Sevalaya

Sevalaya

File:Sevalaya logo.png
Motto	Love all, serve all
Formation	1988
Type	Not for profit
Location	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Website	http://www.sevalaya.org

Sevalaya is a registered charitable organisation in India. Sevalaya means Temple of Service. It runs an orphanage in the village of Kasuva near Thiruninravur about 40 km west of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is also engaged in activities for the welfare of the poor and the deprived.

Sevalaya runs a free school (recognised by the State Government of Tamil Nadu) for the children at the orphanage and the surrounding village as well as a free medical centre, a free library, a goshala for cows, and an old age home for destitute senior men and women. All the services are rendered to those in need with the help of philanthropic donations without any discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, religion, language, or gender. The organisation does not receive any grants from the government.

History and organisation

Inspired by the ideals and life of Mahatma Gandhi, Mahakavi Bharathiyar and Swami Vivekananda, V. Muralidharan, along with a group of colleagues formed the charitable trust Sevalaya. Initially a children’s home for poor, orphan and destitute children started functioning on May 29, 1988. The aim of the institution is to provide better opportunities to the poor, orphan and destitute children by fulfilling their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter and also providing value based education and medical care. This would enable them to develop their potentials to the fullest extent possible and blossom, thus contribute towards a better society. From a humble beginning, with 5 children, in a rented house in Sivanvoil village in the year 1988, Sevalaya service center now functions from its own campus in nearly 14 acres (57,000 m²) of land at Kasuva Village near Thiruninravur (40 km west of Chennai), sheltering 130 destitute boys and girls, also running a free higher secondary school which provides quality education for 1650 destitute, poor and rural children.

Activities

The activities of Sevalaya include Swami Vivekananda Boys Home and Mother Teresa Girls Home providing shelter to 130 orphan and destitute boys and girls from broken homes, Mahakavi Bharathiyar Higher Secondary School (recognised by Government of Tamil Nadu but unaided) providing free education through in vernacular to 1650 rural children including the residents of the Homes, Mahatma Gandhiji Medical Centre providing free medical care, Swami Vivekananda Free Library, Kasthurba Craft Centre providing free training in tailoring to rural women, Vinobhaji Goshala sheltering cows, and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Old Age Home sheltering 60 destitute senior citizens. These projects have brought about a transformation in the area where Sevalaya is located.

Swami Vivekananda Boys Home and Mother Teresa Girls Home

The Home provides the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter to the orphan children. The children are also provided with free education and medical facilities. At present there are 130 children in this home.

Mahakavi Bharathiyar Higher Secondary School

The school provides free education (no fees, free text books and free notebooks and 2 sets of free uniforms) to around 1450 children. The 3000 families in the area are made up of mostly landless agricultural labourers and brick kiln workers, and most of the children are first generation school goers. The free school has allowed many of these families to send their children for an education instead of taking them with them to work.

Mahatma Gandhiji Medical Centre

Mahatma Gandhiji Medical Centre run by Sevalaya provides free medical care to residents as well as villagers. This has allowed greater access to healthcare in the remote village as the nearest hospital is 6km away. Minor ailments are treated by the nurse at the centre. Medical camps are arranged almost once a month when teams of specialists from the city visit the institution and conduct check ups for the residents as well as the villagers. With a view to create an awareness about the alternative medical system and nature cure methods, siddha medical camps and nature cure camps are also held.

Swami Vivekananda Library & Reading Room

The library has a collection of over 10,000 books including the complete works of Mahatma Gandhi, Mahakavi Bharathi and Swami Vivekananda as well as many newspaper and magazine subscriptions. The library is open to all Sevalaya residents as well as the villagers for free. A mobile library is also sent to the villages nearby every Saturday to make the books available for reading to all the villagers. The library has contributed towards developing reading habit among the village youth.

Kasthurba Craft Centre

Craft education is a part of the school curriculum and the students are trained in various crafts like wire bag making, book binding, etc., The centre also conducts a free six months certificate course in tailoring for rural women. The women who have completed the course have increased their employment opportunities in the garment industry.

Vinobhaji Goshala

The goshala (cow protection centre) shelters around 25 cows (both milk yielding and dry cows). The milk is consumed by the residents of the Orphan Home and the Old Age Home and excess is sold in nearby villages, with the marginal generated income being utilised for meeting the expenses of the institution. A Gobar gas Plant has been constructed which meets 90% of the fuel needs of the Old Age Home. Organic manure is produced by vermin compost method. The manure is used in the kitchen garden maintained at Sevalaya and also marketed.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Old Age Home

The Old Age Home provides shelter to poor and destitute old men and women. The residents are encouraged to involve themselves in simple activities like helping in the kitchen by cutting vegetables, watering the garden, etc.

External links

• Sevalaya
• Profile in The Hindu
• Profile on Nilacharal