Projects

Immediately following the tragic tsunami of December 26, 2004, Pujya Swamiji, Vivek Oberoi, Sadhvi Bhagwati, Rishikumars from the Parmarth Gurukul and Vivek Oberoi’s family travelled down to South India. Upon seeing the devastation wrought upon the land and the people, Pujya Swamiji knew they needed to stay and offer not only short term assistance but also long term permanent relief.

Our extensive and comprehensive relief work included the immediate emergency measures as well as permanent reconstruction of entire villages and the construction of an orphanage, school, medical centre and women’s training centre.

The final stage of the work was completed and inaugurated on May 12, 2007. IHRF’s orphanage which we built for the tsunami orphans as well as facilities for over 300 children who had been orphaned prior to the tsunami was inaugurated by H.E. The Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Surjit Singh Barnalaji with Pujya Swamiji.

The orphanage includes dormitory facilities, school rooms, a computer centre, medical room, beautiful kitchen and dining facilities, a vocational training centre and more. It has been built on the same land as the previously existing home for approximately 200 widowed/abandoned ladies which we also beautified. In this way, the orphaned children will receive in addition to the staff, mothers, aunts, grandmothers and older sisters; the ladies will receive the priceless gift of caring for orphaned children. IHRF has also built a vocational training centre for the ladies, and the new huge dining/kitchen facilities are shared by both the children and the ladies.

Immediate emergency relief measures included the following:

• Construction of 100 new temporary homes Establishment and running of 7 community kitchens where thousands of families received fresh, hot meals including milk for children
• Medical relief centres operated at each of these kitchens
• Playground for the children
• Free eye and cataract operation camp for thousands of villagers
• Wide scale distribution of necessities to thousands of people including food, water, clothing, cooking supplies, shoes, sheets, etc.
• Repair of more than 100 boats and purchase of 15 new boats.