Shirdi Trust announces projects ahead of Sai samadhi centenary

The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST), Shirdi, yesterday announced a number of projects and programmes ahead of the Saibaba samadhi centenary festival, to be celebrated next year.
The projects include starting an IAS training academy, specially for the tribal and underprivileged children, setting up a cancer hospital, energy generation through solid waste, and holding of daily blood donation camps among others as part of the 'Samadhi Shatabdi Mahotsav', to be held between October 1-18, 2018.
The management committee has taken a decision to help women and students hailing from the families of farmers who have committed suicide, SSST chairman Suresh Haware told reporters here yesterday.

"Women in the families of farmers who have committed suicides will be given implements like sewing machines (and help will be extended to them for) setting up fruits and vegetable stalls and means for sustained livelihood will be provided. Besides, the children from such families will be given support in their education," he said.
With the help of NGOs, the trust has identified 600 such suicide-affected families of farmers.
Haware said that from October 1 this year, the trust will start IAS training academy which will mainly cater to tribal and deprived children, besides wards of farmers with humble means.

Taking note of the need for a cancer hospital in the area, the trust, in collaboration with the Tata Trust, will be setting up 100-bed cancer hospital at a cost of Rs 125 crore in a year's time, he said, adding that the hospital will be managed by the Tata Trust.
Considering an average daily footfall of 50,000 devotees at the Shirdi shrine, the trust will hold blood donation camps every day with the help of blood banks, Haware added.