Activity Report of GLP Social Circle, Guwahati

G.L.P. Social Circle was established in the year 1989 and the society was registered in the same year under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. The societies office is situated under the District of Kamrup, Assam at G.L.P. Complex, Ulubari, Guwaahti-781007.

The objectives for which the society was established are to take up social services & to render services for the welfare of mankind.

The major activities of our Organization since its registration under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 are as follows:

(1)   Installed roadside signboard on permanent basis in Guwahati, Nagaon, Tezpur, Jorhat and Sibsagar with the object of helping the public at large to identify the particular place at a glance since financial year 1990.

(2)   Day and night services of vans which are known as ‘SWARGRATH’ for carrying the dead body to the cremation ground located at Bhutnath, Nabagraha and other places in Guwahati are provided and the said day and night services are still continuing.

(3)   Our Organization also started Ambulance services in the year 1994 and such Social services are still continuing.

(4)   Our Organization donated Rs.4.70 Lakhs to Vivekananda Medical Research Centre to provide Medical services to the victims of Latur Earth Quake in the year 1993.

(5)   We provided relief to the victims of Gujrat Earth Quake in the year 2001. We also provided relief to the victims of fire at Bhutnath area in the year 1995 and at Bishnupur area in Guwahati in the year 2001. Our Organization provided relief to the flood victims of Assam in the year 1998. Financial assistance of Rs.4.50 Lakhs was also extended to the near relatives of Kargil Saheed in the year 1999. Our Organization never logged behind for extending services for the welfare of the people.

PUBLICATIONS

(1)   Published JONAKI, an important Assamese journal/magazine in the year 1999.

(2)   Published VYATITWA SURABHI, a rare collection of all noted social workers of Assam who left this universe in 2000. Under-taken publication of VISHWAKOSH, an encyclopedia of Assamese literature in collaboration with Assam Sahitya Sabha (the Highest Literal body of Assamese language).

(3)   Our Organization published SRI RAM CHARIT MANAS in collaboration with Purbottar Marwari Sanmelan in Assamese during the year 2006.

Development Works for People & Services to the People :

(a)    During the year 2000 onwards the society had taken up the project for beautification of BHUTNATH SHASHAN and renovation of NAVAGRAHA SHASHAN with maintenance which are continuing with the help of well wishers till today.

(b)   Our Organization constructed a Bus Stand at Doordarshan Kendra Bus Stoppage at Guwahati in the year 2001 for public use.

(c)    The Society had under-taken the construction work of old Hanuman Mandir on G.S. Road, Guwahati during the year 2005.

(d)   The Society established a Dispensary at “Bhutnath Campus” during the year 2004 and providing services of free medical check-up for both Allopathy and Homeopathy together with supplying medicines free of cost to poor and BPL (Below Poverty Line) patients. The Pathology Lab was established in the year 2006. The Laboratory testing are done free of cost for BPL (Below Poverty Line) patients and at concessional rate (i.e. below 50% to 60% rate charged by other path, centers) for poor people. Our Organization is rendering such services till today. Details of services rendered are as overleaf:

Beneficiaries

	2008-2009	2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013
Patients for checkup with free medicines/ Allopathy	9569	-	-	-	-
Homeopathy	5311	5413	5379	5737	5846
Dressing	516	219	274	303	299
Pulse Polio	289	384	366	372	355
Free oxygen service	93	102	109	113	120
Free Health check-up with Medicine during Ambubasi Mela at Kamakhya Temple	1103	1216	1198	1206	1107
Pathology (concessional rate)	509	325	-	-	-
Pathology (Free of charge)	116	97	-	-	-

(e)    “Bhutnath” is a cremation ground which is located in A.T. Road, Guwahati since a long time. The ground was under-developed and people faced lots of problem during the funeral time. The Members of the society made up their minds to develop the place and accordingly approached Guwahati Municipal Corporation for renovation of the ground. A Memorandum of Understanding was executed. In the initial stage the total area of Bhutnath cremation ground was in very bad shape like an open space and there was no facilities for sitting during funeral time (which takes 2 to 3 hours). No facility was available for drinking water and the place was dirty with full of mosquitoes before our organization had undertaken the responsibility for development. Accordingly a Project namely “Project for Bhutnath Development” was undertaken and land development was done with the construction of boundary wall around the ground in its initial stage.

After completion of boundary wall the ground was developed. Further the floor was developed with marbles and tiles. Sitting arrangement had been made for people with drinking water facilities by way of installing water cooler systems. Proper lighting system was made spreading the entire area of Bhutnath cremation ground.

The exhausted park with a pond was developed. Tree plantations are made in the entire area of Bhutnath Cremation ground to make the area suitable for the visiting people for taking rest under the trees. Various flower plants are also planted in the area which is a part of beautification project as undertaken by our organization in the Bhutnath area. Arrangement has also been made for cleaning the rests of the “Dead Bodies” after funeral taken place with water. Cremation ground has also been developed in such way so that service of funeral may be concluded quickly without causing any difficulties to others. As a result of such action taken by our organization “Bhutnath Cremation area” is now becoming popular to the people not only as a place for funeral/ cremation but the area starts attracting the people as a place for enjoyment and recreation with the kith & kin.

The paintings of various Goddess were made on the walls. Statutes of God & Goddess were erected. Beautification and Development works of Bhutnath are still continuing. Temples of Goddess Kali & Lord Siva were also constructed.

(f)    Our organization undertook the work of the renovation and beautification with dedicated efforts which have arrived at nearing completion with modern look. Electrification and a shaded path leading to the actual cremation site had been completed. All these works made Bhutnath Crematorium as one of the best cremation ground in the State of Assam where Dead persons may be given a dignified farewell amidst the pleasant surroundings of five “Mandirs/Temples” “Bhajan”s is recited in the premises of Kali Mandir, Siva Mandir, Mahakal Mandir and underground Kal Bhairab Mandir which bring bliss of peace in mind of those who performed cremation of the dead persons. Besides “Prasad” is also distributed out of the “Bhog” prepared in the Mandirs and distributed on Saturday, Tuesday, Sunday etc.

(g)   The cremation ground situated near Silpukhuri was also developed by our organization. The old boundary wall was repaired and completed the construction of incomplete boundary wall. Drinking water facilities was arranged and lighting system was installed. The investment of few lakhs was made for providing multiple facilities to the people with the financial assistance from the people.

(h)   Our organization had taken up the project for expansion of existing Hanuman Mandir at G.S. Road which was very old one. The Hanuman Mandir is very renowned where hundreds of people visit the Hanuman Mandir every day for worship. The project was started in the year 2005 the said expansion work is still continuing. Various religious programmes are conducted by our organization every year viz. Hanuman Jayanti Celebration, Shivratri Celebration, Durga Puja Celebration, Diwali Celebration, Lakshmi Puja and Biswakarma Puja Celebration.

Devotees visit Mandir with beliefs that their expectations become fulfilled with the visiting and worshiping of God Hanuman in Mandir Temple.

In addition our Organization

(I)                Arranged 90 days (3 months) Self Employed Training for Handicapped at ASHADEEP (NGO) in collaboration with Vocational Training Centre (A Govt. of India Welfare Organization) in 2001.

(II)             Organized in the year 2002 National Integration programme (Blind Fold Motor Cycle Ride by Mr. H Lel from Guwahati to Dihang Patkai) & took steps for Talent hunts and Artists of Assam and also organized painting exhibition at Shankardev Kalakhetra from 30.08.2002 to 01.09.2002.

(III)          Our organization rendered following services for bringing social harmony amongst the people of Assam & North Eastern Region as a whole also taken sincere steps for the welfare of peoples of the State of Assam & other States of North Eastern Region.

·         Organised a seminar to take a strong stand against the insurgent outfit ULFA.

·         Organised several health camps, viz. Diabetic Awareness Camps, Polio Treatment Camps, Cancer Detection Camps etc.

·         Started the North-east’s first low-cost Ambulance and Hearse Service in 1994 and carried over 2,000 patients to the destination & 30,000 dead bodies so far.

·         Printed 1000 copies of 600 page comprehensive volume of the prestigious Assamese magazine of the 19^th century, ‘Jonaki’ free of cost for Asom Sahitya Sabha and help in publishing 5 Volume of ‘Viswakosh’, the three-part Assamese encyclopedia.

·         Donated Rs.12 lakh to the Army Welfare Organization Noonmati.

·         Organised a Sadbhavana Rally for communal harmony.

·         Organised sightseeing tours for the cancer patients of B. Barooah Cancer Institute periodically.

·         Started ancilliary medical and other services at bhootnath for the benefit of the economically weaker section of the society.

(IV)          We also organized 7 (Seven) days non-stop citation of AKHAND BHAGWAT PATH of Srimanta Shankardev and arranged procession for spreading message of peace and brother-hood in Guwahati in the year 1999. The same programme was conducted in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. Three days Bhagwat Path was also organized at Jorhat in 2002.

(V)             Our organization is engaged in social welfare programmes and arranged several programmes in collaboration with various organization such as -

·         Blood donation camps

·         Hepatitis’s camps

·         Health check-up camps

·         Celebration of Bihu programme

·         Celebration of Holi programme

·         Celebration of Diwali programme

·         Painting Competition for children

·         Felicitation of outstanding students in academic field & other areas of success.

(VI)          The society, with its objects of helping handicapped specially polio effected people, organized free check-up camp during the year 2006 & 2007 in collaboration with Narayan Sewa Sanstha of Udaipur, Rajasthan with free distribution of wheel chair, clippers, Baishakhi and also sent the handicapped people for operation to Udaipur with free up & down train fare and free operation cost as a result such services benefitted persons are enjoying self dependent lives.

(VII)       Services provided at Bhutnath Mukti Dham free of cost:

·         Funeral of unclaimed dead body.

·         Helping the poor people for funeral of dead body by providing fire woods at free of cost.

·         Providing drinking water facilities.

Cremation of dead body at free of cost (Bamboo, wood)

	2004-2005	2005-2006	2006-2007	2007-2008
Claimed	93	97	81	77
Unclaimed	10	11	13	17

(VIII)    Swargarath & Ambulance Project :

A.  People were facing a lot of problem to carry the dead bodies of their near and dear to cremation ground because the distance of cremation ground in greater Guwahati is far way and people used to search for mini trucks/trucks to carry the same because all the owners of the trucks are not willing to carry dead body. Practically there was no service at all to carry dead body in greater Guwahati. The members of society made up their mind to provide such service in greater Guwahati. In the year 1994 the service named as ‘SWARG RATH’ was launched with one vehicle and such service was encouraged by all and became popularized day by day. Presently the society has 16 nos. of vehicles which are donated by people. Presently, we are providing SWARG RATH service to all over Assam to carry dead bodies from Guwahati to other parts of Assam & NER on demand.

B.  The dead body carrying vehicle services are providing with nominal charges. We bear the cost of fuel, driver salary and maintenance of vehicle. We are also providing service free of cost to BPL people and people who can’t afford to pay the nominal charges.

C. (1) Details of SWARG RATH BENEFICIARIES for the period commencing from 01.04.2008 to 31.03.2013 are as follows:

	2008-2009	2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013
Swargrath Service (Minimum charge)	1789	1848	37341	3268	2904
Swargrath Service (Free of charge)	306	317	306	301	389

C. (2) The society also provides Ambulance service with or without oxygen cylinder since 1995 and also provides the services free of cost to BPL & poor people.

Details of services of Ambulance with minimum charge & free of cost for the period commencing from 01.04.2008 to 31.03.2013 are detailed as follows:

	2008-2009	2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013
Ambulance Service (Minimum charge)	277	53	29	27	25
Ambulance service (Free of charge)	59	28	17	20	30

C. (3) Recently our organization received dead body carrying vans from Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as donation which was given to our organization in a gathering of large number of people in presence of Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Shri J.V. Patnaik at Bhutnath Crematorium, Guwahati.

C. (4) Our organization also received one dead body carrying van from Hon’ble Minister of Health Services, Govt. of Assam, Shri Dr. Hemanta Biswa Sarma as donation and one Ambulance from Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita, Guwahati.

C. (5) Our organization received Rs.7 lakhs from Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Bhangagarh, Guwahati-781005 for purchase of dead body carrying van as donation on 25.10.2010. On the day of delivering the cheque for Rs.7 lakhs a function was organized where Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Shri J.V. Patnaik was present & on such occasion a cheque for Rs.7 lakhs was handed over to Sri G.L. Agarwala, Chairman of G.L.P. Social Circle, Guwahati.

C. (6) The authority of the SBI also donated an Air Conditioned Martuary Van (Swarga Rath) to the GLP Social Circle as community services provided by State Bank of India, North Eastern Circle, Guwahati.

We also installed 65 KVA Generator set in the Bhootnath premises. Museum Hall was also started at the roof of the building constructed in the Bhootnath premises. Child cremation area was also build up in the Bhootnath premises.

C. (7) Our organization also received Dead Body Carrying Van from the SBI, Dibrugarh. Services of such carrying van was extended to the Assam Medical College & Hospital at Dibrugarh which is found to be first of its kind of services in the District of Dibrugarh, Assam.

The society has various projects to implement for the benefit of the society as well as for the welfare of the common people and the same are detailed below.

1. Arogya Bhawan – There is a proposal to set up “Arogya Bhawan” in the campus area of Guwahati Medical College & Hospital with a capacity of 250 people with the facility of food & lodging at most moderate rate specially for attendant of patients and our door patients.

2. Old Age Home with Orphan House – The society has proposal to establish an “Old Age Home” with “Orphanage” House nearby Guwahati to facilitate the old people and Orphans of the society.