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Kalyan Ashram , a centre for the welfare and all round development
of Vanvasis (tribals) of India, was established by a young and energetic
advocate from Nagpur, late Ramakant Keshav Deshpande, also known as
Balasaheb Deshpande. Responding to the invitation of Thakkar Bapa, a veteran
Gandhian, Deshpande travelled to Jashpur, an interior village (now a
district headquater of Chattisgarh state) in 1948 to do selfless service
for the poor and under priveliged tribals of Central India.
After working for four years under the guidance of Thakkar Bapa,
Balasaheb Deshpande realized that only by starting an organization committed
to the total development of tribes living in the dense forests and hill top
villages, could any headway be made in improving the lot of tribals.
Thus on a cold wintery morning of 26th December 1952 at Jashpur, a
Kalyan Ashram (Welfare Centre) was started with a small boarding home for 6
tribal boys. This slowly grew into a big Banyan Tree and spread, first to
the adjoining states of Bihar and Orissa and thence to the entire country.
By 1977 the activities of the Centre had reached large parts of
India and so it became an all India organization and was renamed Akhil
Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram ie., All India Tribal Welfare Organization.
Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram(VKA) now is a all India organization having its
branches in all the States and Union Territories of India..
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram’s main objective are:
- Total development of 10 crores (100 million) tribal population of India
spread over
375
districts (approx) and living in
163342
villages
- To establish and run hostels, schools, adult educational centres etc,
for educating tribal people.
- To establish and run hospitals, dispensaries and medical centres and
organize medical camps in tribal areas.
- To help tribals uplift their living standards by providing technical
know- how in various fields; and run centres for economic development like
agriculture training centres ,
vocational training centres , in handloom , handicrafts , beekeeping; and set
up self help groups etc.,
- To run sports training centres and organize sports meets and
competitions at district, state and national level.
- To promote language and literature of the tribal communities and
encourage the holding of cultural meetings.
- To conduct awareness camps amongst tribal women and children.
- And many other such programmes and projects which are deemed helpful for
the all round development of tribal people of India.
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