It is said, “A
living is made by what we get,
but a life is made by what we give.” In India, 60,000 children are abandoned
every year, while 59,000 children are deprived of education. More than 40 years
ago, a group of social workers from Ponda village would meet and the discussion
would often move to the predictable ‘This is not how things should be’. Then
one day, a two-year-old boy was found at Sanvordem railway station all alone.
The child was immediately aided and the MatruChhaya family home came into
existence.
MatruChhaya, founded
in 1976, became a blessing to a number of orphaned and less privileged
children. They provide them with shelter, food and clothing. The group has set
up their organisation at four places in Goa: Ponda and Margao (mainly for
girls), while the Panjim-Santa Cruz house is dedicated to unwell women and
young girls and the ‘Bal Kalyan Ashram’ in Ponda Talavli is for orphaned boys.
Initially, the
organisation began with a goal of supporting the orphaned girls and giving them
a home to stay. MatruChhaya provides girls with accommodation and benefits as a
normal child would have. Girls from all religions and castes are accepted. They
are educated and supported until they are old enough to provide for themselves.
Many of the girls have gone on from being daughters of MatruChhaya to find
happiness in marriage. The married women still visit the Ashram during
celebrations and festivals to revive old memories together.
Apart from all the
education facilities and basic human necessities, the committee teaches the
girls embroidery, cooking, driving, riding, music and have a couple of indoor
and outdoor activities simultaneously. MatruChhaya has a matron for the girls’
accommodation whom they specifically refer to as ‘Maa’.
The President of the
committee, Dr Subhash Bhosle, takes care of every minute detail to keep the
children happy. Altogether, every one works towards creating a family
atmosphere at MatruChhaya.
The charitable trust
has now made a call for donations in order to construct a new building that
will consist of accommodations for 80-100 girls, as the old building of
MatruChhaya has worn out.
The organisation
requires an amount of 6 crores for the entire construction. One crore will be
used for the plot in Ponda that has already been selected. Currently, a fund of
75 Lakhs has been collected by the committee. MatruChhaya Committee puts forth
their request to the public and social work groups to take the initiative of
donating funds of maximum Rs 5000 to complete the construction. Details for the
donations are on the website www.maruchhayagoa.org
The
committee members have written to the well-wishers: “The plan for the building
is getting finalised and work for the same may start in February 2019. Though
‘Sampark Abhiyan’ of going and meeting well-wishers by volunteers has just
finished, our well-wishers continue to send us donations.”