Since its inception in May 2004, the Ellora Vigyan Mancha has engaged itself in fighting all forms of superstition and blind belief and for spreading scientific temper amongst the people. The major issues being taken up include : menace of ‘witch’ hunting, black magic, sorcery. wizardry, fraudulent healer or quackery, false beliefs in astrology and gemstones, so called ‘Godman’, etc.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND STRENGTH
The Ellora Vigyan Mancha (EVM) has an elected Central Executive Committee with its Headquarters in Guwahati. A total of 23 Branches across the State of Assam are functioning under the CEC. The Branches are formed either in District/Sub-Divisional or Local level.
The financial position of the organization is in constraints. The fund position largely depends upon the Membership Fee and voluntary contributions/donations from the members and well-wishers. The EVM has not applied for any Government funded project till today. It also does not receive any fund in the form of grants etc. from Government or any other sources. Only in two occasions, we received nominal financial aids from Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) for our major programmes .
Apart from financial hardships, the major problem is the dearth of full time activists in the organization. Most of the members are either teachers or students, government employees or retired persons and they can’t spare much time for the organization. The General Secretary is the only person who devotes maximum time without any allowance or remuneration.
The Vigyan Mancha has been publishing its quarterly journal the ‘Samikshan’ regularly since the last Conference held in October, 2016. Moreover, it has published few booklets on Health and Superstition, Astrology and Astronomy, etc. apart from two books on Hemchandra Baruch and Ancient Indian Science (translated).