Following are some important projects that various centers have started and are successfully being implemented and operational. There are many more, which have not been mentioned here but in no way have the fruits of their labour gone in vain. They have spread immense happiness, peace and prosperity to the community.

Located at Bansbaria, about seventy kilometres away from Kolkata, the CDRC caters to the patients of that area. These patients have otherwise to take the trouble of going all the way to the metropolis for diagnostic services. Sonography, E.C.G., X-Ray, and pathological services also are offered.

This clinic in Chembur, Mumbai, is rendering much needed medical services to the underprivileged in this neighbourhood. Dr. (Mrs.) Panjabi, an ardent devotee of Swamiji, started this. The clinic is equipped with X-ray and Pathology Departments and is functioning under the direct supervision of C.C.M.T.

Chinmaya Rural Health Care and Training Centre ("the Centre"), a wing of Chinmaya Tapovan Trust (C.T.T.) Sidhbari, has been working since 1985. The project is an endeavour to provide the basic health services to remote villages. The project covers 278 villages in the Kangra District. The programme annually reaches approximately 20,000 people directly and 15,00,000 of them indirectly, in the area. The overall aim of the project is to initiate the empowerment process for women in the Project area through comprehensive development. Thus, it is working towards increasing women's capacity in effective participation in their own development. Training of women for grass-root leadership and upgrading skills of work drawn from their group are an integral part of its socio-economic, health, educational and environmental programmes. The project has generated a great deal of participatory involvement of women in the project area-groups such as mahila-mandals, adolescent girls' groups, self-help groups etc. Self-help groups are identified as micro-banking groups where the groups undertake a project, get bank finance, implement the project and return the loan to the bank. The recovery of the micro-loans has been 100%. So far the Centre has been able to reach out to 4500 women and youth in these micro-enterprises. Some of the income generation activities include dairy, poultry, growing vegetables, traditional farming, bee-keeping, growing mushrooms, bamboo products, food products etc.

It is a matter of pride that the C.R.H.C.T. Centre was identified in 1998 by the NABARD (a Government organization for agricultural and rural development) as a mother N.G.O. (non-government organization) for training of N.G.O.s. The centre has already trained 62 N.G.O.s.

The Centre's activities include 20 Balwadies in 20 villages with 400 children attending daily. The Centre's thrust on rehabilitation of women seeking social justice, environment and sanitation are an integral part of its approach to development. Many young volunteers from abroad have also participated in the Centre's work and have been inspired. For some it has been a part of their academic preparation on outreach services at the grassroots. Swami Chinmayananda was the source of inspiration for the dedicated and motivated workers in the Centre.

The greatest legacy that the project has given to the simple women in the area is the unfoldment of their potential in many directions.

The credit for the achievement of the Centre goes, indisputably, to Dr. Kshama Metre, the 'Doctor Didi' who turned her back on a lucrative medical practice in Delhi and headed for the hills in 1985 to satisfy an inner urge. She donned the white of selfless social workers and joined the Chinmaya ashram in Sidhbari. Since her arrival in the Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, she has been catalyzing change by inspiring people, transforming them and harnessing their energies. The Week, a monthly publication of the Malayala Manorama Group from Kottayam, India, awarded her the citation of "Woman of the Year" in 1993.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Kshma Metre
CRPHTC, Chinmaya Tapovan Trust
Sidhbari, HP 176 057
Phone: (01892) 234322 / 234324(CTT)
Fax: (01892) 235829
E-mail: tapovan@ndf.vsnl.net.in

Swami Chinmayananda conceived of the Chinmaya Seva Centre, Sidhbari, as an example of Vedanta in action, and launched the project in 1992. Divorce, wife-desertion are common occurrences among the Pahadi dwellers in the mountain region of Kangra Valley. In almost all the cases the women become an easy target for exploitation. The Chinmaya Seva Project was designed to make such women lead a life of self-respect and dignity by training them in some vocation that they could easily learn and start earning. The centre has 3 sections-sewing section, weaving section and carpet making.

The sewing section was started in 1992 and was funded by NORAD (of Norwegian Government). Selected candidates are offered stipends as incentive. Coaching is by an expert designer. The response has been encouraging and various types of dresses for men, women and children are sewn here. The trainees typically set up their own enterprise. A recent survey of the work showed that 30-40% of them are earning Rs.1000 to Rs.1500 per month as tailors.

Weaving section was started in 1996 with 30 looms. A variety of items of daily use like bath towels, bed sheets, woolen shawls, checked shirting, material for salwar/kameez are being made and devotees who come to the camps extend their patronage. A few ladies, after completing their training, have looms in their houses and continue weaving shawls/sheets etc. Rehabilitation of women in dire circumstances was the motive of the funding agency, income-generation was the aim of Swamiji, and the twin objectives are achieved by this project.

Carpet making commenced in January 1997. After taking some professional help from carpet manufacturers, the products from the looms are of good quality. The designs are attractive and there is a ready market for the product. A few of the trained ladies have set up looms in their houses and, with the help of leading manufacturers who supply material and designs, have produced carpets. They are earning an income of Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 per month.

The funding agency NORAD is satisfied with the performance and has continued its aid. The Centre is buzzing with activity with 100 ladies in the three sections who are busy learning a vocation to make them self-sufficient. The Centre has provided full employment to twelve people, most of them ladies.

For more information, contact:

Chinmaya Seva Centre is another example of Vedanta in action. It carries out programmes for the village upliftment like income generation, agriculture, health care and awareness building.

Readymade Garment Unit: A group of women under the banner of 'Chinmaya Maha Seva Sangha' are stiching some selected varieties of ladies garments and are selling them in the nearby villages. The present annual sale of the garments is around 100,000.

Self Help Group: Under this scheme, 10-20 poor rural women form a group and contribute Rs. 20-30 towards monthly savings. The money would be lent to the group members at times of need and would also be invested in some income generating ventures.

Some of the other activities are:

Vocational training for women in sewing, knitting and carpet making

Diary Farming for poor and interested villagers

Awareness programme on health, sanitation, agriculture, block administration etc.

For more information, contact:

Chinmaya Seva Trust, Rourkela,

Lathikata - 770 037, Dist. Sundargarh, Orissa

Phone: (0661) 623258 Fax: (0661) 623260

In November 1998, Swami Tejomayananda laid the foundation stone for the Chinmaya Human Research and Development Institute (CHRDI) in Ranipul in Sikkim. This institute, styled on the rural welfare activity carried out in Sidhbari, will be serving the poor and needy people of the area. Empowerment of women and youth through training and education is one of the main goals. The institute focuses on training of health workers and on training youth for self-employment skills. Income-generating schemes for women and saving schemes like micro banking will also be implemented.

This Washington-based organization founded by Swamiji around 1983 offers educational scholarships (not necessarily Vedantic education) and humanitarian contributions to charitable organizations; for instance, donations have been made to Mother Theresa's Mission. Various Chinmaya centres around the world that require assistance in getting established have benefited through Seva Inc. A Board of Directors oversees the appropriate dispensing of funds to the various causes.