Bharatiya Kushtha Nivarak Sangha, Dist Champa, Chattisgarh

Bharatiya Kushtha Nivarak Sangha, Katre Nagar, Janjgir, Dist Champa, Chattisgarh - 495671

Bharatiya Kushtha Nivarak Sangh (BKNS) was established by Late Shri Sadashiv Katre in Katre Nagar of Champa District of Chatisgarh, in May 1962. Since its establishment, it has so far bagged 14 prizes in appreciation of the relentless efforts towards the noble cause of serving, the leprosy affected people. Shri. Katre, a  patient himself, resonated with the pain and suffering of other patients and firmly belived that empathizing with them is human. He set up the BKNS, personally undergoing hardship such as borrowing to have a shelter for all the patients together, even cooking for them all by himself. He travelled on a bicycle, collected rice from the nearby villages. At many places abuse, mockery and insults were hurled, but Katreji continued his efforts, drawing inspiration and guidance from late Golwalkar Guruji. His relentless efforts, despite all odds were instrumental in the setting up of the Bharatiya Kushtha Nivarak Sangh.

Vision: From the initial days of setting up the Sangha and a building for the Ashram Sri Katreji was clear in his vision. The vision of the Ashram was neither to get the patients admitted nor to form a colony of lepers. The Ashram was envisioned as an institution to cure the leprosy patients and arouse within them the self - confidence to earn their livelihood   and be independent. The patients after being cured should not be mere breathing bodies, but get absorbed by their own families. The inferiority complex that had set in their minds due to infliction of continued hatred and curses by the society should be forgotten, and they should be able to mingle freely living life as selfrespecting, resolute human beings.

Present Status: The Sangha has 164 patients (96 Female and 68 Male) of which 70% are cured of theirillness and are self - employed, inspired by the various income generating projects run by the Sangha. The Sangha has implemented many successful projects such as Vermi Compost project, Carpet Making, chalk Making Industry, Tailoring Project, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Welding, Water Conservation and above all a research wing to purify cow waste and use it for medicinal purposes. Patients with no palms are able to draw water from dug wells with rope and bucket without anybody’s assistance. A ‘Susheel Balak Griha’ has also been established for educating the children of the leprosy patients within the Ashram precincts. A big water tank constructed by the Ashram holds water round the year and is sufficient for irrigating a periphery of 09 acres around the tank. A testimony of Katreji’s efforts was a letter of appreciation from then President of India Dr. S. Rashakrishnan, who also personally donated a sum of Rs. 1000/- in the year 1963.

Shri Katreji has imparted education to all the patients as per Swami Vivekananda’s words: “By education, I mean that which builds character of the student.” The other activites of the Sangh and ashram have also increased over the years. Although Shri Katreji breathed his last in May 1977 his deeds and and the words ‘SWADHARME NIDANAM SHREYA PARADHARMO BHAYAVAHA’ inscribed on his Samadhi in the Ashram building up the ‘CHARACTER’ of the patients. Today the entire area of his operation has been named as ‘Katre Nagar’.

‘THEY ONLY LIVE WHO LIVE FOR OTHERS, OTHERS ARE MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE’.