Samanwaya Charitable Association, registered under the Maharashtra Charity Trusts Act 1950, has been a prominent charity organisation in Kalyan for over three decades. It focuses on aligning the marginalised and disadvantaged section of society with the mainstream by providing every possible assistance, including financial and educational support. With various functional verticals within it and timely initiatives, it addresses the diverse needs of the local communities besides contributing to the economic and social empowerment of the marginalised segment. Samanwaya enables youngsters to deal with new challenges they face and promotes the core agenda of the articles of association.
Special initiatives during the Covid-19 period:
We established an office and grocery storage unit, engaging hundreds of volunteers in multifaceted services in collaboration with other organisations.
- Conducted two blood donation camps for plasma in August 2020 and October 2021
- Distributed grocery kits to over 13,000 families during the pandemic period
- Provided free PP kits to health workers and COVID-19 warriors
- Our volunteers assisted patients in reaching hospitals and facilitated the purchase of necessary medicines during the total lockdown period.
- Arranged online consultations with expert doctors
- Extended support wherever required special attention, including funerals
Education aid:
Through meticulous verification, we offer study materials to more than 200 needy students annually, covering aspects such as:
- School and college fees
- Uniforms
- Textbooks
- Notebooks
- Laptops for special cases
Priority is given to students who have lost their breadwinner at a young age, attending Marathi/Hindi medium schools with an income below Rs 10,000 per month.
Scholarship Program for SSC & HSC Students:
In collaboration with other organisations, Samanwaya provides lump-sum scholarships for top scorers in SSC and HSC examinations. The scholarship helps over 10 students each academic year.
Youth empowerment:
On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, Samanwaya Yuva Pratishtan took up the assignment of engaging youth in various ways. It conducted sports events like cricket, kabaddi tournaments and other sports and arts competitions. Donating computers and providing computer classes at a rehabilitation centre in the Murbad area was one of the projects Samanwaya Yuva Pratishtan carried out.
Job desks:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samanwaya initiated job desks and assisted over 60 candidates to get placed according to their qualifications. Samanwaya provided this service without any fee from candidates by collaborating with around 50 companies.
Women empowerment:
In January 2020, we launched Mahila Bachat Ghat, known as Samanwaya Samruddhi, with the motto of Nari Shakti Rashtra Shakti. The post-pandemic challenges compelled us to expand our business unit. Now the unit offers over 40 food items, including ready-mix masala and catering services.
Seminars and workshops:
Organising seminars and workshops like Rozgar Yojana Margadarshak Shibir (Employment Scheme Guidance Workshop) and Mahila Bachat Gat Margadarshak Shibir (Women’s Savings Group Guidance Workshop) demonstrates a commitment to empowering individuals by providing them with essential knowledge and guidance.
Rozgar Yojana Margadarshak Shibir
This seminar focuses on various job opportunities, government initiatives, and schemes available for entrepreneurs. It covers skill development programs, government-backed loans or grants for startups, and vocational training opportunities. Providing insights into these resources helps individuals explore career options and understand the support available for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Mahila Bachat Gat Margadarshak Shibir
This workshop specifically caters to women, offering guidance on savings groups, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and government schemes tailored for women. It can cover aspects like self-help groups, access to credit facilities, skill development for women, and promoting women’s participation in various industries.
Naturopathy
That sounds like an enlightening and informative camp organised by the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) in Pune, in association with Samanwaya on 20th March 2022. Such initiatives play a crucial role in spreading awareness about holistic health and the principles of naturopathy, emphasising the importance of leading a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Naturopathy focuses on natural remedies, healthy dietary practices, physical activity, and stress management to promote holistic well-being.
The doctors from NIN took the initiative to create awareness and share knowledge about the enlightenment of life, addressing various aspects such as maintaining good health, adopting natural practices, and fostering a harmonious connection between mind, body, and spirit. Such camps often provide valuable insights and tips for individuals to improve their health and enhance their quality of life.
Activities for cultural promotion:
In the initial phases of our association, we concentrated on offering various classes like Bharatanatyam, Karnatic Music, Martial Arts, and language classes (Marathi, Malayalam, and Sanskrit). Over 70 students showed their talents in Bharatanatyam during our Annual Day function. Additionally, we conduct camps for Hepatitis B vaccination, eye testing, ayurveda medical consultation, and blood donation, contributing to the holistic development of our society.
Promotion of traditional art forms
Samanwaya encourages cultural art forms, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam, taking the admirable services of Smt. Sreeja Warrier. These classical dance forms hold significant cultural and historical importance in India. It has set up a platform for children to learn these art forms, and run it regularly since the early 90s.
Smt. Sreeja Warrier’s guidance and mentorship helped more than 100 students from the Samanwaya Pariwar learn these classical dance forms.
The achievements of Samanwaya’s students in various competitions such as the CM Chashak competition, Jawahar Bal Bhavan, inter-school, and college competitions are a testament to the high quality of training and guidance of Smt. Sreeja Warrier.
Performance
Many children performed on well-regarded stages like the Guruvayur and Mookambika temples. One of the students had an opportunity to perform a classical dance to the audience of the honourable Prime Minister, PM Narendra Modi in France in 2023. These speak for the excellence and recognition of the students.
The Mohiniyattam class was a part of Samanwaya’s aim to introduce another classical dance form for the students so that the next generation can carry forward the legacy of our performing art forms. Its continued work in this area ensures our new generation’s close touch with the legacy of our invaluable art and cultural identity.
Socio-cultural promotions Bharat has an expansive ethnic combination. That constitutes our national identity. While the open society we are in now and the rapid proliferation of urban lifestyles challenge the ethnic contortion of each social group, we need to adopt a conscious approach to ingrain our traditional values into the next generation. As we are adequately aware of our social priority to build a good society, we host ethnic programs like Sarvaswaryapooja (prayer for wealth and prosperity), Matrupooja (respect to our mother), etc., to teach the next generation the values we have cherished from time immemorial. Samanwaya encourages our new generation to follow the tradition of living in self-respect with pride in their ethnicity.
