Aims

Aims, Objectives & Methodology

The institution aims at picking up the mentally ill destitute, bringing them to the nursing home, giving them food, clothing, shelter, nutritional supplements and the requisite appropriate psychiatric medication.

When the patient starts responding to the treatment (averagely within 4-8 weeks), they start probing for details of their residence address and antecedents and subsequently rehabilitating them with their respective families.

Highlights

Schizophrenia:
An overview

Quantum of Work

Over the past seven years, Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation has picked up over 800 mentally ill destitute off the streets, particularly between the age group of 20-40 years, and subsequently reunited them with their respective families. Often the families of the destitute are from different corners of India; sometimes even as far from Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kashmir, Nagaland, Orissa or Karnataka.

Official Status

Registered with the Charity Commissioner of Maharashtra, India vide No. E-13686 dated 22.1.92 Donations to Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation are exempt for Income Tax under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961. Income Tax Exemption Order has been obtained three times consecutive. The first exemption was valid from 02.12.91 to 31.12.92, the second exemption was valid from 01.01.93 to 31.03.95 and the third exemption was valid from 01.04.95 to 31.03.99 and the present validity is from 01.04.99 to 31.03.2002.

Inspiration for Shraddha Foundation

The acceptance of the harsh reality that the existence of these mentally ill on the streets was not a figment of their imagination, but a harsh reality. These destitute are tragic victims of a psychiatric illness called schizophrenia which renders them insane and incapable of fending for themselves.The emotional reinforcement obtained from the families of these destitute is tremendous, and this in turn motivates us to continue as well as to expand our activities dedicated to the their cause.

Expansion of Activities

A fund raising exhibition of paintings and sculptures was held at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, between 18 and 24 October 1993. 145 eminent India artists donated their paintings and works for the event.From the funds collected, a plot was purchased in Dahisar, Mumbai to set up this exclusive institution dedicated specifically to this cause. The plot is officially owned by Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation. The project formally started on 10.02.1997. This ground two-storied institution can provide in-house treatment and rehabilitation facilities to about 50 mentally ill destitute at any given period of time. They are planning to start a corpus in the bank in the name of Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation, so that interest accrued may be used for the maintenance of the institution on a monthly basis.

Patrons

Mr. Mark Boston
H. Goldie & Co. London
Dr. Nirmala Ganla
M.D. (Gynaecology), Pune

Trustees

Dr. Bharat Vatwani
M.D. (Psychiatry)
Dr. Ghanshyam Bhimani
M.D. (Psychiatry)
Shri Daksesh Parikh
Bureau Chief. Asia Business News
Shri Ashok Mohanani
Ekta Construction, Mumbai

Advisors

Dr. Smitha Vatwani
M.D. (Psychiatry)
Honorary Police Psychiatrist, Mumbai
Shri Prakash Vaidya
Deputy Commissioner of Police
Shri Gajendra Ganla
Chairman, Indian Water Works
Charity Commissioner Reg. No. E-13686
I.T. Exmptn. No. DIT/BC/1429/94-95
FCRA Reg. No. 083780583

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