SARVA SEVA SANG, VADAGAONSHRI. Pune 411 014.Estd. 1979.

Sarva Seva Sangh was started in 1976 as an attempt to provide welfare services in the neighbourhood of Divine Word Seminary, Pune, Under the leadership of Richard Vaz. It was known as ‘The Department of Social Work, DWS. Programmes for children and women in the areas of skill training, nutrition and medical care were carried out in a rented place at Sainikwadi.

The project was handed over to a group of scholastics of Divine Word Seminary in June 1978 and in January 1979 it was named Sarva Seva Sanga. It was registered legally as a charitable public trust in the same month. Fr.Edward D’Mello, Rector, was the inspiration behind this project.

I. Community Development Centre

             The following programmes were conducted in the beginning:

             Mother and child health programme: tuition classes; Medical assistance; Women’s welfare; prayer services in families; skill training and employment assistance and guidance.

            The responsibility to establish Sarva Seva Sangh was given to Cletus Colaco who bought a piece of land in Vadgaonsheri got an administrative office constructed and laid a strong foundation for what was to happen in the future. The administrative office was built in Vadgaonsheri in 1980 and blessed on 8^th June 1981. Cletus Colaco having completed everything needed to begin the project, handed over the responsibility to Vijay Amalraj, the new Director, Amalraj bought one more piece of land. Leveled the land and gave a shape to the property. Cyprian lewis took over from Amalraj in 1983. 

            Lawrence Corea, along with his responsibilities at Divine Word Seminary, was the first priest to be appointed Director of SSS. 

            Two students stayed at the Centre every year and pursued their studies at JDV from SSS.

            Fr.Lawrence Corea was the first resident priest at S.S.S. from 1984 to 1987.

            Fr.Bernard Rodrigues, along with being procurator at Ishvani Kendra, was the Director from 1987 to 1990. 

The following programmes were conducted at the Centre till 1990. 

            Balwadi Classes

            Typewriting

            Shorthand

            Tailoring

            Embroidery

            Spoken English

II. Rehabilitation of Alcoholics and Drug – Addicts: January 1992

             On the 5^th of January 1992, a new concept in the field of de-addiction incorporated itself at Sarva Seva Sangh. Alcoholism and drug addiction had proliferated and laid a firm stranglehold on the welfare and progress of many sections of the community. There was an urgent need of handling this all-too-serious problem effectively SSS came forward to face the challenge. It set itself the task of mobilising and putting to work all available means and personnel in fulfilling this need. In a small room of SSS the project quietly took shape, by uniting and co-ordinating the efforts a capable and highly motivated task forces was formed.

            The programme of action was extensively researched and formulated to benefit the largest possible number of persons in need of it in the process, it was decided that most of these would neither be able to afford, not due to their being employed, be able to accommodate any kind of indoor treatment. OPD (out patient department) treatment was, therefore, called for, while other organizations advise 3 or 6 months indoor treatment, SSS achieves more success through OPD treatment or 10 days of indoor treatment only.

   SSS based the essential basis of the treatment programme upon the involvement of the patient’s entire family in the recovery process and this entails frequent home visits and constant feed back on the patient’s progress. Inspite of limited resources and facilities, this programme has flourished. From an intial admission of five patients, it now handles over 2100 patients under various stages of treatment. The emphasis is on poor addicts as they are the ones who cannot afford the expenses of medical treatment. The patients are treated with a holistic approach. The service offered is totally free except in the case of Indoor treatment.

       The medical programmes are also conducted with the intention of reaching these facilities which otherwise are not so easily available, to the poor considering the quality of the service rendered. This good quality service, where each person is treated with good care is applicable to all the medical units, the general clinic which runs in the mornings through the week, skin clinic, dental clinic (there are three well qualified dentists with modern instruments who run the dental department) also operates from Mondays through Saturdays, the ophthalmology, homeopathy, physiotherapy, accupressure and yoga. We conduct animation programmmes to consciencetize the people about their rights and to help them improve their life qualitatively.

At present this programme encompasses the following facilities :- 

1. OPD Department (Most of the patients are treated under O.P.D.)

2. A Detoxification Unit

3. Personal and Group Counselling

4. Regular home visit (three years for each patient)

5. Awareness programme, campaign

We have a Legal Cell where legal advice is given to the poor and the underprivileged.  Three advocates volunteer their services at this cell.

Initially formed to treat substance abusers from the immediate localiaty, the Centre’s activities include all sections of Pune, and also from far- flung areas of the states of Goa, Maharashtra, M.P. and Karnataka.

Phase III: 

            J. Felix was appointed Director of SSS, along with his responsibilities in Divine Word Seminary in 1990. an evaluation was conducted on the programme and activities of SSS. It was decided by Fr. Gregory Pinto, the Chairman, Fr. Bernard Rodrigues, the former director and J. Felix the present director, to expand the activities of the Centre, making it a ‘frontier’ organization more relevant, helping people to face the contemporary problems.

III. Rehabilitation of Street Children June 1993 

            Moved by pity, love concern and responsibility towards the abandoned, abused, destitute exploited, neglected, orphan, runaway children on the streets, railway platforms and trains, we decided to be of some help to them. It was the beginning of our relationship with the street children of Pune in 1993. We wanted to cater to their genuine needs through counseling, dialogue, education, training, institution alisation, medical care, motivation, nutrition, recreational facilities, reunification with the families, to inculcate the concept of value for life, dignity for work, to develop values, to create self confidence. Self reliance and faith in God. Others and themselves that they lead a dignified independent and normal life. Our main aim was to integrated them the main stream of life.

We offer :

            Socio support

counseling,

education/training

medical assistance

recreation

rehabilitation

reunification with the family

social protection and legal aid

supplementary nutrition

and SHELTER HOME.

The staff of SSS visit these children on the platform daily and offer them counseling. They try to motivate these children so that they do not victim to many negative elements in life. These children lead an aimless, free and direction lesslife. They have been masters of themselves, taking decisions, however unreasonable and illogical may be as they were so conviced of and feeling very much at home with their thought patterns, ways of living, it has taught us to be patient, compassionate tolerant and nonjudgemental. Our efforts have standard producting fruits. 

            Shelter Home: Those children who want to discontinue their life on the platform/street are provided with shelter home felicities.

            Many children have been given driving licence (four wheel)

Many are placed in various hostels to continue their education

Many have been helped to start petty business

Our effort to alleviate their plight and give them a semblance of a chance in life.

IV. Lifeskills Programme (Awareness, Counselling in Schoold) 1995