Jai Jinendra ,

 

JAIN TRADERS (JITO) RAISE RS. 540 MILLION TO TRAIN IAS ASPIRANTS - Mumbai: In an unexpected move, 36 leading Jain businessmen from India and abroad donated Rs 540 million to set up five academies to train students for the civil services examinations. The donations — each amounting to Rs 15 million — were made following an appeal by Jain spiritual leader Munishri Navapadam Sagarji Maharaj at the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) fair at Mumbai. One of the JITO organisers, Girish Shah, said the money collected would be utilised to set up five training academies to prepare students for the prestigious Indian Administrative Services. Admissions will not be restricted only to Jains but deserving students from all sections of society shall be admitted. He added that the first such institute is already functional in New Delhi. The new academies shall be set up by July this year in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore and Chennai.

The JITO Triple Grand Event, comprising Multi-Product Trade Fair, International Business and Industry Conference and Jain Pavilion, is being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon. Speaking at the inauguration of a four-day trade fair organised by Jain International Trade Organisation, its President Hemant Shah expressed the desire that every young Jain should be economically empowered so as to employ 1000 individuals each. Stressing on Jain unity, he appealed that the Jains should overcome obstacles that may come in the way of their unity, under the banner of JITO.

Munishri Navapadam Sagarji Maharaj, who was instrumental in inspiring devotees for the formation of JITO, gave an example of a Jain collector of Vadodra, who saved the lives of thousands of animals, preventing their slaughter, by making a statement that they are diseased. He said that JITO is the amalgamation of philanthropy, universal brotherhood and the welfare of all living beings. Munishree, who does not like his name or photograph to be carried by the media, said that Ratan Tata has expressed pleasure that Jains are coming together under one banner and described the unity as the ocean of philanthropy.