Service to country Kelis will now spend the rest of her life in the service of orphans’ said Vanchalbai Lokhande, an elderly woman living in a small village in Dhawal in Phaltan taluka of Satara district to her son Kisan after retiring from the Indian Army. He got the gift of social service from his parents from childhood. To fulfill his mother’s wish, he decided to devote his future life to the service of orphans.

The seed of social service, which was planted from the feeling of serving orphans and mental patients, has gradually become a banyan tree. For this work, Lokhande established an organization called ‘Maratha Life Foundation’ at Bhatane, Vasai. For the past 17 years, this organization has become a support for hundreds of mentally retarded, physically challenged and elderly. Orphans have no guardian, yet they struggle to live their lives. But what about those who are slow, mentally retarded, old and sick? To die alone on the road is the tragedy of many people’s lives. Deprived of family support, homeless psychopaths are found wandering aimlessly on the streets. They survive by eating open or thrown food. ‘Maratha Life Foundation’ organization is working to wipe away the sufferings of such mentally retarded, orphans and support them.

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Country service to social service

Kisan Lokhande is originally from a family of farmers and shepherds. His parents inculcated the culture of service in his children from childhood. Therefore, Kisan Lokhande was recruited into the Indian Army (Army Intelligence) for national service. He was injured in the Kargil war. After retirement, his mother advised him to work for orphans. For that purpose, he started working in 2006. He decided to work for orphans who had no one, mentally retarded and mentally ill. He accumulated some money by working in private companies for two years. He bought 1 acre of land at Bhatane east of Vasai for 60 lakhs by adding the amount of pension received from military service. An ashram for orphans was established there. The question was what to name the organization. Lokhande considers himself to be the son of Shiva Raya. Follow the principles of Shiva Raya. So he named the organization ‘Maratha Life Foundation’. Kisan Lokhande’s wife Kalpana is working in Mumbai Police Headquarters. In the first week, two mentally retarded patients were found by the police in Vasai. Lokhande family started taking care and nursing them. After that, Kisan Lokhande settled in Vasai with his family to serve the orphans. Gradually, the scope of the organization started to increase. The police started bringing the homeless, physically challenged, mentally retarded, mentally ill, old and sick people to the institution. They are kept here until their families are found. They are provided treatment and care. So far more than 1300 persons who have come to the institute have been sent away safely after treatment and their families have been traced. Stray cows, injured dogs are also brought and cared for in the institution.

This is how service is done

‘Maratha Life Foundation’ is a completely free service organization. 90 percent of the patients here are brought by the police. Patients admitted here are given a clean bath and are medically examined. If they are sick, they are treated. Some are hospitalized as needed. They are christened in a small ceremony. Attempts are made to trace their families by communicating with them. Often, the mentally retarded, mentally retarded, and psychotic cannot provide information about their family. Many are abandoned by their families. Even if such families are found, they are not ready to take back these patients. Then the institution takes care of them as part of its family. At present the institute has 235 such patients. It includes 90 women and 17 children. Many patients are bedridden. A separate room has been set up for them. There are 20 psychiatric patients and a separate ward has been prepared for them. Breakfast in the morning, entertainment programs throughout the day, lunch in the afternoon, snacks in the evening and dinner, fruits are provided to the patients.

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Involvement of the whole family

Along with Kisan Lokhande, his brother Baburao Lokhande is also active full time in this work. Kisan’s son Shubham is an MBA and is also working full-time for the organization with a Master’s Degree (MSW) in Social Work. Another son Sahil is also serving in the ashram along with his college education. Kisan Lokhande’s mother Vanchalabai and father Malhari Lokhande served in the organization till the end.

Most of the expenses are on treatment

Those who come to the institution are the mentally retarded, the elderly and the mentally ill. They have various diseases. They need to be treated along with Maya’s hand on their back. A team of 21 people is working for this. It has 3 nurses. Some doctors are providing services out of social consciousness. Yoga teachers teach yoga every morning. The highest expenditure of the organization is on medication. Sometimes patients have to be admitted to private hospitals. The entire cost is incurred by the organization.

The challenge of meeting monthly expenses

4 lakhs per month for the people of the institute for food, medicine, materials, salary of employees. The Lokhande family, the trustees of the institution, appeal for help and collect up to one and a half lakhs a month. But they have to shell out for the remaining amount. Apart from that, there is a constant need for various materials. The organization was damaged in a storm in 2021. The letters had flown. At that time Jeevan Jyot Drug Bank of Mumbai extended a helping hand and constructed the building.

Aim to expand

His second brother has started a service for orphans at Phaltan in Satara district. Son Shubham has started efforts to set up another branch of ‘Maratha Life Foundation’ at Uttan in Bhayander. Many people bring their elderly parents to the religious place of Trimbykeshwar near Nashik and leave them there. There are a lot of orphaned elderly people in that area. Therefore, there is an intention to start a branch at Trimbakeshwar. Kisan Lokhande said that there is the most need in that place. The number of children is increasing and for their quality education, good quality Gurukul schools are to be started. A hospital for the sick patients and the increasing numbers necessitated the construction of more buildings. For that, the organization needs financial funds.

Maratha Life Foundation

MARATHA LIFE FOUNDATION

Check should be drawn in this name. Donor should write his full name, address, telephone and mobile number on the back or with the cheque. institution ‘80-g‘ is tax exempt.

Details for online donation

●Bank Name : Cosmos Bank, Vasai Road Branch

●Account Number : 116100106019

●IFSC Code : COSB0000116

Send a check to…

Names of those who have donated Rs.1000 or more ‘People’s power‘It will be published.

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