Responding to the 2015 Nepal earthquake
When a massive earthquake struck Nepal in April 2015, thousands of people lost their lives, communities were devastated and tens of thousands of families were left without safe shelter.
HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji traveled to Nepal on April 30, 2015, to see the devastation firsthand, speak with local communities and understand the most urgent needs. With heavy rains and landslides compounding the crisis, shelter and sanitation were among the immediate priorities.
VT Seva, JET USA and volunteers across the United States mobilized to help. Young volunteers conducted door-to-door campaigns, organized awareness booths and inspired their communities to stand with the people of Nepal.
The impact
- US$171,043 raised by VT Seva USA and transferred to Vikasa Tarangini in India for Nepal relief and recovery
- 4,784 tents and 1,474 blankets distributed to approximately 5,000 families needing emergency shelter
- Nandi Secondary School in Naxal, Kathmandu, rebuilt as a permanent school with infrastructure to support children’s education
The work did not end when the immediate emergency passed. VT Seva helped translate donor compassion into both short-term relief and a lasting investment in children and community recovery.
A continuing commitment to Nepal
VT Seva’s service in Nepal has also included:
- Blood donation camps at Purano Baneshwor Height in Kathmandu for ten years
- Women’s cancer-screening and eye-care camps in Kathmandu and Bharatpur
- Trauma-relief camps for children who lost parents during Nepal’s period of armed conflict
- Free clean-drinking-water distribution in multiple areas of Kathmandu
- Youth-led community-service activities
In March 2019, HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji received the Uthama Nagarika Sanman, presented in Biratnagar by Minister of Education and Social Development Jeevan Ghimire and Mayor Bhim Parajuli in recognition of Swamiji’s service to the country and its people.
Nearly three decades of disaster response
VT Seva in the United States was founded in 2008, while affiliated Vikasa Tarangini organizations and volunteers were serving communities before then. The following timeline reflects this broader service tradition. Activities listed before VT Seva USA’s formation were carried out by affiliated organizations and volunteers in India.
Together, VT Seva and affiliated Vikasa Tarangini organizations have responded to earthquakes, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfires and public-health emergencies. Selected examples include:
| Year and disaster | VT Seva response |
|---|---|
| 1997 Konaseema floods, India | Built 83 community centers and provided food and medical service. |
| 2001 Gujarat earthquake, India | Built 86 houses and a community hall in Vallabhapur. |
| 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami | Built a school for children from fishing communities at Katarivaripalem in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, and 50 houses in Pumpuhar village, Tamil Nadu. |
| 2011 Japan tsunami | Donated approximately US$44,000 toward tsunami relief in Japan. |
| 2012 Hurricane Sandy, United States | Donated 547 disaster-relief boxes, served 9,000 meals and helped sort children’s clothing. |
| 2014 Cyclone Hudhud, India | Raised more than $30,000, contributed ₹10 lakh to Chief Minister relief operations and distributed food and clothing. |
| 2015 Chennai and Cuddalore floods, India | Raised $30,388.95 for immediate and long-term relief. |
| 2017 Hurricane Harvey, United States | Raised US$50,000; mobilized more than 500 volunteers for 20 days; served 20,000 meals; helped clean 200 homes; distributed 100,000 water bottles; contributed US$25,000 to the Houston Mayor’s relief effort; and contributed US$10,000 to the City of Rockport. |
| 2018 Kerala floods, India | Donated a truckload of relief materials to affected communities. |
| 2020 COVID-19 response | Supported food relief, protective equipment and other essential assistance in the United States and India. |
Serving according to the need
Depending on the circumstances, VT Seva’s response may include direct volunteer action, essential supplies, support through authorized public relief funds or long-term rebuilding. The form of assistance changes with the need; responsible coordination and respect for affected communities remain constant.
Nepal needs that support again.