Sankat Mochan Foundation - Misplaced Pages

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Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF) is a secular, non-profit, non-political organization founded in 1982 and registered under the "Societies Act" of the Government of India. The founding president of the Foundation is Professor Veer Bhadra Misrha, Professor of Hydraulic Engineering and former Head of the Civil Engineering Department at the Banaras Hindu University who is also the Mahant (High Priest) of the Sankat Mochan Temple at Varanasi founded by poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas. He was recognized on the United Nations Environmental Program's Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1992, and was a TIME Magazine "Hero of the Planet" recipient in 1999 for his work related to cleaning of Ganga through the Sankat Mochan Foundation.

SMF Vision

Restoring the Ganges by alleviating its fast deteriorating environmental conditions
Promoting education and health care programs for the less privileged
Maintaining and encouraging the age-old cultural traditions of Varanasi in tune with the current environmental needs

Pollution of Ganga

The Ganges is 1557 miles long with a basin of 200 to 400 miles wide. The river originates in an ice cave on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and flows eastward emptying into the Bay of Bengal. This artery of India suffers from major pollution; it is estimated that nearly 1 billion litres of waste, mostly untreated raw sewage is dumped daily into the Ganges. Over 400 million people live along the Ganges river, an estimated 60,000 persons ritually bathe daily in the holy river. In spiritual and religious significance this river has no equal.

In the ghats of Varanasi the fecal coliform bacteria count at times is up to 3,000 times the level acceptable for human beings. Fecal coliform bacteria are found in the intestine of warm blooded animals and such high levels in the bathing ghats indicate pollution by sewage contamination.

SMF Milestones

Year	Milestones
1982	SMF founded by a group of citizens and engineers of Varanasi lead by Prof. Veer Bhadra Mishra
1983	SMF launches the Swatcha Ganga (Clean Ganges) Campaign, a public education program for raising the awareness about the pollution of Ganga
1986	Ganga Action Plan (GAP) launched by the Government. Varanasi GAP Phase I includes construction of three sewage treatment plants, pumping stations and electric crematorium at Varanasi. But GAP was a complete failure due to high levels of corruption and poor design stratergy
1992	SMF and friends of the Ganges (FOG) USA, organize an International Conference on "Pollution Control in River Cities of India: A case study of Ganga at Varanasi" at Tulsi Ghat. Experts from US and Sweden also participate.
1993	The Swatcha Ganga Research Laboratory (SGRL) established with support od Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNF), laboratory data establishes the inefficiency of GAP Phase I schems. This state-of-art laboratory produces a reliable data base.
1996	SMF proposes interceptor sewers along Ganga and Varuna rivers and AIWPS type of sewage treatment scheme for Varanasi.
1997	A detailed report on "Feasibility Study of Interceptor Sewers and AIWPS Technology for Prevention of Pollution of Ganga at Vatranasi" prepared jointly by SMF and Oswald-Green LLC recommended and submitted by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VNN), to the Government for GAP Phase-II.
1998	"Swatcha Ganga Environmental Education Centre" a joint initiative of SMF and Oz-GREEN/FOG, Australia established at Tulsighat.
1999	Continuing efforts to educate local and national Government as to the advatages of appropriate and sustainable sewage treatment.
2000	Extension of the environmental education proramme and initiation of clean drinking water project in villages in collaboration with Oz-GREEN, Australia. US President Bill Clinton praises the Swatcha Ganga Campaign in his speech at Agra in India
2001	Three year Project "Addressing Ganga's Pollution at Varanasi with change in social habits and use through awareness, mobilization and information dissemination" launched with support from SIDA, Sweden
2002	Active Collaboration established between cleanup campaigners of the "River Thames" in London and the Ganga in India Civil Society Partnership Program (CSPP) launched by SMF, with support from the Asia Foundation, San Francisco, United States Asia Environmental Program "Adopt a Ghat" program launched. Schools and other local institutions come forth to aopt the world famous historical Ghats at the Ganga's bank to maintain their cleanliness with support from SIDA
2003	SMF and Oz-GREEN, Australia jointly organize International Students Congress. Participants from Australia, Bangladesh and many schools from Indian cities participated and decided their action plan for pollution abatement
2004	"Clean Ganga - Clean Ghat" a collaborative demonstration project implemented with support of British High Commission, New Delhi Under SIDA project Clean Ganga Conclave at Tulsighat Under CSPP Clean Ganga Day organized at New Delhi
2005	SMF & Oz-GREEN organize 3rd International Students Congress MoU signed between Times Foundation, K.K. Jajodia Foundation and Art of Living Foundation for the Holy Ganga Initiative Students from Australia and Sweden participate in World Environment Day celebration Clean Ganga Day organized in New Delhi MoU signed with Oxfam Svaraj for cleaning the River Ganga water front and ghats of Varanasi

Quotes from Dr. Veera Bhadra Mishra

This is not visionary, it is simply essential (Regarding cleaning of River Ganga)
Science and technology are one bank of the river, and religion, tradition and faith are the other bank of the river. Both the banks need to be firm, and only then can the river maintain the flow.
Please consider them an endangered species, these people who still have this faith, this living relationship with the river. If birds can be saved, if plants can be saved, let this species of people be saved by granting them holy water"
I am a part of Ganga and Ganga is a part of me. I want not a single drop of sewage going into the river.

Contact information

Clean Ganga Campaign (Swatcha Ganga Abhiyan)
Sankat Mochan Foundation
B-2/15, Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi 221 001 India
Phone / Fax : +91 542 2313884/ 2314278
Email : vbmganga@satyam.net.in

Associated Organizations

Category:

Environmental organisations based in India