RSS initiates rehab activities in U’khnad, opens hostels, health centres

RSS initiates rehab activities in U’khnad, opens hostels, health centres Source: VSK-Uttarakhand      Date: 14 Aug 2013 10:14:29 Dehradun, Aug 14:While the government in spite of the funds at disposal failed to launch rehabilitation measures for the natural calamity affected survivors of Uttarkhand, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has undertaken a series of rehabilitation programs for them sans any government help. The RSS has provided free education and lodging and boarding facility for the children of the affected people of the region. With public support and cooperation the RSS has opened two hostels in Dehradun and Guptkashi and two healthcare centres at Narayankoti and Andarwadi Lamgaundi. It may be mentioned that the RSS swayamsevaks plunged themselves in the rescue and relief operations as soon as the region was struck by the unprecedented floods and landslides throwing the normal life out of gear in a sudden flash. Now, with the initial hubbub over, the RSS concentrated on the rehabilitation activities in the region. To begin with the RSS started a hostel for the students of affected region at Suman Nagar in Dehradun and another at Guptakashi. At present there are 16 students at Suman Nagar hostel while 26 students are staying at Guptakashi hostel. Besides, arrangements for their admission, registration at various schools and text books etc. have also been made. Two healthcare centres – Madhav Seva Ashram, Narayankoti, and the other at Andarwadi Lamgaundi—have been made functional. All these rehabilitation plans are commensurate with the announcement made by RSS Sarkaryawah Bhayya Joshi at a Press conference earlier at Dehradun. Rajesh Thapliyal of Uttaranchal Daivi Apada Peedit Sahayata Samiti which is looking after the rehabilitation programs, said that after the initial rescue and relief works, the RSS has concentrated on rehabilitation schemes and launched some of them for the benefit of the affected people. He said that the most urgent requirement is for the shelter and thus, hostels for students were started immediately. In these hostels students who were orphaned or lost their parents were provided accommodation. At Guptakashi, 26 students studying in standards 6 to 10 were admitted to different schools. If necessary some more hostels will be opened in the near future. Students from Ramwada, Gaurikund, and Chandrapuri—the most affected areas of Kedar Valley—are provided accommodation at Suman nagar, Dehradun, hostel. Here students studying in standard 6 to B Sc level are staying. They are admitted to SGRR, Govardhan Saraswati Vidya Mandir and other institutions. The responsibility of this hostel is given to former RSS prachark Mahavir while Rakesh Boudai, Mahanagar Sewa ramukh is assisting him. According to Mahavir, there are five students in this hostel amongst the 16, who have lost their family members in the natural calamity. He said that Laxamn Rawat, a student of standard 6 has lost his father who used to earn livelihood by his mule in Ramwada. Pramod, a class 10th student from Sovna Agastmuni lost his father who ran a hotel in Ramwada. The flood waters washed away the hotel also alsong with his father. Similarly, Ajay Rawat who belonged to Dangi Agastmuni, lost his teenage brother Ashish besides a major property loss. Pravin Negi of Syur Bangar Agastmuni’s father who was working with a hotel in Ramwada, was swept away by the mighty current of flood water. Pravin is studying in Class 9. Anup of Badsu Guptakashi still shivers with the loss of his 21 year old brother. His brother had gone to Kedarnath with his mule and never returned. Eleven year old Anup lost a protector in the death of his brother. Mahvir said that he stays with these boys all the time who are still under the shock of the natural calamity. They had lost everything—their farms, houses, shops and suffered a major financial loss. They need more a moral support, love and compassion to help them overcome this shock of their lifetime. The RSS as usual has plunged itself into the relief and rehabilitation process for the affected people and to bring them back into the mainstream. In this line, the RSS has opened hostels and health care centres. The RSS activities are touring the area to identify such needy students and to provide them facility for study, food and accommodation. The RSS feels that to work for them and to bring the into the mainstream is their mission. Inspired with this mission the RSS activities are engaged in the service of the affected people from Dharchula to Maneri.