Education Support to Deprived Children Health Rural Development Program Animal Care Dharma Donkey Sanctuary Honors and Awards Sanskriti Samvardhan Mandal Nurturing Plants & Children with Equal Concern S.S.M., a rural voluntary organization was founded in 1959 by Mr. K.N. Deshmukh, who donated 100 Acres of his own land as he was craving to remove the darkness of ignorance, poverty and superstitions. A school was initially setup for educating and enlightening children in the area, which had then no school in the radius of 50 k.m. The school, which started with 36 students and a few huts has now grown enormously into a two story, well equipped school building and a hostel accommodating 1600 rural boys and girls. Since its inception S.S.M. has been adapting itself to the changing times and social needs of the area. S.S.M.'s dynamic attitude has culminated into its long journey from a small educational institution to a Voluntary organization working for and with people in the fields of education, community Health, Environment, Women's organization, Care for children - especially the orphan & under privileged, Low cost - Social Housing and now the Animal Care, for integrated Rural Development S.S.M is now all geared-up to face the challenges of the new millennium.  Education S.S.M. facilitates education from preliminary to under graduate level for about 4000 rural boys and girls, most of whom are accommodated in 11 hostels. Technical and Vocational education is imparted with an objective to help them become self employed. There is also a separate well equipped unit for educating mute children. More over, to acquaint the children with the hidden treasure of knowledge in the scriptures, Ved Vyas Sanskrit Medium School has been started. While the technical section provides education in traditional trades like carpentry, moulding, smithy, repairs of electrical & electronic appliances etc. The Bonny Shah Computer Training Centre makes children computer literate to help them keep pace with the changing time.  Support to Deprived Children S.S.M. supports a number of poor children to enable them to get good education. There are separate hostels for juvenile children accommodating 200 boys and 50 girls respectively. S.S.M. provides home to 108 orphan children through the S.O.S. Children's village with 12 children homes. Each home is independent and has 3 rooms with a mother to look after 9 children. Here, unlike in a hostel, the children really feel at home. In 1989, a U.S. based couple, Mr. Ratilal & Mrs. Bonny Shah, visited the school and were very impressed by the work and atmosphere. It was with their initiative and generous cooperation that the U.S. sponsorship program was started to support economically poor children. At present there are 52 U.S. based foster parents, supporting 183 needy boys and girls, thanks to persuasive efforts of the Shahs. There are still a number of children who need support. The amount sent by the sponsors is utilized for purchasing books, notebooks, educational materials, uniforms, etc for the sponsored children. After the completion of their education in the school, support is given for their further education to enable them to earn their own living. There is a regular communication between the children and their parents creating an emotional bond between them.  Health S.S.M. set up a 24 bed hospital - Champaben National Hospital in 1991 with the generous support of the Shahs of U.S.A. The hospital facilitates health care to the 4000 children in the campus. The other main activities of the hospital include Health care, Diagnostic and treatment camps, Sterilization program, Health Awareness camps for people in 20 adjoining villages covering a population of about 20,000. With an objective to revitalize the rich old Indian heritage of medicine. S.S.M. conducts diagnostic and treatment camps on Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Naturopathy and Yoga.  Rural Development Programme Though S.S.M. was established for education, it has always faced the challenges and catered to the needs of the community. In the last forty years, many such programmes have been started. We have started adult & informal education centers in 30 villages with an objective to literate adult men and women, reconnecting the school drop-outs. Kishori Vikas Programme for teen aged girls familiarizing them with social, cultural, sex education and the system of Panchayti raj. The activity like kitchen garden not only enables them to get nutritious food but also generates income for them. Through the self help groups we have formed about 100 women's groups covering about 2000 women. The women meet monthly, collect a small amount of Rs. 15 to 25 per head per month, disburse the amount to needy women of the group, if an, otherwise deposit it in the bank. This has not only made them aware of the banking system, but also fulfilled their local home needs. S.S.M has constructed about 450 low cost houses for the needy poor families, for the families affected by natural calamities, with support from the government and a few Indian as well as foreign funding agencies. S.S.M. runs a center for rural youth to update their skill in business and a demo center in agriculture, imparting improved technologies in dryland agriculture, horticulture, organic farming, water management and new irrigation techniques. The watershed development programme involving soil and water conservation was started with an objective of natural resource development. It has covered 7 villages with an area of 4500 Ha. and 1350 families.  Animal Care Realizing the importance of Animal Care - along with child care, S.S.M. has recently started an Animal Care Programme. This includes mainly dog sterilization camps which aim at not only checking the number of stray dogs but also preventing rabies. The programme also aims at creating a sense of animal love in children.  Dharma Donkey Sanctuary Donkey is still one of the major means of transportation of farm produce, construction material, etc in this area. As almost everywhere in the world, donkey in this area is the most neglected animal, abused even by its master, in spite of being the most useful animal. Moved by the plight of donkeys the D.D.S. has been set up. The Donkey Sanctuary project is being initiated & supported by Mr. Ratilal and Mrs. Bonny Shah of U.S.A. & Mrs. Rita Vizirani, People for Animals, Mumbai. The D.D.S. is an independent trust. The sanctuary covers an area of 16 Acres of land adjoining the hill forest. The sanctuary was inaugurated on the 12th of January, 2000 at the auspicious hand of the great environmentalist Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, The Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice and empowerment, Govt of India. The activities of the sanctuary, which is still at infant stage, include providing shelter and medical care to old, wounded, pregnant and sick donkeys. Creating a sense of compassion for donkeys and other animals in the community in general and children in particular, making people aware of their duty towards animals, especially in preventing epidemics in animals through vaccination programs. It needs necessary infrastructure like a well equipped vet hospital, shelter, veterinary medical and paramedical staff, staff quarters, water supply, electricity, ambulance, etc. Contributions from the animal lovers in this context are welcome.  Honors & Awards Indian Merchants Chamber Platinum Jubilee Employment Generation 1998 Dalit Mitra Welfare of downtrodden 1985 Sane Guruji Child welfare 1992 Balkalyan National Child Welfare Award 1992 Indira Priyadarshani (National) Environment 1995 Best Teacher (National) Teaching 1986 Fie Foundation Betterment of downtroddens 1997 Bhagwan Mahaveer Vegetarian Diet 1997 Marathwada Bhushan Social Work 1996 Six Times National Award in Science Exhibition (NCERT) Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Award for propagation of Sanskrit