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Abstract
SEWA-Rural (Society for Education Welfare and Action - Rural) is a voluntary development organisation functioning in the tribal area of Jhagadia block in Bharuch district of Gujarat since 1980. The founder members of the organisation, inspired by the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, were committed to work for the poorest of the poor. SEWA-Rural initiated its programme of community development with health services and gradually expanded the scope of activities to other services. The major activities of SEWA-Rural in the field of health include (i) hospital service, (ii) managing primary health centre under a unique government-nongovernment partnership, (iii) community health project for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, (iv) comprehensive eye care project and (v) training and resource centre for community health care. The main activities of SEWA-Rural beyond the health field include (i) community based rehabilitation programme for the visually challenged persons, (ii) vocational training of youth and (iii) activities for empowerment of women. In recognition of its admirable service for the rural poor and tribal community, SEWA-Rural has received several awards from different sectors in India and abroad.
INTRODUCTION
SEWA-Rural (Society for Education Welfare and Action - Rural) is a voluntary development organisation functioning in Jhagadia block of Bharuch district in the state of Gujarat. Starting with the activity of community health, the organisation gradually expanded the scope of its operation to other activities for the development of the rural population. The target of all the programmes of SEWA-Rural has been vulnerable sections of the society, viz. the poor in general, tribals, women, children and elderly. Aiming at the overall development of the rural, poor and tribal population, today the organisation has encompassed various fields of action that include hospital, community based outreach health care, comprehensive eye care, health training centre, vocational training institute for rural youth and women development.
The Beginning
SEWA-Rural came into existence on 26 October 1980. It was the realisation of the vision of a group of young doctors and professionals led by Dr. Anil Desai and Dr. Lata Desai who were trained abroad and returned to India to uplift and empower the rural poor. Their enthusiasm to live and work with the poor in remote tribal villages set the beginning of this...