Chikmagalur: Dvya Karynnya Ashram – Hilly Abode for Needy
Daijiworld Media Network – Chikmagalur (SB)

Chikmagalur, Sep 28: Jerusalem Divya Karunnya Prathanalaya (Ashram) has been extending its service to the orphans, poor, sick and mentally challenged since year 1996 in a remote village of Deveragudda, Karagaddhe, Kalasa in Chikmagalur district. Jose K Mathew, originally a Keralite and residing in Karnataka for over 30 years is the man behind the trust. A contractor for a project Kudremukh Iron Ore Company once, Jose quit the job on a call by the Lord in 1991 and joined a prayer group, thereafter to take up full-fledged social service in 1996.

The service that began in a hut-like structure at a three-acre hilly area donated by local well-wishers soon began taking in sick, orphans, mentally-challenged men and women to be nurtured and cared for. While the sick men and women in 100s have returned to their homes once they were properly cared for and healed by prayers in all these years, the ashram now has 54 inmates including Jose and his wife Shiney, who has bee lending support in husband’s good work.

Among other inmates here are 36 women and three men, who are either old or mentally-challenged. Among 13 children in the ashram five are infants, one among whom is bedridden being physically disabled, a 16-year-old boy and while the other seven are school-going children. 

The inmates of the ashram depend on natural spring water from the hill top for their daily needs and there is no sufficient water to take up farming activities. Jose says, “If a borewell is sunk there might be enough water to take up farming activities in the said land to become self-sufficient in terms of vegetables and other needs. The ashram has no source of income and has daily expenses of over Rs 2,500 that include food, medical expenses and other needs of the inmates. Locals and believers have been lending their timely support for running the ashram so far. 

As there are 54 inmates in all, the current accommodation, which is a hut, is not spacious enough. Moreover, it has no proper light or ventilation. Further the cement floor and moist ground has been causing inconvenience to the inmates. Therefore the ashram is in urgent need of another shelter to accommodate the current inmates comfortably as well as provide shelter to more. So far Rs 5 lac has been collected for the construction of the new shelter with the help of believers and local people. The construction works o shelter of the size 60X50 ft has begun and completed up to lintel level. However for further works Rs 10 lac is the financial requirement.

Willing donors can contact trust on office phone at: +8263 214288 or cell phone: +91 94493 85143. One can also send in DD, cheque or money order payable to Jerusalem Divya Karunnya Prathanalaya Charitable Trust, Kalasa post, Chikmagalur district. Account no: CNRB 0000864 (Canara Bank only) A/C No: 11832