Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram Kustha Sewa Ashram
Parampujya Aghoreshwar has not ignored any section of society. The Samooh strives to improve the status of the down-trodden and ensures them a respectable place in human society. With this view, Parampujya Aghoreshwar started a service center at Parao, Varanasi for the lepers in January 1962. It was inaugurated by the Former Central Cabinet Minister, Babu Jagjivan Ram Ji. The center is widely known as the 'Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram Kustha Seva Ashram' (ABRKSA). This center adopts the Ayurvedic and Fakiri system of treatment and prepares most of the medicines.
The center has an IPD (indoor patients department) with 40 beds for the male and 10 beds for female patients in two separate wards. ABRKSA not only provides free medicines, food, and clothes to the leper brethren but also a cooperative and healthy environment that helps them to realize that they also are the part of human society.
Leprosy is a disease that takes time to cure. Apart from treatment, these patients need love and affection to get rid of the disease. After treatment, the patients are allowed to do their routine work.They are trained to work in the farms and grow vegetables, cereals and pulses for their own consumption. There is separate kitchen for them where they prepare their own food. Together they perform their daily prayers and meditation. They have a common room for recreational activities. This type of environment accelerates early recovery from the disease.
Since 1962, ABRKSA has achieved a remarkable degree of success in its efforts. The center has registered and cured the highest number of leprosy patients than any other hospital of the world. The Guinness Book of Records too has recognized this fact. The Samooh also works for the rehabilitation of the cured patients. The love and affection showered by the Ashram members to the leper brothers promotes their acceptability in society and their own family. Most of the cured patients have been rehabilitated in the mainstream of society and are leading a happy and active life with their family members. At present, India has the maximum number of lepers spread across the country. To make the services more widespread, ABRKSA has an extension centre with IPD facilities operating in the RaiBareily Ashram of the Samooh