Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram - Organisation of Vanvasis

 

Welcome To Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram - Organisation of Vanvasis

Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA), a Charitable Not-For-Profit Organisation, established in 1952, is aimed at all round development of hundred million tribals of India, which constitutes ten percent of it's population. With 15,000 service projects , its Programmes have reached 50,000 tribal villages in 375 districts out of 1,63,342 tribal villages in India. VKA is working in tribal India through its 34 provincial registered societies which are affiliated to it.

Three million tribals directly and another Seven million indirectly (total Ten million) per annum benefit from its programmes in the fields of education, health, economic development, sports, social and cultural awareness. More than 1400 full time workers and several thousand 'time devoted sympathizers' render their services to VKA to spread these service activities to all corners of India .

Indeed, VKA is one of the Largest Charitable Not-For-Profit Organisation working for tribal welfare in the world.

 

Tribal Culture
 
As per Indian Constitution the essential characteristics for a community to be identified as a Scheduled Tribe are:

 

  1. Primitive traits
  2. Distinctive culture
  3. Shyness of contact with the community at large
  4. Geographical isolation
  5. Backwardness-social and economic

650 communities have so far been identified as Scheduled Tribes. They are spread all over India in 163342 villages and towns but are largely concentrated in Central,. Southern and North East India. They constitute 8.2% of India’s population ie 84.3 million (8.43 crores) as per 2001 census.Tribes of India, unlike tribes of other countries of the world, are inseparable and a integrated part of the great Indian society. Tribal religion and tradition, literature and dance are part of tribal culture. The ways of worship they follow are outwardly animal worship but they are nature worshippers. Their dress, songs, dance, rites and rituals on the occasions of religious and social occasions are the significant part of their culture.They sing and dance commonly on the occasions of sowing the seeds and at the time of harvesting. They celebrate former as a gesture of devotion to the earth goddess which give food for them and later as gesture of thanks and happiness for getting good crops.In the last 60 years, since vanvasi kalyan ashram , has become a part of their lives, this all-India Tribal culture is being been further strengthened as VKA’s aim is to strengthen this culture and at the same time make Tribals aware of their great Indian heritage. This wonderful heritage is symbolized by India’s magnificent Ancient Civilization which took its culture to various parts of the world.

 

History & Objectives
 

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: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.


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  • 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.