Suresh And His Sahyog Village For Deserted People
Did you know that the leprosy-affected and mentally challenged people have a village of their own? Yes, that’s right! There’s a village next to Shamaliya, 27 km along the highway from Himmatnagar to Shamlaji, Sabarkantha district which is entirely dedicated to these people. Since it is their village and everybody is the same there, so they don’t have to face prejudices and thus live freely feeling normal.
These people in our society are mostly neglected and prejudiced. Nobody cares to think that those people are special and need special care and attention. They are abandoned by their own families. It is unfortunate yet not shocking to think that society values the fittest for survival. And, it often knowingly or unknowingly forgets to count them as equal parts of it. However, we have so many such people as well who have the ability and heart to consider everyone equal and to understand their pain.
Suresh is a person who belongs to this category of people. He believes that he is born to serve leprosy-affected people. Suresh comes from a lower middle-class family and has persuaded MSc with a First Class, however, he was not interested in a teaching career. He rather found himself spending most of his time at Shram Mandir trust with leprosy-affected people. Finally, in 1988 he decided to initiate another step in helping those people. That’s when he founded Sahyog Trust.
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In fact, Suresh’s wife Indira also supports and helps him serve them
They thus serve the sick and needy. The help costs them around one crore and ten lacks per year. Moreover, the government grants a fund of Rs. 20 lacks and there is a deficit of Rs 92 lacks every year. Suresh named the village Sahyog. More than 500 leprosy-afflicted people are living there as a joint family. They all love and care and fill the void and emptiness for each other.
These special residents originally belong to different states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Above all, those who are cured of leprosy continue to stay in the village. Even cured children also stay and keep their studies in continuation there. There are moreover more than 200 leprosy-affected children staying in the village. Most importantly, this wonderful village has a hospital, an electoral booth, a primary school, and a grocery shop. However, 30% of the villages are completely bedridden.
The team delivers food, snacks, tea etc. to villagers’ homes. Some of those who are cured return to their homelands. While some make this village their permanent abode even after getting cured. Moreover, a retired military officer named Abdul Mohammad Hafiz stays happily in the village.
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There are at present 40-45 team members working for the Trust
All of the team members and loving, caring, and compassionate towards the villagers. It reflects in their efforts of selflessly serving them. The village covers 30 acres of land, and it is hygienically maintained well. Besides, each house is decorated with beautiful paintings. There is also a basil plant in front of every house. The entire village sings a morning prayer as well every day in the morning.
The village is also a safe nest for mentally challenged people. Though it was initially established for Leprosy-affected people, after 1994, it was opened for mentally challenged people as well. There’s in fact an incident related to its history. In 1994, a mentally retarded girl named Amri was raped which led her to pregnancy. She was shifted from place to place but was rejected for help from the women’s help centre, mental hospital, and even district hospital because of her pregnancy. She was then brought to Sahyog Trust where she found her home and delivered her baby.
Her boy is now studying at the primary school in the village
Amri is often found roaming around the village with a smile on her face and greets everyone she meets. Today the village has 192 males and 153 females mentally challenged in its lap. The village works hard to make them independent by providing them with training.
The village is definitely a home of wonder. It appears as a fairyland where it gives warmth, love and a safe shadow to its residents. Suresh and his team are working on one of the most virtuous works possible for humanity. Those who want to volunteer to contribute help to the Trust, are always most welcome. We wish him good luck and health so that he continues to serve as long as he can. Because our world needs people like him.
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Author: Simran K Parmar
A post graduate in English Literature, secular humanist, critical thinker, an outspoken atheist, follower of equality and a lover of philosophy. craftedfashion94@gmail.com
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