiting Kalyanpith thrice a week for regular treatment of children. Free medicines are distributed to the patient on the prescription of our doctors. Health awareness camps and annual health survey are organized every year Revered Swami Gahananandajee Maharaj, the then Vice President of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math visited Kalyanpith on 17.09.2003. He saw their activities and happily blessed them all. We strongly believe that His Blessings brought miracle in the life style and activities of Child Welfare Centre – Kalyanpith.
The total setting of the Child Welfare Project has changed remarkably with the contribution of International Netherlands Group (ING) Direct USA in 2007. They arranged to equip the Institution with furniture, fixture and other requirements needed to give a suitable ambiance to this Institution. It was Mr. Priyotosh Mukherjee, Senior Strategic Planning Manager of ING Direct USA presented in details the background of children coming from underdeveloped society and the role of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar in improving their condition to ING Direct USA. Mr. Arkadi Kuhlmann, Chairman & CEO, ING Direct USA out of sympathy contributed for bringing radical change in improving the condition of the children. I thank them both for their wholehearted support for the children of Kalyanpith. The total expenditure on children of Child Welfare Project during the financial year 2017-2018 is Rs.37,11,494.00.
Aim of Women Self-Independence Promoting scheme is to spread women education, prepare them for economic stability, save waste of talents, eradicate social evils like early marriage, torture and other women atrocities and finally make them aware of their rights and laws existing in their favour. We should always remember that women are the nucleus of the society. 45 lady students are under this scheme. Rs.2,86,800.00 is spent during the financial year 2017-2018 on this project. Besides 5 lady students are enjoying ‘Ma Sarada’ scholarship from Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Kolkata for continuing their education. Women camps are also organized for population education, childcare, family planning, health education and awareness on legal rights of women. In a poor country like India, mother being the nucleus of the family, if educated, can build a cultural based well-balanced progressive society. Support projects like this can only bring nationwide awareness of the contribution of women in shaping productive world. Women today need very much this Universal recognition.
These Projects are mainly supported by Vibha CA, Asha for Education - New York / New Jersy Chapter, Asha for Education - Yale chapter, India Friends Association LA, Street Children International New York, Society for Rural Assistance to India (SRAI) CA, Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Dakshineswar, Kolkata and few well wishers from India and Abroad.
Girl Child Efficiency Development scheme takes the responsibility of girl children from class II. We aim to make the children grow with all their potentialities so that they, in long term, contribute meaningfully to the socio economic structure of the society and develop confidence and stability to ensure their place in the society. Rs.2,46,298.00 is spent on 35 girl children during the financial year 2017-2018.
All outstation students under higher education project are bound to participate in our fifth project Literacy Drive Programme during two vacations in a year. It will create a long time achievement in fighting illiteracy.
Kalpataru Project is to feed old distress ladies surviving uncared. Forty old ladies are enrolled under this project.
A corpus fund is created for the stability of the organization in 2012. It is worth mentioning, Rs.615000.00 was contributed to the corpus fund in 2013 on behalf of our beloved late President Professor Bharati Ghosh.
We have evolved a strong organizational identity and character linked with definite mission, appropriate programme and a high tone team spirit. It is time to add proficient ladies to stable the growth of this Institution by their dedicated service.
We need selfless souls to pull the string. In these 35 years, it is for the compassion and wholehearted support of socially rejuvenated people that we have been able to preserve the dignity of this Institution. Their spontaneous emotional identification is our asset. No words can express our gratitude to them. Responsibility should be decentralized in various fields. And that is only possible if we come forward to take active interest within the network of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
If we want to preserve the rich heritage of India, we need to give priority to the uplift of the suffering humanity. The vital force, we strongly believe lies in the strength of youth, women and children. Compassion to them may bring a renaissance. This conviction is the driving force of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
The fund was created by Prof. Umesh Chandra Dutta, Prof. Bharati Ghosh, Prof. Rekha Sarkar, Prof. Tapati Sinha and Sm. Mitali Das. It was blessed by the contribution of Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj. The deed of Trust was registered at the Sub Registrar’s office, Midnapore on 21st July, 1984 with a fixed fund of Rs.5,100/- only. Sri Shyamalendu Krishna Maity, a well reputed lawyer of Midnapore helped profusely to complete all formalities in legalizing matters concerning registration of Deed and formation of constitution of the Trust.
The significant monogram was designed by a renowned artist, Sri Bimal Chandra Ghorai of Natun Bazar, Midnapore.
It deserves mentioning here that Sarada Bhawan is a pilgrim home for us all as it is consecrated with the footprints of Revered Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Bhutasanandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Ranganathanandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Atmasthanandajee Maharaj, Revered Swami Lokeswaranandajee Maharaj, Revered Pravrajika Mokshaprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Dayaprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Shraddhaprana Matajee, Revered Pravrajika Bhaktiprana Matajee and other senior Monks of Ramakrishana Math & Ramakrishana Mission, Belur Math and senior Sannyasinis of Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Kolkata.
Sarada Kalyan Bhandar is enjoying their Blessings every moment.
A well guarded constitution was formed with four Trustees working as the members of the Managing Committee. The Committee started functioning with Prof. Bharati Ghosh as President, Prof. Rekha Sarkar as General Secretary & Chief Functionary, Sm. Mitali Das as Assistant Secretary and Prof. Tapati Sinha as Treasurer. The Managing Committee was extended to six membered body in the meeting of the Trustees held on 15th March 1995 with the inclusion of Dr. Swapna Banerjee, Professor, Dept. of E&ECE, IIT Kharagpur and Sm. Jharna Chakrabarti of Prembazar, Kharagpur. The post of Assistant Secretary was abolished in 1997 and in lieu of that two new posts had been created as joint secretaries where Sm. Mitali Das and Dr. Swapna Banerjee were placed. In the year 2000, Dr. Krishna Bhattacharya, Head of the Dept. of Physiology, National Medical College came as 5th member on the Board of Trustees but she could not continue as Trustee being selected as Member of Public Service Commission, West Bengal. In the same year Dr. Swapna Banerjee and Smt. Jharna Chakraborty were included in the Board of Trustees. The Executive Committee was formed with the inclusion of Sm. Manjula Singh, Consultant, National Centre for Jute Diversification, Govt. of India and Sm. Debarati Sengupta, Teacher, Salua Central School, Kharagpur. Mrs. Singh resigned from the Executive Committee of SKB for going out of India to Jakarta. Smt . Debarati Sengupta was included in the Board of Trustees in 2010. After sad demise of Professor Bharati Ghosh, Founder President of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar Trust in 2013, Smt Jharna Chakraborty has been functioning till date as the President of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar. Smt. Banhisikha Chakraborty was included as one of the trustee members in 2014.
Sarada Kalyan Bhandar had a mission, a goal and a charter. Its vast field of activities covers education, nutrition, health care, women liberalization and literacy drive program. It planned to bring difference in the life style of the underdeveloped society, especially among youth, women and children coming from underdeveloped rural background.
Since its inception in 1984, the organization was registered under 12A of Income Tax Act and enjoyed the Income-tax exemption status by the donors under section 80G of Income-tax Act, 1961. Sm. Kalyani Dhar who retired as Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax extended her cooperation in this matter.
A savings fund account was opened at Punjab National Bank, Midnapore. M/s D. Desarkar & Co., Chartered Accountant, Sahid Nagar, Midnapore was appointed as Auditor for the FY 1984-85. The first audit on the books of accounts for the FY 1984-85 was carried out bearing Auditor’s commendable opinion on accounting procedure.
Five girl students of Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College, Midnapore were the first batch each of whom received Rs.50 per month as stipend for their higher education from the Trust. They were the children of extremely poor indentured labours working on farms all their lives. Since then the organizers are the sojourners with the pathos of young talents, fighting with the grim battle of life and yet full of exuberant life energy to rise above all diversities for continuing their studies. At this stage our prime importance was to give support to poor meritorious under graduate students. Gradually in due course we started supporting students from Higher Secondary level also.
Needless to say that Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh (Basu Ghosh) of Los Angles, USA inspired the organizers with the idea of enrolling sponsorship and started contributing Rs.1000/- per month as working capital. Since inception he is the principle supporter and fully attuned with Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
During this period only 10 Sponsors joined us and 10 eminent persons were in the panel of Patrons. A small library with 50 books donated by well wishers was established. Mr. Indrajit Gupta, the then Home Minister, Govt. of India and MP from Midnapore compassionately contributed Rupees One Lakh in the year 1997 for furniture, fixture and books which enriched our library. In this context, I like to mention that Swami Lokeswaranandajee Maharaj, Secretary, The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Calcutta, out of compassion and tender feeling towards Sarada Kalyan Bhandar allowed sponsorship to good number of students, as, for lack of funds we had to deny financial support to candidates really eligible for the scholarship.
Sri Arabinda Karan & Sm. Sagarika Rajak were appointed on part time basis to work for 2 hours thrice a week with remuneration of Rs.100/- per month per person. Till 1993 Trustees used to run the office by themselves, even though they were working in the colleges on full time basis.
During 1996-97, Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh realized the problem of working team in the administration. He started contributing Rs.2 Lakh 40 thousand yearly for administration so that better arrangements can be done in the staff pattern, allowing substantial allowances for their skill and full time service. Accordingly in 1998, the administrative set up was revised with a set of skilled workers on full time basis. This minimized the over load on daily routine of the organization. Mr. Ghosh also donated stationeries worth Rs.92,019.40 for smooth running of the office.
In 1989, a scheme was taken up to help the poor children of the villages and improve their education and health. Dr. Sachindra Nath Pradhan of Washington DC was the active force behind this incredible adventure. Baisakhipally at the outskirt of Midnapore was taken up with 34 children under this scheme. Students receiving financial assistance from us were involved in rendering free coaching to the community. The remedial coaching centre of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar was named Kalyanpith. It started at Bakul Mancha of Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College in the Gope Campus. This project mainly acted on improving the standard of education of children coming from rural backward villages. In the meantime 256 children from few more villages like Gabnala, Khejurdanda, Pakhijapally and Bhagabatipally were enrolled. Besides remedial coaching, children were provided study materials, uniforms, woolen garments, bread and biscuits for four days a week. Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana Matajee, General Secretary, Sri Sarada Math and The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Kolkata very kindly made provisions for milk for the children. Children were happy and overwhelmed to get milk in a regular basis.
Due to official inconvenience of the authority of Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College, the centre had to shift from the college campus. At this juncture we had to face problems for lack of space where the tiny tots could be taught. We had to adjust in the open ground near paddy field, in the huts of the villagers, under the banyan tree and even some times in the varanda or small spare class rooms of primary schools. At this stage, villagers, realizing their children’s future welfare, cooperated with us heartily.
Memorial fund was introduced by Sm. Kalyani Dhar of Calcutta in memory of her father Phanindra Nath Ghosh. She contributed Rs.2000 to be kept under Memorial Fixed Fund from the interest of which the prize is to be given to the student securing highest marks among SKB students in the university examination every year. Lakshmi Kanta Bera was first awarded Phanindra Nath Ghosh Memorial Prize in 1991. Now there are 52 such memorial endowments from where students of various streams enjoy the award.
A new chapter opened with the purchase of 4 kathas of land in Narampur Mouza, Saratpally, Midnapore for SKB’s own administrative wing, community hall, library etc on 5th October 1991. It was on 5th July 1992 that the foundation stone of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar’s new construction has been very auspiciously laid by Her Holiness Pravrajika Mokshaprana Matajee, the then President of Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission of Dakshineswar, Kolkata. It was a turning point in the history of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
Prof. Sanghamitra Basu, Dept. of Architecture, IIT Kharagpur took immense interest in making the plan of the proposed administrative building of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar. Dr. Swapan Majumdar, Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur took care of looking after the structural side of the construction. Even to this day they are giving us all guidance we need time to time. Their voluntary service and sincere attachment to Sarada Kalyan Bhandar can never be over estimated.
There being no fund source for the construction of the building, each and every member of the organization including students started collecting funds door to door. A Music programme by Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee, a renowned Sitarist was arranged on 02.12.1994 at Kalamandir, Kolkata. Prof. Anandagopal Banerjee accompanied him on Tabla. It was the generosity of Pandit Buddhaditya Mukherjee that he very kindly donated the fund collected from the program to us for the construction.
It is with unsolicited support of our sponsors, donors, friends and well wishers especially from Jamshedpur, IIT Kharagpur and Kolkata that we could complete the building. On 25th September 1995, the administrative building of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar at F/1, Saratpally, Midnapore was inaugurated by Pravrajika Shraddhaprana Matajee, the then General Secretary, Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission of Dakshineswar, Kolkata in a very solemn atmosphere. A good number of Sannyasinis from Sri Sarada Math, devotees, friends and well wishers of SKB graced the occasion and joined the august gathering.
It was an unbearable loss to the organization when Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana Matajee, the first General Secretary of Sri Sarada Math & The Ramakrishna Sarada Mission of Dakshineswar, Kolkata passed away on 6th May 1994. She was our guiding spirit and encouraged us always in all our activities towards the poor community. A combined memorial meeting with Vivek Chetana, Nibedita Bratisangha of Calcutta and Sarada Kalyan Bhandar was arranged on 03.07.1994 at Birla Sabhaghar to pay Homage to the departed Holy Soul. Eminent speakers like Sri Sankari Prasad Bose, Dr. Nimai Sadhan Bose, Pravrajika Amalprana Matajee and few others spoke. Their speech was mind blowing. The entire meeting was conducted with solemnity.
It was with the gracious contribution by Sri Subhas Chakraborty, Hon’ble Minister, Youth & Sports, Govt. of West Bengal that the gymnasium hall and yoga training centre for ladies in the first floor of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar could be constructed. Valuable gymnastic equipments were purchased. He contributed Rupees 3 Lakh 35 thousand for this purpose. His compassion for this women organization is praiseworthy. Dr. J.N. Banerjee, Dept. of Civil engineering IIT Kharagpur helped us in preparing the estimate regarding the construction of the community building. Padmashree Bachendri Pal, the first woman Everest Climber and Director of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, Jamshedpur very kindly accepted to inaugurate the gymnasium hall and the gymnasium training centre for ladies in 1996. Various dignitaries attended the function.
During 1997-98, Evaluation & Monitoring unit of the organization explored few salient features on health status of children and women of the villages covered by us. Due to ignorance of health awareness, health hazards and absence of medical health centre in close proximity of the living areas, most of the children suffered from various diseases.
The inauguration of Child Health Care Mission & Rural Health Awareness of our Child Welfare Centre was held on 25th April, 1999. Dr. Manoj Bhattacharya, Professor & Head of the Dept. of Neurosurgery, BIN, IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata presided and Sm. Champa Dutta, Deputy Director of Health Services (Nursing), Govt. of West Bengal was the Guest in Chief. Dr. K. M. Hossen, CMOH, Midnapore with eminent dignitaries and doctors graced the occasion. We are indebted to Lions Club of Kangsabati of Midnapore, Rural Development Association and Nehru Yuba Kendra Midnapore for conducting health camps with the help of eminent doctors of Midnapore. We are really grateful to The Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences of Kolkata for carrying out cardiac check-up of 173 children at Gabnala. Our children were also sent for detection of Thalassaemia blood screening organized at Midnapore by Thalassaemia Foundation, Kolkata. We are registered under Drug Control to have the permission of collecting sample medicine and this has helped us very much in collecting medicines.
Mother, being the nucleus of the family, can build a well-balanced productive society, if she has education, culture and respect for traditional values. Implementation of Women Self-Independence Promoting Scheme was introduced in the year 1999 to take the overall responsibility of lady student. Sm. Mousumi Manna of 1st year Mathematics Hons., studying at Midnapore College, was our first experiment under this scheme. She was sponsored by Prof. Sanghamitra Basu of IIT, Kharagpur till she completed her post graduation successfully.
In 2000, women awareness camps were arranged in collaboration with School of Women Studies, Jadavpur University & UNICEF to motivate women folk in understanding some of the programs of social progress including Health, Sanitation, Environment, mother- child care and Legal Rights.
This year music and drawing classes were also introduced for children with the generous commitment of Rs.2000/- per month by Mr. R. N. Malhotra of New Delhi. Sm. Sunita Mukhopadhyay donated her musical instruments for music culture.
In the same year under our Literacy Programme, it became mandatory for all outstation students, not involved in Child Welfare Programme, to utilize their summer and puja vacations in literacy drive programme.
Regular classes on scriptures started this year where Prof. Bharati Ghosh, Ex-Professor and Head of the Dept of Philosophy, Raja N.L.Khan Women’s College, conducted the class on Gita & Upanishad. Classes on Isha-Upanisad were being conducted once in a month by Pravrajika Bhaswarprana Matajee, Principal, Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vidyabhawan, Kolkata and Ramcharitmanas by Prof. Dampti Bansal, once in a week.
It was with the interest, inspiration and financial support from Prof. Ligy Philip, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur that Girl Child Efficiency Development Scheme started with Kabita Barman of Hamarpata Village. The overall education of a child from class four is ensured. The aim was to make the girl child grow with all her potentiality.
In the year 2002, the Govt. of West Bengal very kindly allotted 0.33 acres of land in Rangamati Mouza, Paschim Medinipur for Child Welfare Building. The design of the building was made by Prof. Sanghamitra Basu and the structural aspect was looked after by Dr. Swapan Majumdar. The estimated cost of construction of ground floor was Rs.26,19,838.00. It was really impossible to collect this huge amount in short span of time but with our strong conviction that noble causes never go waste, the construction started bit by bit. We could complete the ground floor of Child welfare building with the major contributions of Asha For Education – NYC/NJ, Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh of CA, Dipu Ghosh & Shyamali Ghosh of Iceland, Naren & Rina Gupta of USA and few potential donors from India & abroad. We thank the Authorities of Centre for Advancement of Higher Education, Midnapore for providing water from their deep tube well for constructional work.
It was on 4th May 2003 that the Building was dedicated to Her Holiness Sri Sri Sarada Devi by Pravrajika Satyaprana Matajee, Sannyasini of Sri Sarada Math & the Secretary of their branch center Ramakrishan Sarada Mission at Thakurnagar, Purba Medinipur. Mr. M.V. Rao, IAS, Hon’ble District Magistrate, Midnapore inaugurated the building. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Ananda Deb Mukhopadhyay, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Vidyasagar University in a solemn atmosphere.
Hon’ble District Magistrate, Mr. Rao made provision of drinking water in the campus of Kalyanpith within very short time without which it would have been very difficult for us to conduct child welfare programme there. We are grateful to him.
All the children of different villages were brought under one roof in the new Child Welfare Building of Kalyanpith.
We are grateful to Hon’ble Member of The Parliament, Mr. Prabodh Panda who very kindly allotted Rs.2 Lakh from his MPLAD fund for two rooms of the Child Welfare Building.
We commemorated the 150th Birth Anniversary of Holy Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi by organizing women and youth conferences in Feb,2004 where 300 women and 200 youth participated. A Research cell was established in the name of Holy Mother.
It was on the concluding celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Holy Mother at Belur Math on 4th January, 2005 in the special business session, General Secretary of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar was invited to speak on the role of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar in the society.
On 4th September 2005, Swami Vireswarananda Memorial Lecture was introduced by the organization. Revered Swami Viswanathanandaji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math, Kamarpukur delivered memorial lecture in the august gathering. ‘Sri Sri Ma O Saraswatchinta’ was published by Sarada Kalyan Bhandar to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Her Holiness Sri Sri Sarada Devi. The book was released by Swami Achyutanandaji Maharaj on this day.
We decided to arrange the Memorial lecture every year as our humble homage to Swami Vireswaranandajee Maharaj, the tenth President of Ramakrishna Math & Mission. He was the inspiring flame behind our social activities and creation of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar Trust.
We are happy to record in the Silver Jubilee year the introduction of Pravrajika Muktiprana Memorial Lecture as our Humble Homage to the Great Soul whose inspiration for uplift of distressed women and children gave us revolutionary thought of creating Women and Child Projects.
The website of the organization was first created by Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh at LA, USA in 1986 but it could not be activated long due to lack of regular connections. It was in 2004 that Dr. Serene Banerjee in Texas, Austin created the website once again and purchased the domain for SKB and renovated the website. Both Mr. Sudipta K Ghosh, CA, USA & Dr. Serene Banerjee were supporting the website. At present, a new website is being designed.
We place on record the names of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Calcutta, The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Calcutta, Bina Mukherjee & B.D. Bodhanwala of Jamshedpur, Dr. J. N. Banerjee, Dr. N. B. Chakrabarti, Dr. Swapan Majumdar of IIT Kharagpur, S J Jindal Trust, New Delhi, The Peerless General Finance & Investment Company Ltd., Calcutta, Sudipta K Ghosh LA, Sm. Meera Mukherjee Kenya, India Friends Association CA, Asha For Education – LA, Street Children International CA, Association for India’s Development CA, SRAI LA, USA, Dr. Serene Banerjee, Texas, Austin & Mr. M. K. Singh who rocked the cradle when we were fighting the grim battle to give stability to the organization.
The need for providing service to the disadvantaged people gradually intensified because of the increasing population, depleting per capita resource and the then political-economic conditions. These necessitated the well being of the poor on the one hand and rapid healthy outlook to do well to others for a better society on the other hand. It was realized by the people at large that compassion towards humanity need to be enhanced for a decent society. It was the growing awareness of the people that gradually inspired the management to give expansion to its various activities. The success of the voluntary organization depends on these factors - paucity of funds which can be adjusted by establishing credibility of fund-raisers, goodwill of the organization depends on the faith in proper utilization of the contributions received from public sources.
Team spirit depends mostly on the administrative capacity of the leader and the quality workers selected for the organization. Mobilization of human resources with selfless service is the toughest part in the process known as dedication. Dedicated workers are the most vital instruments for an organization to sustain and give dignified quality of life to the poor.
The contribution and commitments of Mr. Saibal Mitra, CA, USA from 2007 has not only given strong financial stability to different field of activities but enriched our administration. Mr. Mitra has also proposed to start spoken English training for our children, staff and teachers from June 2008. He has committed to bear all financial responsibility for this training.
Present decade witnessed rapid growth of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar in its various facets.
Presently the overall management of the organization is entrusted to six Trustees and nine members Executive Committee which implements its motto through their services for the betterment of society and welfare of impoverished backward class. Sarada Kalyan Bhandar is supported by 10 potential personalities as Patrons, 37 lady members on the General Body, 224 sponsors from the India, 32 from Abroad and a good number of well wishers from India and Abroad. Socially rejuvenated people are supporting us wholeheartedly. Their spontaneous deep emotional identification is our asset.
We have been able to organize a small children’s library in Kalyanpith, Child welfare Centre, with the fund donated by Dipu Ghosh of Iceland and Rajarshee Chakraborty of Mumbai.
Dr Anupam Basu, Dept. of Computer Science, IIT Kharagpur has supported us with two computers and software for Computer Aided Children Education. This has brought a revolution in the learning process of our children. We are grateful to him for his empathy towards the children of poor community.
One project In-charge, two lady Supervisors, six shift In-charge and 56 student tutors are overall responsible for day-to-day running of its activities. Children are showing wonderful results in their school examinations. Percentage of success varies between 98 and 99. Children are showing good results in their Madhyamik and Higher Secondary Board examinations. Annual functions and sports are organized every year for their encouragement.
Regular health measures including supply of medicine, weekly check up etc. are routine work. Dr. Ruma Das and Dr. Neelkamal Sau are visiting Kalyanpith thrice a week for regular treatment of children. Free medicines are distributed to the patient on the prescription of our doctors. Health awareness camps and annual health survey are organized every year Revered Swami Gahananandajee Maharaj, the then Vice President of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math visited Kalyanpith on 17.09.2003. He saw their activities and happily blessed them all. We strongly believe that His Blessings brought miracle in the life style and activities of Child Welfare Centre – Kalyanpith.
The total setting of the Child Welfare Project has changed remarkably with the contribution of International Netherlands Group (ING) Direct USA in 2007. They arranged to equip the Institution with furniture, fixture and other requirements needed to give a suitable ambiance to this Institution. It was Mr. Priyotosh Mukherjee, Senior Strategic Planning Manager of ING Direct USA presented in details the background of children coming from underdeveloped society and the role of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar in improving their condition to ING Direct USA. Mr. Arkadi Kuhlmann, Chairman & CEO, ING Direct USA out of sympathy contributed for bringing radical change in improving the condition of the children. I thank them both for their wholehearted support for the children of Kalyanpith. The total expenditure on children of Child Welfare Project during the financial year 2017-2018 is Rs.37,11,494.00.
Aim of Women Self-Independence Promoting scheme is to spread women education, prepare them for economic stability, save waste of talents, eradicate social evils like early marriage, torture and other women atrocities and finally make them aware of their rights and laws existing in their favour. We should always remember that women are the nucleus of the society. 45 lady students are under this scheme. Rs.2,86,800.00 is spent during the financial year 2017-2018 on this project. Besides 5 lady students are enjoying ‘Ma Sarada’ scholarship from Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Dakshineswar, Kolkata for continuing their education. Women camps are also organized for population education, childcare, family planning, health education and awareness on legal rights of women. In a poor country like India, mother being the nucleus of the family, if educated, can build a cultural based well-balanced progressive society. Support projects like this can only bring nationwide awareness of the contribution of women in shaping productive world. Women today need very much this Universal recognition.
These Projects are mainly supported by Vibha CA, Asha for Education - New York / New Jersy Chapter, Asha for Education - Yale chapter, India Friends Association LA, Street Children International New York, Society for Rural Assistance to India (SRAI) CA, Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Dakshineswar, Kolkata and few well wishers from India and Abroad.
Girl Child Efficiency Development scheme takes the responsibility of girl children from class II. We aim to make the children grow with all their potentialities so that they, in long term, contribute meaningfully to the socio economic structure of the society and develop confidence and stability to ensure their place in the society. Rs.2,46,298.00 is spent on 35 girl children during the financial year 2017-2018.
All outstation students under higher education project are bound to participate in our fifth project Literacy Drive Programme during two vacations in a year. It will create a long time achievement in fighting illiteracy.
Kalpataru Project is to feed old distress ladies surviving uncared. Forty old ladies are enrolled under this project.
A corpus fund is created for the stability of the organization in 2012. It is worth mentioning, Rs.615000.00 was contributed to the corpus fund in 2013 on behalf of our beloved late President Professor Bharati Ghosh.
We have evolved a strong organizational identity and character linked with definite mission, appropriate programme and a high tone team spirit. It is time to add proficient ladies to stable the growth of this Institution by their dedicated service.
We need selfless souls to pull the string. In these 35 years, it is for the compassion and wholehearted support of socially rejuvenated people that we have been able to preserve the dignity of this Institution. Their spontaneous emotional identification is our asset. No words can express our gratitude to them. Responsibility should be decentralized in various fields. And that is only possible if we come forward to take active interest within the network of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.
If we want to preserve the rich heritage of India, we need to give priority to the uplift of the suffering humanity. The vital force, we strongly believe lies in the strength of youth, women and children. Compassion to them may bring a renaissance. This conviction is the driving force of Sarada Kalyan Bhandar.