Saputara, DeshGujarat

In a welcome development, Porbandar based Sandipani Vidyapith led by Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza has accepted responsibility of a government school in Saputara in tribal populated Dang district of south Gujarat. Phase-1 development works in school campus that include Bhojan Shala and Conference room were inaugurated by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel in presence of Bhaishri Ramesh Oza, minister Mangubhai Patel, PP Swamy, MLAs of Surat and Dang, donors Shri Taparia(80), Govindbhai Dholakia, Savjibhai Dholakia, Lavji Badshah, social servant Bharatbhai Mangukia, district Collector, DDO and others. Following are the highlights of the function.

Tusharbhai from Sandipani Vidyapith:

In 1992 Rameshbhai Oza started Sandipani Vidyapith. Today 274 children are studying Sanskrit in Bhaishri’s institution. In Sanskrit board exams, out of first 50 ranks, 35 are secured by Sandipani Vidyapith students. Our students clean entire 100 acre campus of Sandipani Vidyapith regularly. Rameshbhai believes that education should be such that it push nation ahead and culture is integral part of any activity. We have started English and Gujarati schools too in Porbandar. There’s Gushala in Sandipani Vidyapith. Only 20% cows give milk, while other are supported by Vidyapith. I urge Chief Minister to include Sandipani Vidyapith of Porbandar in Somnath-Dwarka tourism circuit, as it is located in middle of two. Let travellers halt at Sandipani Vidyapith. Along with mandir, Bhaishri has established Science museum. Bhaishri’s dream is to make Vatican of Sanrkrit here. Bhaishri was born at Devka in Rajula where 1200 students now take education in Vidyapith. One of the students there secured 6th rank in board exam recently. When Gujarat government invited Bhaishri to adopt an institution in tribal Dang district, there was shine witnessed in Bhaishri’s eyes. Whenever there are natural calamities whether Kutch earthquake or Latur earthquake or Himalaya tragedy, Bhaishri and his team has served people. Bhaishri has inspired many temples across the world. Whenever there’s Patotsav or Navratri utsav, Bhaishri organizes medical camps.

Goyanibhai (chief coordinator of project):

Bhaishri says that he would not make a single more mandir. He says he will make institutions. Once when we were coming back from Rajula in car, we saw a naked beggar. Bhaishri asked me to do something for these kind of people. He said he wants to make IAS, IPS from this lot of deprived children. If we need to send them abroad for further education, we will send them there spending our own money. We have started new schools, and found that girls from Ahir community in Porbandar are very bright. We plan to start four new colleges and more schools of different types. That can be possible only with more donation and support from others.

Ramesh Bhai Oza:

Schools should be such that children should like the first bell of school and not last. Each person understands now that change in India can be brought only through education. While government is already working in that direction, it is necessary that voluntary organizations also play their role. Self finance schools that offer quality education in urban areas should spend 1/10th part of income and take care of some rural schools in nearby areas. Some time back, Chief Minister asked me to take care of Saputara school and I told her that I would first ask ‘Thakorji'(God) before saying yes, because donation can be managed, but committed people are difficult to get. Earlier, rural people were moving to Rajula for education, but now there’s new traffic in opposite direction, and people of Rajula now travel to Devka to get education in our recently started Devka Vidyapith. Industrialists should spend 10% of their income for nation. I give utmost importance to availability of nutritious food for rural children here. Because this is their growth period. I am happy that Surat based Savjibhai Dholakia has taken responsibility of food items supply to children here. I always say that there’s no need to build more mandirs where there are already mandirs. There are six religious places per square km against one school according to a survey. We need to change this ratio to start more schools, particularly in rural and tribal areas.

Rameshbhai nominated Savjibhai Dholakia in Surat, Arjanbhai Kangad in Kutch, and humor artist Sairam Dave for cleanliness campaign.

Anandiben Patel:

Pujya Bhaiji has adopted one government school in Saputara. I remember a day when I came here for the first time and visited this school. I had spent three days here in those days, and I visited all government schools in this district. And I thought that some change has to be made here. Government rules are very difficult to change. If you issue orders today, they will come to effect after six months. We decided that schools with less than 30% result should be given to private trusts. We have so far allotted more than 70 schools to private trusts as per this decision. I observe that this school developed here by Bhaiji’s trust is better than some schools in Surat. Today I feel that the decision which was taken amid protest from opposition party was correct. For last two days I am in this area. Pujya Swamiji who was visiting to my office in Gandhinagar again and again in recent past, yesterday showed me all the schools here during my visit to this district. I had given responsibility of Malegav school to him, and I am happy to note that we have got good results. When I went to Pipri yesterday, I performed ground breaking of not one hostel but six hostels. It was a matter of pleasure that donors gave donation for six hostels. Donors and teachers have promised me that by June session, these hostel buildings will be ready. I spent my childhood in Sayajirao Gaekwad’s kingdom. The Baroda state had issued a guideline that a village that constructs building for school on its own will be allotted teacher from state. This was a good initiative because there was local contribution involved. If government makes everything, people start thinking that it is government unit and all responsibilities are with government only. This detachment affects quality of education adversely. I have issued order to allot 7 govt schools in Gandhinagar area that have shown poor result to private institutions. Today evening I am going to Vadodara and I may like to invite donors to take care of schools in tribal Chhota Udepur district.

Official release

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today inaugurated the newly constructed Annapurna Bhavan, Prayer Hall and Hostel of the Sandipani Higher Secondary School (HSC) run by Bharatiya Sanskriti Samvardhak Trust at Saputara in the remote tribal district of Dangs.

Speaking on the occasion, she recalled that when she was the education minister had handed over the management of the school to the trust. Even though this school is situated far away from the busy urban centres, she expressed happiness at the school’s growing into an enviable institution

The Chief Minister firmly asserted that Gujarat Government’s initiative for qualitative improvement in schools, particularly in schools with less passing percentage in the Gujarat State Education Board examination, has raised the standards of education in the state. She appreciated the role of respective school managements, donors and citizens concerned. She reiterated the government’s commitment to provide better educational, residential and health facilities in tribal areas in collaboration with voluntary organizations and donors.

She said that toilets in every home, freeing children from malnutrition, removing inequality, save girl campaign, skill development and promoting tourism could empower women and change the face of the state.

Bhagwat preacher Rameshbhai Oza exuded confidence that the education system in the country would undergo changes as he advocated building more temples of education in spreading knowledge. He compared the efforts in this direction as divine.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Dangs’ In-charge Forest Minister Mangubhai, trustees, society leaders, office-bearers, legislator and students.

© Copyright DeshGujarat. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of any DeshGujarat content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without their prior written consent.