SATYANIKETAN

An NGO working in tribal areas of Maharashtra

Introduction:

Satyaniketan Trust works for the development of tribal communities and other backward people in
Akole taluka of Ahmednagar District since the last 60 years. It undertakes activities such as short stay
homes for women, crèche centres, ashram schools, primary and secondary schools, a college,
hostels and self employment programmes within its premises.

Background and History:

The origins of this institution can be traced to Sarvodaya initiative which was a symbolic movement
of Mahatma Gandhi’s to activate various schemes towards the upliftment of the down trodden
people in the far flung interior and tribal regions of the country. This work towards realising this long
term vision consequently began in the year 1950-1951 in Ahmednagar district.

Rajur is a tribal area in Akole tehsil and devoted activists Shri Bapusaheb Shende and Shri RV
Patankar were appointed as Chief Directors for the Sarvodaya movement. Around sixty remote
villages in the western part of Akole tehsil were selected for undertaking activities under this
scheme. The objectives of this movement was to focus on the overall and holistic development of
the villages and the inhabitants. Hence, emphasis was given on undertaking scheme in the areas of
education, self employment, health awareness , poverty eradication, family planning , water supply,
sanitation and malnutrition which were quite the focus of this movement.

Satyaniketan Trust

Satyaniketan Trust, thus was established in 1950 to provide stability and persistence to the above
mentioned objectives. This institution is registered as a voluntary social service organisation under
the societies registration act 1860 and Maharashtra public trust act. We are a certified Khadi and
Village Industries institution and are also running various schemes of the KVIC.

Activities of the Trust

Following key activities are carried out :

Creche centres: Satyaniketan Trust runs 22 creche centres with assistance from “Bharatiya Adim Jati
Sevak Sangh, New Delhi which is a................... More than 550 children are benefitted from these
centres. These centres are managed by trained lady staff who work sincerely to inculcate good
habits among the children. Regular visits by doctors are made so that the health of children is
checked and monitored regularly. He also advices the local workers on the how to administer
medicines and doses that are kept at every centre. Since some of the children also suffer from
malnutrition which is one of the reasons why they are brought to the crèches, their nutrition is
monitored along with proper medical service from time to time. This has generated outstanding
results that have resulted in improving the health of these children. It has been observed that after
proper care has been taken of these children, their level of motivation for learning is also higher.
 Though these crèche centres are associated with Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh which provides
funds for their running, there is still a yawning gap between the requirements and the funds offered.
As a result, the trust makes up for this deficit by utilising funds from its internal resources or at times
donations.

Short stay home

The scheme is being run since 1993 under one of the programmes of the Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak
Sangh and is monitored by our workers and staff. The main purpose of this scheme is to provide
shelter to the abandoned, widowed and destitute women in the society from six months to 3 years.
Due to lack of education and support many of the tribal women are exploited and as a result end up
feeling helpless. Most of the women also suffer physical and mental abuse due to which they are
devastated.

The short stay home facility offered by the Satyaniketan Trust is a blessing in disguise for such
women. During their stay at short stay homes they are first provided counselling so that they
recover from the mental trauma that they suffer from. Attempts at inspiring confidence and self
esteem are made in the initial days of their stay. After a detailed study of their case from legal
experts, a report and plan of action is prepared. Once this is done, they are assured of adequate
legal and monetary support to fight their case. However, before proceeding initiating any court
matters, the short stay home tries to resolve the cases by settling disputes with their husbands and
in laws outside the court. Many cases have thus been resolved and prevented the long and never
ending legal battles which are also traumatic experiences for the women.

The women who are rendered homeless have an issue of their daily livelihood. To support
themselves financially, they are trained to generate self employment for themselves by providing
training in industries such as home made products like spices, pickles and other processed foods.
This ensures that they are on their own and self reliant.

During the year, 2006-07, 52 destitute women have taken the benefit of this scheme. Mrs. Suman
Muthe, president of the Women and children welfare department and Joint Secretary of
Satyaniketan Trust has been a guiding light in running undertaking her responsibilities diligently.
Under her guidance, there have been many successful resolutions for problems relate to marital
issues.

Hostels for boys and girls

The trust manages 5 hostels, two at Rajur and one each at Kotul and Akole and one girls hostels at
Shenit. All these hostels are financed on grant in aid basis by the Department of Social Welfare,
Government of Maharashtra.

Besides these 5 hostels, the institution also runs two other hostels on a non grant basis for junior
and senior college students. We collect funds and donations from benevolent people and
institutions in the society to meet the additional expenditure of these hostels.

At the hostels, a conscious attempt is being made to imbibe austerity, discipline, self reliance, moral
values and dignity of labour in the minds of students. All the routine is arranged in such a manner as
to gear up students participation in the management of mess etc.
All the hostels are looked after by full time Superintendents and their assistant staff who are guided
by local advisory committees. The working of the hostels is guided and monitored by one of the
members of the trust.

Secondary schools

We have well established secondary schools at Rajur, Khirvire and Katalpur. All our schools and the
junior colleges attached to Sarvodaya Vidya Mandir are committed to provide quality education to
the tribal students.

The Sarvodaya Vidya Mandir at Khirvire has been set up recently. All other classes are granted
except Standard Seventh at Sarvodaya Vidya Mandir, Khirvire. Though the present school building is
old and inadequate, we have taken construction of new building with the help of new people.

Our teachers and staff spare no effort in the overall development of the students. Besides the
routine syllabus, many co curriculum activities are being conducted to give students a platform to
develop their inborn skills. The NCC unit is Sarvodaya Vidya MandR Rajur is considered to be one of
the best units in ahmednagar district. Incharge is Mr Sanjay Deshmukh

Ashram schools

The Ashram school at Shenit village also constitutes the formal educational programme of
Satyaniketan Trust. The strength of the total staff is 26 and students are 575

Though the school is located in the remote area of Akole tehsil, it is one of the leading schools in the
district. The head master of the primary section is Mr GG Arote and RK Sonawane for the secondary
section.

Advocate Manoharrao Nanasaheb Deshmukh College

Its a proud achievement that the senior college at Rajur is the premier educational institution in this
area. The college has been started in view of availing the opportunity of higher education to tribal
students who tend to disconitnue their education in HSC due to responsibilities at a young age. It has
been started in full swing in 1993-1994

The college is progressing day by day under the strict discipline and supervision of the Principal and
staff members. It has bagged many awards including the “Best Rural College of the Year” award from
the Pune University.

The UGC has given permission to start various career oriented courses such as Tissue culture,
hospital disposal waste and management.

The college has set up huge and well equipped computer lab to keep pace with the present age of
information and technology. Many useful social and educational activities have been undertaken
through the NCC unit of the college. The earn and learn scheme has got a wide response from the
students.
Sarvodaya Parisar Vikas committee ( Committe for all round development)

A beautiful complex raised in the Sarvodaya Parisar is one of the attractions of Akole. The Vikas
committee has started a modern ideal Balwadi in the area where many kids are taking advantage of
the same. The institution has its own land and a hostel for students. The social welfare department
of the government has rated this hostel as one of the best hostels.

BG Mandlik and SG Shaligram have an important role to play in the smooth functioning of Sarvodaya
Vikas Samiti.

Economic Upliftment programmes

Bakery

Local tribal youths are trained to run bakery unit thus generating self employment in the tribal areas.

Food processing unit

This unit is meant to provide self employment to the needy women in the area. Popular products
that are produced include lemon pickles, mango pickles, lemon pickles, spices and papads etc.

The institute gets grants from the social welfare department and tribal department of the state
government. Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh aids our women and children welfare department and
also with generous donors the help is always forthcoming.

Address: At post Rajur, Taluka Akole, District Ahmednagar,Maharashtra, INDIA