Activity Brief of Vivekananda Kendra

Service Activities at a glance Educating the masses More than 400 Anandalayas and Balwadis Informal education for More than 9000 Students the preschool and the drop-outs by 650 Acharyas In 8 states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assom, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. 68 Schools mostly in the Tribal areas. Affiliated to CBSE, English Medium, Residential and Semi-residential in 6 States – Arunachal Pradesh, Assom, Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar, Karnataka and Tamilnadu 26087 Students getting the best Quality Education from specially trained and dedicated 1117 Teachers. 8 Schools exclusively for Girls.

Development Through Culture Rural Development Programmes based on cultural thrust Covering more than 650 villages in 25 districts across 4 states Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamilnadu Awareness, Empowerment and Participation of Youth and Women

Health Services 2590 Medical camps per year attended by almost 2 lakh patients of which 1600 Operations. Four full-fledged Hospitals in Numaligarh, Bina, Sukalai and Paradip. 1

Vivekananda Rock Memorial It all started in 1963, the Birth Centenary of Swami Vivekananda. A pan national movement to build a memorial to commemorate the historic meditation of the illustrious Swamiji and his message was started. On the mid-sea rock purified by sacred waters of all the rivers in the form of oceans, sanctified by the tapas of Devi Kanyakumari mission of life dawned upon Swami Vivekananda. A grand Memorial was completed in 1970. The collective will and contribution of millions of people of India have made it a truly national monument and also a point of national convergence. Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a poetry and beauty in granite vibrates with dynamic peace and is a source of inspiration to one and all. More than six crores of people have visited from all over India and abroad.

2

Vivekananda KENDRA Swargeeya Ekanthji Ranade, the man behind the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, did not stop the work by constructing the monument. He strongly felt that the Swamiji’s life giving messages are to be propagated throughout the nook and corner of our country, nay, even the globe. Therefore he decided to build a monument in flesh and blood, by starting a cadre based service organization, wherein youth of India, both male and female, who are totally dedicated for the great cause, will be trained and deployed to take up various service activities specially in the economically backward and tribal areas. It was a dream of Swamiji, coming true. All the activities of Vivekananda Kendra are centered on the noble thought “Service to Man is Worship of God”. All the workers are guided by the national ideals RENUNCIATION and SERVICE. 665 branch centers and projects all over India are working with the twin objectives of “Man-Making and Nation-Building”. Vivekananda Kendra has taken up service projects in the following fields:

I. II. III. IV. V.

Education Rural Development Health and Hygiene Natural Resources Development Women and Youth Empowerment

3

The ideal of all education, all training, should be this man-making.

- Swami Vivekananda

4

Educational Activities Schools for economically backward and tribal people Kendra has set up 68 Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas. 2 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas are also being run by Kendra in Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh Assom Andaman Island Nagaland Tamil Nadu Karnataka

-- -- -- -- -- --

37 17 09 01 03 01

Special features  Total 26087 Students and 1117 Teachers.  English medium of instruction with special emphasis for Hindi and Sanskrit.  Arunachal Pradesh- 8 schools exclusively for girls.  Daily routine for boys and girls in the hostel include Pratasmaran, Gita chanting and Yoga class in the morning and Bhajan session in the evening.  Accommodation to teachers in most of our schools – Gurukula Pattern.  The teachers after selection are trained at Kanyakumari to instill the missionary zeal and dedication.

5

 NCERT syllabus modified to suit to local requirements is adopted.  The schools are affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi.  All the schools to be upgraded to Higher Secondary with multipurpose vocational education.  Special emphasis and training to learn and promote local arts and crafts.  All the 5 spheres of child-development, i.e. Physical, Mental, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual are given equal importance.  While imparting modern and specialized education to the children; the local traditional culture, values & customs are respected, preserved and nurtured in national perspective.  The hostellers are trained to take care of all personal works. The extra curricular activity of the school includes training in agriculture, horticulture, gardening, kitchen garden and fish farming. The children are also trained in tailoring, knitting and handy crafts including cane works.

6

Alumni comments Divya Singh “We were taught the Hanuman Chalisa and we used to chant that every Tuesday. At that time, we were perhaps unaware of how powerful its potential is. However, now what comes to the mind in times of crisis and often, just like that, is those very verses. And it is very empowering!!! Most importantly, studying in VKV has drilled into my head three things- respect for your teachers (parents and gurus), passion for your country and love for everything made by the divine.” Ranjul Sarmah “Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, my alma mater reminds me of the best days of my life. Memories of the 11 years I spent in this school will always remain the fondest and most cherished ones. School seemed like a second family and even after all these years the feeling hasn’t changed a bit. I passed out from school in 1995, completed my 12th from Cotton College, Guwahati and thereafter joined the National Defence Academy to pursue my long cherished dream of becoming an Indian Air Force pilot. After serving 9 years in the Air Force and flown seven different aircrafts, clocking 1000 plus hours of flying I bid goodbye to the uniform in 2011. Presently, I am doing my business management course from the coveted Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.”

7

Skill Training Centres for women The Vivekananda Kendra is running 5 Skill Training centres for women who discontinued their studies at school level due to poor economic condition of their families. In order to enable such girls to stand on their own feet. Training cum Production Centres in the state of Karnataka (Kallabalu Village), Tamilnadu (Thoothukudi), Assom (Khatkhoti) and Arunachal Pradesh (Seijosa, Wakro Wakka and Daporijo). Through these skill training centres women are trained in tailoring (leg operated and power operated), embroidery, cane products, carpet weaving, fruit jam making, pickle making etc.

8

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES Vivekananda Kendra’s Rural development programmes cover the following states: Arunachal Pradesh (14 districts), Assom (4 districts), Tamilnadu (5 districts), Odisha (2 districts). Anaupacharik Shiksha Manch l Balwadis - 220 Nos. l Anandalayas - 240 Nos. l Balasevika Prashikshan Shibir l Organizing Sanskar Vargas l Running Anandalayas for school dropouts and slow learners l Organizing cultural competitions to rural children

9

Swasthya Manch

l Camps

for giving guidance to pregnant women l Medical check camps in the villages l Swasthya Rakshashak Shibir l Ambulance service in the village l Free operation camps l Mobile medical center

Sanskrutik Manch

10

l Samuhik

Shiv Pooja l Raksha Bandhan in remote villages l Vilakku Pooja (Lamp Pooja) Bhajan Mandals l Cultural competitions for students l Samuhik Surya Namaskar l Organising various religious festivals in the villages l Yoga classes and Gita Chanting classes

11

Health and hygiEne Besides running medical camps and ambulance service through our rural development programmes, Vivekananda Kendra also manages 4 hospitals in the following places.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Numaligarh, Assom Shuklai, Assom (Bodoland area) Bina, Madhya Pradesh Paradip, Odisha

These hospitals are being run in collaboration with 1) Numaligarh Oil Refineries Limited, 2) National Rural Health Mission, Assom 3) Bharat Oman Petroleum Corporation Limited and 4) Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

12

WOMEN AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT Mahila Manch

l Deepa



l Self



l Weaving



l Pickle



l Mahila



l Kasturba

Pujas: 300 places in every month involving about 7500 rural women help groups and tailoring centers

making / Jam making

Jagaran Shibir – Motto – “Mother as a Nation builder” Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya – These schools are school for drop-out girls in the tribal areas of Arunachal Pradesh

Yuva Manch

l Arise-Awake



l Personality



l Sanskar



l Yuva



l Chatra



l Organising

leadership development workshops

development camps

Vargas Prashikshan Shibir

Prerana Shibir Sanman Samaroh “Ignited Youth Forum”

13

Yoga the Core of Kendra Activity Apart from above service projects in the Rural and Tribal areas Vivekananda Kendra also has a network of Branch centres in 22 States of the country. For actualizing the twin objectives of Man-Making and Nation-Building as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda, Vivekananda Kendra has drawn out a plan of action by way of thought movement to disseminate the message to the various strata of the society. For Kendra - Yoga is a way of life. The practice of Yoga way of life is the remedy for almost all the multidimensional problems of the modern man. Yoga not only in the narrow sense of Asana and Pranayama practices but the real inner expansion of the personality.

14

To spread this message of Yoga as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda Kendra conducts 3 regular activities as its modus operandi - Karyapaddhati –

a) Yoga Varga – Daily class for all the age groups. With activities for practicing Yoga at physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual level.



b) Swadhyaya Varga – weekly study groups for specific groups like youth, women, professionals etc.



c) Sanskar Varga – Cultural classes conducted weekly or daily for different age groups starting from 6 years of age. The focus is on active participation and training.

15

Activities for awareness and training Celebrations - Utasavas

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Vivekananda jayanti/Samartha Bharat Parv Gurupoornima Universal Brotherhood Day - 11th September Sadhana Divas Gitajayanti

Residential Camps One of the special features of Kendra activities are the residential camps for different age-groups. These are conducted at the headquarters at Kanyakumari and also in the different branch centres. Some of them are

16

1) Yoga Shiksha Shibir 2) Spiritual Retreat 3) Personality Development Camp 4) Yuva Prerana Shibir 5) Bal Sanskar Shibir 6) Dampatti Shibir - for couples

17

Yoga Pratimans To address to the special needs of the present day situation in the society some Specific yoga based Pratimans (Modules) are developed by Kendra. Pratimans for Educational institutes

1) Samarth - Teachers orientation programmes.



2) Pariksha De Hasate Hasate – To manage exam related stress and learn the scientific way of study.



3) Tejas – Personality enhancement workshop.

Pratimans for Professionals

18



1) Swananda - Stress management through the discovery of Joy within.



2) Sahayoga - Workshop for couples to grow together balancing multiple roles in professional and family life.



3) Garuda - Personality enrichment workshop for the professionals on the move, those who have touring job profiles.



4) Utkarsha - Efficiency enhancement programme for the office staff and labour force.

19

WORLD RECORD PERFORMANCE Guinness World record for Largest Yoga Class - the Gwalior branch of Vivekananda Kendra in the year 2004 organized a mass “Suryanamaskar Mahayajna”. 16048 students of 171 schools performed Suryanamaskar on the university grounds. It was adjudged as a Guinness World Records. The record was bettered next year on the same venue with 29974 Students of 352 Schools. Team of 150 trainers trained the students for 6 months. Regular follow up & evaluation continues.

20

21

PUBLICATION AND PERIODICALS One important service activity of Kendra is spreading Swamiji’s message by way of quality publications in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi, Tamil, Udia, Telugu, Assamia & some dialects of Arunachal Pradesh. Major publications

1. India’s contribution to World thought and culture



2. Comprehensive biography of Swami Vivekananda



3. Rousing call to Hindu Nation



4. Sadhana of Service



5. Karma Yoga



6. Kendra unfolds



7. Eknathji



8. Goal and the Way



9. Heart beats of Hindu Nation

10. Marx and Swami Vivekananda 11. Shivaji in stories 12. Christianity in India 13. Indian womanhood through the ages 14. Dances of India 15. Yoga for students 16. Yoga – An instruction booklet 17. Religious philosophies of Indian origin 18. Swami Vivekananda in America 19. Indian Culture 20. Incidents from the Life of Swami Vivekananda

22

Periodicals

Yuva Bharati

- English (Monthly)



Vivekananda Kendra Patrika - English (Half-Yearly)



Viveka Vani

- Tamil (Monthly)



Viswabhanu

- Malayalam (Monthly)



Kendra Bharati

- Hindi (Monthly)



Vivek Vichar

- Marathi (Monthly)



Vivek Jagriti

- Assamese (Monthly)



Vivek Sudha

- Gujarathi (Monthly)

23

Trusts working under Vivekananda Kendra for the specific work in different Fields

24



1. Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya Trust (Tamil Nadu)



2. Vivekananda Kendra Pratishthan Trust



3. Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust, Chennai



4. Vivekananda Kendra Natural Resources Project Trust, Kanyakumari



5. Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Trust, Kodungallur, Kerala



6. Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi



7. Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati



8. Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas Arunachal Pradesh Trust, Itanagar



9. Vivekananda Kendra Medical Research Foundation

Appeal You can also join the Man Making Movement: The work of Vivekananda Kendra is carried out by the dedicated workers through out the country. Around 200 sisters and brothers have devoted their whole life to the cause. They are called Jivanvrati – Life Workers. Lakhs of local workers give time and energy for the service activities according to their capacity. These dedicated workers as the efficient human resource are the backbone of Kendra work. All the service activities of Kendra are dependant on public support for the funds and other material resources needed. We appeal to the conscience of the civil society to donate, sponsor generously in this national, humanitarian Seva-Yajna (Holy Fire of Service). We appeal to you to join hands with us, individually and through your organizational, institutional contribution. You can sponsor any of our activity. The need of the hour is listed overleaf.

25

Educational Sponsorships a. New Schools construction - Rs.1 crore per school, 10 new schools planned b. Hostels - Rs.30 lakhs per hostel, 12 new hostels needed c. Infrastructure - Classrooms Rs.5 lakh each, Auditorium Rs.30 lakh Each d. Lab Equipments - Computers, Vocational training machinery e. Student Sponsorship - Rs.12,000 per student f. Anandalayas - Rs.30,000 per year per anandalaya g. Balwadi - Rs.50,000 per year per balwadi h. Mobile Science Laboratory and Exhibition - Rs.25 lakh

26

Medical Sponsorships

a. Mobile Dispensary - Rs.20 lakh for van, Rs.5 lakh per year for staff, Rs.2 lakh for medicines



b. Medical Camps - Rs.25,000 per camp



c. Surgical camps - Rs.3 to Rs.4 lakh per camp

Publication Sponsorship

a. Book sponsorship - Rs.25,000 to Rs.1,00,000



b. Mobile sales van - Rs.15 lakh for van and equipments, Rs.5 lakh per year for running One sales van is needed in each state

Camps sponsorships

a. Youth camp - Rs.1,00,000 per camp



b. Mahila Sammelan - Rs.25,000 per camp



c. Personality Development camp Rs.50,000 per camp

* * * * * *

27

“Let us help to keep them Smiling!”

28