Chennai based Saraswathi Educational Cultural and Charitable Trust was established by Smt. Indira Gariyali for promoting education, preserving and promoting Indian culture and Vedic heritage and assisting poor and needy in 1996. It is approved by Home Ministry to receive foreign contributions and also enjoys Income Tax exemption under Section 80G. The trust has been working for displaced Kashmiri Pandits since 2017. In 2020 daughter of Indira Garyali, Smt. Chander Kanta Gariyali, created a fund within the trust for the exclusive welfare of Kashmiri Pandits and for encouraging the children and youth of the community, called ‘Vitasta Welfare Fund’.
Vitasta is the original name of our sacred river on the banks of which our ancient river valley civilization thrived and which we had to leave behind in Kashmir. The Fund has been given this name so that we do not forget our roots and continue to cherish our unique culture.