The Fiji Sevashram Sangha yesterday marked their centennial celebration in Flagstaff, Suva with families, they have been supporting the past years.

It is an affiliated body of Bharat Sevashram Sangha and was established in 2000. Bharat Sevashram Sangha is a Hindu charitable non-governmental organisation in India. It was founded in 1917.

Assistant secretary for the Fiji Sevashram Sangha Branch Akhilesh Prasad said the Sevashram Sangha has been providing monthly food rations to 87 families.

Mr Prasad said the families that joined them in the celebration were those they have been supporting.

“We go out to communities and work with the advisory councillors where we identify those who are in great need,” Mr Prasad said.

The group assists 50 families in the Central Division and more than 30 families in the Western Division.

Mr Prasad said every third Sunday, volunteers go out to visit the families and provide them food ration which costs around $80-$90.

He said the occasion yesterday saw most of the families from Muaniweni in Naitasiri, Navua and around Suva invited to the ashram.

These are families who have been receiving food ration for the last four to ten years.

He said families are being identified not by their race or ethnic group.

“We have been doing this for last 13 years and it the first time we invited them.

“They will be presented with gift hampers.

“This purely runs on donations and volunteers, we do not employ anyone nor have any source of income.

“It began without funds and we acknowledge that donors always come forward with sponsoring a family each every month.”

Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar was invited to the event where she officially acknowledged the work of the Fiji Sevashram Sangha.

Fiji Sevashram Sangha is a registered spiritual, socio-cultural, educational, philanthropic and charitable non-profitable relief organisation.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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