Swadhar IDWC- Mohor Project

Swadhar IDWC Pune was established in 1995 to work towards empowerment of women and children. Women, world over and particularly in India, have always been denied their rightful position in a family as well as the society. Making women aware of their rights is of vital importance if we wish to empower them. An empowered woman in turn will contribute to create a society where she is respected and her rights are protected. Swadhar began as a small effort by our founder late Prof. Meenakshi Apte with the able help of renowned social activist late Smt. Mrunal Gore.

Scope of Swadhar’s activities expanded when child empowerment related projects were also introduced. As the scope widened,  the institution has been working for the cause, adding more activities to address newer needs of women and children as they become evident. Projects were instituted on Education, HIV – AIDS, Children in need of Care and Protection, Community Development and Vocational Training. Among all the projects, Mohor is one of the projects instituted for children in need of care and protection.  Our efforts are yielding excellent results as seen by the ever-increasing number of women and children who are leading a self-reliant and dignified life as a result of their association with Swadhar IDWC.

The Mohor project was started on sensing the need of having a secured environment for the children living in the redlight area of the city. Swadhar IDWC started the Mohor project as a “day-shelter” for the children of women into prostitution in 1997. The day shelter was only for a few hours at the time of its inception, but it soon extended for almost the whole day.  Later, in the year 2007, the problem of unavailability of night shelter for these children was addressed by the Mohor project by starting a 24×7 shelter home for these children.  Since then, Swadhar IDWC- Mohor Project has been providing care, protection and survival for numerous children having severely harsh and grim backgrounds. Over the past several years, Mohor project has steadily extended help for providing the best possible for the children in need of a conducive and healthy environment for their overall development. There has been a steady growth in the scope of work of Mohor and its outreach has extended enormously and is now accommodating children from other adverse backgrounds who are in need of care and protection. 

Chronology of the Mohor project 

* Mohor project started in 1997 as a day shelter for children of women into prostitution.

* Day and Night (24×7) shelter started in 2007. A professionally managed residential Shelter home for children was set up.

*The number of children getting benefitted continuously increased.

* In the year 2018, it was resolved that Mohor Shelter home should have a government license and recognition. Hence, an application for a Childcare Institution was submitted to the concerned Government department

* License for a Child Care Institute (Bal Griha for girls) was granted in the year 2020, but the activity could not start due to the outbreak of the Pandemic.

* In October 2022 the formalities for officially starting the Child Care Institution were completed after the inspection visits of the District Child Welfare Committee.

* Children (girls) in need of care and protection are now getting admitted in Mohor Shelter Home through the order of the District Child Welfare Committee.

* A special arrangement for sheltering minor girls who are victims of sexual assault and are pregnant. Care and protection will be provided to them, until they safely deliver the child. Their further rehabilitation post-delivery also is a part of their care plan.

* Efforts were made to identify a suitable place for starting a similar 24X7 shelter home for boys. And fortunately, the suitable living space was  identified. Funds and resources  were arranged to start the MOHOR boys project. In February 2023 the boys home started and has been sheltering boys from various adverse backgrounds since then.

There is a direct impact of the project on the children’s mental health due to the safe and secured living environment they are getting in the shelter home. Their behaviour and emotional development is monitored and reported by the child counsellor/psychologist in the shelter home from time to time. The children get a timely square meal and their nutritional needs are fulfilled. Their health is monitored by the doctor visiting the institution regularly. The children are enrolled in a regular school and their academic progress is  indicated from the regular evaluation at school. There are support classes and in-house teachers who assess the academics of the children regularly. Moreover, their social behaviour and other developmental milestones are evaluated and monitored by the caretaker staff and other staff members of the institution and regular progress reports and care plan is made as per the procedures. 

Through this care and educational support we are sure that the children grow up to be virtuous, responsible and high-minded citizens. We at Swadhar IDWC are committed to ensure a conducive and healthy environment for the overall development  of the children and also try to build their lost individuality.