BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, October 14, 2022: A family in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, India had much to celebrate when a baby boy was born in the family. It didn’t take long for their joy to turn into worry when they realized baby Vitthal was born with 4 legs. The doctors advised the family to have them operated quickly to avoid further complications. But a family that could barely sustain basic needs, could hardly afford a private super specialty hospital in a big city. The family had heard of Narayan Seva Sansthan (NSS) in Udaipur, Rajasthan. They were told that the approximate cost of treatment would be Rs 5 Lakh ($6,200). Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru, Karnataka was the chosen hospital to perform the complicated surgery. An intense 6 hour surgery with 20 surgeons on board resulted in Vitthal playing around as a normal child with 2 legs. 7-year-old and his family are eternally grateful to NSS for this miraculous transformation which would have been an unreachable dream, had it not been for NSS.
Similar are the success stories of 10-year-old Shreshth Gupta born with a deformed right leg and went on to be treated by doctors and nursing staff at NSS, only to recover completely with hopes to be a doctor himself someday. 15-year-old Mantasha born with both deformed legs due to clubfoot was brought to NSS hospital in March 2021. 7 successful surgeries and a few weeks of rest later, Mantasha is able to walk without any support. Mantasha and her mom during her treatment also availed the free of cost Skill Training computer program in the same campus. Mantasha hopes to be a nurse. And thousands more share the same sentiment of gratitude.
Narayan Seva Sansthan has a hospital with a 1100-bed capacity with over 100 lab and x ray centers, where patients from all over the country and the world visit for polio-related treatments and corrective surgeries. The hospital has its own ICU and diagnostic labs, supported by a team of experienced medical practitioners who diagnose over 300 cases, provide 100 corrective surgeries, over 1200 physiotherapies, over 100 occupational therapies, distribute 20 limbs, provide over 80 Callipers and 3 full course meals each day! The hospital also provides free food and accommodations to patients and attendees.
NSS’s global reach extends to Thailand, Australia, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa, UK, Kenya and the USA. Thus far, NSS has performed 4,30,419 corrective surgeries, distributed 3,67,663 calipers, 2,66,065 tricycles and provided 2,935 people with vocational training.
The cost of extensive care extended to the underprivileged by NSS is largely possible thanks to the generous donations through fundraisers across the globe. Prashant Agarwal, President, NSS was in Atlanta to recognize donors and supporters of NSS in a formal felicitation ceremony held at Gokuldham Haveli on September 17, 2022.
“We are the world of Humanity with endless possibilities for ending disabilities, I am so grateful to learn that our efforts are being supported and further strengthened by the children, Indian communities, Indian organizations and many International Organizations who are dedicatedly working to support local and global communities. I am looking forward for their continuing support for many years to come,” Prashant Agarwal, President Narayan Seva Sansthan said.
NSS awarded Sustainable Global Partner Seva Award to Childspring International, Trail Blazer Global Partner Seva Award to Gujarati Cultural Association of North America, Distinguished Global Partner Seva Award to MIG (Millenium Investment Group), Creative Society, Global Partner Seva Award to Rotary Club Emory Druid Hills, The Future Promise Foundation, Georgia Southern University, STEM Center of Excellence, Sheth Family Foundation, Sai World Peace Center, USA, Dreamgirl Entertainment, and Nritya Natya Kala Bharti.
Amit Shah, Managing Member at Millenium Investment Group presented a $45,000 check to NSS at the event. “Donations of close $10 K were also raised at the event. We are very thankful to everyone who supports this cause,” Barot added.
“I am so glad and proud to see that school children, Indian Diaspora and many of the US based organizations from Georgia have stepped up and and taken active role in supporting services for differently abled through Narayan Seva Sansthan,” Manoj Barot, Executive Director, NSS, USA Inc said.
The impact of NSS extends way beyond free cost of treatment of the differently abled. “The Smart Village” of NSS, set up by founder Kailash Agarwal ‘Manav’ works to ensure that the differently abled can stand on their own and earn a livelihood when they leave the campus. The village houses the Narayan Hospital that performs over 100 corrective surgeries each day, with accommodation & food for patients & their attendants, free Physiotherapy Center, advanced workshop for building Artificial Limbs, fully equipped Vocational Training Center along with a Free Digital School for children. The Narayan Performing Arts Academy provides training for talent and fashion shows. To date 200 shows have been organized. Narayan Apna Ghar shelters the destitute providing lodging, boarding, and education for orphans. Thus far 3200 have been housed here. Narayan Limbs and Calipers heals the differently abled through their centralized prosthetics and orthotics labs organizing camps across India and Africa. To date, 26,200 limbs and 367700 calipers have been fitted. Narayan Para Sports Academy organizes state and national level sports competitions for the disabled. National blind cricket tournament was held in 2019 and National para swimming championship was held in 2016 and 2022. Narayan Global Seva extends services to various countries including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Afghanistan, and Pakistan), Narayan Vocational Academy provides training for computer, mobile phone, repairing, arts and crafts and sewing, Narayan Roti provides meals for patients, attendants, and malnourished communities, Narayan Community Seva adopts and serves the needy with grocery, blankets, clothing, and uniforms, Narayan Empowerment Center performs mass wedding ceremonies, Narayan Education Academy provides free education for tribal and rural communities. Narayan Interns and Volunteers connects talents inviting talents, students, nurses, physicians to use their talents and services.
Beyond medical care, NSS aims to enrich lives of differently abled through mass marriages and high-quality education to disadvantaged kids. As in the case of Ramu Kumari and Ganpat from Pratapgarh, both of whom suffered from Polio and lost their fathers are happily married, thanks to NSS. In 2008, forty-seven differently abled and underprivileged couples tied the knot at a mass wedding ceremony in Udaipur and took a pledge against the dowry system. NSS organized the ceremony for couples who had corrective surgeries in their facility. Thirty of the married couples underwent skill development trainings through NSS’s vocational training programs. The institution also recruited several couples for job profiles that fit their capabilities. Since then, through 38 mass wedding ceremonies, 2201 couples have been married.
“The ceremony was just beautiful. We were amazed at how elaborate the celebrations were. We toured the entire facility and stayed there for a week. We even got to witness a surgery!” Atlanta’s Paddy Sharma, who visited the facility in Udaipur, said. She urged everyone to visit and donate for the cause.
Founded on 23 October 1985 by founder chairman Kailash Agarwal, NGO has received Padma Shree Award in 2008, ‘Asia’s Most Trusted Brand Award’ in the year 2016, and the Quality Mark Award in the NGO segment, among several other recognitions. The website also features endorsements from the likes of Mukesh Ambani, Sri Sri Ravishankar and Baba Ramdev.
