Prez lays foundation stone of prayer hall, inaugurates old-age home and school building of Bharat Sevashram Sangha

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the Sangha is launching a series of celebrations beginning with this ceremony to mark its Centenary Year in 2017.

Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) was founded by Acharya Sreemat Swami Pranava-nandaji Maharaj.

Swami Pranava-nandaji was born in 1896 at Bajitpur in present-day Bangladesh.

At a young age, he actively participated in the revolutionary movement in Bengal and in 1924, at the age of 28 years, he was initiated into Sanyas.

To Swamiji, Bharat Sevashram Sangha was a medium to liberate the society from social injustice, inequality, backwardness and superstitious beliefs.

The President said, "BSS today has over one hundred branches and 550 sub-units or Milan Mandirs. It has 23 branches outside the country, in the US, UK, Canada and others, that propagate Vedic philosophy and the rich cultural heritage of our country."

The President said that BSS is engaged in a host of social welfare activities all over the country.

"It is contributing towards development of the people at large, and in particular the financially-weak and neglected sections. Though these aspects form Government’s topmost public welfare agenda, cooperation in this direction can be provided from non-governmental agencies. BSS is contributing in the spheres of health, education and self-employment. In the healthcare sector, BSS is running a number of hospitals, clinics and mobile dispensaries," he said.

The President recalled having inaugurated a multi-specialty hospital in Kolkata in 2010.

He stated that BSS has also played a diligent role in rescue and relief operations during natural calamities such as during the devastating floods in Uttarakhand last year and in Jammu and Kashmir recently.