Ashhraya

As is the name and quality of the shelter institution, so is the work. Ashhraya has done commendable work for the development of women and children.

The story of Ashhraya’s onset is stimulating and full of struggle. It was in 1990 when R Suresh Ji was working in the Air Force. He looked very carefully at a bank employee’s 8-year-old child who had mental concerns. He said that you are financially capable and your wife is taking care of this child with great affection. So, you think that just like your son (Ankit), there are many more children who are affected by this type of disability. Together we should do something for such children, which should drastically improve their future. 

We should arrange for the betterment of their education. Then it was realized that this type of work must be done after retirement.

Out of the blue, one day Suresh Ji informed that “I am taking voluntary retirement. After this, the only goal of my life will be to serve the neglected, victimized, resourceless, special children, needy and elderly people.” To make his service successful and enjoyable, he earned many titles and in 2006 he enrolled the organization named Ashhraya. In the year 2010, this institution started functioning.

With the establishment of this institution, the problem started to arise as to how to bring the children of the nearby areas to that location. There was no facility for transportation etc. That problem was solved by taking a loan from the bank. Today 90 children from 32 villages are getting free education with this institution. This organization has made incredible efforts to build the future of children. Presently, this organization is also getting government and non-government assistance.

Additionally, an on-the-spot teaching process has been arranged for hearing-impaired children. Today more than 90 mute and destitute children are being trained. Seeing the efforts of the shelter, the Himachal High Court gave a commendation. After this, the Government of Himachal Pradesh also gave it the title of ‘Shreshth Svaichchhik Sanstha’ (Best Voluntary Institution). The philosophy of the institution is that “where the rational of a common man ends, from there the discernment of our organization begins”. Indeed, there are rules and values of the organization.

There is no cleaning staff working at Ashhraya. In order to develop a sense of dignity and equality for labour, all the employees including the president of the institution perform the cleaning task. Medicinal plants are planted for the protection of the environment.

The resources are used appropriately for the economy, the utility of money and suitable consumption. Along with that, arrangements have also been made to conduct legal discussions with mutual participation to settle the violent exploitation and disputes occurring at the social and family level. This institution also works for the protection of human rights.

Along with the establishment of the institution, four projects of sewa were formed. The first project is related to ensuring schools and housing for special children. The second project is related to the homely assurance of the elderly. The third project is related to providing shelter to destitute, abandoned and orphaned people. The fourth project relates to providing health facilities to sick, abandoned and injured people.

All these projects are entirely functional today. Due to this, the role of the ashram is seen to be important in the building of society and the nation. Thriving on all these dimensions is not an easy job. The Ashram is constantly on the lookout for specially-abled children.

Along with special education, physical activities are also arranged for them. The potential hidden within them is also recognized. Many types of programs are organized to connect these children with the main stream of society.

Another important work done by this organization is to apply pensions to make specially-abled children financially sound. In order to continue working on these dimensions, it’s necessary to maintain the will power of the parents as well. Such that these children are not evaluated as less than the mainstream society. The institution Ashhraya is also engaged in this work.

Seeing these important contributions, the ‘Sant Eshwer Foundation’ has decided to facilitate Ashhraya with the ‘Sant Eshwer Vishisht Seva Samman’ for the year 2019 for child development in rural areas.