JITO takes host of initiatives to unite sects of Jain

Mumbai, Dec 31: The Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO)has taken a number of initiatives to unite all the members of thecommunity, fragmented into four major groups, irrespective of theiraffiliations to various sects.

Talking reporters here, JITO convenor Dhirubhai Kothari said thecommunity, which is one of the richest communities in the country, wasdivided into four sects such as Shwetambar, Digambar, Terapanthi andSthanakwasi. Hence JITO has emerged as an umbrella organisation to takecudgels for the community.

The number of Members of Parliament, hailing from the community,was 42 at the time of Independence. However, the number has drasticallyreduced to merely two during the last parliamentary polls. Hence, timehas come for all the members of the community to come forward to helpstrengthen it, he added.

He said some of the initiatives undertaken by JITO includes launchof 'Ahimsa Card', beginning of a new concept for the welfare of Jainmonks in the name of 'Shraman Arogyam' and imparting training to theaspirants of civil services within the community.

Under the initiative of 'Ahimsa Card', he said JITO plans to bringout a co-branded and self-sufficient credit card for its members.

''For this, we are holding talks with banks like HDFC, IDBI andICICI on the discount issue,'' Mr Kothari said and added that a goodnumber of Jain business establishments will participate in the ventureoffering various discounts and schemes.

JITO secretary general Shanti Lal Kawar said under the 'ShramanArogyam' concept, Jain monks of all sects will get cashless treatmentat any hospital all over the country. The total project cost isestimated at Rs 25 crore, of which, JITO has already raised Rs 10 crorewithin the four months of launching the scheme.

As many as 17,500 Jain doctors have come under an umbrella knownas Jain Doctors Federation and joined hands with the ParamountHealthcare Ltd, which has about 4,000 hospitals across the country, headded.

There are about 12,500 Jain sadhus and sadhvis in the country, whowill be given identity cards with a toll-free helpline. The schemeenvisages that a doctor closest from one of the empannelled hospitalswill attend to the ailing saints within a promised time ofhalf-an-hour. The raised corpus of Rs 25 crore will be invested ingovernment securities, bonds and bank deposits. Money from the interestwill be used to provide free medical services to the saints of allinterests, Mr Kawar said.

To impart training to aspiring civil servants within thecommunity, JITO will form an institute in the metropols under theguidance of Dr Amrapali Merchant, vice chancellor of AmbedkarUniversity of Gujarat, said JITO CEO Hemant M Shah.

The institute will train the students for the preliminery examinations of civil services and various other Class I jobs.

Those students, who qualify in the preliminery examinations, willundergo further training at Delhi for the preparation of mains. Theinstitute will become operational from the middle of the year, he said.

The organisation also plans to establish schools, colleges,technical institutions and universities to provide value-basededucation inculcating Indian values and morals. Moreover, theorganisation is also planning to come out with a directory for thecommunity in near future, he added.

UNI