Man with a mission
He had to choose between family and his dedication to social service. Ravi Kalra chose the latter. A former martial arts instructor, who trained officials from Indian Army and Delhi Police, let go of everything — his career and family, to start a shelter for less-privileged people. “I would cry when I saw people begging on road and eating from garbage. My heart went out to them and I decided to start a shelter home where they could get a roof over their heads and a dignified life,” says Ravi.
After six futile attempts, which crashed due to lack of funds and support, Ravi’s dream came true in 2008, when he started The Earth Saviours Foundation, an NGO that shelters destitutes. “I would go to the streets, find people who had been left by their families to fend for themselves, and get them to the centre. Many of them were senior citizens who resorted to begging. They had not washed for months, were starving and had maggots all over them. We gave them first aid, bathed them, provided them with food and a roof,” says Ravi. He named this shelter in Vasant Kunj, Gurukul.
Soon, Ravi expanded his horizon and started getting orphans, rape victims, HIV positive people and mentally challenged adults to Gurukul. “Today we have about 45 people at the centre and we look after all their needs from food to clothing to medical attention,” says Ravi.
He himself built the thatched roof constructions as home for members of Gurukul.
“Everything at my centre is built with my own hands. Since the land is on lease, we are not allowed to build permanent construction here, so I’ve put up the entire structure myself,” explains Ravi.
He makes sure that Gurukul members get all the amenities when they are living last few days of their lives.
“I have cremated 23 members of my shelter till now. Most of them died of old age. I make sure they live comfortably for as long they are here,” says Ravi.
At present, working with a team of 35 members, Ravi is also addressing various social issues.
Says Ravi, “We give free classes and mid-day meals to poor children from surrounding areas. We ensure education is imparted to all. We campaign against honking and came up with a slogan ‘kutta bhi bina wajah nahi bhokta’, which is displayed at many places. We clean the nearby forest area, which people have turned into dump-yards. We have one or the other campaign running most of the time, and hope to change society for the better someday,”.
For now, all he hopes for is better support. “The major roadblock is certainly funds. We don’t have any corporate tie-up or government help. We depend on funds coming from individual donors. And since, it’s not sustainable, we take each day as it comes. But in two years, I hope to build a temple of humanity which will house more than 2,000 people,” he concludes.
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