Snehalaya celebrated India's 65th Indepndance Day .

Ahmednagar, 15th August 2011

Snehalaya's children celebrated Independence day at the Rehabilitation Centre. Prof. Makarand Kher began the celebrations by hoisting the national flag. He addressed the students and talked about sacrifice of several freedom fighters, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, etc.

Children also gave speeches in honor of our freedom figthers. City Yoga students performed yoga to patriotic songs. Mr. Dagdu Lomte (Volunteer) performed 'Lahu Ka Rang EkHai' song. Foreign volunteers Florence Koenderink (Holland), Bonny Astor (England), Sophia Browne (England) also participated.

Mr. and Mrs. Deshpande , Mr and Mrs. Karmarkar, Makarand Vaidya, Milind Kulkarni (Secretary), Mr. Girish Kulkarni (Director) were presented during the flag hoisting.

Mr. Suvalalji Shingvi (President) gave a vote of thanks. Mr. Vilas Zhalte hosted the ceremony.

In the evening, the common birthday of Snehalaya’s children was celebrated at Anand Mela, a Fun Fair. The program involved a dance competition, an enactment of the Independence movement, and songs performed by the children. Mr. Krusnaprakash (Supt. of Police) was present for the program and praised the children for their efforts. Everyone wished good health and long life to the children.

Snehalaya felicitates Anna Hazare on the occasion of his 74th birthday

Ahmednagar,15 June

"Snehalaya is a pure creation of passionate, self less youth who have dedicated their lives for the justice of the most exploited and neglected class of our society. I always get new energy and hope whenever I visit Snehalaya and talk to the young soldiers committed to social change", said anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare.

Anna, who is the first life member of Snehalaya was felicitated on the occasion of his 74th birthday at our Rehabilitation Centre.

During this occasion, Anna inspirational words were "No law by itself, can curb the deep rooted corruption in our country till we create a large civil society. Fortunately there are many dedicated and honest govt. officials, NGOs and senior political leaders. If we can all coordinate our efforts, we can overcome hurdles on many fronts. Legislations like Jan Lokpal will definitely create a check to the corruption at the top levels. Time has come to give top most priority to our nation. Else, our next generation will have to face total anarchy."

Snehalaya planted 1000 trees as a celebration on the occasion of Anna's birthday.

Well known artist Pramod Kambale made Anna's statue in clay during the programme.

Snehalaya also organized a send off ceremony to former District Collector, Dr.P.Anbalgan and welcomed the newly appointed D. C., Dr.Sannjeevkumar Dayal.

Dr.Anbalgan appreciated the pathfinding work of Snehalaya and publicly appealed the new D.C. to extend all possible support to the cause.

Mr.Popatrao Pawar (chairman of Idle Village Scheme of Maharashtra scheme), District Police Chief Mr. Krishna Prakash, several other top level government officials, eminent social workers and the media were present at the occasion.

Snehalaya's child Mayur, successful in State Level Higher Scholarship Examination

Ahmednagar, 20th May 2011.


Snehalaya's child Mayur Dumbare has come from a very challenging background. 


Recently, he secured scholarship in the State Level Higher Scholarship Examination. He is the second student to achieve this in Ahmednagar district.He was also one of the class toppers in the 7th standard examination. Mayur has achieved success against odds by his sheer determination and hard work. 

We, at Snehalaya are continuing to plan for his future career, with the help of our supporters and well wishers.

Prostitutes support Anna Hajare’s movement

New Delhi - April 4th, 2011

People from all walks or life supported Loknayak Padmabhusan Anna Hajare’s movement to pass the Jan Lok Pal Bill in New Delhi. 

The representatives of the prostitutes from Ahmednagar district joined Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar to support his movement against corruption.

On April 4^th, 2011, Smt. Meena Shinde, Smt. Sangita Shelar, Mrs. Suman Tribhuvan, Mrs. Sunita Unwane, Mrs. Hasina Sheikh, Mrs. Malan Gore, Jaya Jogdand, Mr. Pravin Mutyal and Mr. Yashwant Kurapatti went Delhi to support to Hon. Anna Hajare during his movement at Jantar Mantar to support passing of the Jan Lok Pal Bill. 


These representatives of prostitutes participated in the rally from India gate and concluded at Jantar Mantar. 


Mrs. Meena Shinde, trustee of Snehalaya addressed the gathering about the purpose of hunger strike, alongside Annaji, Mrs. Kiran Bedi, Swami Asimanand and Mr. Anil Khiranjwal 

Municipality renders victim sex workers homeless. Snehalaya fights back

The local leader of Sainathnagar was running a brothel on the land that belongs to Zilha Parishad (Govt. land) for the last  25 years.

When the opposition party raised the issue in the assembly, Kopargaon Municipal council abruptly destroyed 150 huts at the Sainath Nagar red light area.

Around 250 women sex workers became homeless overnight and they lost every small thing they had possessed. The Municipal Council did even deem it necessary to give any pre-intimation about the Action. 


It is a mockery of government machinery that allows illegal constructions of land barons and political bigwigs go unnoticed, but the small huts of poor victim women are demolished without providing a notice, let alone alternative place to stay. This when they have been exploited for years by the politicians themselves.

The representatives of the women discussed the issue with the District Collector, Dr. P. Anbalagan. He was requested to provide the other options for living e.g. vocational training, microfinance to Self Help Groups etc.   Smt. Meenatai Shinde demanded the housing scheme for prostitutes. The collector has given some assurance to take positive action.    

Mr. Satish Kane receives Vasantrao Deshmukh Award.

Mr. Satish Kane, the editor of Daily Samachar and one of the trustees of Snehalaya was recently awarded  with the Vasantrao Deshmukh Award for path-breaking Journalism, by Shreerampur Municipal Corporation.

Mr. Kane donated the whole award amount of Rs 25,000 plus Rs.10,000 to Snehalaya.  Mr. Yashwant Kurapatti accepted the donation on this occasion.  Mr. Kane has helped spread the word about the work of Snehalaya for the last layer of the society, in several of his articles. During the occasion, he appealed to the journalist fraternity to raise the issues related to the common man - because he said 'they have no voice, otherwise'.

He appreciated and thanked the donors, well-wishers and supporters of Snehalaya in Shrirampur for their contribution.

Snehalaya's participation in Annaji's fight for Jan Lokpal bill.

31 st March 2011,  Ahmednagar


Anna Hazare is Snehalaya's first life member, ex. trustee and continued inspiration to all of us.

On March 31st, we organized a public meeting of Anna at Neel Kranti square in Ahmednagar where more than 12 thousand people were present.  We then took up  25 Chowk Sabhas (square meetings ) in the city to invite people for this meeting where we handed out 20,000 hand bills to support Anna in his fight against corruption.

Annaji also addressed live on our Radio Station, Radio Nagar 90.4 F M for 1 hour on Lokpal Bill and his Satyagraha. 


Snehalaya's trustees Meena Shinde, Hasina Shaikh and volunteers Sunita Unawane, Sangita Shelar,Yashwant Kurapati, Pravin Mutyal and 15 others are with Annaji in Delhi travelling with him from Rajghat to Shahid Jawan Jyoti and to Jantar Mantar. Not only the common people, but even sex workers, men and women from the lowest strata of the society in  Ahmednagar are participating in his fasting.

Snehalaya is undertaking many more programmes at city and district level in Ahmednagar and will continue to fight alongside our leader.


Long live Annaji. Long live India. Let's make our nation corruption free.


Girish Kulkarni

Sanghshakti Newspaper

Snehankur declares Chikhali village "Free from Female infanticide"

The Chikhali village in Shrigonde tehsil has been declared free from Female infanticide after the " Save the Girl child Mission " initiated by Snehankur Adoption centre.
This Well irrigated and prosperous Shrigonde Tehsil has a bad reputation for increasing female infanticide. The girl to boy ratio has declined to 780 females against 1000 males despite the efforts by the government.

Our Snehankur team (Mrs.Prajakta Kulkarni, Mrs.Sarika Temghare, Mr. Ajay Wable ,Dr.Suhas Ghule)  designed a program to promote 'Female infanticide Free Villege ' and save the girl child. We launched this program in Chikhali villege located in Shrigonde tehsil of Ahmednagar district on 25 th Feb 2011.  We involved the Gram Panchayat and organised a day long programme in the village.

The formal inaguration ceremony took place in Rameshwar Temple. Female  members of self help groups,  Private doctors, Nurses in Primary health centre, Female employees of Asha scheme and members of gram panchayat were assembled.

Through Film shows, slide presentations, talk shows and dialogues,  our team sensitised the audience about female infanticide and the huge social problems associated with it. We also brought it to their notice that laws-police and the Government have limitations in solving this issue and hence their complete support is required for the cause.

A pocket size literature was distributed to each villager. They were appealed to not kill a girlchild and were educated about 'organised social interventions ' in the such cases. In case of unavoidable circumstances, people can legally handover/relinquish  the girl child to Snehankur Adoption Centre instead of going through illegal abortions and killings.
On this note, Snehankur team shared a data of rehabilitated girl children  and rehabilitated unwed mothers till date.

We received a very positive response from the villagers. They have taken a joint pledge to act unitedly on the issue and in keeping the villege free from female infanticide. 

There are 1570 gram panchayats in Nagar district. Our Snehankur team is planning a 3 days training programme in month of May with the support of interested youth volunteers in these14 tehsils.
These volunteers will attend the Gram Sabhas of the villages in their tehsil and sensitise the grass roots about the social problems associated with female infanticide.

Our New Ambulance to the rescue of a girl child

Snehankur adoption centre frequently receives calls for rescue of children in danger. In the remote parts our district and at odd times, medical facilites are hard to find. For the last eight years, this team which had only an old vehicle for rescue, and always wanted an ambulance.

For lack of funds, we were not able to provide this facility for the team - till two days ago. We purchased an Ambulance on 'credit', and were hoping to inaugurate it over the weekend. 

Last night, at 11.30 PM, Snehankur got an anonymous call from Shirdi, 85 km away. The caller informed  about an abandoned girl child. It takes 2 hours to reach the place. Our local volunteers at  picked up the child from outskirts of Shirdi. The girl child was facing suffocation and many other .
The Snehankur team reached the spot at 1.30 am. The child urgently needed oxygen. Fortunately this was   available in our ambulance. The life of a girl  child was saved by our new ambulance

The girl child has been named 'Sohini' and the the Child Welfare committee ordered to admit Sohini to Snehankur centre.

We still need to repay the loan we took to purchase the ambulance. But Sohini's improved health, thanks to the effort of Dr. Jaydeep Deshmukh our pediatrician, has given a great boost to the team at Snehankur.