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ABOUT US
Basic
Information
Settled on 27th March, 1971 by His Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji
II in memory of his father His Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singhji
for charitable purposes to include education, medical relief and
relief to the poor.
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Registered
Office : Umaid Bhawan Palace,
Jodhpur – 342006
Rajasthan
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Tele
# : (0291) 2511586, 2511199, 2510101
Fax # : 91-0291-2510928, 2510100
E-mail veerni@datainfosys.net
/ veerni@sify.com
Registration Information
(i) Date of Execution of Trust Deed : 27/03/1971
(ii) Date of Registration of Trust Deed : 05/07/1971
(iii) Number and date of registration under Rajasthan Public
Trust Act; 1959 : 110 – dated 13/12/1974
(iv) Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 1976 Registration No. &
Date : 125610034 - dated 05/06/2002
Board of Trustee
- His
Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji - Managing Trustee
- Her Highness Maharani Hemlata Rajye
- Trustee
- Padma Bhushan Shri R. K. Martand
Singhji - Trustee
(INTACH & Chairman UK Trust)
- Shri Lekh Raj Mehta - Trustee
(Advocate Rajasthan High Court)
- Shri Sharad Bhandari - Trustee
(Industrialist & Social Worker)
Management
- Brigadier
(Retd.) Shakti Singh - General Manager
- Sh. Hari Singh Champawat - Secretary
- Sh. Pradeep Gandhi - Accountant
- Sh. Pradeep Ganglani - PA to the
General Manager
Contact
Person
Brigadier Shakti Singh
General Manager
Umaid Bhawan Palace,
Jodhpur
Tel: +91-291-2511586, 2511199, 2510101
Fax: +91-291-2510928,2510100
Email: veerni@datainfosys.net
/ veerni@sify.com
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
Providing
Succor to the Needy
Maharaja Gaj Singhji’s involvement in social welfare activities
was aroused when he personally saw the condition of poor rural population
of the Thar Desert during the severe drought of 1980’s. Realising
that the Govt’s efforts were not enough and in any case they were
not reaching the most needy, he resolved to take help from his friends
and started drought relief programmes on emergent basis. Since then,
His Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable Trust has been
continuously working in rural areas with a view to raise the level
of living standard as also to provide much needed succour during
ever repeating famine years.
Drought Years 1985-1990
During the drought years of 1985 to 1990, the Trust took emergent
famine relief works in Western Rajasthan to meet the immediate requirements
of food, water, medical, relief and health and brought much needed
succour to the people of the Thar Desert The Trust continued its
programme which included nutrition, medical health & immunisation;
drinking water; tree plantation, education & economic upliftment
of women, opium de-addiction with financial support from Save the
Children Fund & His Highness’s friends in the United Kingdom.
Promoting Girls’ Education
The Trustees, at the behest of H.H. Rajmata Krishna Kumari Sahiba,
started a unique activity by opening a Girls’ Hostel to enable the
poor rural girls to complete their schooling in safe and secure
environment at Desuri in the premises of the personal property of
His Highness Maharaja of Jodhpur on 07th August, 1987 (click here
to see more information). Subsequently, in July 1992 Rajmata Krishna
Kumari Girls Public School was started at Jodhpur, which has been
progressively upgraded to the senior secondary level offering science,
commerce and humanities (For more info please click here). The Trust
in collaboration with Global Foundation for Humanity UK & USA
started a new initiative during 2005-2006 to start a girls hostel
at Jodhpur for poor rural girls with a view to acquaint them with
urban environment as also to motivate them for college education
(click here for more info)
Activities as PIA
With a view to find a permanent solution to drought through sustainable
rural development, His Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable
Trust was registered as a Project Implementation Agency in March,
1997 with the District Rural Development Agency, Jodhpur and with
funds provided by the State Govt. successfully implemented 21 Sand
Dune Stabilisation Projects costing approx. Rs. 1 Crore and one
Watershed Development Project costing Rs. 25 lacs.
Droughts – 1999-2000 & 2000-2001
During the drought years of 1999-2000 & 2000-2001 around 30
villages were selected as the target group for trust’s activities.
The Famine Relief Works were carried out in collaboration with Her
Highness Rajdadiji Smt. Badan Kanwar Medical Trust with financial
support from Global Foundation for Humanity (UK), the Marwar Foundation;
UK (a Trust settled by His Highness), ITC and various other philanthropists.
The summary of activities carried out was:-
* To provide water security, during 1999-2000 three nadies were
desilted at a cost of approx. Rs. 4.75 lacs, sixteen hand pumps
were provided at a cost of approx. Rs. 6.00 lacs and two open wells
at a cost of approx. Rs. 1.90 lacs.
* To sustain and conserve cattle wealth of the people; veterinary
cover was provided at subsidized rates at a cost of Rs. 0.50 lac.
Sums of Rs. 14 lacs and Rs. 7 lacs were spent on providing cattle
feed and fodder respectively.
* To combat onslaught of malnutrition due to drought; nutritional
additives food packets amounting to Rs. 5 lacs were distributed
free of cost to pregnant and lactating mothers and children below
six years of age. Free medical cover including immunization was
provided to all.
Drought Proofing Initiative – Project
Sahyog
The Trust, in coopeation with Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai resolved
to launch a unique initiative to combat droughts on permanent basis
and chose a cluster of 16 villages in Balesar Panchayat Samiti of
Shergarh Tehsil in Jodhpur Dist with a mission to “drought proof
a cluster of selected villages by effecting interventions to include
construction of groundwater recharging; construction of water sources
for drinking water, providing diversified livelihood opportunities
through improved agricultural practices including livestock rearing,
dairy, poultry, mushroom farming as also capacity building in other
areas through micro financing and self help group activities resulting
in sustainable resource management through community participation.”
The project aimed at creating an oasis and if successful replicate
the model to create a chessboard of Oases which would support the
adjoining areas during the droughts (click
here for details).
Natural Disaster Relief Programme – Operation
Sahayata
The Trust has been providing relief in the event of any natural
disaster. The Trust supported another NGO in Gujarat by providing
financial support during the Gujarat Earthquake. The Thar Desert
is uniquely prone to droughts. In a cycle of four year, it is normal
to have one good year and three years of drought.
During the severe drought of 2002-2003, the Trust launched Operation
Sahayata with support from Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai with the
aim of providing subsistence to the most needy people and animals
providing drinking water, cattle feed, in situ veterinary cover
as also food security for the destitutes in the worst effected tehsils
of Jodhpur. The programme was repeated during the droughts of 2003-04
as also 2005-06 (click here for details).
During the monsoons of 2006, the districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer
experienced continuous downpour resulting in an unimaginable severe
floods in the Thar desert submerging villages in 20 to 25 ft of
water. Gushing water washed away many villages taking with it flocks
of sheep and goats as also cattle. The Trust, with support from
Sir Ratan Tata Trust Mumbai and other philanthropists launched Operation
Sahayata IV to resettle the effected people (
click here for details)
Eye Care Programme – Project Netra Drishti
A large population of the desert suffer from various eye diseases
due to dust and scorching heat. The Trust in co-operation with the
Stitching Shared Vision, Netherlands, launched an eye care programme
– Project Netra Drishti during the year 2005, which is continuing
( click here for details ).
Sheep & Wool Development Programme
Western Rajsthan produces most of meat and wool required by the
country. Unfortunately, the sheep breeders continue to adhere to
their age old methods of sheep rearing and inbreeding has resulted
in degeneration of breed thereby causing economic loss to the breeders.
The Trust with support from the Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India
has launched a project to improve the breed by introducing quality
rams and introducing the modern methods of sheep rearing (click
here for details)
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