Agarwal Samaj demands govt recognition, funds

Hyderabad: With more number of people migrating from North India to Telangana, the closely knit Agarwal community is growing in numbers. With their population spread all over Telangana State, about 95 percent live in twin cities.

The Agarwals who started migrating from north in small numbers during the period of Nizam. They came to Hyderabad around 250 years back, when it was called Agrasen community. However, over the years, they built the community together throughout the State.

"The Agarwal community is closely-knit under the umbrella organisation by the name Agarwal Samaj- Telangana, with many parallel bodies spread all over State, which has become very popular through social work. This organisation works on the direction of 'Agrasen Maharaj' who shows the path that "Manav seva, Madhav seva" (Service to Humanity is Service to God) and it is working according to this slogan," said Shashi Kanth Agarwal, vice-president of Agarwal Samaj of Telangana.

S K Agarwal also said that the Agarwal community had a limited population in the state. And the government was not coming forward to recognise the community. No funds were allocated in the annual budget for the community during the elections and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao promised the community to give 3 acres for its activities. However, till now, no further steps were taken in this direction. The government should provide funds and budget for Agarwal community also, he added.

Speaking to The Hans India, Shashi Kanth said that the Agarwal Samaj had started functioning in 1998. During these 21 years, the organisation continued to serve the purpose of connecting with the population of Agarwal families in the State. It was also providing them a chance to build stronger relations within the community. "Today, the Agarwal Samaj in Telangana has total 52 branches all over Telangana State of which at least 46 branches remained active", said Shashi Kanth.

The community runs on donations and corporate funds. It runs 13 educational institutions under Agarwal Siksha Simithi in Pathergatti near Charminar which provides free education or education at a nominal cost.

Social work

The Agarwal community's main motto is to work for the entire humanity. The organisation is working for not only the Agarwal community, but also for different communities. "We conduct many medical camps in their respective branches, which provide free medicines, free tests, free medical treatments etc. At Gandhi Hospital, the Samaj has contributed 10 dialysis machines where yearly 10,800 patients were treated for free and in NIMS hospital, 5 ventilators were set up. The Samaj also conducts free eye check-ups and distribution of spectacles. Monthly blood donation camps were also conducted. The Samaj also provides financial assistance to the beneficiaries and also contributes for the CM's Relief Fund", said Shashi Kanth.

Apart from providing medical services, the organisation also helps in providing education. It distributes free books and uniforms to around 20,000 students each year. For women many training camps were also conducted and also distribute free Sewing machines.

Recently, 70 sewing machines were distributed in Hyderabad and 100 were distributed in Jadcherla district, he added. Each year, during the distribution of fish medicine to asthma patients, the Samaj provides free accommodation, with food for 2-days for around 20,000 people.

Agarwal Samaj

Agarwal community is from Haryana and they are the followers of Agrasen Maharaj who was born in Agroha more than 5000 years ago. Agarwal follows the Maharaj path.

"Agarwal Samaj was founded by Sharad B Pitti in the year 1998. The Samaj works by the rules and regulation, we help and provide financial through the registration of members. For conducting free medical camps, blood camps, or distribution of free sewing machines, books or any other activity through ads and mention the location of activity, from this the beneficiaries comes and register to Samaj, through this process Samaj provides cards for medical assistance and other activities", he explained.

Agarwal Samaj also conducts grand festivals and meeting for the community like celebrating different kinds of festivities. The birthday of Agrasen Maharaj will be celebrated on 1st day of Navratri on a grand note. This year marks the 5144th birth anniversary of Agrasen Maharaj.