Eleanor Thompson Smt. Manju Srivastava, the esteemed President of Ekal Sansthan, embarked on her maiden visit to New Zealand following a highly successful tour of Australia. Her mission: to establish local chapters of Ekal Sansthan across New Zealand, furthering the organization’s commitment to education and community development.
The Auckland chapter of Ekal Sansthan is set to be led by the renowned business personality and philanthropist, Smt. Shivani Arora. Her leadership promises to bring valuable insights and contributions to the organization’s efforts in the region.
During her tour, Smt. Srivastava also visited Hamilton on the 9th of February, where she received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from community leaders. Among the notable attendees were HSS Palakadhikari Shri Shrikant Bhave, HCNZ President Dr. Guna Magesan, HOTA Regional Coordinator and HCNZ Joint Secretary Dr. Vinay Karanam. The event in Hamilton featured an introduction by Shri Sanjay Joshi, President of Ekal Vidyalaya NZ, and a vote of thanks by Shri Nandan. The gathering saw the participation of several other community leaders and the dedicated team of Ekal Vidyalaya.
History of Ekal Vidyalaya
Ekal India hosts all implementing organizations of the Ekal Abhiyan (Movement), which includes seven national-level organizations. Friends of Tribal Society (FTS) is the first registered organization of the movement, founded in 1989 with its registered office in Kolkata. The six other national organizations operating under the movement in India are:
- Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad (BLSP), Delhi
- Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI), Delhi
- Arogya Foundation, Mumbai
- Gramothan Foundation, Delhi
- Shri Hari Satsang Samiti (SHSS), Mumbai
- Ekal Sansthan, Delhi
All these organizations work towards a common Ekal vision under the umbrella of Ekal Abhiyan Trust. FTS and BLSP focus on raising resources for schools, Gramothan Foundation works for integrated and holistic village development, Arogya Foundation is dedicated to healthcare, SHSS promotes cultural heritage, and Ekal Sansthan oversees quality control, research and development, media, as well as policy and advocacy. EVFI is responsible for the judicious management of funds raised from outside India.
In addition to these national organizations, several state-level organizations operate under the umbrella of Gram Sangathan, Lucknow, to support operations and raise local resources for schools. This ensures self-reliance and promotes ownership for sustainability. Operations are managed by executive committees at national, state, division, district, block, and village levels. Every Ekal village has an informal village-level committee comprising seven members. In India, Ekal is represented by an umbrella Abhiyan Trust, seven national organizations, several state-level organizations, and executive committees including 52,000+ village-level committees.
Smt. Manju Srivastava’s visit marks a significant milestone in Ekal Sansthan’s journey, as the organization continues to expand its reach and impact, bringing education and empowerment to communities across New Zealand and beyond.
