Medical camps pre Covid-19

In 2012, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra began offering medical camps at our headquarters in Nawan Nagar, Haryana. Over time, our medical camps program grew to serve communities in other states: Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Delhi, and Chandigarh. Each week, 12-15 camps are held at different locations. In 2019, we organised a total of 740 camps.

Initially, our medical camps were organized at our centers. The medical camp program expanded after a visit to a slum area to distribute blankets and fresh fruit. There, we met a sick old man who was bedridden in his small hut. When we asked how we could help, the old man asked for a wheelchair. We donated a wheelchair for his use and arranged financial assistance for his medical treatment.

From there, we decided to also bring the medical camps to the communities who need medical care, rather than expecting them to travel to our centers to seek help. We focused on slum areas and villages that don’t have ready access to medical facilities.

Maharashtra has good medical facilities, but those who live in faraway villages often have to travel long distances to avail such facilities. Many cannot afford the travel costs to get to these facilities. Therefore, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra sent our ambulance to our center nestled among many villages and small towns. We send the ambulance and our medical crew to the remote villages and organize medical camps to bring free medical care to the people living there.

We also hold medical camps at the traditional brick factories where the laborers make bricks from mud by hand without modern equipment. Many of these factories are located in very remote areas that do not have medical facilities nearby. We hold these medical camps there so that the laborers can access free medical care and free medicines without leaving their workplace.

Medical camps for Kanwar Yatra 2014-2019

Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra was inspired by Sant Baljit Singh Ji to start a charitable program to hold annual kanwar camps. In 2014, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra launched its program of week long kanwar camps to offer medical facilities, food, and rest to the pilgrims.

The pilgrimage is a long and arduous journey of devotion, sacrifice and endurance. Many kanwarias arrive at our camps in need of medical attention. The pilgrims’ feet are often covered with blisters and wounds, their shoes (if worn) are in tatters, and their clothes are drenched from the monsoon rain. Each camp has a team of doctors and para medical staff to provide immediate medical relief. Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra volunteers are also at hand to offer assistance to the pilgrims. Read more in our blog post Offering kanwar camps 2014–2019.