VIVEK SANJIVANI: A Beacon of Hope for Healthcare and Education

In a world where healthcare disparities remain a pressing concern, Vivek Sanjivani, an initiative by Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service in Luxa, Varanasi, is making a profound difference. Driven by a vision of accessible and equitable healthcare, this transformative program is breaking barriers and reaching the most underserved communities.

Through a robust telemedicine network, Vivek Sanjivani operates nine centres, including five Stationary Telemedicine Units (STUs) and four Mobile Telemedicine Units (MTUs). These units are more than just medical facilities; they are lifelines for remote and marginalized populations. Where specialized care is often unattainable, Vivek Sanjivani brings expert consultation, diagnostic support, and crucial treatments directly to those in need.

Imagine the power of a mother receiving medical advice for her child without traveling miles, or a farmer or a labourer accessing timely healthcare without financial burden—this is the reality Vivek Sanjivani is creating. By transcending geographical constraints and deploying cutting-edge technology, the initiative is not just treating illnesses, but restoring dignity, security, and hope to countless lives.

Healthcare Outreach during 2024-25: An Overview

During the financial year 2024-25, Vivek Sanjivani successfully extended its healthcare services to 58,802 beneficiaries across five districts, including one aspirational district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and another in Uttarakhand. Key achievements include:

• 33,933 patients benefitted from STUs and MTUs.
• 15,865 individuals underwent Non-Communicable Disease Screening (NCDS), with 9,693 women receiving health assessments.
• A total of 7,729 psychiatric consultations were conducted for patients from underprivileged backgrounds, with 90.14% belonging to OBC, SC, ST, and minority communities. These patients were diagnosed with Common Mental Disorders (CMD), Severe Mental Disorders (SMD), and epilepsy. Among them were 2,996 women and 567 children.
• Eye care: 731 beneficiaries received support for eye refraction and 3Nethra check up
• 172 women received antenatal care (ANC) to support maternal and child health.
• Nutritional Support: 7,948 children and chronically ill patients were provided with nutritional food supplements, fostering better health and long-term well-being.

A substantial portion of beneficiaries belonged to underprivileged backgrounds, with 91.35% hailing from OBC, SC, ST and minority communities, and 50.3% of all beneficiaries being women. The initiative also enabled patients to save approximately ₹600 to ₹1,000 per visit by offering doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines at no cost or minimal expense.

Commitment to Holistic Well-being:

Vivek Sanjivani offered  holistic education to 92 kids throughout the year; Conducted Online Science class for 2462 students and Online Value Education class for 4924 students; Basic Computer Knowledge and practical trainings offered to 2719 students; Through audio-visual health education, 1036 villagers including students have been empowered with knowledge on nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention, leading to healthier lifestyles and proactive self-care; Conducted value education programme for 374 participants, which includes villagers and students; Created Book Banks in Schools and other Institutions with 9175 books on Science and Value Education.

Effect of the night in flowering in short-day plants:

If a short-day plant is kept in the dark for less than 12 hours in any place, it will not flower. Again, if kept in the dark for more than 12 hours, the plant will bloom. But even if the lights are on for a very short time in the middle of the night, the plants do not bloom because the length of the night is reduced.

Effect of the night in flowering in long-day plants:

If a long-day plant is kept in any dark place then it is seen that the flowers are not blooming when the night becomes too long.  Again, if the light is switched on for a very short time in the middle of the night, the length of the night will be broken. At that time flowers can be seen on the Long-day plants.

जीवन प्रक्रिया

(Life Processes)

जब हम एक धीमी गति से चलती चींटी और एक तेज गति से चलती हुई कार को देखते हैं, तो हम कहते हैं कि चींटी एक जीव है लेकिन कार एक निर्जीव वस्तु है। इससे पता चलता है कि जीव को केवल गतिशीलता से नहीं पहचाना जा सकता।

एक पेड़ वर्षों तक एक ही स्थान पर स्थिर रहता है और इसके पास निर्मित इलेक्ट्रिक पोल (Electric pole) या घर (चित्र A) वर्षों तक एक ही स्थान पर स्थिर रहता है, लेकिन पेड़, जीव और घर या इलेक्ट्रिक पोल को निर्जीव कहते हैं। लेकिन क्यों? जिन्हें हम जीव कहते हैं, उनमें कुछ विशेषताएं होती हैं जिनके द्वारा उन्हें निर्जीव से अलग किया जा सकता है।

जीवन की सरल परिभाषा अभी भी अज्ञात है (Life defies

simple definition): वैज्ञानिकों ने कई दृष्टिकोण से जीवन को परिभाषित करने की कोशिश की है। लेकिन आज भी एक सर्वव्यापी परिभाषा विकसित करना संभव नहीं हो पाया है। वस्तुतः जीव में पाई जाने वाली अलग-अलग विशेषताओं के परिपेक्ष्य में जीवन की परिभाषा देखी जा सकती है।

जीव क्या है? (What is living organism?): जो कोशिका से बने (cellular) हों, उपापचय (metabolism) में सक्षम हों और प्रजनन द्वारा (reproduction) वंशवृद्धि कर सकें उन्हें जीव कहा जाता है।

यहां यह महत्वपूर्ण बात है कि जीव का निर्माण जीव से ही होता है लेकिन प्रथम जीव की उत्पत्ति कैसे हुई यह अभी भी अज्ञात है।

वायरस एक जीव क्यों नहीं है? वायरस (Virus) का कोशिकीय शरीर नहीं है और कोई भी उपापचय क्रिया का प्रदर्शन नहीं करता है। लेकिन वायरस ‘जीवित पोषक कोशिका’ (Living host cell) के अंदर पुनः उत्पन्न हो सकता है जो जीवित जीव का लक्षण है। यही कारण है कि वायरस को निर्जीव और सजीव के बीच की कड़ी कहा जाता है।

जैव प्रक्रम या जीवन प्रक्रियायें (Life Processes): सभी जीव जीवित रहते हुए कुछ मूलभूत कार्य करते हैं। शरीर के अन्दर गतिविधियों को बनाए रखने के लिए इन प्रक्रियाओं की जरूरत होती है। कुछ प्रक्रियाएं हर समय और कुछ प्रक्रियाएं समय-समय पर आवश्यक होती हैं। इन प्रक्रियाओं को जैव प्रक्रम या जीवन प्रक्रियायें कहते हैं। हम इस वर्ग में कु छ प्रक्रियाओं का अध्ययन करेंगे जैसे- पोषण, श्वसन, परिवहन और उत्सर्जन।