BY SONAM MIRPURI
NORWALK, CA- The Arpan Foundation hosted a Meet and Greet at the Sanatan Dharma Temple here on Oct 27 morning where a gathering of like-minded individuals from different parts of the world came together. Speakers came from India to present and share their work while members of the local Indian-American community...
NORWALK, CA- The Arpan Foundation hosted a Meet and Greet at the Sanatan Dharma Temple here on Oct 27 morning where a gathering of like-minded individuals from different parts of the world came together. Speakers came from India to present and share their work while members of the local Indian-American community...
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attended to hear about their work and ways to assist.
The four who came from India were Dr. Digant and Dr. Anagha Amte from Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa, Maharashtra; Dr. Bharat Vatwani from Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation in Kajrat, Maharashtra; and Ramesh Swamy from Unnati in Banaglore, Karnataka. Emcee for the event Jinasha, gave the audience some background information on Arpan Foundation saying the Foundation brings together people who have service in mind. Among the speakers was Dr. Bharat Vatwani, winner of the 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award. Introducing Vatwani Jinasha said he was a psychiatrist and founded Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation with his wife Dr. Smitha. Their institute is dedicated to rescuing, treating, rehabilitating, and reunifying wandering mentally-ill children and individuals from the streets of India with their families. “Compassion is an essential quality which takes you forward. It is not about food or shelter; it is all about emotions,” said Vatwani. Vatwani said awareness about mental illnesses like schizophrenia was poor in India. People to this day ask him why a person hailing from a “good home” should live on the street. “People don’t realise it’s a condition that needs regular medication and attention. Hopefully, the Magsaysay award will reduce the stigma as well.”
Vatwani has a 98% success in treating and reuniting patients with families. The secret? “We have a great team of social workers from different parts of the country who manage to connect with the patient, and help trace the family.”
Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation began in 1988 and in its 30 years it has reunited more than 7,000 such individuals with their families. After the inspiring talk Jinasha thanked Vatwani for inspiring the next generation.
Other speakers included Dr. Digant and Dr. Anagha Amte from Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa. Dr. Digant Amte is the grandson of the late Baba Amte. He is the son of Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini Amte. The previously mentioned three generations of the Amte family have dedicated their lives to serving the tribes and locals suffering from various physical and mental disabilities.
“It is necessary to teach the people how to fend for themselves,” said Anagha.
Their main focus have been and will continue to be health, education, and environment. One of the current important goals is becoming malaria free. Additionally, they are working on getting the health centers out of homes and into community centers to continue to serve the 30 villages.
Ramesh Swamy who also addressed the gathering, founded Unnati which provides a short 50 day vocational training to poor unemployed youth in industries such as hospitality, retail, beauty, among others. Unnati separates themselves from other vocational training programs because they guarantee 100% job placement upon completion of the course.
``It is all about creating youth who have the skills and attitude to join the current work force. “Love, care, and concern for others is what it is all about,” said Swamy.
As a way to better explain to the audience the ambience of Unnati, Swamy gave a broad description.`` Think about your best/favorite subject in school. Was this subject your best/favorite because of the subject or was it because of the teacher?’’
A lively Q & A session by audience members in attendance followed at the end of each speaker’s presentation.
The four who came from India were Dr. Digant and Dr. Anagha Amte from Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa, Maharashtra; Dr. Bharat Vatwani from Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation in Kajrat, Maharashtra; and Ramesh Swamy from Unnati in Banaglore, Karnataka. Emcee for the event Jinasha, gave the audience some background information on Arpan Foundation saying the Foundation brings together people who have service in mind. Among the speakers was Dr. Bharat Vatwani, winner of the 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award. Introducing Vatwani Jinasha said he was a psychiatrist and founded Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation with his wife Dr. Smitha. Their institute is dedicated to rescuing, treating, rehabilitating, and reunifying wandering mentally-ill children and individuals from the streets of India with their families. “Compassion is an essential quality which takes you forward. It is not about food or shelter; it is all about emotions,” said Vatwani. Vatwani said awareness about mental illnesses like schizophrenia was poor in India. People to this day ask him why a person hailing from a “good home” should live on the street. “People don’t realise it’s a condition that needs regular medication and attention. Hopefully, the Magsaysay award will reduce the stigma as well.”
Vatwani has a 98% success in treating and reuniting patients with families. The secret? “We have a great team of social workers from different parts of the country who manage to connect with the patient, and help trace the family.”
Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation began in 1988 and in its 30 years it has reunited more than 7,000 such individuals with their families. After the inspiring talk Jinasha thanked Vatwani for inspiring the next generation.
Other speakers included Dr. Digant and Dr. Anagha Amte from Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa. Dr. Digant Amte is the grandson of the late Baba Amte. He is the son of Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini Amte. The previously mentioned three generations of the Amte family have dedicated their lives to serving the tribes and locals suffering from various physical and mental disabilities.
“It is necessary to teach the people how to fend for themselves,” said Anagha.
Their main focus have been and will continue to be health, education, and environment. One of the current important goals is becoming malaria free. Additionally, they are working on getting the health centers out of homes and into community centers to continue to serve the 30 villages.
Ramesh Swamy who also addressed the gathering, founded Unnati which provides a short 50 day vocational training to poor unemployed youth in industries such as hospitality, retail, beauty, among others. Unnati separates themselves from other vocational training programs because they guarantee 100% job placement upon completion of the course.
``It is all about creating youth who have the skills and attitude to join the current work force. “Love, care, and concern for others is what it is all about,” said Swamy.
As a way to better explain to the audience the ambience of Unnati, Swamy gave a broad description.`` Think about your best/favorite subject in school. Was this subject your best/favorite because of the subject or was it because of the teacher?’’
A lively Q & A session by audience members in attendance followed at the end of each speaker’s presentation.
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