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’.
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