Anjali is voluntary organization founded in 1988 to work primarily for underprivileged communities in rural areas. A broad range of activities that Anjali carries out from its campus in Ranasan include healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, children & youth development and overall rural development in Sabarkantha and Aravalli districts of Gujarat. Currently the three major components of Anjali’s work include healthcare services through rural hospital in Ranasan, women’s empowerment program and environmental enrichment program.
In a digital age and global trade, Indian economy currently has the distinction of being one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The expanding economy has allowed India’s middle class to grow and prosper. In view of this economic reality, it’s hard to believe that there is a large segment of Indian population that has not shared fruits of this new found prosperity yet. In fact, some groups and tribes have been left out of the socio-economic fabric of the society for so long that they don’t have the tools or mental capacity to think what they can do to gradually change the conditions they live in. It is this primarily rural population in a fairly well defined geographical area of north Gujarat that Anjali carries out its multi-dimensional activities.
The founders of Anjali being health professionals, the activities started with health services to which activities related to educational, women’s empowerment and environmental enrichment were added later.
Presently Anjali is based on a 3 acre campus in Ranasan, a village in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat state. The campus has a 75 bed Anjali Hospital, Center for Community based development Action , Administrative offices, activity space and residential accommodation for essential staff workers , community kitchen and guest rooms.
The present activities include health care services provided through the hospital, women’s program in surrounding 48 villages, Adolescent girls program in 10 surrounding villages and environmental enrichment, presently with tree plantation program. The poor, neglected and underprivileged people are the main beneficiaries Anjali is working for and therefore its activities are directed to benefit them.
Hospital services are highly subsidised, some services are provided free of charge or with special concessions for the poor. There is a major outreach service component spread over two districts and 13 talukas.
The hospital since inception has provided following services:
OPD patients seen
| 1182567 patients
|
INDOOR patients admitted
| 73244 patients
|
EYE OPERATIONS performed
| 15473 operations
|
SURGICAL OPERATIONS performed
| 10256 operations
|
DELIVERIES ( child birth) conducted
| 12146 child births
|
Educational activities empowering women are spread over 48 interior villages in five talukas and two districts. Women coming from the homes of farm labourers and marginal farmers are the beneficiaries of this activity. In 10 such villages there is an adolescent program for girls. The women activity is on a platform of Savings Groups. Long term savings with availability of loans has made a significant difference in providing financial security to these families.
Districts
| 2
|
Taluka
| 5
|
Villages
| 48
|
Saving Groups
| 128 groups
|
Women Members
| 1622 members
|
Total Savings
| Rs. 15000000.00
|
Total Loan Taken
| Rs. 45000000.00
|
No of members took loan
| 5761 members (repeat loans included)
|
Tree plantation and water body development were taken up later as the need for proactive efforts to sustain & enrich environment became obvious all over the world. Anjali has planted more than 4500 trees, with tree guards and being taken care of round the year.
Based on the support it receives from the public and private sectors, Anjali will be adding another component to its activities which will focus on children and youth. Its activities will include skill development, sports and non-formal educational activities.
Activities of Anjali are not funded by the government. The hospital generates a small income that pays for a small percentage of the expenses. The majority of the expenses are paid through individual , institutional and corporate donations. It is because of these donations and assistance from charitable organisations that Anjali has been able to work smoothly and unhindered over the years.
There is ample scope for volunteers to provide their services, and anyone interested in doing so should get in touch. Endowment donations will help the organization plan activities at least over the next five years as there will be an assured income to make up the annual deficit from activities.