About Trust
About Charitable Trust
Santh Shri Sevalal Maharaj Charitable Trust
Sevagad the birthplace of Sevalal Maharaj, has been established as the significant holy place. Sri Sevalal Maharat Trust is the result of determined efforts. The trust was established by late Sri Ranjit Naik, who was based in Mumbai.
An atheist by nature, he was keen to know more about Sevalal Maharaj, after listening to the Banjara songs which highlighted the virtues of Sevalal. He went on to gather information from the regional revenue department. He enquired few elders in the Banjara tribe and the residents of Cherlopalli village.
Based on the obtained information, Sevagad located in Cherlopalli village of Gutti Mandal, Ananatapur district, was recognised as the birth place of Sevalal Maharaj. After understanding the principles and glory of Sevalal, Ranjit Naik began to believe in the existence of God.
Ranjit Naik noticed that Thanda, the region where Sevalal Maharaj resided, was filled with thorny weeds. Some part of the land was alienated.
Ranjit Naik was determined to convert that space into a holy region. So, he set out on his mission and along with the help of few elders in the Banjara community from all over the country, he could manage an amount of one crore rupees with which he bought 44 acres land in the year 2000.
He knew that Sevagad needed the establishment of a Trust to enable planned development of the region. To meet this objective, he organised meetings with the prominent members of Banjaras belonging to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and few other statesfrom across the country.
He explained the importance of developing Sevagad. Subsequently many people supported the cause and expressed their willingness to work towards it.
Ranjit Naik’s hard work and dedication paid off and Santh Sevalal Maharaj Trust was finally formed in the year 2001. On the 17th of October in 2003, the Trust was renamed and registered as Santh Sri Sevalal Maharaj Charitable Trust (Reg No.36/2003).
The 25 trustees include prominent people from the Banjaras, society volunteers and devotees. A fee of Rs 11,000 is collected from anyone wishing to seek lifetime membership at the Trust.
The following developments were achieved by the Trust
1. Under the management and supervision of late Ranjit Naik, 44 acres land was bought with a sum of one crore rupees in the year 2000. Sri Mohan Rathod from USA donated 6 acres land to the Trust.
2. A tar road was laid between Gooty-Bellary state highway cross road to Sevagad, with the help of Government funds.
3. The establishment of Andhra Pradesh Government tribal boys residential school and later upgraded to tribal boys junior college.
4. The construction of Sevalal Maharaj temple foundation upto basement was completed with the help of an amount of Rs 12 lakhs donated by Mumbai based Sri Shankar Pawar. The construction of the temple was later completed with an expenditure of one crore and Rs 50 lakhs, which was received in the form of donations from the Banjara community and many other devotees of Sevalal Baba. The temple was inaugurated in the year 2008.
5. Sri Shankar Pawar belonging to Mumbai, donated a sum of Rs 10 lakhs with which the foundation upto basement of the temple of Goddess Jagadamba, was built.The donations Rs.1.5 crores collected from devotees was utilised for the completion of the construction of Jagadamba temple. This temple was inaugurated in the year 2016. The Jagadamba idol was donated by TTD, Tirupathi, which was installed.
6. Sri Arjun Rathod and Sri Harilal Naik from Mumbai, funded Rs.9.5 lakhs towards the statue of Sevalal Maharaj. They got it sculpted in Rajasthan and brought it along with them and installed it at Sevagad.
7. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) donated Rs.8 lakhs which was utilised in the construction of a spacious auditorium (Kala Dhamam).
8. MP’s/MLA’s constituency development funds constituting Rs.30 lakhs were used for the construction of a community hall, which is incomplete for want of funds.
9. The construction of the TTD Kalyana Mandapam with the amount of one crore rupees presented by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) and the same is completed and is yet to be handed over to the trust.
10. The construction of 3 cottages and guest houses to facilitate pilgrims are completed and are available to the pilgrims on nominal rent.
11. A building with two dormitories, 8 rooms with bathing facility were constructed with the funds provided by the AP Tourism department. The AIBSS team consisting of Dr Sriramulu Naik, Venkataramana Naik and others organized furnishing of this building through donors.
12. The construction of a guest house with all amenities was funded by Sri K Jagannadha Rao, IPS, IGP (Retd) in memory of his wife late Valki Bai. He spent about Rs.42 lakhs towards the construction of this guest house which facilitates accommodation to chief guests during events.
13. A guest house was constructed in memory of Late Dr.Shankar Nayak (Ex-minister, Karnataka and Vice President, Sevalal Trust) by his son Sri Saptagiri Naik and daughter Smt Pankaja Naik, who spent about Rs.18 lakhs.
14. Banjara officers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana working in FCI contributed towards the construction of a rest house.
15. AP Tourism department took the initiative of establishing a canteen to cater to the needs of the pilgrims of a cost of rupees one crore.
16. Two RO water plants were set up to meet the drinking water requirement (Courtesy: Tata projects, Rural development Trust, Ananthapuramu)
17. Bhog Mandap is constructed to provide shelter to the devotees from the inconvenience of rain and hot sun.
18. The electricity department funded Rs.33 lakhs towards the establishment of exclusive DP connection and transformer for Sevagad.
19. The installation of CCTV cameras at the temples of Sevalal Baba, Jagadamba and other important places.
