History & Growth

Manav Vikas Seva Sangh is established for the welfare of the community without the distinction of caste, creed, religion, race or other limiting considerations, for the betterment of the poor by rendering holistic services in order to make people aware of their rights and duties as well as to develop leadership so that they can inculcate the values of truth, justice, equality, love, co-operation and brotherhood, so that they shall be liberated from social evils like casteism, communalism etc.

Along with the solemn inauguration of the Sagar Diocese in January, 1969 the social work activities were began in the four civil districts of Madhya Pradesh namely Sagar, Raisen, Vidisha and Guna. Since about 80% of the population is in the villages, Late Bp. Mar. Clemens Thottungal got the inspiration to go to the villages and to start developmental works among the poor villagers. He started social work centers in Semri, Silwani, Intkheri, Pratapgarh, Bamori, Tada, Shahgarh and Jaisinagar for the intensive village ministry. He appointed Fr. John Kallan CMI as the Director of the Social Work Department in 1984 to coordinate the activities of the social work department. He primarily concentrated on health and education of the illiterate flock of interior villages so that they can have a ray of hope in their life through education and good health.

Bishop Joseph Pastor Neelankavil, the successor of Late Bp. Mar. Clemens Thottungal felt the need to be professional in the approach of Social work and thereby formed a society in 1989 and it was named Manav Vikas Sewa Sangh and was registered in December, 1989 under M.P. firms and Societies Registration Act 1973 at Vimala Church, Vidisha. It is the official organization of Sagar Diocese with a Mission: Empowering the people to have access to their rights and opportunities as well as bringing about systematic changes in view of good governance and social cohesion, and Vision: We visualize communities where all enjoy equal rights, opportunities and the members respect each other and live in harmony with the nature and the Divine.

The first Annual General Body Meeting was held on 23rd February, 1990 at Bishop’s House and eleven governing body members were elected. The AGBM suggested the need to be organaised and to integrate the social actions taken in the operational areas. Thus the Governing Body members were elected from the four districts and the function of the society was made easier. The first Governing Body Meeting was conducted on 10th April, 1990. Fr. John Kallan CMI was elected as the first Secretary of the Society and he rendered his services for 10 months. At that time Manav Vikas was functioning from Bishop’s House, Sagar and continued the concentration in the fields of health and education as well as poverty eradication. From 1990 to 1993 Fr. Thomas Pulickan CMI shouldered the responsibility of directorship cum Secretary of the Society. The Bye-laws were made for the society and started functioning on 21st May, 1993 the objectives were set and the evaluation process was began. Fr. Johnson Madambi was appointed as the Director and Secretary of Manv Vikas in 1993 and he continued his services till 1996. Fr. Jose Malekudy then succeeded him from 1996 to 2000. In order to have an open approach to the villages and to interact freely with the woman flock Sisters of Jesus started to render their services in Manv Vikas since 2000. Fr. Jose Malekudy applied for FCRA of the society in 1996 but somehow the society could not get this provision. He mainly along with the other objectives concentrated to empower the woman. Fr. Sabu Puthenpurackal succeeded him and rendered his services as a Secretary and Director of Manv Vikas from 2000 to 2009. With the continuous effort of Fr. Sabu Puthenpurackal Manv Vikas got FCRA on 14th June, 2004 from the ministry of Home affairs. During his time he tried to do the community development through the watershed projects and the health of the mother and child was safeguarded through the different activities. In order to have a closer relationship with the realities of life as per the decision taken by the Annual General Body Meeting the Head office was shifted from Bishop’s house to Bararu village on 19th July 2001. Manav Vikas got approved income tax exception under 12A section on 1st April, 2005.

Bishop Mar. Anthony Chirayath became the President of the Society on 25th March 2006. In order to have better connectivity with the sub-centers and targeted villages the head office of Manav Vikas was shifted to Vinayalaya, at Gopalganj, Sagar on 20th May, 2007, a house which was taken in rent from CMI Fathers. Fr. Sabu Puthenpurackal purchased a plot of four acres of land in Pushpa complex at Kannera village, Sagar on 17th September, 2009 to construct the Head office for Manav Vikas.

Fr. Anto Kannapuzha was appointed as the Director and Secretary of Manav Vikas in 2009. He started conscentrating on child related issues and initiative was taken to collaborate with Childline India Foundiaon. Fr. Shaju Devassy succeeded him and took the responsibility of Director and Secretary from 2010 till 31st Jan 2015. As it was delaying the registration and land verification at Pushpa land it was decided by the AGBM to construct the office building in the existing land of Sagar Diocesan Service Society at Bararu village, Sagar and the Foundation Stone was laid on February 2011.

The office of commission of income tax approved tax deduction for donations towards social causes under section 80G for Manav Vikas on 1st April, 2012. Fr. Shaju Devassy took initiative and started construction of office building at Bararu, Sagar and shifted Manav Vikas from Vinayalaya to Bararu after the inauguration and blessing of the building on 13th July, 2012 by Mar Antony Chirayath the President of the society.

On 1st Feb. 2015 Fr. Thomas Philip took the charge as the Secretary and Director of Manav Vikas Seva Sangh and simultaneously also as the Director of Matha Maria Hospital in Sept.2016. He has vast knowledge and experience in the educational field as principal in St. Chavara Sr Sec. School Mandideep, Raisen. His enthusiasm transformed into holy zeal to serve the poor and downtrodden. His hard work in social services earned him several awards and also reputation of being invited to deliver a lecture in Caritas India’s Annual Directors meet held at Christ University, Bengaluru on 11th Sept.2016. People view in him the qualities of real social worker such as flexibility, creativity, passion, empathy and competence. His empathy for the poor and downtrodden is ever noticeable. He firmly assures that the meaning of Social work is not in FILES but rather in LIVES. Even today with this theme he moves forward and guides MVSS team to bring practical results. Under his able and vibrant guidance MVSS was awarded twice for best performance in social work sector in Sagar district, by dignitaries. Fr. Thomas Philip is also popularly known as Modi of MVSS by the community. During his tenure as Director he is affectionate towards those who come to him.

Many suffering community  flock to MVSS to get the joy of being loved by him. One significant component of Fr. Thomas’s popularity among diverse community groups is his involvement with them which is an enduring aspect of his legacy. At present Manav Vikas is handling 30 plus  both major and micro projects and implementing it in 356 villages of Sagar, Raisen, Vidisha, Ashoknagar and Guna districts. A humble beginning which was started with eight centres and few villages have now reached to a point where we are dealing with 356 villages, 32 Slums, 42 Wards covering 46917 Women, 2030 Prisoners, 4238 Stakeholders, 14491 Children, 2772 Teachers, 100 plus Doctors, 33374 Men a total population of 1,00,000 plus.