About Us

An Effort to Address a Burning Issue of Today’s World: A Rural Old Age Home in the Poorest Districts of India – Requires Your Helping Hand

The Inspiration:

Among the six Vedanta philosophical schools of India one is known as the Nimbarka School or Philosophy. The Nimbarka Philosophy came to be known after the name of Sri Nimbarkacharya, the 4th Acharya of the Nimbarka sect or Sampradaya. The seat of the Acharya of this order was occupied in succession by a great galaxy of powerful religious teachers. In the recent past one of the most famous Acharyas of this order was Sri 108 Swami Dhananjoy Dasji Kathiababa Maharaj. He was the 56th Acharya of this Sampradaya. He was born in the year 1901 in a village named Bhara, in the district of Bankura in West Bengal. Throughout his life Swamiji propagated the ideal of service to humanity which ultimately helped to satisfy the spiritual thirst of men and helped them to attain supreme peace. The present Acharaya of the sect, Sri 108 Swami Rashbihari Dasji Kathiababa is continuing the Vedantic tradition of spiritual enlightenment and at the same time encouraging people to serve the society in whichever way possible.

Genesis:

Inspired by the philosophy and teachings of Sri Swami Dhananjoy Dasji, disciples of this great Savant and the members of the Nimbarka sect, in a bid to help the under privileged and needy people of Bhara and adjoining areas, formed an NGO, “Bhara Dhananjay Das Palli Unnayan Sevakendra” (Regd. No. S/1 L-22106 IN 2004-2005) in 2004.

Background of the village - Bhara:

Bhara is a village in Vishnupur Block in Bankura District of West Bengal. It is located 37 km towards East from District headquarters Bankura and 141 km from State capital Kolkata.Bhara Pin code is 722157 and postal head office is Bon-radha-nagar. Bhara is surrounded by Jaypur Block towards East, Onda Block towards west, Garbeta-I Block towards South, Taldangra Block towards west. Bishnupur Rail Way Station, Ramsagar Rail Way Station are the very nearby railway stations to Bhara.

Bhara or even the district Bankura is one of the poorest districts of India. The areas are arid and not very suitable for agriculture across the year. Industries are few and market linkage of cottage industries is yet to happen. Then the shadow of political insurgencies like Naxalites also looms large. In these environment, development work though tough – is required very much in such places today.

Journey till Date:

Since its formation the NGO has been working in a modest way to serve the people of the area in various ways which include distribution of clothes among the poor, organizing regular health check-up clinics, running charitable homeopathy dispensary daily, encouraging people to participate in eco-friendly activities like plantation of trees, distribution of saplings in the area etc.

The village has a H S School, Bhara Dhananjoy Das Kathia Baba High school and a degree college, Swami Dhananjoy Das Kathia Baba Mahavidyalaya, both aided and approved by the Govt of West Bengal. The school has already celebrated its centenary in 2002 and the college is established in 2008. The detail information about the college is available on NET (www.sddkm.in) The school does not have a website, but relevant information can be had by e mailing the Head Master of the school (bddkhs1903@gmail.com)

The Issue at Hand:

In 2014, Bhara Dhananjay Das Palli Unnayan Sevakendraseeing the plight of the aged people, the NGO decided to build an old age home on the fringes of Bhara. As an obvious effect of globalisation the need for old age home, even in non-urban areas, is being felt more and more as young, educated and professionally equipped people from rural areas are migrating to different parts of India and even abroad leaving their parents back home. Usually old age homes are established in cities and urban areas with a professed business plan. Aged people who get entry in such homes pay a very high charge to become boarders of such homes. Besides, the recurring expenditure of such homes is often beyond the capacity of common people.

The Project:

Seva Targeted to the Needy: Swami Rash Bihari Das Kathiababa Bridhyalaya, Bhara Bankura, is going to be an old age home with a difference. The objective of the project is to accommodate people who do not have a single farthing to pay. The land for the project was donated by the local people. The expenditure for such people will be collected through donations from people inside and outside the sect. We are exploring the possibilities of getting Govt. funds, if available for such projects.

Governance: The home will be closely monitored by dedicated workers of the NGO and the performance will be reviewed from time to time by the All India Central Committee of Sri Kathia Baba Charitable Trust. Bridhyashram will function under the aegis of Sri Kathiababa Ashram, Vrindaban. Know more about it : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathia_Baba

So there will be a double check to assure the quality of service and progress of the old age home.List of members of the Governing Body of Bhara Dhananjay Das Pally Unnayan Seva Kendra is as follows:-

Sl No.

Name

Occupation/ Profession

Address

Designation

1

Prof. Goutam Buddha Sural

Professor & HOD - English, Bankura University

Sri Dhananjay Dham, Pratap Bagan, Bankura-722101

President

2

Sudhamoy Dey

Social Worker

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Vice-President

3

Balai Chandra Garai

Businesssman

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Secretary

4

Gorapada De

Retd. State Govt. Officer

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Asst. Secretary

5

Malay Chakraborty

Asst. Br.Manager, Bhara SKUS Bank

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Treasurer

6

Shyamapada Siddhanta

Retd. Central Govt. Officer

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Member

7

Phalguni Mandal

Headmaster, H.S. School

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Member

8

Ajay Saha

Headmaster, H.S. School

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Member

9

Parthasarathi Kundu

Businessman

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Member

10

Ashoke Kr Pal

Employee in Private Sector

Vill. +P.O.-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Member

11

Archana Sarkar (Gangully)

Retd. H.S. School Teacher

Vill-Dharampur,PO-Bhara, PS-Bishnupur,  Dist-Bankura, PIN-722157

Member

 

Work Done Till Date: We have already constructed 5 double sharing rooms with attached toilet and a general kitchen. The roof is made of corrugated asbestos sheets but the inside each room has a false ceiling to prevent the heat from the roof. The plan is to build another 5 such rooms and a small library in future. However, to start the home an office premises with a meeting room, and boundary wall have to be constructed. Besides provisions will have to be made for a high capacity generator, 24 hours water supply and a garden before we can make the home operational.

The Request:For the immediate needs of the home we appeal to you for some financial assistance. The several expenses for which we see support are the followings:

  • Construction of five rooms – Rs.7,00,000/-(Seven Lakhs)
  • Fencing/Construction of boundary wall- Rs.5,00,000/-(Five lakhs)
  • Electricity Expenses(yrly) :- Rs.25,000/-(Twenty five thousands)
  • Salary for Cook & assistant(yrly):- Rs.50,000/-(Fifty thousands)
  • Salary of Manager(yrly) :-Rs.24,000/-(Twenty four thousands)
  • Cloths ,Bedcovers etc.(yrly):- Rs. 30,000/-(Thirty Thousands)
  • Medical Expenditures.(yrly):- Rs. 50,000/-(Fifty thousands)
  • Stationary[Soap, Oil, Paste etc. (yrly):- Rs.20,000/-(Twenty thousands)
  • Tiffin & Meal for the Boarders.(yrly):-Rs.3,00,000/-(Three Lakhs)

Donations to this project is not tax exempted (80G) at present. However, donations would be duly acknowledged by the NGO receipts and over email. Further, we would provide annual updates on the working of the old age home. We encourage all well-wishers to visit the village and the old age home.

The donors who will contribute Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousands)and above, they will be allowed to put marble slabs in their or their relative’s names.

  1. You can send us your benevolent contributions by cheque in the name of “Bhara Dhananjoy Das Pally Unnayan Seba Kendra”
  2. You can also send the amount by NEFT to our bank account mentioned below:

Savings Bank Account No 31765194405 of State Bank of India, Bishnupur Branch, West Bengal (IFScode:SBIN0000044)