"Varsha" Chief Ministers bungalow welcomes the BJS children

" The children of the suicide hit farmer families from Marathwada should not get depressed, instead they should stand up with courage to face the situation. These children should not feel that they are alone. I am blessed with a daughter, but from now I would consider these children also as my own " Mrs. Amruta Fadanvis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister said while interacting with the children at Varsha. When Amruta Fadanvis got to know that the children are coming to Mumbai, she invited them to "Varsha" for lunch. A beautifully decorated "Varsha" welcomed the children.  Mrs. Amruta Fadanvis had a heartwarming  conversation with the children. While interacting with the girls she shared some motivational words asking  the girls to stand up on their own feet without taking any pressure. Her daughter Divija also attended the event. Mrs. Amruta Fadanvis  gifted the children stationary items for school use. She shared her contact number with them and told them that they can contact her at any point of time. Mrs. Amruta Fadanvis also took details about the functioning of  WERC.

The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao during his visit to WERC had given an invitation to the children to visit Rajbhavan. It was not just another invitation because later on his office were in communication with the BJS's office for executing the visit. Consequently , the students were in Raj Bhavan and had a lengthy interaction with the governor and his wife. The children got an opportunity to see the Darbar Hall and other parts of Rajbhavan and enjoyed the refreshment served by Rajbhavan at the lawns. As demanded by the children, artists working  in different serials of Zee Marathi came to meet the children at Raj Bhavan.

 

Children also visited ZEE TV office where ZEE Group Chairman Subhash Chandra Goel interacted with them. The children opened up their minds while interacting with him and also presented some art forms.

The children who were visiting Mumbai for the first time where thrilled with this experience. Other places children visited include Mantralay, Gateway of India, Girgaum Choupaty, sea link etc. Shri Shantilal Muttha, office bearers of BJS and teachers were present at this occasion.

BJS Students celebrate "Chaitanya Sohla" in the presence of journalists from Marathwada

Pune 13th Feb,14th Feb:  Almost 300 students  of the suicide affected families in Marathwada staying at Wagholi Educational Rehabilation Centre(WERC) participated in the "Chaitanya Sohla" with great enthusiasm and won the hearts of the people present the occassion. In this two day programme BJS's Founder President Shantilal Muttha, National President Prafulla Parakh,ICDS Commissioner KM Nagargoje,Shantilal Bora , Office Bearers of BJS and the journalists who specially came from Marathwada were present.

The children when they had come three months before at BJS,were completly demoralized and demotivated due to the suicides that took place in their families.  They who had lost the desire to live,are now living their life with courage and this change in them was observed in the two day "Chaitanya Sohla".Even the students from tribal areas performed in this programme. 

The students had many performances which included songs,dance and short plays that highlighted many social issues and made the audience look at this issues in a different way.  The performances included patriotic songs, Brake dance by tribal students. A short play named " Divya Dnyanachi Dharu Palkhi"brought in front how the young generation in tribal area is changing and is going on the path of education and also fighting misbleiefs and misconceptions in their society.  Regional performances like Koli dance,tribal dance, farmers dance were  performed by the students. All these performances were planned and done by the students themselves from Marathwada and tribal areas.  The mood of the audience became serious when the suicide hit children performed play, " Chaitanyachya Gava Javu" a play on the current state of farmers and their families.

To experience the all round change in the students of the suicide hit Marathwada range, journalis of different newspapers and the District Representatives of  BJS for this region had specially come at this occasion.  The students also performed in front of these journalists. The journalists present were given a detailed presentation of the ongoing work of BJS in the Marathwada region and the action plan for the students from this region staying at WERC.  While speaking at this occasion, Shantilal Muttha said," We have done survey in this region. The survey shows a shocking fact that many young farmers have committed suicides.  The children of suicide hit families may turn to crime or may develop frustration. There are chances that these children may also commit suicide.  Hence BJS took this issue as a challenge.  To work on the mental Health of this students, a programme called "Manthan" has been developed at WERC. "Manthan" is working on the challenges faced by these students. Famous Psychiatrist from Pune Dr Ashutosh Chouhan and Dr Kinjal Goyal are working on this project.  While doing tests on the children a review of such tests conducted across India are also being considered.  These students also underwent check up at Sasoon Hospital at Pune. We aim to set a different standard in this area through the project "Manthan". Now the students after coming here have started dreaming about their life."

While telling about the project "Manthan" Dr Chouhan said," It started with interaction plan. More inputs would be received through interaction." Dr Goyal said," These children are special population. We should prevent their troubles and pains. For that we should preempt and prevent things. We are also preparing a gynecologists monthly report of the girl students here." The blood tests conducted by BJS has come up  with the fact that 99% of the students are having deficiency. Hence a diet plan is also being prepared for them, informed Muttha.   He also told that for the first time after  the suicides in Marathwada, for the first time girls were admitted at the WERC.

The journalists present held a separate discussion  with the students in their individual districts. The journalists also took information from the students about the facilities they are getting at the Centre. The journalists expressed happiness about the feedbacks given by the students  about the facilities and praised the work of BJS. The students who had won in different competitions and events were being felicitated at the hands of the journalists from their particular districts.  Vote of thanks were given by Prafulla Parakh, National President,BJS.  A CD was published of the inauguration of NSS programme for the educational year 2015-2016 in which Prof.Pandurang Kand had spoken about Shantilal Muttha.

Shri. Shantilal Muttha Receives 'Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Puraskar’

Savitribai Phule Pune University felicitated Shri Shantilal Mutth by giving ‘Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Puraskar’ on 10th February, 2016 for his outstanding contribution to social and educational field. The puraskar was awarded to shri Muttha on the occassion of 67th Foundation Day Programme of the Savitribai Phule Pune University. Savitribai Phule Pune University on its foundation day on 10th February every year felicitates outstanding personalities in different walks of life with 'Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Puraskar'.

Shantilal Muttha, the founder-chairman of the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana and Shantilal Muttha Foundation, is a successful entrepreneur who has devoted himself entirely to voluntary social work over the past four decades. Born in Dongarkini, a village in the under-developed Beed district of Maharashtra, on August 15, 1954, he overcame several personal challenges to establish himself in business.

After a successful career in business, he decided to use all his energies and resources to work in the areas of school education, social change, and disaster relief and rehabilitation. To give an organizational platform for work in these areas, he founded the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) in 1980 and headed it till the end of 2013. A secular NGO with a national network, BJS has several achievements to its credit.