There are more than 200 million Tribals, poor and backward Section of our society, living in forest, slums and underdeveloped Colonies in urban areas, without electricity, sanitation and health facilities. They are illiterate and poor and suffer from various social evils and also discrimination, hatred and untouchability. The Tribals have been cut off from modern civilization and are simple, poor, and innocent and suffer from exploitation and social injustice. V.H.P. with intense national consciousness, healthy Sanskars of Ekatmata (oneness) eliminating all kinds of communal, sectarian, linguistic feelings of high and low, caste differences have launched various service projects with a view to providing them with social justice, social equality, social security and social awareness.

The problem and challenges facing Tribals in India are very complex and serious, more so due to threats of conversion and subversion. In order to take care of Tribals the V.H.P. has started, more than 2,000 service projects spread over Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Eastern U.P. etc.

In the sphere of education, the Parishad has paid special attention to the opening of schools in Tribal and backward areas with a view to making them knowledgeable people. At present there are about 200 schools functioning in various States. We have more than 80 hostels and orphanages for Tribal boys and girls to provide Sanskar of patriotism and service to society besides free education, meals and living.

The unifying Hindu appeal generated by V.H.P., R.S.S. and other organisations is setting in as a powerful antidote to disintegrating forces, discrepancies and conflicts born out of casteism, untouchability and sectarianism.

For removal of poverty and making them self-reliant, training in village and cottage industries, tailoring, bee-keeping, handicrafts and modern methods of agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry is being given at service centres.

The declaration of the Dharma Sansad that "Hindavah Sodarah Serve" – all Hindus are brothers – and the Padyatras by the Saints in Harijan areas, unheard of in the annals of orthodox religious society, is giving a forceful impetus to Hindu awakening and social equality. Community meals where in big saints and Hindu leaders participate, are helpful in winning confidence of Harijans and making them feel that they are part and parcel of the great Hindu society. More than 200 temples constructed in Harijan areas of Tamil Nadu have resulted in removal of untouchability, feelings of high and low, winning sympathy of the rich for the poor. Mohta Chhatravas in Haflong (Assam), Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram at Talasari near Bombay, Vanavasi Girivasi Sewa Prakalpa in U.P, Girijan Vikas Kendra in Vidurnagar in Andhra Pradesh, Vishva Hindu Kalyan Ashram in Rajasthan are the main centres of Tribal welfare.

There are about 300 Satsang Kendras organised by V.H.P., Rath Yatras with local deities are being taken out in processions in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Rajasthan which have generated religious, awakening. In Tamil Nadu Rath Yatras moving in Harijan colonies have changed the orthodox picture of Hindu society. Teaching of the Vedas, Sanskrit and Archana Vidhi to Harijans is removing the common belief that those are the rights of the so-called upper classes only.

Special care is taken for the welfare of women and children. We have more than 600 Bal Baries attended by children of backward communities. Besides, we have crèches for children of working and or ailing mothers. We have started 'Support-A-Child' programme and we ate very much obliged to our friends in USA, Canada, Germany and UK for their support to about 700 children of Bharat. There are hostels for orphans or uncared children in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai. Separate hostels have also been opened for healthy children of leprosy patients at Deval Gangapur (Karnataka) and Fatehpur Churian in Punjab. As far as ladies are concerned, Bhajan Mandalies have been started at various centres where they recite Bhajans and also learn to manage their families.

The spirit of courage and social service even at the risk of one's life, inculcated in our workers, has been shown during natural calamities, be it cyclone, earthquake, floods or famine. During the 1987-88 drought in Gujarat and Rajasthan we have been serving them. At the time of the disaster caused by the breach of Machchu Dam in Gujarat, train tragedy near Quilon in Kerala in 1988, floods in Malda (West Bengal) in 1987 relief and help work etc., was done by our selfless workers.

Padayatras by eminent saints from time to time, visit to Deeksha Bhoomi of Dr. Ambedkar in Nagpur and partaking food at Domraja's house in Varanasi has created a feeling of oneness in the entire Hindu society.

Several schemes of self-reliance for training in motor winding, electrical repairs, electronics, typewriting have been started for the youths. Students from Harijan and backward families are trained every year. Hence those young boys who being unemployed were problems for their own colonies, are now able to earn their own bread. About 85 sewing and tailoring centres for women are helping the poor women to supplement their earnings by this work.

The V.H.P. has taken up several rural development programmes. We have dug wells, built earthen dams for irrigation and roads to connect villages from towns in Bihar. Schemes of smokeless Chulha, Gobar Gas plant, Bee-keeping, agriculture in Tribal areas of Bihar and Maharashtra have been implemented.

More than 400 Medical centres have been started in rural areas. Some mobile Medical Vans also move in remote places. Big hospitals like Ashwini Hospitals at Medikeri and Vivekananda Hospital at Belgaum, Chola Saraswati Women's and Children's Hospital in Madras and Assam have been working. Besides, medical and health checking camps, eye camps and blood donation camps are organised in almost all the States from time to time. Training in primary health assistance has been started in Assam, Bengal and Maharashtra.

Due to the efforts of our dedicated workers we have been able to, bring about a social change in this neglected segment of our society in a short time where the Government with its vast resources of men, money and material has not been able to improve their lot.

mThus, our service projects are proving a great success in creating social awareness amongst Tribals and Harijans and they are helping in forging unity amongst various sections of our society.