THE TULSI TRUST is a registered charity that is aiding, organising and fundraising for an Indian jungle health and education project. We have been working with Bengali resettled refugees and the indigenous Adivaashi aboriginals of the interior area of Madhya Pradesh, India. The project is deep in the heart of the jungle, seven hours from the nearest city, Raipur.

The Bengali refugees were resettled in the 1960s and 1970s in 130 villages, alongside the 131 Adivaashi villages. Do you remember the 1971 Bangladesh concert with George Harrison and Ravi Shankar? That was a benefit concert for these Bengali people. This resettlement forced both of these culturally different populations (100,000 people altogether) to compromise and adapt. They have since been struggling to rebuild their lives.

During 1992, a small group of us from England went out to India and with our Bengali friend and guide Sri Vinod Vihari Goswami, and travelled throughout the area staying with the villagers. We were touched by their deep love, kindness, hospitality and rich culture; but also by their great suffering caused by poverty and a lack of medical and educational facilities.


OUR AIMS:

  • Empower the Bengali and Adivaashi villagers

  • Break the cycle of poverty and ill health

  • Help achieve sustainable development

  • Help maintain their rich cultural heritage

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OUR PARTNERS IN INDIA -
Jai Shri Radhay International Seva Trust Society

The Tulsi Trust work together with the Jai Shri Radhay International Seva Tust Society, based in Vrindaban, UP, India. Sri Rashmay Das (the President of the Society) has been doing humanitarian work in Madhya Pradesh for the past 20 years. He himself, is from a Bengali refugee family as are most of the governing body of the Society. 15 years ago, with Sri Vinod Vihari Goswami, he used to walk from village to village, Bengali and Adivaashi, handing out money for medicine, operations, and to put roofs on peoples' homes. They cared for their people and encouraged their culture. No one could have a better understanding of the needs of these people.

All the members of the Jai Shri Radhay International Seva Tust Society are well educated, many with degrees, and several have visited the west and understand western culture also. Many speak English and also work closely with the indigenous Adivaashi villagers and speak their language too.

The Jai Shri Radhay
International Seva Tust Society:

  • Provide detailed planning including the provision of competitive local quotes and estimates.

  • Manage and service the existing Community Centre and the cottage hospital when complete. This includes the servicing of all the vehicles and equipment, using funds raised by The Tulsi Trust.

  • Look after members of the Tulsi Trust when in India on Trust business.

  • Provide translators and guides for members of The Tulsi Trust.

  • Engage construction staff and implement construction work.

  • Help run the clinic.

  • Liaise with Indian national, state and local government departments, in conjunction with the Tulsi Trust, and also provide qualified legal support in India.

  • Help with the growing of food - vegetables, rice and fruits.

  • Undertake fundraising activities in India and also support fundraising activities in England by appearing at benefit concerts and appeals. They also help organise cultural festivals and kirtans. Sri Rashmaydas is a superb singer and harmonium player.

  • Hand out clothes to poor villagers.

The Tulsi Health and Education Samiti now run the project.  There are two sub-committees, one for the hospital and one for the school.

These were elected from local people in the 5 villags and Barda, by local people and the Pancayat.

 

The 2 sub-committees meet regularly and make decisions on the running of the hospital and school and report back to the Tulsi Samiti.  There

are members of the Samiti on the sub-committees too to promote easy communications.  The Tulsi Samiti are the administrative body and control the finances.

 

It has really helped all the local people to feel it is their project and get involved more.