This project will help provide comprehensive care for 80 tribal children (residential facility/day care, nutrition, after school support,life skills, healthcare and social and emotional development activities etc) Their parents belong to the Katkari tribe, one of the most marginalized tribal communities in India. The centre called 'Muktashala' ensures that the children are able to continue their education while their parents migrate in search of work.
The Katkari, are a fragmented and scattered tribal community, highly dependent on others for their livelihoods and for a place to live. The community travels extensively in search of work. Maharashtra (the financial capital of India) is home to 235,022 Katkari, mainly in Raigad and Thane districts. The distressed seasonal migration of Katkari families along with their children has deprived their children with continuous formal access to education and social opportunities.
Our residential facility for these children - Muktashala (started in 1995) , ensures that the children are able to continue their education even if their parents keep moving in search of work. The facility provides after school academic support, full day meals,sports activity for physical development, platforms for social development such as inter villages competitions, health check up camps , cultural programmes and exposure visits. We also organise regular meetings with community and parents.
This project will empower 80 tribal children by providing them a platform for holistic development ultimately helping them break the vicious cycle of poverty by promoting the importance of education and healthy well being among this tribal community.
