"My son used to kick me when he was in my womb. Why make an issue when he kicked me in my old age?" reasons a very forgiving Shakti Dasi. The widow travelled 2300 kms from Tripura to Vrindavan after her only son violently beat her with a burning plank of wood and broke her knee one evening. She had to leave behind the business she had built with her husband who had died a few years back. Shakti ended up on the streets of Brindavan begging for food and shelter. But when Winnie Singh of Maitri saw Shakti in a frail state in tattered clothes, she brought her to the shelter home where Shakti gets food, care and medicines. What more, with Maitri’s intervention, Shakti reconciled with her son - and daughter-in-law, and now travels home to Tripura twice a year to spend time with her grandchildren. But she is not leaving Maitri, as this has become her family.Not every elderly widow who comes to Vrindavan after being abandoned by her family gets as lucky as Shakti. Many of them often end up living a lonely life and begging to survive on the streets. Maitri aspires to take care of every widow in need of help.<img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/ce101369-528c-4d37-bc1d-1118b9925af3.jpg" />Maitri’s Project Jeevan to the rescueAbandoned, elderly widows are the amongst the most vulnerable in India. After being thrown out of their often abandoned by their own children and are forced to beg for food and shelter. “Through Project Jeevan, Maitri houses aging widow mothers in two ashrams in Vrindavan and Radhakund (Mathura), providing them with wellness and well-being. The programme also reaches out to widow mothers beyond the ashrams with fruit, milk and healthcare services,” explains Winnie Singh, co-founder and executive director, Maitri India.Save homeless elderly widows from begging on the streetsMost widows who make their way to Vrindavan are abandoned by their families, often after years of abuse. They come here hoping they will spend the rest of their days in prayer and devotion. But most live in impoverished conditions on the streets and in dingy rooms. Since poor living conditions often cause a wide range of health ailments, including respiratory infections and chronic conditions, Maitri comes to their rescue through its Project Jeevan.The project aims to:<ul><li>Provide meals leading to improved health and wellbeing</li><li>Make physical and mental health services accessible</li><li>Offer necessary quality aged care and assisted living support</li><li>Increase awareness on and engagement around the struggles of abandoned widow mothers</li></ul><img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/1abfb906-563b-4747-85b8-8af2071a2856.jpg" />Project Jeevan needs your support to help those in need of food, healthcare and well-being. Donate now.“Maitri urgently needs your support to provide food, clothing and healthcare to sustain these widow mothers who are prone to more illnesses as they age,” appeals Winnie.Maitri believes in a woman’s right to dignity in life and death, more so a mother. Our help will enable Maitri to save hundreds of abandoned widows from a life of begging, and restore the respect, dignity, and identity they deserve.

Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

For a mother who has spent her entire life loving and raising her child, being beaten and mercilessly thrown out onto the streets by her own son is too heartbreaking to overcome. But this is a common story among the elderly residents of the Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram. “I’ve seen mothers in old and torn clothes, their bodies smelling and their hands and feet rotting and covered in maggots,” shares Dr. G.P. Bhagat, founder of the ashram. These abandoned elderly men and women lay starving on the streets hoping for someone to rescue them from their suffering. But most people walk past them without a second glance. “Like this”, Dr. Bhagat explains, “many elders die on the roads.”Since 2003, SHEOWS (Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans Welfare Society) has rescued over 10,000 elderly people from the streets and given them a home with care and support. The elderly staying at the ashram have all been abandoned by their families and have nowhere else to live. Your support can give them comfort after their abandonment. Donate now.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India). Safe and loving homeFor 20 years, SHEOWS has been providing free shelter, nutritious food three times a day, clothing, medical care, recreation activities and emotional support to abused and disabled elderly people rescued from the streets of Delhi. The Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram has a dedicated rescue team that saves the elderly from the streets and gives them immediate medical care upon their arrival at the home. To tend to the multiple health complications of the seniors, the home has a medical facility with doctors and nurses, a physiotherapy unit, a pathology lab, a digital X-ray monitoring machine and a pharmacy to provide 24-hour care to older adults anytime they require assistance, even during emergencies. Dr. Bhagat prioritizes the health of the seniors and ensures that they receive three balanced meals a day based on their precise health requirements. Need for the fundraiserThe humanitarian mission of SHEOWS is making an impact in the area, as more and more people are being rescued and brought to Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram. To meet the financial costs of running the home, SHEOWS needs support to continue providing the residents with all the facilities that they need. This includes constant care and round-the-clock medical attention, nutritious food and maintaining a hygienic environment to keep the seniors in comfort and good health. Dr. Bhagat explains that as the number of residents is increasing, SHEOWS needs support for food and medicines. “I request you to help these elderly parents lead a peaceful life.”Donate now to help Dr. Bhagat continue caring for the 500 destitute elderly and giving them shelter, food, medical care and the will to carry on living despite their tragic abandonment by their families. Your support will enable SHEOWS to keep serving abandoned senior citizens and help them recover from the trauma of abandonment and life on the streets. “I have been serving these elderly as if they were my own parents”, shares Dr. Bhagat. “I want only one thing - their tears should vanish and they should have a smile on their faces.” To help Dr. Bhagat achieve this dream, your support is critical. Donate now to help SHEOWS care for more abandoned elderly. Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest online donation platform, to support SHEOWS in their mission to rescue the abandoned elderly from the streets and give them shelter, food, medical care, recreational activities and emotional support.

Help Dr. Bhagat care for 500+ elderly parents rescued from abuse and homelessness

Dattu Sopan Bhandare, 80, lives alone in Mudegaon village of the Beed district in Maharashtra. Hit by drought, his children have moved to urban areas and after his wife died a few years back, he has to take care of himself. But life has been hard for Dattu, as he cannot work in the fields any longer to meet his basic needs. “I feel helpless and I have gone to bed hungry many times,” he says.That was before Manavlok came to Dattu’s rescue. Through its Trupti Kitchen program, Manavlok provides 500 abandoned elderly people like Dattu with two meals a day.The problem in the drought-hit Marathwada is huge and Manavlok would like to expand its kitchen facilities to many more villages. But Manavlok cannot do it without your support. Donate now.Manavlok’s Mission “At present, we are providing meals in three drought-hit districts of Maharashtra. It’s our commitment that we will not allow these elderly people to live in hunger,” says Aniket Dwarkadas Lohiya, Secretary, Manavlok.It was way back in the 1970s that a group of youths decided to seek solutions to the socio-economic problems of rural communities in Maharashtra and started working in the region. After years of understanding and working in the field, Marathwada Navnirman Lokayat (MANAVLOK), was born. While Manavlok has various interventions, its Trupti Kitchen has been life-changing for many elderly citizens.Motinath Maruti Birgat is another example of this. Motinath, 75, used to beg on the streets to sustain himself after the younger members of the family left the village and his wife died. As he was unable to work due to old age or feed himself. But with the Trupti Kitchen Program in his village, Motinath no longer begs for food. Manavlok also provides medical and other forms of elderly care.How Trupti worksThe kitchen mainly supports elderly citizens above 65 years with no source of income, people with disabilities, the destitute, widows and elderly orphans. The programme already has a large impact in the areas where it is operating.It first approaches Gram Panchayats to understand the needs and the number of people who will need help through the kitchen. After a detailed study, Manavlok opens a community kitchen and encourages the elderly to come and have meals or supply meals to them at their doorstep.Manavlok needs helpThere are thousands of elderly people in the drought-hit region who need help. But Manavlok cannot expand its operations without your help. The organisation needs urgent help to feed and take care of abandoned elderly citizens in more districts of Maharashtra.“We are committed to supporting the elderly in their final years with meals and other forms of care. I come across many villages where elderly people are asking us for help by establishing community kitchens. We want your support to expand our operations,” says Lohiya.NGO's 80G number: AAATM4512BF2021401 NGO's 12A number: AAATM4512BE20214

This Guru Nanak Jayanti, help Manavlok save elderly people from malnutrition and starvation

This is a sample description for Livelihood. For the purpose of testing I will use the word LivelihoodLivelihoodLivelihoodLivelihood.

Livelihood

This is a sample description for Disaster Relief. For the purpose of testing I will use the wordDisaster ReliefDisaster ReliefDisaster Relief.

Disaster Relief

This is a sample description for Elderly Care. For the purpose of testing I will use the word Elderly CareElderly CareElderly Care.

Elderly Care

This is a sample description for Human Rights. For the purpose of testing I will use the word Human RightsHuman RightsHuman Rights.

Human Rights

elderly

MANAVLOK is a Voluntary organization for the socio-economic upliftment of the rural poor. It is established in 1982 under Society Registration Act 1860. Manavlok headquarter is located at Ambajogai in the Beed district of Maharashtra. Currently, Manavlok operates through its seven subcentres located in Beed, Latur &amp; Osmanabad districts. Our aim is to achieve equality in the lives of women, landless labor, and the farming community.Several experiments in rural development have been launched over the last 40 years; MANAVLOK would develop its activities over an increasing scale, never straying from the tenet that programs be based on the specific needs of the people. The Ongoing activities of the organization are Community based Monitoring programs of NRHM, Watershed development program, Trupti Kitchen for Senior Citizen, Krushak Panchayat, Project 'Navnirman', Know your customer Programme, Manaswini, Mahila Prakalp (Women empowerment providing Shelter Home, Free Legal aid center, training center), Domestic Violence and Gender Sensitization, Jansahayog, Social Work College, SHG’s, sanitation, relief services for the victims of Natural Disaster, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation of Govt. programs. We are permitted and authorized by the government of Maharashtra to run schools.

Donations through Give Foundation, registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961 are tax-deductible.

Donations through Give Foundation, Inc. a registered US 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, are tax-deductible.

Donations through GIVE, a registered charity in UK, are covered under Gift Aid

Amitkumar Solanke

Sweksha Gupta

Marathwada Navnirman Lokayat (MANAVLOK), Ambajogai

This nonprofit is registered as a charitable trust under section 12A of India's Income Tax Act, 1961.

This nonprofit is registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961. This means you can deduct 50% of the donation you made through your tax return.

This nonprofit is registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. This means it can accept donations from foreign nationals.

Raghav Menon

From organising pilgrimages to fostering a sense of community, Manavlok has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of abandoned elderly and we couldn't have done it without your help. An enormous thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Every day, 505 elderly men and women are provided 2 nutritious meals, promoting their health and well-being. Check out the graphic below to see the impact in numbers! But we can't stop now! Manavlok still needs your support to provide resources and care for so many other potential beneficiaries currently outside our reach. And they can only do it with your aid. Please consider making a donation to make a difference.

Manavlok impact report

Manavlok has changed the lives of innumerable residents of rural Maharashtra with the help of our generous donors! Your funds have helped feed the hungry and soothe the ailing. Check out your impact in numbers below. You have helped us support the life-saving Trupti Kitchens already running and given us the means to extend our reach further by opening up some new ones. Each rupee contributed is a morsel in a hungry person's mouth. Donate now to help the underprivileged lead a better life.

Manavlok impact update

Shilabai Shankar is an old woman with a tragic past. Born in Malegaon to impoverished parents, her condition was abhorrent right from the start of her life. Fate dealt her a double blow when, after the unfortunate death of both her parents, her own brother kicked her out of her family house. Left alone, penniless, and subsisting on the fruit of whatever odd job she could find, she was in a miserable state. It was then that Manav Lok kitchen took her in to provide her the life she deserved but could never attain on her own. She now eats two sponsored meals a day and finds companionship among her peers in the kitchen. At the request of the village sarpanch Manav Lok Ambajogai Trupti Kitchen provides her two meals a day, and now she can live a life of self-respect and relative comfort. Though Shilabai has had a life of extreme hardship, she is not alone in these circumstances. Manavlok takes great care to provide for her and other abandoned elders, more than 2,578 cumulative beneficiaries, two square meals a day, cataract monitoring, and other health-related services. We need your continued support to fund the Trupti Kitchen and provide free food to even more people in the same situation as Shilabai Shankar. Donate now to change these people's lives and allow them to live life with dignity.

Seeing firsthand the positive change your contributions have brought to the Manavlok filled our hearts with gratitude. 🤗❤️ Field Visit Date: 16/05/2023Field Visit by: Sai Saranya, Senior Associate Visit Summary:During our visit to Manavlok, Ambejogai, Maharashtra, we had the privilege of inaugurating one of their newly opened Trupti kitchens in a village that stands as a symbol of hope and sustenance for the community. Trupti Kitchen, a vital part of the campaign, serves as a lifeline to those in need, offering free meals and support to elderly individuals above 60 years of age who often lack familial assistance. The inauguration was a heartwarming event, graced by the presence of the Sarpanch, village committee members, local villagers, beneficiaries, and Secretary Aniketh and Jayashree, Head of Programs from Manavlok. During this event, we were able to convey the significance of the Trupti Kitchen, Manavlok's role in the program, the dedication of the cooks, and the active participation of the beneficiaries, who contributed Rs. 10,000 towards the kitchen. This collaborative effort underscores the strong sense of community that the Trupti Kitchen fosters. Trupti Kitchen not only provides nourishing meals but also extends support to improve the quality of life for elderly beneficiaries. Beneficiaries are carefully selected based on specific criteria, and the appointed cooks are entrusted with groceries to prepare meals that align with a weekly menu designed to meet the nutritional needs of the elderly. Beyond providing meals, the program offers comprehensive medical support, including regular health checks, medications for various ailments, and even cataract eye campaigns that have restored vision to over 100 beneficiaries. Operations of this impactful initiative span across multiple locations, including Beed, Latur, and Osmanabad, encompassing six blocks and serving 476 beneficiaries. Monitoring of the program is facilitated through regular visits and spontaneous checks, with a Whatsapp group used for tracking the menu and providing updates. The Trupti Kitchen initiative has been warmly embraced by the community and is poised for expansion. With the valuable support of Give and donations received through this fundraiser campaign, it is planning to establish 50 more kitchens, further impacting the lives of 600 beneficiaries. The program maintains meticulous accounts and tally records, ensuring transparency in its operations. Your continued support can play a pivotal role in empowering the Trupti Kitchen initiative to reach more individuals in need and make an even greater difference in their lives.

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Those destitute senior citizens who are staying alone and not getting support from their children, minimum age 65. They are unable to go for basic needs like food. Food insecure seniors are worse off for a wide array of health outcomes. They have lower nutrient intakes and are more likely to suffer from diabetes, depression, limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, gum disease, and asthma. 
 For senior citizens who are staying alone and not getting support from their children, minimum age 65. They are identified by a village committee of 5 people; they need to pay Rs 200 per month. The actual cost is Rs 40 per day per head for 2 unlimited meals (Along with Sweet dishes on festivals and special occasions), so about Rs 1200 per month per person. We return the Rs 200 collected in the form of different aids to them such as Tiffin’s, Blankets, Solar Lamps, etc. during Diwali. The reason we collect Rs 200 is that the seniors can complain in case of any deficiency in service, they should be treated with respect by the women running the kitchen, so if they pay, they will complain, mainly we want to add “Dignity”, the seniors should not feel burdened with “Dana”.  We appoint a needy woman, who has a gas connection; we pay her Rs 40 per day per head. On average she feeds 10+ seniors twice a day, and she earns Rs 3 to 4000 per month. Our experience in the 28 kitchens we run shows the women are very satisfied. Once a year we give these women Mixer Grinder, Solar Lamp, Cooker, etc. as a bonus. The seniors eat in the woman's house, which does the cleaning too.Team MANAVLOK visits the kitchen without any prior notice and checks the quality, quantity, and hygiene of the service by these women kitchen holders. This way it works full proof system. 
  This has resulted in the following benefits to our seniors •       Better Mental and Physical health, as Loneliness is addressed, many have put on weight •       Their Medical Bills have been reduced •       The Stress on their children who may be supporting, is reduced •       The villagers feel good and started donating in kind•       The Community learns to take care of their Elders •       This is a simple model which can be Scaled and Replicated •       The Seniors Feel better staying in their own village rather than being put away in an Old Age Home •       Admin cost is negligible •       A big need of the community is addressed •       Employment for the local women.

Feed a grandparent through a community kitchen

In Marathwada region of Maharashtra, especially in Beed, Latur &amp; Osmanabad districts, most of the farmers are with marginal land holding. In this year, we have received less than 50% of average rainfall in Monsoon and rest in unseasonal rain, both of that is harmful for crops. Farm land is dependent mostly on rain. Some farmers have well &amp; they use that water for Rabbi Season. If such condition remain for the further period then it’s impossible for them to take next crop &amp; to survive in such environment. Most of them don’t have any allied income activities &amp; for every three to four years, they face severe drought condition. Our organization have developed multi yearly cropping pattern which is helpful for facing drought situation &amp; for increasing their income. Our observation is that, multi yearly crops like pomegranate, custard apple, drumstick etc. can give farmers more yield &amp; income than traditional crops. These horticulture crops usually benefits for many years. They start benefiting after two years from their plantation. There are fewer requirements of money &amp; water each year, this saves cost &amp; it can be drought resilient. 
 Manavlok has experimented some new cropping patterns which can survive for longer time &amp; which have given more benefits to farmers than the traditional crop patterns. One such pattern is dry land horticulture in which different crops can grow very efficiently with availability of less water or even in drought situations. So crops like drumstick, pomegranate, custard apple, guava etc. can give more yield and income. Also positive results of these seen as multiplication of same found in adaptation. Our organization have developed multi yearly cropping pattern which is helpful for facing drought situation &amp; for increasing their income. Previously, we have also supported farmers from Beed, Latur &amp; Osmanabad districts. Small and marginal farmers will be beneficiaries of this project. Only those beneficiaries will be selected from villages which will fit in project norms. Village level meetings with farmer groups/ SHG groups will be conducted to discuss the project objective. Post discussion, application of beneficiaries will be collected through farmer/SHG groups &amp; individuals. Minimum required water availability will be checked through plot verification &amp; then beneficiaries will be finalized.  
 Firstly, it will be assured source of income even in drought situation. This will help farm families to become drought resilient. There will be an increase in beneficiaries’ income. Also perennial cropping pattern will be developed so his horticulture crops will provide him consistent income. Our organization have developed multi yearly cropping pattern which is helpful for facing drought situation &amp; for increasing their income. Previously, we have also supported farmers from Beed, Latur &amp; Osmanabad districts. Crops like drumstick, pomegranate, custard apple, guava etc. can give more yield and income. Also positive results of these plants seen by the beneficiaries have created a demand among other farmers. Multi yearly crops usually give benefits for years. They start giving benefits after two years from their sowing. After sowing, there is no need of spending money &amp; efforts each year, this saves cost &amp; time.

Feed a grandparent through a community kitchen

Join our hands to help drought affected farmers

Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

Help Dr. Bhagat care for 500+ elderly parents rescued from abuse and homelessness

This Guru Nanak Jayanti, help Manavlok save elderly people from malnutrition and starvation

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