Vanavasi Kalyan is a registered non-government organization (NGO) working for the welfare of tribals in Karnataka.
It is a part of Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram established in 1955 at Jashpur (now in Chattishgarh).
The state unit started functioning in 1988 by setting up a hostel for tribal children in Chipageri village of Mundgod taluk in Uttara Kannada district.
The NGO now runs five hostels where children are given facilities free of cost, nine montessories, 46 Bal Vikas Kendras, 20 bhajan centres and 145 self-help groups in 118 centres spread over six districts of Karnataka. There are 40 full-time volunteers besides large number of part-timers.
The two-day convention aims at discussing the problems being faced by tribals and finding solutions for them. It will also chalk out programmes for an interaction between those living in cities and towns with those dwelling in forests.
All-India organizing secretary of Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, Somayajalu, will speak at the valedictory function on Sunday at 4 pm. Assembly Speaker Jagadeesh Shettar, Vijayananda Saraswati Swamy of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram, Nagaraj Yaligar, and Anand Dodamani will be the chief guests.