SEWA Rural (Society for Education, Welfare and Action–Rural) is a voluntary development organisation working since 1980 in the rural and tribal areas of Jhagadia block in southern Gujarat. Founded by professionals from the health and education sectors, its work is inspired by the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi.
With a focus on the holistic development of poor and tribal communities in Bharuch district, SEWA Rural operates a general hospital, community-based health outreach, a comprehensive eye-care programme, a health training centre, a vocational institute for rural youth and a women’s development centre.
The Parekh Family, led by Chandrakant and Lord Bhikhu Parekh, has been a major supporter of this work, contributing around ₹10 crore (£860,000) so far. They encourage fellow Indians to join them, noting that meaningful contributions are within reach for many in the community. Lord Parekh paid particular tribute to the great contribution of his brother, Chandrakant.
“A contribution rooted in trust and continuity”
Dr Pankaj Pannalal Shah, Managing Trustee, and Dr Shrey Anil Desai, Trustee, emphasised that Lord Parekh and his family’s contribution to SEWA Rural has been both generous and rooted in deep mutual trust. “The support has been remarkable not just in scale, but in its continuity across health and skill-development initiatives,” they said. “He remains meaningfully engaged during his visits without being overly instructive, which reflects the trust between us. Dr Jayashree Mehta was instrumental in introducing and establishing partnership with Lord Parekh. Dr Mehta took deep interest to sustain the partnership over the years and we are grateful to her.”
As doctors leading SEWA Rural, they noted that their medical backgrounds strongly influence the organisation’s approach to rural health and education. “Our training helps us sustain high-quality healthcare even with limited resources. Our motto has always been ‘Ultramodern healthcare for the ultrapoor.’ The medical team feels better supported under medically trained leadership, but we equally value the contributions of non-medical professionals, government partners, and community members. High-quality care is always a collective effort.”
Reflecting on the current challenges in rural healthcare, they highlighted rising non-communicable diseases among an ageing population and the shortage of doctors in rural and tribal regions. “While India has made significant progress, rural areas still face critical gaps. At SEWA Rural, our hospital and community programmes address a wide range of health needs, our training centre builds capacity among health workers and administrators, and our research initiatives develop scalable technological solutions.”
Looking ahead, they expressed a shared vision for the next phase of SEWA Rural’s work. “Over the coming decade, we aim to expand service delivery, strengthen our hospital infrastructure, and develop new products and processes to improve healthcare systems locally and beyond. We also hope to inspire more young people to join this mission and continue building partnerships that advance rural health, women’s empowerment, and community prosperity. Above all, we remain committed to staying authentic, value-driven, and genuinely community-focused.”
Dr Jayshree Mehta praised Lord Parekh and his family’s contribution to SEWA Rural, saying, “Their support is truly remarkable. SEWA Rural works for the poorest communities, offering healthcare and skill development to those who need it most. Through the Vivekanand Training Centre, they select young people from village families, train them free of cost, provide them accommodation, and prepare them to work as skilled professionals in nearby industries. It is an extraordinary initiative. Another impactful effort is their insistence that a woman’s first delivery be provided free, ensuring maternal care reaches those who cannot afford it. Many of the dedicated people working there, including Ashwinbhai, were once my students, and I am proud to see the difference they are making.”
SEWA Rural works to serve the poorest communities through health and development programmes rooted in community needs. Its approach balances social service, scientific methods and a spiritual outlook, with a strong focus on vulnerable groups, especially women, children, the elderly and tribal populations. The organisation collaborates closely with local communities, donors, government agencies, industries and academic institutions to ensure that the benefits of development reach those most underserved.
