Aadhar Kendra Sponsorship Programme
Deep Griha Society, 13, Tadiwala Road, Pune 411 001, Maharashtra, India

Varsha Shivasharan

File No.: DAK-036. Gender: Female. Date of Birth: April 03, 1991.

Varsha Shivasharan entered the Aadhar Kendra Sponsorship Programme at the Bibwewadi slum area (DAK) on April 24, 2000. She studies in 11th standard.

Her family belongs to the Hindu-Lingaayat community. Her father passed away due to cancer. Her mother, Rama, is a maid servant and earns Rs. 800 per month. The family does not own the house that they live in and they have to pay a monthly rent.

The family does not receive any other financial help that we are aware of.

Varsha regularly comes to the nutrition centre. Varsha is intelligent girl and is aware of the fact how hard her mother is working so that she and her two daughters get their daily bread.

The Bibwewadi community, where the family stays, has a population of about 11,000. It is one of the poorest slum communities in the city of Pune. Deep Griha has been working here since 1984 and the slum received official 'slum status' only in 1999. Until then they had no amenities whatsoever and the water was often a couple of kilometers away. Today taps are located at strategic points and community toilets and baths are nearing completion. We hope that the conditions at Bibwewadi continue to improve.

The Aadhar Kendra (meaning support center in Marathi) programme was designed to see to the education of the child, it is our responsibility to see that his or her academic life is not overshadowed by the concerns and circumstances of home. The AK programme also reassures the family that we are committed to see the child educated. Most often the financial burden of school, the costs it involves make the family stop educating their child/children. Where the next meal comes from takes precedence over buying schoolbooks or pens etc. This is understandable, that is why we provide for all the child's educational needs, thus taking the pressure of the family. The child will also receive free nutrition at our nutrition centre and also free medical care and regular medical check ups. The family will also be assisted during any time of crisis.

We strive towards the holistic development of the children and we will do our best to make sure that they have every available opportunity before them. We hope that you will work with us, as we try to make a difference in their future.