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Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra
A Pune-based non-profit organisation, it has been
conscientiously working for the past 21 years
to restore the lives of over 2700 destitute
children by giving them to families via adoption
and sometimes even restoring the children back
to their own families.
Poonabest interviewed the head of the institution
Ms Anuradha Dixit. Here are excerpts from the
interview.
How do you bring the children to the home?
At times, two to three-day-old babies are
found in the municipality
garbage amidst muck and thorns. These are either
picked up by us or are brought in by any passer-by.
Many a time, children relinquished by their families
are also found. They are then taken care of.
What is their age group? Is the home for both
boys and girls?
Yes we have both boys and girls here. The
age group is from 0 to 6 years. We have two centres
in Pune. One is Nishant, which nurses babies
below the age of one year. We have paediatricians
like Dr Sarda who frequent the Kendra. Besides,
for babies, there is an 'Intensive Care Unit'.
 The
other is Bertha Varada where children between
one and six years of age are brought up. We strive
to place these children either back with their
families or with adoptive parents.
How do you restore the lives of the children?
One way of doing it is by giving them for
adoption to various families, both Indian as well
as foreign. But before that we first try to relocate
the child with its family. If that fails, then
with the consent of the Juvenile Welfare Board,
we consider giving the child for adoption. But
first preference is given to Indian homes. If
the child is not placed here, only then foreign
families are considered.
How many children have you given for adoption
so far?
We have placed 1917 children through adoptions,
and 216 children have been restored to their families.
What are the programmes conducted by Samaj
Seva?
We are working on six programmes right now.
They are child-care, adoption, community services
through which the child is given an educational
scholarship within the family itself. Then there
are programmes like foster family care, help in
crisis.
Address: Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra,
Arjun, 5, Koregaon Park Road, Pune 411 001, Phone:
612 8002; Telefax: 612 5716
email: bssk@wmi.co.in
Child Care Centres:
Bertha Varda: Survey No.
78, Plot No7, Pune Mundhwa Road,
Pune 411 036, Phone: 681 8196
Nishant: Koregaon Park, North Main Road,
Opp. Moghul Gardens, Pune 411 049 Phone:
613 9314
Community Centre:
Deesha: Pramod Complex, Dhanorie Road,
Vishrantwadi,
Pune 411 015
Outreach Centre:
Chiplun: Contact Mr Prasad Kane; Phone:
02355(O) 55057;
(R) 52128
-Vaishali Deshpande
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