A team of IHRF volunteers visits the earthquake affected areas to offer help.

In March, 1999, a disastrous 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck in the sacred Himalayas – causing hundreds of deaths and leaving thousands homeless. Since the pre-dawn hours after the tragedy, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji) has been using all possible resources to assist in disaster relief. He immediately sent IHRF's medical ambulance, doctors and a team of Brahmachari students from Parmarth Niketan up to the disaster - struck region. Over the course of two separate trips, IHRF has (with the cooperation of Parmarth Niketan and lntervida and with the generosity of major donors such as Shri Mafatlal Mehta of Bombay and Mrs. Bina Stevenson of Australia) provided over thousands of families with essential supplies, such as blankets tarpaulins, lanterns, clothes, medicine and food supplies.

Additionally, our survey team has been up to the region four additional times to assess the damage and the possibilities of assistance. We have met with eminent architects and experts in the field of earth- quake-resistant low cost housing.

Further, with the generous assistance of Shri Mufatlal Mehta of Bombay and the Diwaliben Mohanial Mehta Charitable Trust (and all other generous donors), we are planning to institute the "model" village program. In this project, if sufficient funds are available, we will adopt the village of Makku mat and provide homes, schools, playgrounds, a basic hospital, etc. Everything will be built with earthquake – resistant, low cost materials. Hopefully, this will serve as an example and incentive for other Himalayan villages.

IHRF has recently gotten involved in a beautiful "hands-on" way with our injured soldiers from Kargil. These are men who have risked their lives to preserve our dharma, to preserve the integrity and the strength of Bharat Mata.

There is little we can do that adequately expresses our deep gratitude to them. However, as a symbol of our appreciation and of our compassion, members of the IHRF team went to the war hospital in Delhi where they garlanded the soldiers and offered words of appreciation, encouragement and support. Additionally, IHRF has donated Rs. 200,000 to the relief fund for these soldiers.

Further, we are opening 51 new Himalayan schools in the memory and in the name of the brave soldiers who have lost their lives for our Mother India. In this way, their patriotism and courage will live forever and numerous children will be given an education in their honor.

On behalf of all of IHRF, let us all bow our heads and say a prayer for our brothers who are still up in the treacherous mountains. They are selflessly battling not only the enemy, but also the cold, the altitude, the hunger, the isolation and the pain so that we can all hold our heads high as we exclaim, "Bharat Mata ki jai!"

On October 29, 1999, a disastrous cyclone struck the coast of Orissa killing tens of thousand and leaving many more homeless. Many were left without shelter, and thousands of injured and sick are yet to be treated. Orphaned children roam the streets, hungry for a piece of bread, searching for an abandoned sweater.

Pujya Sant Ramesh Oza (Bhaishri), IHRF's Honorary Patron, and Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji), founder / Chairman visited the disaster struck region bringing with them clothes, utensils, food, tarpaulins and blankets for four entire villages. Additionally, they brought inspiration and hope for the future to the people whose lives have been sheltered.

Additionally, the saints pledged that – with the help of the Orissa Gujarati Samaj, Friends of the Tribals Society, and numerous devotees – they would play active roles in the relief effort. To this end, they will re-build homes, build schools and provide water facilities (the areas have been water-less since the tragedy destroyed pipes).

Orphanage in Cuddalore

We are adopting a dilapidated and run-down service center in which 200 impoverished girls and ladies live. They have no dining facilities (they sleep, eat and study in the same hall) and all other facilities are sparse or worse.  On the adjacent land, we will build an orphanage for all children orphaned by the tsunami. We will also build a full dining hall, a computer center, a typing center, a vocational training center and other facilities for the girls/ladies in the social service center, as well as renovate and repair the existing women’s service center. We will create a place where both the children and also the girls/women will benefit greatly.

The foundation laying ceremony for this project took place on the 16 February 2005 by the hands of the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu with the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal and the Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and other dignitaries.