Ramakrishna Mission is trying to serve the Nation through its 174 branch centres in different fields of the society, particularly among the underprivileged and tribal people, with a spirit of Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva (Service to man is service to God) as taught by Swami Vivekananda. Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sohra (Cherrapunjee) is one of the shining examples which has been trying to give a practical shape of Swamiji’s Ideals in the challenging and extreme climate of Sohra. This Mission Centre has been unabatedly carrying welfare service activities during its long journey over eight decades and at present it has become like a huge banyan tree in the whole of the North Eastern Region. Presently the Ashrama is running 16 LP, 11 UP, 17 Sec and 5 Higher Secondary Schools, with about thousands of tribal students located all over the State of Meghalaya. The Centre is continuously supplying free school uniforms, text books, study materials, stationeries, etc. as well as midday meals to the students round the year. Besides, it is also running two Hostels (for boys and girls), one Charitable Dispensary, two mobile medical units, one Tailoring- Weaving centre, one Computer Training Centre in addition to various other services, viz. free Medical Camps, Eye Camps, Health Awareness Camps by specialised Doctors, Relief Activities, Daily Milk Feeding programmes, blankets/ Garments distribution programmes, various Vocational Training programmes (for men and women), etc. for the benefit of the local tribal people- the total impact of which has been recognized and praised by many eminent persons over the decades. It is worth mentioning that being highly impressed by the dedicated service activities conducted by this Ashrama, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruji, the First Prime Minister of India, sent a nice note of appreciation and donated Rs. 10,000/- only for the philanthropic activities and himself laid the foundation of the Central Administrative Office building at Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in 1952. Bus Service for the students
Notwithstanding its financial constraints caused by rising prices of diesel and lubricants, the Ashrama has been maintaining its bus service within these past few years which is of great help to the poor students without which it becomes impossible for many students to attend the school from far flung areas. This institution has been rendering this valuable service for more than 5 decades principally with the financial assistance from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India.
LP/UP/Secondary/HS Schools IT will not be out of the place to recall a large number of students received education at various levels i.e. in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary School and just recently Higher Secondary Schools, spread over many far and near areas in Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Text books, exercise books, stationeries, badges, school uniforms, bags, teaching aids, furniture and all other required articles including Midday meals were regularly supplied to all these schools from Sohra. The large team of our dedicated staff has never spared any pain to take these articles to the doorsteps of these students even in many remote areas under the supervision of monastics members and Headteachers. Renovation, repair and reconstruction works were taken up in several schools during these years for which skilled masons and carpenters camped in those places under the careful guidance of our maintenance department. Occasional excursions to neighbouring areas (local areas) were also arranged to get the students acquainted with our national cultural heritage. Within these last few years, the students went on educational tours to several places like Shillong, Umiam Lake, Umroi, Smit etc, and many other places in the Meghalaya. Almost all children took part in these colourful programmes organised by each and every feeder school under Ashrama control and management. These annual excursions have helped students to develop a fair knowledge of the physical and cultural diversities existing in our area.
Like previous years, different competitions were organised in each and every school during the year, Intra- school competition were held within their own school, after which the winners, get a chance to compete in the Inter-school Competition where all RKM Schools come together to showcase their talents and a large number of students in different activities bagged prizes for their excellence in performance. Students are encouraged to take an active part in essay writing, drawing, debate, elocution, quiz, music, drama, recitation and other allied competitions. These co-curricular activities are organised regularly for unfolding the hidden talents of our students. In order to infuse special interest and love for modern science and technology into the receptive minds of students, science exhibitions are organised in which many students of this institution participate actively by making projects, models, charts etc. by themselves. The Exhibition was held in different categories viz. LP, UP and Secondary Level. Prizes required for all these competitions, as well as Academic Results were supplied to all these schools from the Central Office, Sohra, which have promoted sufficient encouragement to students and teachers to develop themselves as best as possible.
Students Home at Sohra (Cherrapunjee) and Sohbar (Sohbarpunjee) Tribal boys and girls hailing from remote villages of Meghalaya as well as some other states like Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Assam enjoy the facilities for getting admitted to our Students Homes at Sohra (Boys only) and at Sohbar (Girls only). We have been always careful for imparting character building and man-making education to our hostellers, either boys or girls, whichever state, religion or society they might have come from. Several teachers along with the monastic members are always engaged in bring out all round excellence of students. Various development is being organized for the development of all hostellers, both at Sohra and Sohbar. School uniforms, hostel uniforms, study materials and several articles were also given to students of both the hostels free of cost. Two principal meals as well as healthy breakfast and afternoon tiffin were served throughout the academic session. The students were also provided with medical check-up by qualified physicians and medicines were supplied to them free of cost as and when needed. Like earlier years, this year also our hostel students of Sohra and Sohbar both boys and girls were taken out on excursion to several places of historical importance and scenic beauty of Kolkata and they also visit and stays at Belur Math for few days.
Library at Sohra: Our Library at Sohra is unique in its service to students and teachers. Interest of students in books and journals has encouraged the management to expand the scope and capacity of the library. At present the library is equipped with books in different discipline (Arts, Science, Humanities, etc.), magazines, journals, story books, newspaper in Khasi, English and Bengali.
Tribal Culture Museum: We are maintaining one Tribal Culture Museum as well as a pictorial Gallery where tradition, culture and heritage of various tribal societies of several North-Eastern states have been shown in addition to displaying history and panorama of Sohra in large flex prints. While promoting the spirit of communal harmony and fellow feeling among various clans of tribals, the Museum as well as the Gallery are drawing large number of visitors every day from all over India and abroad as this centre is on the itinerary of conducted tour operators from Shillong by Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation and other private agencies. The Museums and Gallery are always in proper maintenance. A new wing of the museum has been commissioned in recent times with the help of Anthropological of Survey of India to add informative and qualitative improvement to the existing one.