Orissa Project

Though originally based in Bihar, DOM has extended its work in the flood and cyclone ridden state of Orissa, and has become an expanding area of development since it’s inception in 1998. Orissa suffered massive loss of human life during the natural disasters of 1999, and 2001 which set back the conditions in the rural areas by over 20years. Despite efforts by the Indian government and aid agencies, the affects have been long lasting and people continue to suffer tremendously.

This area of Orissa had extremely fertile land prior to the floods. Enormous amounts of sand was left on the topsoil which rendered it unworkable. Many of the villagers were small farmers, who lost their only source of income as a result. Thousands of people lost their homes and all their belongings during the cyclones and floods. Many women have been left widowed thus loosing the sole breadwinner in the family and many children orphaned as a result. Things have become so desperate that parents and families are willing to sell their children for a meager sum of money so that they and their children won’t continue to suffer from hunger and the imminent death that surrounds them. The thought is scary to even imagine for the average person but to them a harsh reality.

Orphanage
The charity established an orphanage in the Dangasila region of Orissa. It cares for children who have been orphaned, abandoned by their parents too poor to look after them, or given into it’s care by parents suffering from diseases such as leprosy and TB and have no one else to act as guardians. Constituted within the orphanage is the Divine Onkar Sewa Ashram School which provides education to the residing children.

Training Centre
A training centre for widows has been set up, teaching skills to enable them to support themselves and their children. This includes arts and crafts such as tailoring, knitting, basket weaving, etc.

• Old People’s Home - Providing shelter for the aged who have been abandoned by their families or have lost care takers to illness or lack of finances.
• New Homes - New homes are being built to provide much needed shelter to the homeless families, but there is still an urgent need for more housing which is very much dependent on how often the donations are made to the charity.

Langar
Daily food/meals are given to the local villagers who are extremely poor and have no immediate means for fending for themselves. Regular provisions of rice are given to them as a source of basic help. Financial support is required on a regular basis for this service to carry on and can only take place by continuous support to DOM. Clothing is also distributed to them, as all own only the one piece of garment that they are clothed in at the time.


Water Wells
One of the biggest carriers of disease is the water supply. Often it’s source (local rivers) is situated miles away, and the villagers walk the entire trip just to carry a few litres of water back in pots for daily use. The water in the river is utilized for bathing by humans and animals, washing utensils, cooking and drinking. As a result it’s infested with bacteria, and is the cause of fatalities from diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. Through sponsorship many water wells have been built within the villages providing quick access to a source of uncontaminated water. They have proven to be the most valuable facilities imaginable to the local people. The local villagers have been taught by professionals on how to build the wells within their community, and in return they are fed and clothed by the charity. This food for work program has proved to be very beneficial,as it has given them a useful skill which will make them self reliant in maintaining the wells, and build new ones in the future.

Leprosy Project
The Leprosy Project is based in the Tahirpur district of New Delhi. It is a colony of 120 houses providing long term care to people suffering from leprosy. Before going any further about what it is we actually do, we would like for you to have an understanding of what this disease entails. For those of you who might not be familiar with it, it is also known as Hansen’s Disease. A disfiguring and painful disease which affects the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes, it is preventable and curable and almost eradicated in the western world. Due to the lack of access to basic health information/care, extreme poverty including secluded living conditions, this disease continues to flourish in endemic proportions in parts of India. It carries with it a social stigma due to which people exclude and shun lepers from society further alienating them. It is easily diagnosed and treatment is guaranteed within 6-12 months depending on the type and severity of its condition.

At the colony lepers are treated, taught to become independent and re housed, and those who cannot are provided with long term care. In addition to this Divine Onkar Mission is trying decrease the ignorance about the disease by educating the public about leprosy thus allowing the lepers to become a functioning part of society.