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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Glories of God, who has bestowed man with wisdom and intellect!

Words fail to express my indebtedness to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his fifth

successor His divine holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj by whose blessings I am able

to complete the present piece of work.

I owe the greatest debt of gratitude, reverence & indebtedness to ever sympathetic

guide Dr. Pinakin R. Sheth, Associate Professor, P.G. Department of Business

Studies, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, whose keen insight and

extensive knowledge in the subject has been a source of inspiration, encouragement

and guidance to me. It is difficult to mention the magnitude of help and assistance

provided by him in the successful completion of this study.

I seize this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to Dr. P.K.Rathod, Head,

P.G. Department of Business Studies, for extending his whole-hearted co-operation

during this study.

I also acknowledge the assistance extended to me by the faculty members of P.G.

Department of Business Studies for providing the necessary support as and when

required.

I wish to acknowledge the immense contribution of the learned authors whose

publications, materials and selected references shaped the conceptual framework and

literature review for this study.

I am much thankful to the management of Shri Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purshottam

Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) especially P. Ishwarcharan Swami, P. Brahmavihari

Swami, Shri. Kirannbhai Pithwa, Dr. Neeta Shah, Smt. Meenaben, All members of

Mahila Madhyastha Karyalaya, Shahibaug, Ahmedabad and all the beneficiaries of

BAPS for kindly supporting and permitting me to undertake the study on their

renowned Socio-religious organsiation.

I also express my indebtedness to the management of All India Women Conference,

Kolkatta, West Bengal, Ms. Shikha Mitra and her team and all the beneficiaries and

respondents of AIWC for their whole-hearted support. I am obliged to the

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management of Sadhna, Udaipur, Rajasthan, and Mr. Vijay Sawant of Yashashvini

Foundation, Maharastra, Ms. Sadhna Chopra of Sakaar Outreach, New Delhi and all

the staff members of these NGOs and their beneficiaries for helping me to

successfully accomplish this study.

I am extremely grateful to The Managing Trustee & Secretary of Sardar Patel

Education Trust, Anand, Shri Bhikubhai N. Patel and all the trustee members,

Principal and all the faculty members, administrative staff and supporting staff of

C.P.Patel & F.H.Shah Commerce College, Anand for their great support in

accomplishing this task.

I also express my deepest gratitude to my grandfather Late Ratilal.H.Brahmbhatt, my

loving grandmother Late Kankuben R. Brahmbhatt, father Rameshbhai.

R.Brahmbhatt, mother Jayalaxmi R. Brahmbhatt, elder sister Vandana A. Rao and

brother-in-law Agam D. Rao, brothers Vinay and Pingal, sister-in-law Rupal, my

niece Harini and my friends whose unfailing support and constant encouragement has

helped me accomplish this piece of study successfully.

Place: Vallabh Vidyanagar (Ankita R. Brahmbhatt)