PARDHI - There still exists a community far away from the main stream of civilized society that sleeps on the footpaths with half filled stomachs and lot of thirst towards earning for their livelihoods. We often see the picture of ‘Pardhis’, roaming the streets in search of food, in fact begging for it or collecting plastic bags and other recyclables from dumping grounds. Avinash Deshpande, one of
the staunch pillars of Pradnya Prabodhini, also saw it, however unlike us he decided to work for social and economic development of 'Pardhis' and formed Pradnya Prabodhini on 14th April 2003 with some of his friends and colleagues. Pradnya Prabodhini is a Social NGO working for the reformation and improvement of the 'Pradhi' Community across Amravati District of Maharashtra state through various programs. These programs primarily focus on improvement of social and economic status of Pardhi community. Establishment of 'Self Help Economic Groups'(Frequently Known as 'Bachat Gats') in association with Gramin Khshetriya Vikas Bank And Bank of Maharashtra, facilitating seeds and fertilizers to divert the pardhis towards agriculture through Late Nanaji Deshmukh Seed Donation Program are a few of the major programs run by organization. Apart from the above mentioned programs we also conduct regular medical camps and awareness programs at pardhi settlements. The team at Pradnya Prabodhini believes in the fact that the pardhis are equally employable as any other community; all they need is enough vocational training. For this reason, regular workshops are conducted at various places in the district. The work so far done by Pradnya Prabodhini has helped find a few young pardhis who work for the organization after being trained at various workshops. The team also arranges Sanskar Vargas for Pardhi children, apart from celebrating Diwali, Ganeshotsav and Durgotsav on the settlements of Pardhis (Pardhi Bedas). Pradnya Probodhini had surveyed 47 settlements of pardhis in Amravati district out of which they are actually working on 22 Bedas. Trust gained in this community for Pradnya Praodhini is motivating Mr Deshpande and his team to launch more and more programs through which they can come closer to their dream of socio-economically stable healthy community of pardhis. Pradnya Prabodhini is now planning to start a residential hostel for poor Pardhi children to provide them good education. Till date Pradnya Prabodhini is managing their resources through public donations.
