Maitri

The organization was founded in 2005 by Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh and Mrs. Winnie Singh with the goal of spreading awareness on essential healt Read moreh affecting information among members of India’s uniformed services and their families. This included sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs. Since then, Maitri soon expanded its work to include education and sensitization to end violence against women as well as citizenship rights and health issues concerning migrant populations. In 2008, Maitri came across a unique and an extremely vulnerable population in Vrindavan, widows who were victims of domestic violence, inflicted by their family members, including their sons and relatives and rendered homeless and destitute to live on the streets of Vrindavan, begging. It was a heartfelt need to support and bring dignity into the lives of the homeless, destitute and abandoned widows of Vrindavan. One can say it was a crucial moment in the history of Maitri and formed a benchmark to work towards identity, dignity and respect. In July 2010, Maitri launched Project Jeevan in Vrindavan, Jeevan symbolizes life, a life with dignity. Maitri translates as Compassion, loving-kindness. Hence compassion in life and addressing another human with loving kindness was the motto for the projects birth. The project’s aim has been to ensure identity, respect and dignity to the ageing, homeless, abandoned and destitute widows. Due to circumstances they have been left abandoned and left homeless, to survive begging on the streets of Vrindavan

Maitri’s vision is to work towards a world in which each lives with Identity, Dignity, and Respect. Maitri’s mission is to act as a catalyst to enable access to basic rights to some of the most Marginalized and Vulnerable Populations in India including:

Women who are at the risk of facing Gender-Based Violence

Destitute and Elderly Women/Widows

Migrant Workers and their families in urban environments

1.Maitri was featured in a newspaper article for facilitating Spoken English classes through
Teach India, in which 26 young girls and boys from Maitrigram graduated and all secured
jobs with MNCs. 27 different companies like TATA starbucks, Eureka Forbes, Haldiram, etc
have offered them jobs.
2.Australian High Commission and Global Giving supported Maitri in building Biotoilets for
Rickshaw Pullers in Ranchi and constructed 22 toilet cabins in 11 garages benefiting nearly
1500 Rickshaw Pullers.
3. Media coverage of Maitri’s project with Widows in Vrindavan and domestic violence has
been published in BBC news , Time magazine, Hindustan Times and the Economist,
National Geographic, Polish TV..
4. Local and National Coverage of events like International Day for older Persons, Women's
Day, International Widows Day , Women's day etc being celebrated at Maitighar, homes for
widows in Vrindavan & Radhakund.
5. The limited health and social services available to the widows of Vrindavan are critically
fragmented. Project Jeevan has built upon local capacity, creating a network of engaged
partners that can better serve the widow population.While AkshayPatra is not giving us
funds but their support is valuable as they are providing meals at subsidized rates to Maitri
widows since 2010.The Akshaya Patra Foundation which provides( provides food on a daily basis for lunch anddinner for the nutrition component of Project Jeevan),We have built partnerships with KDDental College and Hospital, KM Hospital, Rk Mission , Prem Hospital in Vrindavan andApollo , Indian Spinal Injuries In Delhi provides low-cost medical care to our community in the Vrindavan
6. In 2005, International Conclave: ‘Combat HIV/AIDS – A Uniformed Intervention’ was
organized in Shillong, with heads of security forces and defense establishments, attended
by the Honorable President of India, Dr. APJ Kalam as the keynote speaker. The event
featured the National Commission for Women Chair, Girja Vyas, NACO, UNAIDS, and other
NGOs as partners