The Gazetteers Department

The Jubilee Ante-Maternity Care and Baby Welfare Society, Sawantwadi, was established in 1937 to advise for the welfare of babies up to three years and expectant mothers. Its area of operation is mainly Sawantwadi proper. The society is in fact an adjunct of the Rani Jankibaisaheb Maternity Home, though it has its separate funds and separate account. The office bearers of the Maternity Home are also the office bearers of the society. The trustees are also common for both.

Dharma Sevashram.

The Dharmasevashram, Deorukh, was founded in 1943 with the object of spreading knowledge and giving education to the people to make them better citizens. The management of the Ashram is vested in the (1) General Body, (2) Governing Body and (3) Managing Committee. The Governing Body consists of nine members viz., the president, three founder-members and five ordinary members. This body is elected after every five years, and looks after the management and supervision of the Ashram's affairs and properties. The managing committee also remains in office for a period of five years and consists of seven members elected by the general body. This body is directly concerned with the day-to-day affairs of the Ashram. Those persons who are willing to dedicate their life for working for the Ashram can be appointed as life members by the founder-members. Properties of the Ashram are in the charge of the trustees. The Ashram is at present conducting (1) Shri Samartha Gurukul and (2) a Boarding for students, both at Deorukh. Receipts and payments of the Ashram as on 31st December 1956 were of the order of Rs. 5,200.

Ratnagiri Jilha Khadi Sangh.

The Ratnagiri Jilha Khadi Sangh, Gopuri, was established in 1939 to produce Khadi, give training in its production, to encourage village industries and work for rural development in general. Membership is open to all the persons who are above eighteen years of age, provided they are regular khadi users and they agree to contribute every month a specified quantity of yarn spun by themselves. There were 42 members in 1957-58. The affairs of the Sangh are managed by a nine-member managing committee which has a tenure of three years. The Committee elects its own office-bearers.

The Sangh conducts classes in weaving, technology and gives training in ambar charkha. Besides, it is running centres for the skinning of dead animals at different villages according to the needs of the season and a Village Industries Soap Centre. The Sangh also runs the following charmalayas: (1) Gorakshan Charmalaya, Ratnagiri, (2) Gandhi Charmalaya, Sakharpa (3) Sangameshwar Charmalaya and (4) Gorakshan Charmalaya, Deorukh. Then, there is the Gopuri Ashram which is working under the auspices of the Sangh. The Ashram came into being in 1948. It propagates the use of town compost for manuring by giving demonstrations etc. Propaganda is also carried for the avoidance of wastes of any kind of refuse which can be later on turned into valuable compost manure. The Ashram also conducts a tannery where only dead animals are skinned; bones are also crushed for being used at manure. Besides this the Ashram engages itself in rural development activities of a varied nature.

The annual income of the Sangh is of the order of Rs. 25,000; receives regular grants from the Khadi Commission for running the tanneries, soap centres and Ambar Charkha training centre. It annual expenditure is of the order of Rs. 29,000 and consists expenses incurred in running the tanneries, goshalas, etc.

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