On July 15, 2018, the Shree Banaskantha Palanpur Jain Association, Chennai held a special function at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Chennai to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. On the occasion Shaileshbhai Ramniklal Mehta from Mumbai was the Chief Guest, while Shashank Sureshbhai Mehta, Sonalben Shashank Mehta and Nishit Pravinbhai Kothari also from Mumbai were Guests of Honour.
 

Five decades ago, members of the Jain community hailing from Palanpur and Banaskantha district, who had settled in Chennai to pursue a business or a profession, came together to form the SBPJA. Its twin aims were uniting families from the community and carrying out social service and activities for the upliftment of the downtrodden and needy.

Over the years, the Association has carried out a number of activities in different fields, ranging from relief and rehabilitation work for those affected by natural disasters as well as many ongoing projects in the fields of education, health and women’s empowerment. A key project has been the Grain Distribution scheme which today helps several hundred registered beneficiary families, with 1,50,000 kg of grain being distributed over the year from six centres.

The Association has also helped establish schools and old age homes, hostels for persons with disabilities and regular medical camps across villages. It also aids needy students with educational aids and provides medical assistance in various ways to those who cannot afford it.

On the day of the celebrations, the committee members and guests visited many of the projects in and around Chennai and witnessed the Grain distribution and vocational training  projects in Madambakkam,  school noon meal project and education project at a free residential school in Nemillichery, managed by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, the hostel run by Lotus Blind Welfare Trust of India in Royapettah, an old age home in Ambattur and at our very own Free General Medical Camp at Shri Munisuvrat Swami Jain Navagraha Mandir, ECR near Chennai.  All the guests were able to participate in the activities of each of these projects and get a first-hand experience of them.

The guests, who have been long-term supporters of the association and its activities were felicitated at the special function. A film depicting the five decades of the association was also screened on the occasion.

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