Shraddhanand Mahilashram (Registered as the Hindu Women's Welfare Society)

The Hindu Women's Welfare Society runs Shraddhanand Mahilashram at Matunga, Mumbai in India. The institution has forged bonds between the girls of our Read more ashram and society at large in the form of adoptions, marriage, etc. At the Special Care Centre, children with fragile health are cared for by a staff, comprising of doctors and nurses who see them through their first few years, during and after which most of them are put up for adoption. For those who turn out to be physically and /or mentally handicapped, the Ashram provides shelter and loving care but also trains them through Physiotherapy, speech therapy. The girls lives under the care of House Mother (Grihmata) in houses having separate dormitories. There is regular routine of school, college, vocational training, etc to ensure that girls are well-equipped today to take on responsible roles in society tomorrow. Embroidery, stitching, cooking and various handicrafts are taught to inculcate virtues of self -respect and self- reliance. In the Mahila section women between 20 and 60 years of age are provided with shelter and training in various skills to encourage economic self-reliance through gainful employment. Many of them are even married through the Ashram. At Vasai, elderly women who have no one to look after are taken care of. They are provided with nutritious food and regular medical check-ups. At Kurla, the B. J. Mulji Working Women Hostel is a safe shelter for immigrant working women belonging to the lower income group. At Matunga, M.P.V.V. Hostel for those girls' parents residing at a native place and girls higher education in Mumbai. Future Plans: Currently we are redeveloping the Working Women's Hostel at Kurla and a hostel for students in the adjoining building at Matunga M.P.V.V. premises.

For more than 9 decades, the Ashram has been home to over 20,000 abandoned children, unfortunate women and those with special abilities. The Ashram has wholeheartedly undertaken several projects that attend to the needs of such innocent souls, who've experienced emotional and psychological pain at an early age.

Citations & Awards –
We are grateful to all our previous managing committees who have worked tirelessly and
received awards like –
National Award for Child Welfare 1990 at the hands of the President of India in 1991.
Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Award
- 2010 from the Women & Child Development Dept.Maharashtra State.
Dalit Mitra Sanstha1985-86- from Women & Child Development Dept. Maharashtra State.

All through our existence our Shraddhanand Mahilashram was visited by Indian dignitaries andluminaries like Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Shri Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Shri Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Shri Dr. Abdul Kalam among others. It is their kind words of appreciationthat have encouraged staff and volunteers to perform with humility and sincerity.