Old age home for 350 abandoned elderly women

Dear Friends, 

The last three months have precipitated much work on Maitri Ghar.  The ground floor is close to completion with completed flooring and electrical and plumbing. The clinic and kitchen are coming along on schedule and are recognizable as such.  Here are some of the changes since the last report:

• Roof of the second floor has been cast.

• Floor tiling of ground floor and first floor completed and second floor is completed.

• Brick work up to second floor is completed. 

• Window panes and mosquiting proofing has been completed and second floor is in progress.

• Bathroom fitting and plumbing work continues to progress.

• Electrical wiring of ground floor and first floor is completely done.

• Electrical wiring for second floor is in progress

Sharmati married at 16 years old. Although her husband was a kind person, his mother disliked Sharmati and constantly abused and humiliated her. Sharmati did not have any children, and because of this, endured more abuse. About 25 years after their marriage, her husband passed away due to illness. After losing her husband, Sharmati was alone with no support. With no one to turn to, Sharmati started spending her time in service at a local temple and eventually decided to come to Radhakund. She has now lived in Radhakund for roughly 10 years, where she has to beg for a living and lives in a small rented hovel. Sharmati believes that she was unable to bear children because of past karma, and that by praying to Krishna in Radhakund, she will be reborn with a better fate in her next life.

Maitri looks forward to permanently housing 100 destitute elderly widow mothers like Sharmatti at Maitri Ghar soon. The residential facility is built with the purpose of contributing to the overall well being of each widow taken in. Improving the quality of these widow mothers is an important aspect of the project.  Furthermore, it will ensure a comfortable and communal living environment. While giving these widow mothers a safe place to stay Maitri foresees empowering them through skill building programmes to ensure that they no longer resort to begging to survive. Further to this we hope to raise remaining funds to purchase 100 beds, beddings and cupboards to be able to move the widow mothers at our earliest. 

 Since 2010, Maitri has engaged with more than 500 Widow Mothers living in Vrindavan  and has committed to providing Nutrition, Health Care, Education on their Rights, and access to Citizenship Rights. Widow Mothers enrolled with Maitri’s Nutrition program receive a free, daily, mid-day meal. Furthermore, they are provided with clean drinking water and made aware of the benefits of hygienic living and encouraged to live so. Supplements are provided to address the specific geriatric needs of the Widows and they are provided with basic Health Care twice a week and facilitated with specialized medical checks periodically.

 It is a privilege for Maitri to receive your support through ongoing generous contributions that we may continue to be able to restore dignity and respect to abandoned, destitute and elderly women in India. Also, thank you to GlobalGiving for their continued support in our endeavors to make a difference.

" Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Meed

Links:

• India's Invisible Widows