Given the region’s susceptibility to earthquakes, Veerayatan made efforts to ensure that the construction of the buildings was of the highest standard, including apposite seismic safety considerations.  Veerayatan employed a leading architect from Pune and a highly skilled construction team from Mumbai to design and construct the campus. The 200,000 square feet of completed buildings includes a primary and secondary school, a vocational training center, a Pharmacy College, spacious and well-lit hostels for primary and college students, and a dining hall run by solar energy. A primary health center has been especially created to provide health check ups health awareness programmes for the hostel children and villagers in the vicinity. To introduce more greenery into the region, Veerayatan is currently cultivating more than 10,000 plants and trees on the site.

The local community of Jakhania and the surrounding villages have been enormously cooperative and enthusiastic about Veerayatan’s project. The formal inauguration took place in January 2004, and the facility currently educates approximately 1,000 students. The permanent school in Jakhania has approximately 500 afternoon students and 120 residential students. There are twenty-four classrooms, along with eight additional rooms, including an art room, a music room, four laboratories, a teacher/staff room, and a principal’s office. Classes range from 1st to 12th standard. The class size is limited to thirty-five students maximum to ensure quality education and support from teachers.

Initial admission priority is need-based. The highest priority is granted to highly disadvantaged students, or students who have become orphaned, students who have lost one parent, and students whose parents have become financially unstable because of the earthquake. The selection criteria is completely non-discriminatory. Need-based students do not pay fees for the entire length of their schooling, as Veerayatan arranges for the sponsorship of these students. Intake for all merit-based students requires nominal fees and scholarships. Additionally, students with both parents contribute toward the cost of meals.

The region of Kutch experiences frequent droughts and suffers from water scarcity in general. Veerayatan has thus constructed a water filtration system and storage facilities to ensure that safe, clean drinking water is available for all children, students and staff. This is accomplished by a huge overhead water tank that can store up to 250,000 liters of water.

The kitchen is operated using steam solar energy and recycled water from the waste water recycling plant is used for plantation and gardening.  Furthermore, there is an on-site check dam which reserves water during the rare periods of rainfall in the otherwise barren region of Kutch. These are some of the ways in which Veerayatan’s commitment to environmental awareness and sustainable energy development is demonstrated through its actions.

Approximately 100,000 square feet of the land is reserved for playgrounds. At present a beautiful lawn surrounding what is known as the Recognition Park has been developed. The boundary of the plot is covered with ornamental flowers, which blossom throughout the year. Coconut trees have also been planted on the periphery. With the help of good soil, readily available recycled water and technical know-how for the productivity of the farm products, Veerayatan plans to develop gardens and orchards for beautification to ensure the health and sustainability of the environment.

To find out how you can contribute to Veerayatan Vidyapeeth Jakhania and/or sponsor construction and other projects, please visit our General Donations page.

First Pharmacy Degree College of Kutch

Veerayatan’s vision for its activities in Kutch focuses on a multi-pronged approach targeted at raising education levels as a means of reducing unemployment, increasing the self-sufficiency of the population, improving the region’s literacy rates and raising the overall standard of living in the region.

Currently there is a mismatch between higher education and employment in Gujarat.  While jobs in various industries exist, the citizens of Gujarat, and in particular people of Kutch, have been unable to take advantage of these employment opportunities because of the lack of appropriate technical education, and specifically college education.  An industrial state, Kutch has a total of 3,276 registered pharmaceutical industrial units but suffers from a shortage of pharmaceutical personnel. Thus, Veerayatan established the first institution in Kutch to offer a 4 Year Degree course in Pharmacy, with the formal approval of AICTE. In addition to traditional classroom study, the Institute provides practical training for course credit, research opportunities for students, and guest lecturers known to be at the forefront of the industry.   The Pharmacy College was inaugurated on the 20th of August 2005 with the formal approval of AICTE.

After successful launching the four year degree pharmacy course, the need arose for a new Pharmacy College Building, one which could provide more modern facilities. A new building was thus constructed, with 70,000 square feet of construction space, including 15 spacious laboratories, 5 class rooms, 4 tutorial rooms, space for administrative offices, a seminar/conference hall, a full fledged Digital Library and other amenities. This will be fully sufficient to conduct B.Pharm, M.Pharm and Ph.D programmes in Pharmacy and also other job related Pharmacy diploma courses. The total cost of the project is approximately Rs. 5 crores. This building was inaugurated in a grand celebration on 30th December 2007, with the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, as the guest of honor.

Veerayatan’s successful establishment of institutes of higher learning ensure the attainment and sustainability of our long-term goals in Kutch. Download Brochure for Veerayatan Institute of Pharmacy

Primary School and Secondary School with Residential Dormitory

The permanent school in Jakhania has approximately 500 afternoon students and 120 residential students. There are twenty-four classrooms, along with eight additional rooms, including an art room, a music room, four laboratories, a teacher/staff room, and a principal’s office.

Classes range from 1st to 11th standard. The class size is limited to thirty-five students maximum to ensure quality education and support from teachers.

Initial admission priority is need-based. Thus, they highest priority is granted to highly disadvantaged students, or students who have become orphaned, students who have lost one parent, and students whose parents have become financially unstable because of the earthquake. The selection criteria is completely non-discriminatory.

A total of 36 dormitories (18 for boys, 18 for girls) in two hostel complexes house a maximum capacity of 540 students (15 students in each dorm). In the first year, 250 students were housed.

Need-based students do not pay fees for the entire length of their schooling, as Veerayatan arranges for the sponsorship of these students. Intake for all merit-based students requires nominal fees and scholarships. Additionally, students with both parents contribute partially toward the cost of meals.

The primary school will soon host a modern library, fully equipped with research and reference books, computers, internet facilities, and a reading room.

Vocational Training Center

A vocational training center is being constructed on the Jakhania site and will admit several hundred students for a 4-month intensive vocational course throughout the year. Three four-month sessions will be conducted yearly. The Jakhania center will also function as the head quarter of many sub-centers, which are currently providing vocational training at the village and city levels.

Classes will be offered in eight large size training rooms in courses including computer training, sewing, screen printing, carpentry, scent making, television/video repair, and electrical fitting, among others. Priority for admission will be given to widows with children, and working single parents.

A computer-training center is being constructed, which will have a minimum of one hundred computers. Three-month courses will be held, accommodating 1,000 students. Thus, 4,000 students per year will be taught in the computer-training center.

Vocational students will also be given the option of living on campus in the residential dormitory, as many residential spots are available for economically disadvantaged students and students who would have to travel far distances to attend Veerayatan’s vocational courses.

Promotion of Environmental Awareness

With existing facilities, Veerayatan also plans to conduct classes and workshops to educate people on various environmental issues. This will include farming and agriculture using limited water resources, water management and conservation and reforesting initiatives.

To find out how you can contribute to Veerayatan Vidyapeeth Jakhania and/or sponsor construction and other projects, please visit our General Donations page.

For more information or to find out how you can help Veerayatan’s efforts in Kutch, please contact us at

VEERAYATAN VIDYAPEETH
Bhuj-Mandvi Road
Jakhania, Mandvi
District Kutch 370460
Gujarat, India
Tel: 02834 275483
shilapiji@hotmail.com