About us
Who we are
Welcome to "Sant Gajanan Maharaj Seva Bhavi Sanstha", a charitable organization committed to providing daily food to all the patient's family members at District Women Hospital (Dafrin), the sole government hospital in our district Amravati. Our journey began on 12th May 2016, with a mission to ensure that every patient and their families receive healthy and nutritious meals during their time of need.
District Women Hospital (commonly known as Dafrin Hospital) serves as a vital healthcare facility for the entire Amravati district. It receives women, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds and backward areas (especially Melghat and Madhya Pradesh), who come to seek medical treatment. Additionally, the hospital shares its premises with the Government Super Specialty Hospital, the only one in five nearby districts. As a result, a significant number of people come to both hospitals including their accompanying relatives and children, and their need for sustenance cannot be understated.
Background
In Raju Sanap’s (Founder’s) View:
In 2008, my journey led me from the District Government General Hospital (Irwin Hospital), Amravati to the District Women Hospital (Dafrin), Amravati. It was here in 2009, that the hospital cafeteria underwent privatization, placing its operations under the management of a private contractor. The cost of purchasing food from the cafeteria was high, placing an additional burden on those who were already struggling to make ends meet. Patients received meals of poor quality, while their loved ones were left without any provisions.
Recognizing this pressing issue, I decided to take action. In 2010, I submitted a formal written request to the governing authority, outlining the need to allocate “Visawa Kaksha” which was already constructed from the R.S. Gawai fund, and it would serve as the foundation for our initiative. The governing authority approved the proposal in 2016.
The need for our service
The existing cafeteria's at both the hospitals were privatized which lead to increased food costs for the patients and their families.
While the patients received their meals within the hospital, the same couldn’t be said for their accompanying relatives and children. These individuals, who played an essential role in the support and care of the patients, were left without any provisions. The quality of food served to the patients was often subpar. These cafeteria’s charge high prices, burdening the already vulnerable individuals seeking medical care. Recognizing this issue, our Sanstha was born with the vision to bridge the gap and offer healthy and nutritious meals to those in need.
Chandrakant Pandharikar's Impact
In just a few days after launching our initiative, we were fortunate to have "Chandrakant Pandharikar" affectionately known as "Chandu Kaka" join our initiative.
His dedication and passion were truly remarkable, becoming a pivotal moment in our journey. He introduced the concept of Food Donors – individuals who could donate a nominal amount of 3100 rupees and choose a significant day, such as a birthday, anniversary etc, to sponsor meals for 150-200 people. His vision attracted a multitude of donors in a remarkably short span, thereby propelling our initiative to new heights.
Dedicated Team Behind the Mission:
President: Dnyaneshwar Isal
Secretary (Founder): Raju Sanap
Executive Member: Santosh Agrawal
Executive Member: Premkumar Jain
Executive Member: Prof. Mukund Rahatgaonkar
Executive Member: Umesh Bonde
Executive Member: Prof. Avinash Dhike
Executive Member: Amol Bagade
Executive Member: Yogesh Bahe
Website Admin: Ambarish Pandharikar