About VikasJyothi
Vikasjyothi, the Fransalian Resource Centre for Integral Human Development was established at the MSFS House, Kuvempunagar, Mysore by the Provincial Superior of the South West India Province of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales dated 23 January 2018. Vikasjyothi operates as a unit of the Karnataka Fransalian Society which is a non profit religious and charitable society. Dr. Thomas Cherukat was appointed the Founder Director of Vikasjyothi with effect from 1 January 2018.
Vikasjyothi, the Fransalian Resource Centre for Integral Human Development was established at the MSFS House, Kuvempunagar, Mysore by the Provincial Superior of the South West India Province of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales dated 23 January 2018. Vikasjyothi operates as a unit of the Karnataka Fransalian Society without a separate identity of its own. Dr. Thomas Cherukat was appointed the Founder Director of Vikasjyothi with effect from 1 January 2018.
Integral human development is a positive vision of human growth, the holistic development of the human person, covering all aspects of life: social, economic, political, cultural, personal and spiritual. In keeping with the mission and vision of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales VIKASJYOTHI endeavours to provide service to the most needy people focussing on effective responses to poverty, disease, injustice and other threats to human wellbeing around the world and more particularly in the developing world. VIKASJYOTHI therefore stands for empowering and lightening up the lives of the poor and the disadvantaged through projects and programs aimed at integral human development focusing specially on those who remain on the peripheries of society.
Our Mission
Lighten up the lives of the poor and the disadvantaged and empower those who remain on the peripheries of society.
Our Vision
Integral Human Development
Our Story
How We Got Started
VIKASJYOTHI established at Mysore in 2018 as the Fransalian Resource Centre for Integral Human Development is an initiative of the South-West India Province of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales also known as Fransalians or MSFS.
Where We Are Now
Vikasjyothi Scholarship Program (VSP) is an ongoing program which aims at finding sponsors for the most deserving children from the economically backward sections of society. The VSP has granted over 1000 scholarships in India and Africa in the range of Rs. 3000/-, Rs. 5000/- Rs. 7000/- Rs. 10000/- Rs. 15000/- Rs. 20000/- Rs. 25000/- and Rs. 30000/- annually. The main focus of VSP is the promotion of the girl-child. At least 50 % of the sponsored children are chosen from among the economically disadvantaged girls.
EXECUTIVE BODY OF VIKASJYOTHI
Fr Benny Koottanal
President- VIKASJYOTHI
Fr Vinod Kanattu
Secretary and Treasurer- VIKASJYOTHI
Fr Riju Vazheparambil
Member- VIKASJYOTHI
Dr. Thomas Cherukat
Director – VIKASJYOTHI
UPCOMING PROJECTS: HELP FOR THE HOMELESS AND FOR HEALTH CARE
Vikasjyothi with the support of benefactors and well wishers would like to reach out to those sections of society who live in extreme poverty. We have identified two such vulnerable groups namely those who have no shelter and those who have no means of accessing medical help. Vikasjyoti is therefore committed to mobilise and create two separate funds for the homeless and for those in need of urgent medical assistance.
INTRODUCING VIKASJYOTHI
Vikasjyothi, the Fransalian Resource Centre for Integral Human Development was established at the MSFS House, Kuvempunagar, Mysore by the Provincial Superior of the South West India Province of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales dated 23rd January 2018. Vikasjyothi operates as a unit of the Karnataka Fransalian Society without a separate identity of its own. Dr. Thomas Cherukat was appointed the Founder Director of Vikasjyothi with effect from 1st January 2018.
The name VIKASJYOTHI derives from the two Sanskrit words: VIKAS and JYOTHI. Vikas means development and Jyothi means light. VIKASJYOTHI is thus conceived as a Fransalian Resource Centre for Integral Human Development aimed at empowering and lightening up the lives of so many unfortunate people who are marginalised and discriminated. Lighten up Lives is the primary pursuit of Vikasjyothi.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
- To mobilise resources – human, material and financial – in order to assist and strengthen the Province in all its social, educational and developmental activities both in India and abroad.
- To promote all forms of humanitarian and developmental works in favour of the poorest of the poor and the marginalised people with a special focus on spiritual formation, leadership formation, and formal and informal education.
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To contact friends, benefactors, NGOs and funding agencies on behalf of the Province to acquaint them of the social, educational and developmental engagements of the Fransalians in India and abroad and build a partnership with them in responding to the needs of the PROVINCE in its service to the people.
- To receive projects and appeals from the Province through the recommendation of the Provincial, study them and forward them to agencies or benefactors for the necessary sanction of grants.
EXECUTIVE BODY OF VIKASJYOTHI
- VIKASJYOTHI executive body will consist of four members: Provincial, Provincial Bursar, Provincial Councillor in charge of Innovative Ministries and the Director of VIKASJYOTHI appointed by the Provincial with the consent of his Council.
- The Provincial is the ex-officio President of VIKASJYOTHI and he is ultimately responsible for it. It is to him that the other members are accountable. The minutes of all meetings are sent to him. If possible he attends all meetings of the VIKASJYOTHI.
- The Director of VIKASJYOTHI will be a suitable MSFS confrere who is appointed by the Provincial with the consent of his council for a period of 3 years and who can be re-appointed for further terms but not more than three terms consecutively.
- The other members of VIKASJYOTHI are ex-officio and they cease to be members when their term comes to an end.
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More members may be inducted into the VIKASJYOTHI by the Provincial with the consent of his Council and for a period of 3 years at a time.
ACCOUNTS
- The Director will open a bank account in the name of VIKASJYOTHI to be operated jointly by the Director and the Provincial Bursar.
- VIKASJYOTHI will maintain accounts of all the money it receives and which are sent to the various projects following due procedures as stated in these terms of reference or otherwise as given by the Provincial in writing to the Director.
- The annual statement of accounts has to be passed by VIKASJYOTHI and submitted to the Provincial.
DRINKING WATER PROJECT IN CHAD- CAMEROON
The drinking water project in Chad-Cameroon mission is an ongoing program since the past 10 years. Over 20 wells have been dug and many villages have benefited from this project ensuring clean and safe drinking water to thousands of villagers. Vikasjyothi is committed to continue supporting this project.
INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Integral human development is a positive vision of human growth, the holistic development of the human person, covering all aspects of life: social, economic, political, cultural, personal and spiritual. In keeping with the mission and vision of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales VIKASJYOTHI endeavours to provide service to the most needy people focussing on effective responses to poverty, disease, injustice and other threats to human wellbeing around the world and more particularly in the developing world. VIKASJYOTHI therefore stands for empowering and lightening up the lives of the poor and the disadvantaged through projects and programs aimed at integral human development focusing specially on those who remain on the peripheries of society.
SCOPE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Associations of friends and benefactors may be formed in India and abroad with the prior written approval of the Provincial.
- These Associations of friends are to be initiated into the mission and vision of the FRANSALIANS and be motivated to be partners in all their developmental activities.
- Each Association will see various ways in which support for the Fransalians in general can be mobilised.
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The details of the functioning and accountability of each of these Associations, and the transfer of their collection of resources to VIKASJYOTHI will have to be worked out by its Executive Body.
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VIKASJYOTHI will endeavour to create a good DATABASE of the entire Province. A mechanism has to be proposed to the Provincial to obtain data and information about the various activities in the Province. Once the mechanism is approved, VIKASJYOTHI will take up direct contact with those who supply the information and data in the Province.
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The funds obtained for the general purposes of the Province will be made known to the Provincial periodically, twice in a year before the Provincial Council Meeting, with proposals of how the money can be shared with the various centres of the Province. The decision needs to be endorsed by the Provincial with the consent of his Council.
- The members of the Province will be free to send to VIKASJYOTHI projects well written and with the written approval of the Provincial.
- The projects will be periodically studied by VIKASJYOTHI, sorted out, and forwarded to funding agencies with its recommendation.
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The funds thus obtained for the project will be disbursed directly to the applicant concerned with due information to the Provincial and to the Provincial Bursar and a record will be kept. This record will form part of the annual report that VIKASJYOTHI will submit to the Provincial at the end of the calendar year ( projects received, projects forwarded to agencies and projects that were materialised )
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VIKASJYOTHI will explore ways and means of building a Development Fund which will be at the disposal of the Provincial, who with the consent of his Council will use it for the emergency needs of the various developmental and humanitarian projects in the Province. Legacies, endowments, one-time gifts for mission etc. should be welcomed to this Fund.
MEETINGS OF VIKASJYOTHI AND MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS
- There shall be minimum of two meetings in a year of the VIKASJYOTHI Executive Body.
- The Director will convene the meeting and circulate the agenda to the members at least 15 days in advance. If the Provincial is present, he will preside at the meeting and the Director will conduct the meeting. In the absence of the Provincial, the Director will preside at the meeting and conduct the Meeting.
- The Director will prepare the minutes within 10 days after the meeting. The minutes are to be sent to the Provincial and to the members of VIKASJYOTHI immediately.
VIKASJYOTHI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (VSP)
In the past two years Vikasjyothi has been able to make a significant contribution towards the education of the poor children. We have been able to grant partial scholasrships to over 1000 children from Karnataka and Kerala. Vikasjyothi is also supporting over 150 children in our Chad-Cameroon Mission. Hence this program is now catering to over 500 children.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
HELP FOR THE HOMELESS AND FOR HEALTH CARE
Vikasjyothi with the support of benefactors and well wishers would like to reach out to those sections of society who live in extreme poverty. We have identified two such vulnerable groups namely those who have no shelter and those who have no means of accessing medical help. Vikasjyoti is therefore committed to mobilise and create two separate funds for the homeless and for those in need of urgent medical assistance.
