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Ms. Arunaben Desai

  • 2005
  • Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Development & Welfare of Women And Children

Born: May 13, 1923

Started social work in 1946 immediately after graduation. Started the Vikas Vidyalaya in 1946 in Wadhwan. This institution now has a number of branches in different parts of Gujarat. The objective is to achieve the welfare of women and children living in the worst social and economic conditions. The Vikas Vidyalaya has started a Primary School, 2 Girls' High Schools, a Polytechnic, a College for Handicrafts, Teachers' Training Colleges for Bachelor of Education, Vocational Training Programmes and a Training Centre for women for using Amber and Bardoli charkhas.

Also started a Foundling Home which provides shelter, healthcare, education, rehabilitation through job or marriage and adoption for girls. Started a Social Welfare Centre with 12 sub-centres as self-contained units in which a balwadi, craft training and adult education classes have been organized for rural women.

The Vikas Vidyalaya has been declared as a "Fit Person Institution" for the safe custody of children under the provisions of the Saurashtra Children Act by the Government of Gujarat.

Paid special attention to the welfare of the physically handicapped through a blind school, a deaf school, a home for mentally retarded children, a home for crippled children, a mental hospital, an Orthopaedic Centre and a mental hygiene centre.

Has received a number of prestigious awards viz. State Government Award in the field of child welfare in 1981, the Mahila Suraksha Award in 1989, and the Shri Rajiv Gandhi Human Services Award in 2002.

Vikas Vidyalaya,
Wadhwan City,
Dist. Surendranagar,
Gujarat - 363 030
Tel: (O) 02752-243551
Fax: 02752-240482