Service Projects Started to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda, who lived in the second half of 19th Century, was one of the greatest patriots and spiritual leaders India has ever produced. Through his travels and lectures all over India he awakened the minds of Indians to their cultural heritage. As Mr. Barak Obama, President of U.S.A., pointed out during his recent visit to India, Swami Vivekananda was India’s first cultural ambassador to the West. He was one of the first leaders in India to speak for poor masses of India. In fact he established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 mainly to uplift the poor and marginalized people of India.

The government of India decided to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in a befitting manner. A National Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for the purpose.
Pursuant to decision taken by the aforesaid National Committee on May 20, 2010, the National Implementation Committee was constituted and notified on July 23, 2010, with 10 members.
The first meeting of the Implementation Committee was held in New Delhi on 3rd September 2010. The Committee approved a sum of Rs. 100 Crore for Ramakrishna Mission from 2010 to 2014.

The actual 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda falls in the year 2013-2014. But we decided to begin a four-year-long celebration of the event in 2010 itself by starting some special service oriented projects.

Sponsored by The Government of India, following two projects are taken up by Ramakrishna Mission, Khetri:

“Gadadhar Abhyudaya Prakalpa” named after the child Ramakrishna will be taken up for development of neglected children by providing food, dress, basic education and health care.

“Vivekananda Swasthya Pariseva Prakalpa” —a project which aims at the improvement of children’s health, especially elimination of malnutrition.

Please see the videos of  inauguration of Awakening India Function held in Delhi.