The Ramakrisna Vivekananda Mission (RVM)

Introduction
The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission, (RVM) RVM was established as a charitable organization, in Barrackpore, West Bengal, India. The Mission was founded in 1976, by Swami Nityananda, Former Principal, Rahara Ramakrishna School. Chairman of Board of Governors is Justice, Ajit Kumar Nayak, Former Judge, High Court, Calcutta

Purpose
RVM's purpose is to provide education for abandoned, neglected and abused children irrespective of caste, creed, color and religion.

Objectives
The Mission's principal objective is the social and economic rehabilitation of destitute and distressed children by helping them:

  • develop a healthy mind and body.
  • find away of earning for themselves at least a modest, but honest living.
  • securing them a place of honor and dignity in society.

    More than 1,100 destitute children live in hostels at the Mission The children are provided:

  • Accommodations
  • Health care
  • Education
  • Nourishment
  • Clothing
  • High Quality Education

    The high quality of education attracts well-to-do families who pay tuition for their children to attend school at the Mission. More than 5,000 children attend school at the Mission as paying students. 1,000 orphaned children attend the same school and have the same educational opportunities. Regardless of economic differences, all the children study, eatand play side by side without discrimination.
    RVM's Principal is Hari Mararaj, former Principal of Narendrapur School.

    Education
    RVM emphasizes education and the learning of skills. To accomplish this, currently there are:

  • 75 school rooms
  • 240 full time teachers
  • 18 part-time teachers
    Based on their aptitude, children are directed toward training in a trade or higher education.

    Madhyamik Test
    Of the 35 destitute children who took the Madhyamik test, last year:

  • 25 passed in the first division.
  • 10 passed in the second division
  • None of the children failed.

    Success stories
    One of the graduates of the Mission has completed his medical degree. Two others are in engineering school now.

    Social Welfare The value of the Mission's work has been recognized by the Indian Government. The Mission was given The National Award for Social Welfare by Government of India, Ministry of Social Welfare (1984) Ministry of Human Resource, Department of Women and Child Development (1992) The Indian government however, provides very little financial support to the Mission.

    The Human Development Foundation has chosen to fulfil its purpose by supporting the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission through program development and financial contributions.

    Healthcare Program (1999)
    The Health Program is being developed under the guidance of B.N. Ghosh, M.D. Dr. Ghosh is the retired Director of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, India. Former Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health. Former General Secretary of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine Authored 60 original papers in several areas of health services and its management.

    Advisor to the program is Dr. Forrest Adams Dr. Adams is a retired Medical Doctor and Head of Cardiology at the University of California at Los Angeles. Dr. Adams specialized in pediatric cardiology and public health in developing countries throughout Asia. He is the author of a leading text book on the subject.

    A Medical staff has been hired to establish the Health Care Program for all of the children at the Mission. 1 medical doctor and 3 nurses are currently serving on staff. Health screening is presently underway. More that 300 children have had medical examinations this year. By June 30th all of the children will have full health evaluations and health records. The entire staff of care-givers and food service personnel, at the Mission, are also undergoing health screening. The Mission's efforts are exemplary and more resources are needed to insure the children's well being and future by continuing to improve living conditions:
    Pilot Project
    Upgrade the healthcare of the children and their living facilities at 2 hostels. The purpose of this project is to create models that can serve a template for improving the healthcare of the children and their living facilities. The intention is to replicated these conditions at all hostels.

  • Two Hostels - One boys and one girls with 20 children in each building
  • Repair and refurbish facilities
  • Provide a save and healthy environment
  • Sanitation
  • Train care-givers, and children in basic hygiene.
  • Train food service workers in safe handling of food.
  • Nutrition
  • Provide food with increased nutritional value.
  • Increase caloric content of meals.
  • Educational Materials
  • Textbooks for each child.