Sri Sathya Sai Gramin Jagriti Sewa Sadan is a multi-dimensional rural based service (sewa)project gifted by Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to the northern part of rural India with the dual purpose of self evolution through selfless service for the volunteers (sewa workers) and empowerment of the beneficiaries through the various services of this project. It bears the name of Bhagwan Baba, because it follows the lofty Sai principle of “selfless service” with “love” as a mode of liberation. The project came into existence with a typical stamp of Swami’s leela which is no less than a miracle in itself.
It was in 1990 when Lord Sai blessed one of His outgoing MBA students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and inspired him to work in setting up of a multi-dimensional rural empowerment programme. The “sewa” work in this project was started on 13th April, 1993
Theme of the Project: The theme of the project is “Manav Sewa is
Madhav Sewa”. The sewa work in the project is, however, based on the concept of “Trikarana Shudhi” i.e., the purity and harmony of Thoughts, Words and Deeds by way of Sankirtan and Sewa under the guiding philosophy of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
But this theme has since been reset by Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 02-01-2011 during the last interview, received by the management committee members when Swami emphatically told them, “If you love me, love my words”.
Location of the Project: The project centre is situated on the bank of Yamuna canal, 7.5 kms from Yamuna Nagar on old Saharanpur (Jhhota) road at village Darwa in Tehsil Jagadhari of Yamuna Nagar district (Haryana).
The village Darwa has now been included in Yamuna Nagar Corporation, but the project work continues to serve the rural neighbourhoods.
The Beneficiaries:
The project has two types of beneficiaries: 1. Adopted and 2. Non- adopted. Adopted: Three villages are adopted for sewa activities:
1. Darwa with population: 1095
2. Darwa Majri with the population: 1162
3. Parwalon with the population: 1693
Total adopted Population: 3950 (Families=520)
In an economical survey of the adopted families, it was observed that 12% families are having good regular income from the farms or regular employment, 36% families are living on income from daily wages or irregular employment and the rest 52% are living “below poverty line”. All the services rendered by the Sadan are totally free to the population of these three adopted villages.
Non-adopted: Besides the adopted beneficiaries, unspecified number of patients from the surrounding and far off villages/cities of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Padres, Himachal and Utranchal visit Sadan everyday for free consultation. The poorest of the poor amongst the non adopted patients are also provided free medicines and investigations. Students from various non adopted surrounding villages are admitted to the school, subject to the availability of the seatsbr.
Quality (and not the quantity) is the hall mark of all the activities.
Components of the Project: There are three wings of the Sadan:
1. Education Wing- Sri Sathya Sai Jagriti Vidya Mandirbr
2. Health wing
3. Vocational Training & Production centre
These three wings drive their inspiration and energy from the fountain head of energy that is- “The pillar of Spiritual Activities”.
