Jain sadhus working for Civic Issues

PALITANA: At a time when global leaders, business honchos and the state government are set to sign various memorandums of understanding ( MoUs) at the Vibrant Gujarat summit, an interesting MoU signed between a Jain group and Palitana Nagarpalika three years ago to solve civic problems of the Jain pilgrimage town in Bhavnagar district, is bearing fruits.

On inspiration of Jain monk Vijay Abhaydev Suriswersji Maharaj, his followers took up the challenge to take up civic issues of Palitana three years ago. According to Moksharata Vijay Maharaj, who has executed the project, Subh Mangal Foundation carried out the civic work without taking money from government.
"We have spent more than Rs 45 crore to carry out the major civic work in our holy place to make it more beautiful and lovable for Jain sadhus and sadhvis, pilgrims, and citizens of the town. A place of worship should be like one where one can get eternal peace," Moksharatna Vijay Maharaj told TOI.

"The developmental works have been carried out in the town from Taleti to Chhela Chakla, from Chella Chakla to Bhairavnath Chowk, and from Chella Chakla to Pallavi gate. In all 18 km RCC roads were built, covering main roads and all the dharmshalas, storm water drainage, drainage line, underground facility for cables of telephone and electricity, footpaths on both sides of roads have been completed," said Maharaj
"A filter plant with all allied facilities has been established. The plant will provide potable water to all the citizens of the town. More than 3,000 trees have been planted along the roads. These basic civic amenities will solve the civic problems which Jain sadhus and pilgrims used to face, especially during monsoons,'' he said.

He said the  Jains usually donate for constructing Derasars and for Jivdaya but for the first time all the followers generously contributed for the betterment of the society at large.

(From TOI)

Jain sadhvi alleges molestation in Palitana

BHAVNAGAR: A Jain sadhvi's alleged molestation outside a dharamsala in the pilgrim town of Palitana has outraged the region's Jain community.

In a complaint registered on Monday, the 27-year-old sadhvi told the police that a man attacked her on February 9, when she had gone into the open field behind the dharamsala to attend to the nature's call. She said the man molested her and ran away when she shouted for help.

As the community threatened a major agitation, the police held an identification parade on Monday, in which the sadhvi identified a balloon-seller, Laxman Bhara, who lives near the dharamsala , as the culprit. Bhara was immediately arrested.

Palitana police inspector R J Waghela said Bhara had taken the sadhvi by surprise, pushed her to the ground and tried to gag her. But sadhvi's cries forced Bhara to flee, he said. The sadhvi had immediately informed the dharamsala caretakers about the incident. The police was called in, but the caretakers didn't want to register the complaint initially, preferring to discuss the issue among themselves first.

Maharaj Revant Vijay of the Palitana Jain temple has demanded stern action against the accused. The community's religious heads are planning a protest rally.