VOLUNTRY SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANISATIONS

ORIGIN, GROWTH AND DIRECTION.

IT IS TRUE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY for introducing measures to bring about the moral and material progress of a society lies mainly and primarily on the shoulders of its government. The ever expanding directions of that progress, however, make it almost inevitable that the activities of the government should be supplemented by the efforts of public-spirited individuals and institutions. The urge for public service is ingrained in many persons. And that call from within gets exalted into the call of national duty when a country consciously starts on the journey towards self-development.

In the course of several decades after the seventies of the last century, there came to be established in Kolhapur district, as in other districts of the State, different kinds of institutions intended to serve the various needs of the community. A large part of the present district, with its capital city, then formed the Indian State of Kolhapur. Its rulers inspired the organisation of several public bodies and patronized them. Many enthusiastic and selfless workers devoted themselves to the building up of such bodies which had as their objectives the spread of education, uplift of backward classes, encouragement to physical training, giving an impetus to cultural activities like music and drama etc.

After the merger of Kolhapur State in the State of Bombay, the old royal patronage was withdrawn. But the momentum gained by the institutions in the course of their active life for a number of years did not slow down. Most of them are still thriving on public support and playing their part in enriching the social and cultural life of the district. It is the purpose of this chapter to record briefly the contribution made by the more conspicuous of these bodies to the progress of the district.

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