Through the divine generosity of Shri Ramnikbhai Solanki and his family from London (editors / publishers of Garavi gujarat) a van / ambulance has been purchased and speciality built, The ambulance-cum-school bus is in the loving memory of Smt. Smita Thakker, a divine and beautiful soul whose love will always be with us and whose memory will live forever.

This van serves two main purposes. First is to bring children from further rural regions to our schools in Rishikesh and Rani Pokhri. Instead of building dozens of little schools, one for each community, we have decided it is more efficient to bring children together, into a few schools, where we can really concentrate on the quality of education.

However, the villagers have no means of transport – even public conveyances do not traverse these region. Thus, this van will allow children from even the most rural communities to attend school and obtain the gift of education and culture. Additionally, it will allow physically handicapped children (who could not walk to school) to attend.

The second purpose of this van is as an ambulance, to bring emergency medical care to otherwise home-hound impoverished patients. The patients are either treated directly in their homes, though frequent medical camps, or they are transported to the nearest hospital where they can obtain proper care.

Disaster Relief

Since its inauguration in February, 1999, this school bus / ambulance has aved the lives of numerous people. first, during Maha Shivaratri in February, a jeep plunged off the high cliffs, 250 meters down into the Ganga, at midnights! the Parmarth ambulance was immediately called, resulting in 3 lives being saved. The doctor was able to provide emergency first-aid on the scene and to rush the victims to the hospital.

Then, in march, there was a 6.8 earthquake up in the Himalayan region of Chamoli and Rudra Prayag. More than 200 lives were lost and several thousand were left injured and homeless. As soon as we heard the news of the devastating effects, Pujya Swamiji sent the mobile van along with 2 doctors, medicines, blankets, tarpaulins, food supplies, dried milk etc, to provide disaster relief to hundreds who were suffering in the Himalayas.

Our progress is wonderful and is only possible though the blessings of Pujya Swamiji and the grace of God. However, we need your help. School expenses are recurring – day by day, month by month, year by year. New children enter, uniforms are outgrown or get torn, books become so old as to be unusable, a rainy season destroys a roof. Additionally, so many more schools (including junior and high schools, typing / computer centers, orphanages, handicapped children's programs) could be opened if only the financial resources were available.