The Maharashtra State Women's Council 

The Council's foremost aim, as written in its Constitution echoes what its founders stated:

"To associate women of all nationalities in Maharashtra State for mutual help and the service of others: to further in every way, the interests and advancement of women and children and to train women in the responsibilities of citizenship."  

Two of the factors contributing to the Council's success have been its personal service to the people it seeks to help and the core of the Council-a group of women who are honorary workers, many of whom have been working for over 30 years in a lifetime's commitment. In its 83 years the Council has touched over 1,00,000 individuals in need, not to speak of the countless families and emergency-time funds and support it has given.  

Though the projects of the Council fulfill different social and medical needs, a common purpose runs through the major projects, rescue rehabilitation and restoration of dignity. Each project finds a unique way of doing this. For those not in need of rescue in the way one usually interprets the term, there is enrichment. The Council embarks on a journey with each damaged individual who seeks its help. The individual is seen through the most vulnerable stages of her life and emerges somewhat restored. Rescue to the Maharashtra State Women's Council is not confined to pulling vulnerable people out of the society they inhabit.

Though it has institutions which provide shelter to those who are in need the final aim is to return these people to society preferably with a skill.

In recognition of its work the Council received two prestigious awards:

The National Award, 1996, for the best-run Child Welfare Institution.

The State Award-The Ahilyadevi Holkar Award, 1998, for the best-run Welfare Organization for women and children.

The Council's administrative headquarters are in the Town Hall, in the Centre of Bombay. Its projects and institutions are spread around the city:

• 'House of Hope'-Asha Sadan - for destitute women and children.
• The Adoption Group.
• Father's Home - Bapnu Ghar - A residential home for women in social distress and a working-women's hostel.
• Foster Care Group.
• MSWC's Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Savera School for children in need of special care.
• Matunga Labour Camp at Padmavati Saraiya Kendra - Dharavi:

-      Nursery.

-      Adult literacy and vocational training classes for women.

-      Padmavati Saraiya Recreation and Study Centre.

 

• Seth Purshotamdas Thakurdas Welfare Centre:

-      Project Street Children.

-      Night Shelter for girls.

-      Health Services.

• Seth Purshottamdas Thakurdas Welfare Centre Maintenance Group.
• Nari Khandelwal Sadan:
• Free Library
• Lotus Home for Senior Citizens (Women) (Under construction)
• Social advocacy Group.
• Funds Committee.

'Asha Sadan - The House of Hope a 'Rescue Home' for women and children is the Council's oldest institution, established in 1921.

Asha Sadan houses children in the age group of 0 to 6 years and girls from 14 to 20 years. Girls are sent to Asha Sadan on remand or committed by the Juvenile Court. Police bring minor girls when they find them in danger of physical abuse or when they rescue them from brothels. At Asha Sadan, each one is rehabilitated.  

In the course of its work Asha Sadan has discovered that commercial sex workers are unable to break away from their profession because of the monetary rewards, lifestyle, debts, and socioeconomic constraints. The institution believes it is its responsibility to provide them with a skill that gives them some alternative profession.  

Other than formal education, The Homi J. H. Taleyerkhan Training Centre for the girls has been started on a professional basis to equip them with skills for employment when they leave. Training is given in higher education, embroidery, tailoring, cooking, catering, beauty & grooming and health. Some girls have been trained in Para social work; others have received training to become nurses or teachers.  

Adoption  

The Council set up The Adoption Group in 1972 to facilitate adoption; it now operates as an independent agency and deals directly with national and international adoption agencies. The Group has developed the necessary expertise to work with national and international agencies with which it organizes inter-country adoption. However, the law demands that priority be given to Indian adoptive parents.  

Today not a single orphan, abandoned or destitute child leaves Asha Sadan to go to another institution and even handicapped children find happiness in a new home. Upto 2002 the adoption of 2862 children was completed.  

Foster Care  

The philosophy underlying this scheme is that the best place for the child to grow up is in its own home. It is only in extreme situations after careful examination of the case, that a child is removed from its own family and placed in a substitute family matching its own. Children need foster family care due to destitution or a temporary emergency. It protects their right to grow up in an atmosphere of emotional, physical and psychological security in their own family environment, even if circumstances deprive them of their own nuclear family. Various social welfare agencies and individuals refer many of the cases to the Council.  

Bapnu Ghar - 'Father's Home' founded in 1953 by Mr. Manu Subhedar, a philanthropist and founder of the Lotus Trust. It was entrusted to the M. S. W C. in 1956. Bapnu Ghar provides temporary shelter and a Hostel for Working Women in Social Distress who are from low-income families.  

A refuge for women in social distress, which is open day and night offering solace and counseling. Reconciliation with the family and rehabilitation is done by trained counselors and social workers. Counseling is done through many services, which are provided; from Alcoholics Anonymous group for husbands, to legal help and psychiatric services. After the woman leaves there are constant follow-up meetings to ensure her progress. There is a family counseling service for non- residential cases also.  

Lotus Home for Senior Citizens (Women)  

Lotus Home, for women over 65 years of sound mind and body, will provide them with a secure and social environment with clean and pleasant accommodation with meals and basic medical facilities.  

Child Welfare Committee at Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Savera School has three projects dedicated to the welfare of mentally challenged children in need of special care.  

1. Therapeutic classes for academic studies recreation and creative activities.

2. Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre.

3. Child Guidance Clinic for children with emotional and behavioural problems.

"Savera is trying to create an awareness in our students of the world they live in and to develop students best through activities that capture their interest and imagination and challenge skill growth in a well-designed learning environment filled with a rich variety of materials that they can examine.  

Labour Committee at Padmavati Saraiya Kendra  

Dharavi, Asia's largest slum is a city within a city, an intricate labyrinth of open sewers and mass 'Kutcha' or literally, 'raw' housing. For parents here, many of whom are second-generation, illiterate migrant workers who live below the poverty line, there is a great desire to upgrade their lifestyles. The Council has four activities in Dharavi, in a permanent building with a courtyard -an oasis for women and children. The Council sees this centre as exemplifying what these families aspire to - a nurturing, educative and clean environment with bathrooms and basic amenities.  

Balwadis or nursery classes in English, Marathi, Hindi
Adult Literacy Class.
Vocational Training eg. Sewing.
Padmavati Saraiya Recreation and Study Centre
Nari Khandelwal Sadan  

Library Committee  

Books are not within the reach of underprivileged women and children hence a free library and reading room which caters to the age group 10 to 60 years was introduced in 1966. Everyday the librarian welcomes at least 70 readers who avail of the opportunity for reading books in four languages Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and English. The Committee also organises book exhibitions and various competitions. Over the decades, the council has worked with street children in different capacities. This is its latest project.  

Project Street Children  

The aims of project Street Children are ambitious. It even states, "You can ensure she won't be a prostitute". This statement lies in the belief that the Project will provide an alternative.  

In 1989 the Council, in collaboration with Salaam Baalak Trust, opened a Day Learning Centre at Seth Pursotamdas Thakurdas Welfare Centre for children who lived on the streets. It hoped to provide a base for the development of the children within their environment through knowledge and self-respect, education, vocational training and teaching the importance of health and hygiene.

In 1996, Project Street Children opened Mumbai's first ever Night Shelter for Girls in response to the dangers of abuse and exploitation from street dwellers at night. The objective is to make the girls independent wage earners by the time they leave the night shelter.  

Health Committee  

The Health Committee of the Council oversees the functioning of the Purshotamdas Thakurdas Welfare Centre's Health Clinic. It provides dental, family planning and general medical facilities to women and children. Health Camps are organized in Dharavi, Dongri and Worli.

The Seth Purshotamdas Thakurdas Maintenance Group looks after the upkeep of the buildings of M.S.W.C  

Social Advocacy Group  

Civic participation is of fundamental importance in a democracy. The Social Advocacy Group of the Council is a frontrunner in bringing issues of importance into the public arena by organizing conferences and seminars and working with other agents to implement suggestions.  

Funds Committee  

The MSWC's Funds Committee is a special committee set up to augment the funds of the Council by organizing yearly fundraisers, an annual Christmas Party, Plays, musical nights, and other festivities open to the public for which sponsorship is needed. Advertisements in souvenirs are also a source of funding for our welfare projects.  

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE COUNCIL

For the Council, rebuilding and reconstruction of its existing buildings and keeping the projects from closure is a mammoth task. Every year there is an annual expenditure growth of 15% with inflation and increases in pay scales.

The Council's work is never over. It will not rest until the social conditions under which a majority of women and children function is bettered.

The Council can only help change the core of this city if it has a continuous supply of human and monetary resources. You can choose to share its burdens and help with your time and money.

Contact Person:
Maharashtra State Women’s Council (MSWC)
Town Hall (Central Library)
Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg
Fort
Mumbai – 400001
Karmayogi:   Ms. Farida Patel, President  faridapatel@hathway.com
                  Ms. Smita Patel
Tel: 22662013
Fax: 22664834