“Jaha Deevo Deev Sayam� (Your one lamp can light hundreds more) Tirthankar Mahavir
Veerayatan
200 Tirth Kshetras (pilgrim sites), 200 Schools, 100,000 Students.
Transforming hearts, minds and futures through education.
Tirth Vikas
The 200 Schools Project
The Vision With a population of more than 1.2 billion, India's greatest resource lies in the talent of its people. Within India, Veerayatan has built many top quality primary and secondary schools, vocational training centres and professional colleges, which have succeeded in educating and empowering thousands of students in such rural areas where education facilities are hardly available. The powerful benefits of education are well known: improved health, decline in infant mortality and malnutrition, increased agricultural productivity, higher wages and economic growth, preservation of the environment and creation of a robust civil society. With this in mind, Veerayatan is now embarking on a mega project, known as Tirth Vikas, to build 200 schools across India. Envisioned and led by Acharya Shri Chandanaji, the aim is to construct primary and secondary schools, and vocational training centres, in and around the hundreds of Jain Tirth kshetras throughout India. Further, a particular emphasis will be placed on the creation of programs to uplift, educate and train women and girls. This project will seek to uplift the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people that surround these poverty-stricken areas.
Why Tirth Kshetras? The hundreds of Jain Tirth kshetras that cover India, providing rich heritage, breathtaking architecture, ornate temples and respected places of worship are oftentimes located near villages which lack access to high quality education. We have all wondered why a school age child is hanging around temples during the day and not in school. Generally towns and villages around the Tirth kshetras, develop a culture of dependency-dependence on pilgrims for their generosity. To break this deplorable situation a new approach is needed by creating opportunities for the next generation to be educated, prosper, be healthy and become a valued member of society. While one could continue to build more temples in these villages, Acharya Shri Chandanaji says, “Why not, instead, turn the entire village into a temple?”
The Project Therefore with this 200 school project, Veerayatan plans to develop the Tirth kshetras. Tirth Vikas is undoubtedly a monumental undertaking. However, it is one with specific, clear objectives, which can be monitored and measured. Veerayatan understands that imparting education does not just mean building schools. These schools, in fact, would become a focal point for the development of the entire village. Properly trained teachers, a comprehensive curriculum that includes the importance of nurturing humanitarian values, caring for the environment, good nutrition and ensuring attendance - these are all necessary parts of the recipe for achieving ‘true’ education, for transforming an individual, and thus transforming society.
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Progress to Date We are very pleased to inform that after the initial launch of the 200 school project in New Jersey on September 13th 2013, followed by the grand launch in Mumbai at Shanmukhanand Hall, the FICCI auditorium in New Delhi and in Chennai, the project has received an overwhelming positive response. Pujya Acharya Shri Chandanaji personally visited various pilgrim sites all over the country where interested authorities have shown tremendous enthusiasm for this project. We are now heading toward the process of liaising and acquisition of land assured by the interested authorities at the different Tirth khestras. The following is the list of the locations where people have shown preliminary interest to offer land to make this 200 school project a reality.
• Pawapuri, Bihar
• Hriankargiri (Indore), Madhya Pradesh
• Narnaul, Haryana
• Solapur, Maharashtra
• Vanki, Kutch, Gujarat
• Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
• Palitana, Gujarat
• Pune, Maharashtra
• Patan, Gujarat
• Kandiwali, Maharashtra
• Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
• Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Mandawala, Rajasthan
• Punnamalaya (Vandavasi), Chennai
• Dhar, Madhya Pradesh
• Attewal, Punjab
• Mansaur, Madhya Pradesh
Pillars to the Project To realise the dream project of 200 schools, the following centres will be the key pillars.
Kandiwali, Mumbai This centre will become the Central Office for the 200 School Project. The centre will monitor the entire network of 200 schools including administration, management and finance. In addition, the Kandiwali Centre will become a unique centre of learning in the name of “Tirthankar Tower”. It will constitute yet another facility to support higher education to those girls who want to pursue their further studies in Mumbai in a safe and spiritual environment. The centre will have an auditorium, an upashray, a library, a research centre and a dedicated meditation area. Veerayatan has already purchased 1.25 acres of land in Kandiwali for this project.
Bengaluru To undertake this 200 school project, we need skilled and trained teachers. It is a well-known fact that in the southern parts of India, one can find expert professionals in the field of education. Therefore, Veerayatan has decided to establish Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir Training Institute in Bengaluru that will be the centre for advanced and specialist training of teachers for our schools throughout India. The institute will provide the required educational materials, especially electronic educational tools, to bring about high quality education to all our schools. A prime piece of land has been donated to Veerayatan for this project.
Pune The 200 school project plans to have vocational training centres in each of the schools. For this to be achieved, skilled teachers will be required to impart training in various vocations. The Pune Centre will be the Vocational Technical Training Institute for providing skill-based training to the teachers. The land for this project has been finalised.
Ahmednagar The Veerayatan Ahmednagar Centre will also be a teacher training centre, where core, essential training for teachers will be provided to ensure that our schools will have good quality teachers. Teachers will also be trained in providing moral and spiritual education along with excellent academic education. While there are schools in Indian villages, there is a lack of good teachers - making academic excellence difficult to achieve. Veerayatan will attempt to fill this gap with this teachers’ training centre. The land for this project has also been finalised.
Solapur The Veerayatan Solapur Centre will be a training institute for social workers. The 200 school project aims to develop villages in India through education, vocational training, as well as moral and spiritual empowerment. To achieve this objective, trained social workers will be needed in different villages. Veerayatan Solapur Centre will be concentrating primarily on the holistic development of social workers. An institution is already up and running there, and Veerayatan is in the process of taking over the entire institution to develop it as a state of the art Social Worker Training Institute.
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About Veerayatan
Achievements to Date
In the last 40 years, Veerayatan has touched millions of lives and accomplished remarkable milestones.
Veerayatan is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, established in 1973 in the state of Bihar by Acharya Shri Chandaniji with the blessings of Pujya Gurudev Shri Amar Muniji Maharaj. It is run by a team of dynamic and dedicated Sadhvis with the support of committee members, professional staff and committed volunteers. The work of Veerayatan is performed without distinction of caste, creed, race, religion or socio-economic status. Since its inception, Veerayatan has created an indelible impact in extending extraordinary contribution towards the alleviation of human suffering. Veerayatan encompasses a wide spectrum of activities, which include starting and running of schools, colleges, hospitals and vocational training centres for the underprivileged section of society, especially for the rural population. Veerayatan has also actively initiated emergency rehabilitation programs in the aftermath of natural calamities. Veerayatan was amongst the first organisations present to provide necessary relief and rehabilitation following the 2001 earthquake in Kutch Gujarat, the tsunami in 2004 and during the Surat floods in 2006 and the Bihar floods in 2008.
Executed many important programs to inspire for an addiction-free society, vegetarianism and lives free from anti-social and criminal activities Supported thousands to become self-reliant Started schools, colleges and hostels in under-privileged areas Established spiritual centres world-wide Medically treated thousands of people Performed 250,000 eyes operations and treated 800,000 ophthalmic cases Corrected 2,000 surgical cases of polio Established schools and colleges at Pawapuri and Lichhuwad – Tirthankar Mahavira’s Nirvana and birth places respectively Relief and rehabilitation work at Kutch, Gujarat after the devastating earthquake in 2001 Provided immediate education in stop-gap schools for 10,000 children affected by earthquake More than 12,000 people became financially independent through vocational training centres at 32 places in Kutch
The Vision
To inspire, empower and
beautify lives through Seva (Service), Shiksha (Education) and Sadhna (Inner Development).
Started primary and secondary schools in Jakhania and Rudrani, Kutch Established the first Pharmacy degree college in the district of Kutch Started Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) colleges in Jakhania, Kutch Initiated the state of the art Engineering college at Haripar, Kutch Within a short span of 13 years, established many permanent educational institutions in Kutch Extended a helping hand to affected people in the eventuality of natural calamities in various parts of the country Providing free education along with transport, food, uniforms and all other amenities free of charge to thousands of children
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How to Donate
You can send a Cheque or a Demand Draft in favour of “Veerayatan‘’ payable at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhuj or Rajgir to one of the addresses below:
Empower Humanity with the Gift of Knowledge
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Schemes of contribution for ‘One School’
US Dollars
Sponsorship for the entire school building
$ 1,000,000
Sponsorship for the main name in the school building
$ 200,000
Multipurpose Hall
$ 35,000
Central Office
$ 25,000
Library
$ 15,000
Computer Centre
$ 15,000
Classrooms (10)
$ 11,000
Staff-Room
$ 5,000
Drinking Water Area
$ 5,000
Educational, boarding and total care expenses for one orphan child for one year
$ 1,000
Boarding and educational expenses for one school child for one year
$ 600
Operating expenses of one Vocational Training Centre for one month
$ 500
Educational expenses of one child for one year (Tuition fees, Books, Stationery, Uniform)
$ 250
Educational and boarding expenses of one child for one month (Tuition fees, Books, Stationery)
$ 50
Veerayatan Central Office
Veerayatan International Inc. (USA)
‘Vimukti’, 1402, Glen Classic, Hiranandani Business Park, Powai, Mumbai 400076 (Maharashtra) India Phone: 022-66981853 Mobile: +91 9819981518 Email: jayveerayatan@gmail.com
C/o, Shri Amar Shah, 92 Lilac Lane, Paramus, NJ 07652 Phone: +1 201-819-3321 Email: amarshah48@gmail.com
Veerayatan Vidyapeeth
Veerayatan, UK
Bhuj-Mandvi Road, Jakhania, Ta:Mandvi-Kutch. 370460 (Gujarat) India Phone: 02834-275483, 275268 Mobile: +91 98253 72951 Email: shilapiji@hotmail.com, veerayatan@gmail.com
C/o Shri Bakul Shah, 4 Wise Lane, Mill Hill, London NW7 2RE Phone: +44 791-770-8370 Email: veerayatanuk@gmail.com
Veerayatan
Veerayatan Kenya
Rajgir, Dist: Nalanda. 803116 (Bihar) India Phone: 06112-255013, 255240 Fax: 06112-255172 Mobile: +91 9939586949 Email: veerayatanbihar@gmail.com
C/o Shri Bharat Doshi, P.O.Box 1434 00606, 15 Hevea Court, Eldama Road, Nairobi, Kenya Phone: +254-722-515051 Email: bdoshi@ashbgroup.com
Veerayatan is registered under the Indian Soc. Reg. Act and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Veerayatan is Tax Exempt organisation under the Indian Income Tax, 1961 Section 80G and 35 AC. Veerayatan’s registered status endures the donors tax deductions in England and the United States * U.K. Tax ID Number: 1052906 * U.S. Tax ID Number: 531956271
Every contribution goes a long way to making a huge difference. Thank you for your support. 11
Proposed Design
for Veerayatan Schools
Let’s create a better future for our world, by investing in its greatest resource - our children’s education. Together, we can transform today’s plans, into tomorrow’s reality.
‘Knowledge illuminates all’ Tirthankar Mahavir
Learn more about our cause at www.veerayatan.org.