
Voice of Navkshitij November 2021
From The President’s Desk
(A monthly newsletter published since April 2012 by Dr. Neelima Desai and edited by Kanaka Cadambi on behalf of Navkshitij)



Top: The compound wall at Asawali taking shape;
Centre: Hon. Shriniwas Patil (extreme left), MP, Satara meeting Mr. Rameshwar Fundipalle, Ms. Smita Shetty, and Navkshitij well-wisher, Mr. Shivraj Pawar (extreme right);
Bottom: Trekking to Ghorawadeshwar

From The President’s Desk
Plans on the anvil
WE are excited to share with you a few important developments that happened this month. The most exciting is that the construction of the compound wall at Asawali is moving at a good pace. As we see it rising strong, we see ourselves taking firm steps towards our goal of setting up a model, replicable, world-class rehabilitation home for mentally challenged friends. This unit will include an educational institute that will generate certified and trained caregivers AND offer a PG certification course that can empower other NGOs and groups of parents to start similar smaller homes for MCF.
The second is the decision to start a Day Care Centre at the Marunji unit, subject to getting approval from the concerned authorities. The Day Care Centre will help many Friends to tune in to the discipline of attending a facility, and, in the process, prepare them for a future at a residential facility.
Our new dynamic honorary PRO, Mrs. Smita Shetty, professor of Marketing at BMCC, Pune, facilitated a meeting with Hon. Shriniwas Patil, MP, Satara. Accompanied by Mrs. Shetty, Mr. Rameshwar Fundipalle, our general manager of Operations, met Mr. Patil on November 16, and put forward a proposal for the construction of a pucca road from Kawathe village to Asawali village, in Satara District. Mr. Patil instructed his officials to take the proposal on the fast track. When it materialises, it will make access to the Asawali unit much easier.
After nearly twenty months, we resumed our monthly trekking activity. On November 27, Friends from Marunji went on a trek to Ghorawadeshwar while Asawali Friends went to Bhondave Farm in Satara. Our Friends were ecstatic when they were told that the trekking activity was being resumed. There’s no substitute for the thrill of a trek and the joy of sitting back to have vada paav and chai that wraps up the event.
All Friends and staff at Marunji and Asawali have received both doses of Covid vaccination now.
We had our share of celebrations too — Diwali on November 4, and common birthday party for our November-born Friends and Lakshmi Pujan on November 5.This year, quite a few Friends did not go home for Diwali as the Covid threat has not yet made a full exit. Friends who stayed back participated in the celebrations. The others had a happy homecoming on November 8.
Take care, stay safe.
Dr Neelima Desai
Navkshitij model is working
PARENTS, siblings and staff have been giving regular inputs to show how life at Navkshitij is positively impacting our Friends. I want to show you how our Friends reacted like us normal people when they heard about trekking being resumed on November 27. Here are some interesting observations.
Murtuza Jamnagarwala has been with us for 13 years. His reaction, “Bhai, mein budha ho gaya hoon. Mere jodo me dard hota hai. Mein nahi aaoonga.” (Brother, I’m too old now. I have pain in my joints. I will not come.)
Mukund Kawathekar, who has completed ten years at Navkshitij, has never participated in the treks earlier. This time he decided to come. He told his friend why. “Are bhau, itake diwas zaale Coranamule baher jata nahi aale. Atta mi trekla yenaar, aani khup majja karanar.” (Hey brother, I haven't been able to get out because of Corona for so many days. I'm going to have a lot of fun coming to the trek now.)
A classic one from Pragati Pampanwar. “Yahoo, mein jaoongi, kyoon ki muzhe slim hona hai.” (Yahoo, I'm going because I want to become slim.)
By Mr. Rameshwar Fundipalle General Manager, Operations



Top and Centre: Birthday celebrations for Asawali Friends and Marunji Friends respectively;
Bottom : A well-wisher donating groceries to the Asawali unit
Thank you fromNavkshitij to:
- Nitor Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
- NEO ITURKA ENTERPRISES
- Mrs. Madhura Padmakar Bhide
- Mr. Kapil Pandey
- Mr. Chandrashekhar K. Datye
- Ms. Chitra Ven
- Jai Vakeel Foundation
- Mr. Ajay Sahni
- Mr. Nachiketas Bhatkar
- Mr. Rajendra Patil
- Mr. Hemant Chaudhari
- Grind Master Machines Pvt. Ltd.
+919850092195
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Upcoming Happenings
- December 3: International Disability Day
- December 16: Common celebration for our of December-born Friends
- December 18: Foundation Day
- December 25: Christmas vacation begin
- December 31: New Year’s Eve Party
Month’s events
- November 1 to 7: Diwali vacation
- November 4: Diwali Celebrations for our Friends staying at Navkshitij
- November 5: Laxmi Pujan; Birthday party for our November-born Friends
- November 6: Bhau Bheej
- November 16: Meeting with Hon. Shriniwas Patil, MP, Satara
- November 27: Trek to Ghorawadeshwar (Marunji unit) and Bhondave Farms (Asawali unit)

Left: Diwali celebration at Marunji;
Right: Asawali Friends and staff gearing up for Laxmi Pujan

Left: At Ghorawadeshwar, Pune;
Right: At Bhondave Farms, Satara

Left: All Friends and staff at Marunji and Asawali have received their second dose of vaccination;
Right: A good yield from our kitchen garden at Marunji
Navkshitij Now Needs
- One RO Membrane – Approximate cost Rs 26,000
- Two cordless microphones – Approximate cost Rs 9,500
- Two Garden Pipes – Approximate cost Rs 3,500
- Five Milton Water Cans (20 Litres) – Approximate cost Rs 5,000
- Two 1-HP Water Motors – Approximate cost Rs 7,000
- Drip Irrigation for Deep Forest (Miyawaki) Project – Approximate cost Rs 12,000