ABSTRACT
The Hindu religion emphasises the values of charity, philanthropy and mutual help. Duties and obligations towards others are considered a means of spiritual advancement. In the past, the individual in difficulty was assisted by the community and the rulers. During the period of King Ashoka, Gopas, or social workers, were appointed to help the less fortunate. Six centuries later, during the Gupta period, workshops for the training of the handicapped were established. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, during the Mughal period, departments were set up to supervise charity and endowment to the poor, in addition to providing relief services.
