• Assist in developmental work related to the different units of the Sangh; boasting 5 High Schools, 1 Night High School, 16 boys hostel and 2 girls hotels across Ahmednagar and Pune Districts. A hostel unit at every Taluka place in Ahmednagar has helped the organization spread its connect across all tehsils of the district.
• Interaction with the students in the hostels and schools of the Sangh through various sessions and programs – Life Skills Education.
• Special focus on girls from vulnerable backgrounds – case work.

Bal Kalyani was started in the early 1970s by the then Education Minister – Late. Sh. Madhukarrao Chaudhari to cater to the needs of the children of the working class of the plush Malabar Hill area. Started in a room of his ministerial bungalow – Bal Kalyani was later leased out space by State Government at RockyHill. Initially started as a Crèche – today Bal Kalyani conducts several activities like sewing class, study class for elder children, training programs, self defence programs, counselling centre and self help groups for women.

Registered under The Societies Registration Act , The Public Trust Act , IT Act – 80 G

Vision Engaging in efforts to evolve a more sanguine, progressive & favourable atmosphere for the all-encompassing development of children &their stakeholders in this process.

Objectives

• To promote and protect the rights of Children.
• To promote, establish, assist, supervise (a) crèches, (b) nurseries, (c) play centers, (d)libraries, (e) gardens and any other children welfare services.
• To organize and promote activities essential for the physical, social and cultural growth of children. ¶ To take steps as are conducive to the all-round development of children.
• To provide vocational training in different trades. ¶ To evolve as a Community Centre – with multi-facetted development programs and activities for all stakeholders; namely the children, parents (especially mothers), teachers, youth and residents of the adjoining communities.
• To collaborate with other NGOs working towards similar goals, with special emphasis on Policy Advocacy.

Nature of Current Activities

1. Pre- Primary School As was the prime objective of the founders of Bal Kalyani, the organization has been successfully conducting a pre-primary school for the children of the underprivileged families of the vicinity between the age group of 2.5yrs to 5.5 yrs. Along with basic academics, games and activities, the children are also served a nutritious snack during their stay at the school. With a full time of 1 teacher and 1 care taker, there is an average of 25 – 30 children in the pre-primary. Timely cultural events, festivals, sports, picnics, etc are arranged for our children round the year. Termly meetings and programs are also organized for the parents. The term duration and vacations are similar to those in public schools.
2. Study Classes Bal Kalyani conducts regular study classes for the school going children, 5th standard and above, of the vicinity. Most of these children belong to the working class families who cannot afford expensive coaching classes or private tuitions. At the study classes, youth volunteers help the younger children with their studies at minimal contribution of Rs. 50 per month. A matter of pride is that most of these are ex-students from the pre-primary and several have ended up getting good academic grades as a result of the study classes. These children take an active part in all the activities of the organization.
3. Training Centre for Women Bal Kalyani conducts a part time training centre – focusing on Tailoring and other home skill-based activities. While working with the community, we realized that there was a dearth of vocational training in the areas, specifically for women who would be home most of the time to look after the kids. Along with the mothers of our students several other and young women have taken benefit of this training centre at minimal fees.
4. Family Counselling Centre In alliance with a non-profit, Kusumtai Chaudhari Mahila Kalyani, a Family Counselling Centre is conducted at Bal Kalyani specially for the women from adjoining community. With increasing incidences of family conflicts and dearth of support systems for women, a family counselling centre acts as a helpful aid. Our experienced and qualified counsellors help families to sort our issues in the most amicable manner, without having to reach extreme situations. With timely home visits and follow ups, we make sure of individual attention to each case. If the case demands, we work closely with the local police station, other NGOs and family court of Mumbai
5. Self Help Groups for women In Maharashtra, the Women’s Self Help Groups Movement has been more of a social spirit rather than economic. Over the years Self Help Groups have contributed immensely to the entrepreneurial endeavours of thousands of women. With women from adjoining community as its members 5 self help groups are currently being operated; several women have engaged in monthly savings and availed of low interest loans for family or business. We are in the process of expanding this base and forming more such self help groups.
6. Policy Advocacy Over the years, Bal Kalyani has also been engaging with other NGOs and like-minded platforms in Campaigns to protect and propagate the rights of Children
7. Madhukarrao Chaudhari Shikshak Gaurav Puraskaar The Founder President of Bal Kalyani, Late. Madhukarrao Chaudhari, is well known for his contribution to the field of education in Maharashtra as the Education Minister for 15 consecutive years. His vision and far sightedness can be seen in the meticulous plans he laid out for the education system during his tenure. His mantra that ‘good teachers alone can make a good education system’ has been well appreciated. As a mark of respect to this die-hard educationalist, Bal Kalyani initiated the Madhukarrao Chaudhari Shikshak Gaurav Puraskaar after his sad demise in 2010. Every year the organization identifies teachers from the primary faculty of Governmentrun schools, usually from the rural areas, who are innovative and active in their teaching patterns, have contributed creatively and are working in challenging conditions to make sure that children studying in their government schools are given quality education. This award comprises of an Honour Certificate, Souvenir and Rs. 20, 000/-.

As the name suggests, Mahila Kalyani has been named after Late. Smt. Kusumtai Chaudhari, who was a renowned poetess and social worker from the Jalgaon District of Maharashtra. In spite of hailing from an influential political background, with husband being a Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra for over 25 years, Kusumtai was known for her sensitive, unassuming nature and heartfelt concern about the enormous hardships faced by women across all sections. A gifted poetess and a teacher by profession, Kusumtai was a strong-minded women. Established in the year 1994, the Kusumtai Chaudhari Mahila Kalyani has traversed a long way to commemorate Hon. Kusumtai Chaudhari, keep alive her zest to confront and sought amicable solutions to women’s issues.

In its efforts to promote and enhance the process of women’s empowerment in the rural and urban areas, Mahila Kalyani has been focally working in the following spheres:

1. Networking with other like-minded women’s organizations in the State and lobbying on different issues related to women, especially with reference to increasing violence against women. The organization has been instrumental in the formation of the Mahila Atyachar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti‟ in Maharashtra, with 32 other women’s organizations from Mumbai. Apart from organizing seminars, meetings, protests against increasing violence against women; through this action group, the organization has kept a trace on the judicial proceedings of the inhuman Khairelanji Massacre. As a pressure group, this Sangharsh Samiti and its activists have tried its best to sought justice for the victims of Khairelanji. Apart from the caste prejudice, class clashes and resultant violence, the samiti has repeatedly highlighted the fact of increasing instances of sexual assault and violence on women as an instrument of subjugation. This trend is a threat to the basic civilized’ nature of the civil society.
2. Formation and smooth functioning of Women Self Help Group (SHGs): Mahila Kalyani is actively involved in this movement and has been instrumental in forming such groups in the following localities. ê Mumbai – Bandra ê Mumbai – Malabar Hill ê Ahmednagar – Sangamner and Akole Tehsil
3. Family Counselling Centres: With a vision to eliminate violence, injustice meted out against women and to seek cordial solutions to personal/ family problems, Mahila Kalyani is successfully conducting Family Counselling Centres at the following locations: ê Mumbai: Bandra and Malabar Hill ê Ahmednagar: Akole and Sangamner Though the experience of working at such centres has been a mixed one, one cannot deny the important role that such organizations play in protecting the societal fabric, the institutions of marriage and family. Over the years, Mahila Kalyani has been able to contribute positively to the lives of many such families in their testing times and has proved to be a strong support system to the women involved.
4. Trainings, workshops and information dissemination, especially for women ê To enhance their skills and potentials ê To promote economic self-reliance among women ê To increase „legal literacy‟ among women, especially in the context of women’s laws.
5. Kusumtai Chaudhari Smruti Puraskar: Every year Mahila Kalyani felicitates an individual women activist and a social work organization, who are actively involved in developmental activities for women. The organization has also initiated a 3rd category of award – especially for a young women activist who has dedicated her life to such kind of work.
6. Women Writers’ Literary Colloquium: Mahila Kalyani has always tried innovative ways of promoting unity among women across all sections of the society. This platform too intends to explore the multifaceted hardships that women face. The main aim of this women‟s colloquium is to provide women writers, established and new a platform to assemble, contribute and discuss a specific form of Marathi Literature. It is often seen that as in all other domains of public life, literature too is dominated by male writers. Eventually, at literary conventions women writers are not given their due share. Therefore, Mahila Kalyani has derived this interesting concept of a Women Writers‟ Colloquium to give these gifted women their own, rightful space! With this we also aim at highlighting talented women writers who otherwise remain outside this purview. Every colloquium is organized with a specific central theme i.e. a specific form of literature. The rationale behind this being that particular form of literature should be discussed and celebrated comprehensively!
7. Other activities: In addition to these activities, Mahila Kalyani is also actively involved in organizing informative and constructive programmes in collaboration with other like-minded individuals / organizations: ê Assistance in showcasing Marathi film based on female feticide – “Savitrichya Leki” ê Assistance to Kashmiri Refugee group temporarily residing in Mumbai (Bandra station). ê Participation in different programmes organized by other women’s organizations

• Bal – Vivaah Pratibandh Abhiyaan, Akole – Organized campaigns against Child Marriages, especially among the tribal communities of Akole.
• Organizing special session for young girls on topics related to women’s rights, empowerment, sexuality, etc.
• Active Participation in demonstration and morcha organized by women’s organizations in Mumbai, post December 2012 incident.
• Organized a major street-play campaign with focus on the Indian Constitution – Samvidhan Abhivaadan Abhiyaan – the main thrust was on highlighting the main values enshrined in the Constitution and create awareness among common people regarding his fundamental rights, through the street-play and awareness songs. This campaign was held in two phases in Nov – Dec 2008, in which approximately 120 villages were covered over a span of 16 days.
• Mahila Sneh-Melava: With the Central theme of eradicating Female-Feticides, we organized 19 Mahila Sneh – Melavas across the Shirdi LYC region in 2008 – 2009. During these melavas, we focused on several issues related to women’s empowerment, and more than 14000 women were able to be a part of these melavas on different locations.
• Training program for Elected Women Representatives (EWRs): In April 2011, we conducted training programs for women leaders elected in different GramPanchayats; where EWRs were given detailed information about their rights and duties as elected representatives. With periodical follow up with these EWRs we have been able to help them to carry on their work more efficiently.
• Focused work related to Primary Education; with emphasis on implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009. Conducted workshops for teachers from Primary Schools – especially the Zilla Parishad schools – so as to enable them to work more efficiently to implement the innovations of this act. Resultant network with several Z.P. and other primary school teachers in Akole.
• Emphasis on implementation of welfare schemes and programs initiated by the Central, State and District Governance. Operating an “Information Centre” in Akole Tehsil, Ahmednagar. Assist people in their work to procure different documents / certificates at the Tehsil/ Block level: e.g: Caste certificates, income certificate, domicile certificates, etc. Assist communities in their works related to basic amenities like road, water, sanitation, health, rationing system, etc.
• Counseling centre for women is currently operational in Akole and Sangamner.
• Networking and mobilization on issues related to subjugation of women, atrocities/ violence against women. Eg: Follow-up of the Khairelanji Dalit Massacre, Virgaav’s Sexual Violence and robbery that took place in Akole in July 2011.

Field action research project with Ashramshalas in the Pen, Dist. Raigad. Maharashtra.

1. Padmashree Dr. Rani and Dr. Abhay Bang in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
2. Focus on Women’s Maternal Health, Adivasi Arogya Sansad, and concrete output in the form of Documentation.

• Focused work with the Mahila Rajsatta Andolan specifically in training, policy formulation, advocacy and networking to empower Elected Women Representatives in the Panchayat Raj System.
• Helped extensively in documentation.

• Focused work with HIV positive individuals, women in marital distress and children.
• Group Work with Children studying in Thane Municipality School, Kalwa – Focused work on Life Skills Education and Sex Education.
• Community Work on issues related to Public Food Distribution System and Community Health.

• Resolve issues that confront students – lobbying with college administration for financially weak students, assist in admissions, etc. Unite and mobilize youth through different programs during festivals, cultural gathe rings.
• Assist youth in organizing different programs.
• With more than 200 members across Akole, the Yuva Bharati is slowly and steadily moving ahead.

Chetana Educational Trust, Bandra Mumbai.

• Training camps, awareness drives, capacity building workshops and seminars, 6 month para-professional courses.
• Organized inter-collegiate Youth Festival which included several theme based competitions with social relevance for 6 consecutive years.