S.M.S.S Hindu mahila Mandiram, Poojappura

sri mulam shashtipurthi smaraka
hindu mahila mandiram

poojappura, thiruvananthapuram - 12, Kerala

Ph: 0471 2351243

email: mahilamandiram@eth.net, mahilamandiram@asianetindia.com

To give concrete shape and form to the dreams of the founder, the Managing Committee of Mahila Mandiram has bought 8 acres of land at Vaaliyara near Aruvikkara (17 kms from Trivandrum) for a mega project. It is called PANCHAVADI – named after the five trees alluded in the great epic Ramayana – giving shelter and solace to the needy. It consists five components, VATSALYA, SANTHWANA, SUSIKSHA, PARIRAKSHA & PRASANTHI. This is a multi-million project, the first phase of which itself comes to Rs. 20,000,000/-.

The foundation stone of the project was laid on 5^th January 2003 by Hon. Minister Sri.O.Rajagopal at Panchavadi. In 2003 a tailoring course was conducted at Panchavadi with the help of Janashikshan Sansthan. Income generating activities and medicinal plant cultivation were initiated for the local women.

Vatsalya is the name given to a group of 10 homes for the needy children. In reality, institutional care, however well meaning, is largely impersonal. It often fails to fill the emotional needs of growing children. Vatsalya is the answer to this deficiency. It comprises 10 cottages (800 sq.ft each) in ancient Kerala Architectural style. Each cottage will have a comfortable living standard for a family of 10 –12 children from infants to adolescents, under the care of a ‘Mother’ who is a well-trained social worker. A psychologist will give guidance and counseling to the mothers as well as residents. This is conceived to give the much-needed familial atmosphere to the deprived child. Here, the child will be able to identify herself as belonging to a particular home. The natural bonds of the child with her relatives are also not severed. The relatives can visit their wards occasionally. The goal of such an up-bringing of the child is to make her confident and self-reliant, who may become a support to the family, especially to the mother, in her graying years. The cost of a cottage is calculated as Rs. 12,00,000/-. The first unit of Vatsalya was started in June 2006 in the available building, part of which is also used as office. I am delighted to mention that the House of TATA TEA has partly sponsored the construction of the first cottage at Vatsalya. It will be handed over to its first occupants (10 girls with their ‘Mother’) in late January 2009.

Santhwana is the House for the Aged. It will provide accommodation for the elderly for an “assisted living”, with emotional support. The fast pace of present day life leaves the elderly members of the family with no support from their loved ones. There may be no one to take care of the parents or grand parents, though money may not be a problem. Here lies the importance of Santhwana. The other units of Panchavadi will be giving the essential emotional support, sense of belonging, and care to the residents here. 11 independent homes are planned, the cost of each comes to Rs. 400,000/-.

Susiksha will meet the educational needs of the residents as well as the local people, both in the general educational and skill developmental spheres. A 3-storeyed building is to house this part of Panchavadi. The first phase of development comprises only the ground floor which needs Rs. 2,200,000/- .

Pariraksha is the Health Care Centre which will have resident nurses and visiting doctors. This facility will also be available to the local people. The first developmental phase of this needs Rs. 1,000,000/- with which only the ground floor will be completed. It is also a multi-storeyed building. All three forms of medicine, Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homeopathy will be practiced in the centre.

Prasanthi, the fifth one, is meant to give spiritual boost to the residents. This is a Prayer-cum-Community Hall to seat 600 people. Here, one can pray, meditate, or listen to discourses as one chooses. The cost of this is estimated to be Rs. 1,000,000/-. In addition to these, there are central services as well as infrastructural facilities which are to be developed simultaneously.

This venture is no more a mere dream. We have started improving the compound and maintaining the existing Agricultural crops, Rubber and Coconut. A resident Manager looks after the day to day activity. The first major programme to be initiated may be the health care centre with the existing facilities.

We invite all our friends to join hands to give this Mega venture the shape we have visualized. Your suggestions and ideas will give momentum to our work. Come, together let us make a difference in the lives of some members of our society.

With a house and land donated by a generous lady, we now have a care center for the aged, 35 kilometers from Trivandrum. At present there are 3 residents. They are all destitute who do not have any one to care for them. The center is looked after by a group of ladies of the locality, who have come forward as voluntary workers. Also, a dressmaking course is being conducted in the available space for the young women of the village. The center is funded by public donations alone. Medical care is given by the government hospital 4 kilometers away. We can accommodate 5 more women in the present location. With more funds we can plan out reach activities.

In the next phase of this project we plan to build a two-storey building as a Multi care Center for The Aged, which will include day-care activities as well as outreach programs.