Feed a grandparent through a community kitchen by Manavlok

Manavlok runs 35 Community Kitchens (Trupti Kitchens) for the destitute elderly in the rural areas of Beed & Osmanabad Districts of Maharashtra. Two nutritious and fresh meals per day (morning & evening) are being served to senior citizens through Trupti Kitchens in their respective villages. It helps them to maintain a healthy life. Total 356 senior citizens (beneficiaries) from 30 villages in Ambajogai, Kaij, and Dharur blocks are getting benefitted from the program. . In the last six months, more than 103686 meals have been served to 356 beneficiaries. A total of 1914919 funds have been utilized to provide the meals. Major events:

1. A free eye-check up in a private hospital in Ambajogai was arranged for 249 beneficiaries from 26 Trupti Kitchens. After examination by the expert doctors, 135 elderlies were detected with Cataract. 51 beneficiaries were given spectacles.
2. Due to Covid-19, the nonemergency medical cases were severely disrupted. The avoidance of nonurgent and routine medical care cases has caused a sharp increase in the number of cataract patients. No major and minor surgeries were performed in the region for the past two years. Manavlok organized a Free Cataract Diagnosis and Treatment Camp for Senior Citizens. The camp was guided by senior ophthalmologist Padmashree Dr. Tatyarao Lahane, in which 1239 patients were examined and 462 cataract operations were carried out. Post-surgery a regular eye examination was also carried out for all the patients.
3. Gram Panchayat of three villages Sarsa, Awargaon, Nandgaon and Kopar requested to start community kitchens in their respective locations. Manavlok team conducted a meeting with the Gram Panchayat and village members to discuss the further prospects.
4. Two new kitchens started at Bharaj & Amala village in April 2022.
5. Health check-up camp was arranged for beneficiaries at Amla, Bharaj villages.
6. Village kitchen committee meeting was held at village Mudegaon, Devla, Radi,,Dithana, Amla, & Dhanora villages. In this meeting following points were discussed- issues regarding kitchen beneficiaries, addition of new beneficiaries, kitchen holder issues, Food quality, needs of the beneficiaries, and community contribution.
7. Manavalok conducted a beneficiaries need assessment survey to identify their requirements beyond food. Peoples Contribution for Trupti Kitchen Beneficiaries On the 22 Feb 2022, the annual meeting with all kitchen holders, sarpanch, & village committee members was conducted. The objective of the meeting was to identify the potential contributors and funders for the program. Celebration of Festivals: Festivals like Makar sankrant, Mahashivratri, Holi, Gudhi padwa, were festival celebrated with all the beneficiaries of Trupti kitchen. The kitchen holder prepares special feast along with the sweet dish for the senior citizens. Celebrating festivals with them makes them feel as a part of society. Elderlies feel more socially included and loved by the community. Villagers also celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries as well. Areas covered (cities, states, regions, etc.): The project area is a geographically semi-arid region of Marathwada. The community depends on rain-fed agriculture hence villagers decide to migrate to nearby cities/States for livelihood. These migrations affect the livelihood of senior citizens as responsible persons of families struggling for food. The consecutive drought years affected lives which escalated the rates of suicides, debts, and unemployment. Considering these challenges Manavlok decided to start the Trupti kitchens in the villages of Beed and Osmanabad. A number of people impacted: 35 Trupti Kitchens benefitting 356 senior citizens from 35 villages in Ambajogai, Kaij, and Dharur in Beed district and Lohara and Omerga in Osmanabad district.

Challenges faced and next steps Challenges faced:

1. The massive challenge is to identify the right beneficiaries for the program. The need is massive. It is a cumbersome task to sort 10-15 beneficiaries out of an average population of the village, which is usually 600-800. To overcome this challenge- Gram Panchayat support us in the selection of the beneficiaries.
2. Often times, the program is mistaken as a scheme launched by government. A constant effort is taken by the MANAVALOK team to make sure that the beneficiaries as well as the village community is aware of the core concept of the program- that it is not a scheme rather it runs with the support of donors with a participatory approach.
3. To maintain harmony between the kitchen holder and the beneficiaries, trivial issues related to the food are solved at the source by the team members. This helps in establishing a sense of satisfaction among the beneficiaries of the kitchen. Way Forward: - In the upcoming six months, we are planning to expand our program to new 5 villages.

Sheshabai is a 72-year-old widow living in Sugaon village. Her daughter has been married off and lives in her in-law house. She occasionally visits her. Her one of the sons is residing in the village itself but works as an agriculture labour. Sheshabai’s another son is in Pune and never comes to the village to see her. She is living all alone without any support in a house made of up tin-shade. Her ailing age has started to affect her every day routine. Through Trupti Kitchen program she is able to get food on time. Moreover, we have also given a solar lamp to her. Her physical health has improved through the regular health check-ups conducted by the village management committee. Having no support from their children and no one to talk to, loneliness and depression creeps in. The kitchen has become a space for her to come together and share her emotions with others.

Total 30 Community Kitchens (Trupti Kitchens) are run by Manavlok for the destitute elderly in the rural areas of Beed & Osmanabad Districts. Two nutritious and fresh meals per day (morning & evening) are being served to senior citizens through Trupti Kitchens in their villages. This helps them to maintain a healthy life.
Total 361 senior citizens (Beneficiaries) from 28 villages in Ambajogai, Kaij, and Dharur in Beed district and Lohara and Umerga in Osmanabad district 130684 Meals to 361 beneficiaries have been served in the last 6 months. Rs.2613680 has been spent to serve the meals. During the Covid period of Manavlok visited the Trupti Kitchen of each village to interact with village-level Kitchen Management Committee, Beneficiaries & Kitchen holder and in this way provide them information about the corona and rebate awareness regarding police. Result of this there was no positive cases and death among beneficiaries On 19 July 2021 information was written regarding the “Trupti Kitchen” initiative of Manavlok Sanstha infamous “The Hindu Business Line Supplement”

Major events: • Diwali snacks are distributed among 361 beneficiaries & 28 Kitchen Holder. Each Diwali snacks kit includes ½ kg Chiwda, ½ kg Bundi, 1/4 kg Shev, ¼ salted Bundi & ¼ kg sweets • Considering the possible severe cold in the season Sweater are distributed among 361 beneficiaries for protection against cold in the winter season • 30 Kitchen holders of 28 villages are also given Diwali Gift of Rs 3000 each & they used this Gift for buying kitchen accessories like utensils, cookers, Mixer, etc. • 100 new tiffin boxes are purchased for new beneficiaries whom we will distribute in December 2021.

Peoples Contribution for Trupti Kitchen Beneficiaries

• Shivajirao Sirsat of Ambajogai Distributed Sari-Choli, Dhotar, Pant Shirt among 12 beneficiaries of Poos • At Jawalgaon Village Laxman Pawar, Ranjeet Salunke & Dyaneshwar Kirdant Distributed Sari-Choli, Dhotar, Pant Shirt among to 7 beneficiaries as a Diwali Festival. • Mr. Vilas More, Siddheshwar More, Bandunana Shingare, Vishwanath Jankar & Sudhakar Shingare of Bardapur also Distributed Sari-Choli, Pant Shirt among 23 kitchen beneficiaries as Diwali Festival. • Dewala, Bardapur, Jawalgaon, and other village people celebrate their children's birthdays with Kitchen beneficiaries. • Dhawdi, Yelda, Poos, Jawalgaon, Kumbefal, Sugaon, Radi, etc. Villages celebrated Diwali by maintaining Social commitment with Senior Citizens. • PIA Jamdar of Bardapur celebrated his birthday with Kitchen beneficiaries • Village committee (Trupti Kitchen) meetings: The Quarter meetings in 30 villages were organized to discuss the issues regarding kitchen beneficiaries, the addition of new beneficiaries, kitchen holder issues, Food quality, to understand the need of the beneficiary, and community contribution, etc. • Celebration of Festivals: Different community in villages decides to celebrate festivals with Trupti kitchen beneficiaries. Few villagers decide to celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries with kitchen beneficiaries.

Areas covered (cities, states, regions, etc.): The project area is a geographically semi-arid region of Marathwada. The community depends on rain-fed agriculture hence villagers decide to migrate to nearby cities/States for livelihood. These migrations affect the livelihood of senior citizens as responsible persons of families struggling for food. The consecutive drought years affected lives in Suicides, debts, and unemployment. Considering these challenges Manavlok decided to start the Trupti kitchens in the villages of Beed and Osmanabad. This program benefits 361 beneficiaries in 28 villages in the Beed and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra.

A number of people impacted: 30 Community/Trupti Kitchens benefitting 361 senior citizens (Beneficiaries) from 28 villages in Ambajogai, Kaij, and Dharur in Beed district and Lohara and Omerga in Osmanabad district.

Through this program, we aim to provide two meals per day to senior citizens, as well as different facilities like; Health checkups, corona vaccination, social events anniversaries & birthday celebrations and festivals feast.

Challenges faced:

1. Challenge to walk to the community kitchen for bedridden beneficiaries.

2. Community gathering was not possible due to the covid-19 outbreak.

3. Due to pandemic, difficulties in transportation of kitchen groceries and Vegetables was a challenge for the kitchen staff

To overcome these challenges kitchen staff was instructed to avail groceries and vegetables locally and instructed to follow community guidelines to break the corona chain.

The program continues to avail two meals for the beneficiaries, conducting quarterly meetings with village committees for new beneficiary selection, Eyes & Health Checkup camps & life supports, and Booster Dose of corona vaccination.

Tulshiram and his wife used to go to the village and work outside the village. They had two children. One boy died in an accident ten years ago. Another son has moved away from home to work in another state (Orissa). As Tulshiram is no longer working due to old age, he now lives in the village with his wife. His wife is also unable to cook as she has low vision in both eyes Before the kitchen started at Sugaon, Tulshiram used to eat two meals a day in the village. There is no one in the village to take care of them. Their children moved to Orissa fifteen years ago and never return. Their traditional occupation is to weave baskets, but now no one buys these items. As a result, he stopped getting income from it. This led them to starvation. Since arriving at the Trupti kitchen, Tulshiram has been getting two times fresh and healthy meals. So now they are very satisfied. If anyone asks for a basket, they make it as they see fit. The money is used to pay for their health and other needs. Now Tulshiram is living happily in his home. They don't have to feed others in the village for meals. They are very satisfied as they are getting two meals a day.

1. Total 32 Community Kitchens (Trupti Kitchens) are run by Manavlok for the destitute elderly in the rural areas of Beed & Osmanabad Districts. Two nutritious and fresh meals per day (morning & evening) are being served to senior citizens through Trupti Kitchens in their villages. This helps them to maintain a healthy life. • Total 419 senior citizens (Beneficiaries) from 30 villages in Ambajogai, Kaij, and Dharur in Beed district and Lohara and Umerga in Osmanabad district• 150644 Meals to 419 beneficiaries have been served in the last 6 months. Rs.30, 12,880 have been spent to serve the meals 2. During the Covid period of Manavlok visited the Trupti Kitchen of each village to interact with village-level Kitchen Management Committee, Beneficiaries & Kitchen holder and in this way provide them corona information. Result of this there was no positive cases and death among beneficiaries3. On 19 July 2021 information was written regarding the “Trupti Kitchen” initiative of Manavlok NGO in a famous “The Hindu Business Line Supplement”1. Corona Vaccination drive: the senior citizens along with kitchen holders were mobilized for the corona vaccination. The team arranged registrations, transportation, and Refreshments/accommodation for 366 beneficiaries and kitchen holders.2. Health Check-Ups: Team organized beneficiary health checkup camps to make them convenient to the senior citizens. 207 senior citizens from the community kitchen get benefitted. 3. Village committee (Trupti Kitchen) meetings: The Quarter meetings in 30 villages were organized to discuss the issues regarding kitchen beneficiaries, the addition of new beneficiaries, kitchen holder issues, Food quality, to understand the need of the beneficiary, and community contribution, etc. 4. Celebration of Festivals: Different community in villages decides to celebrate festivals with Trupti kitchen beneficiaries. Few villagers decide to celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries with kitchen beneficiaries. 5. Tree plantation and village cleaning drive: To create awareness about social causes, kitchen beneficiaries take part in tree plantation drive and village cleaning. This encouraged many youngsters to be part of this drive. The project area is a geographically semi-arid region of Marathwada. The community depends on rain-fed agriculture hence villagers decide to migrate to nearby cities/States for livelihood. These migrations affect the livelihood of senior citizens as responsible persons of families struggling for food. The consecutive drought years affected lives in Suicides, debts, and unemployment. Considering these challenges Manavlok decided to start the Trupti kitchens in the villages of Beed and Osmanabad.This program benefits 419 beneficiaries in 30 villages in the Beed and Osmanabad district of Maharashtra. The number of people impacted:32 Community/Trupti Kitchens benefitting 419 senior citizens (Beneficiaries) from 30 villages in Ambajogai, Kaij, and Dharur in Beed district and Lohara and Omerga in Osmanabad district. How were they impacted or helped:Though this program aims to avail two meals per day to senior citizens, different events like; Health checkups, corona vaccination, social events anniversaries & birthday celebrations and festivals feast. MANAVLOKs TRUPTI KITCHENCommunity Kitchen For Senior CitizensS.N. Village Block Dist State1 Sonvala Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra2 Palaskheda Kaij Beed Maharashtra3 Morphali Dharur Beed Maharashtra4 Yelda-1 Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra5 Patoda Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra6 Yelda -2 Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra7 Salegaon Lohara Osmanabad Maharashtra8 Toramba Lohara Osmanabad Maharashtra9 Koral Omerga Osmanabad Maharashtra10 Kala Nimbala Omerga Osmanabad Maharashtra11 Kaldev Nimbala Omerga Osmanabad Maharashtra12 Kumbefal Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra13 Jawalgaon Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra14 Pathan Mandwa Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra15 Dhawadi Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra16 Hiwara Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra17 Akola Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra18 Radi Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra19 Apegaon Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra20 Poos Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra21 Nalwadi Omerga Osmanabad Maharashtra22 Dipewadgaon Keij Beed Maharashtra23 Supatgaon Omerga Osmanabad Maharashtra24 Sugaon Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra25 Dhanora Khurd Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra26 Jawalban Kaij Beed Maharashtra27 Somnath Borgaon Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra28 Deola Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra29 Bardapur - 1 Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra30 Mudegaon Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra31 Bardapur - 2 Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra32 Limbgaon Ambajogai Beed Maharashtra

1. Challenge in to walk to community kitchen for bedridden beneficiaries 2. Community gathering was not possible Community guidelines due to the covid-19 outbreak.3. Due to Corona difficulties in transportation of kitchen groceries and Vegetables was a challenge for kitchen holders To overcome these challenges kitchen holders were informed to avail groceries and vegetables locally and instructed to follow community guidelines to break the corona chain. Goal/aim/activity plan for the next 6 months:The program continues to avail two meals for the beneficiaries, conducting quarter meetings of village committees, new beneficiary selection, Diwali gifts to the beneficiary, Health Checkup camps & life supports, and 2nd shot of corona vaccination.

Impact story from the ground:Nivrutti Mukunda Shewale lives in Akola village in Ambajogai block of Beed district, Maharashtra. He has three brothers, one brother died due to old age, and two brothers work as labourers for livelihood. Nivrutti got married twice but no wife stayed with him. He travelled miles to sell ladies stationary at different villages, later he quit this job and started to work as a labourer. He used to chop wood as engaged by villagers. Somehow this fulfils his need for two times meals. But the situation is different now, Nivrutti was not capable of cooking food due to old age and this had a bad impact on his health too. After understanding his situation, villagers and Manavlok volunteer recommended him for Trupti kitchen, Presently, Nivrutti is living happily as he availed two meals per day. And his condition has improved.

Trupti Kitchen:
Trupti kitchen is being implemented in 29 villages of Ambajogai, Kaij and Dharur blocks in beed district, Omerga and Lohara in Osmanabad district. Under this initiative, the destitute, disabled senior citizens in the village are given healthy food twice a day.

• 450 beneficiaries in 29 trupti kitchen
• 09 beneficiaries left kitchen due to Death (due to illness) and guardianship by relatives.
• New 09 beneficiaries have been joined.

The following activities were carried out during this month

• 3 meetings of Village Management Committee (Trupti Kitchen) were held regarding beneficiary selection and rejection criteria, Peoples contribution, Beneficiary health check up and the decision was made after discussion and approval by 26 Committee members.

• 29 Tiffin’s to 29 beneficiaries from Villages Sugaon, Deola, Hiwara, Jawalban and Somnath Borgaon were distributed. These 29 beneficiaries were having challenges to walk to kitchen and had no proper utensils to collect the food. This support will maintain hygiene and avoid challenges for senior citizens.

• 13 Solar lanterns to 13 kitchen beneficiaries who don’t have electricity facility were distributed. These beneficiaries used to light up a homemade kerosene chimney which can cause accidents. To avoid such challenges village committee request to provide beneficiaries with solar lanterns.

Support in kinds:
Manavlok team mobilizes and motivates villagers and philanthropist to contribute to the Nobel cause. As a result of this initiative:

• Few Philanthropists celebrated their birthdays with kitchen beneficiaries and provides Warm clothes and slippers to 15 beneficiaries of Trupti kitchen at Pathan Mandwa in Ambajogai.

• In Deola Village Mr. Ravindra Devarwade celebrated his son’s birthday with kitchen beneficiaries and gave feast to the beneficiaries.

• Manavlok Amabajogai’s Jansahyog department distributed 73 Ration kits to 73 needy beneficiaries at Ambajogai town. These beneficiaries are widows, destitute and physically disabled and senior citizens’. The Jansahyog appealed the local doctor’s, advocates and businessman groups to raise the funds.

Community kitchens for the deserving

We want to share some highlights from the last 2 quarters with you -

1. We have started three New Kitchens at Sugaon, Dhanora Khu. Dist Beed and Supatgaon Dist. Osmanabad


2. We conducted medical checkup of beneficiaries at Apegaon, Pathan Mandwa, Yelda &
   Radi


3. We conducted eye check-up of 23 beneficiaries from Poos, Jawalgaon & Radi


4. We arranged for tiffin boxes to be given to three needy beneficiaries at Sugaon


5. We actively organised, arranged and distributed 35 Solar Lamps in 7 villages


6. Manavlok's Jansahyog office distributed food kits to 197 senior citizens in Ambajogai municipal area with the help of people's contributions.


7. We have celebrated every Festival such as Makar Sankrant, Holi, Mahashivratri, etc. with great pomp and joy.

Program Update

Between the quarter of January 2019 to March 2019, Community Kitchen was active in 19 villages coming under drought prone area. During this quarter, for 887 people 51628 meals have been provided. A senior citizen (above 60 years ) man/woman having no source of income or person having no one to take care of himself in the family, handicap person, diseased person, destitute or widow were selected as a beneficiary for this project. A short committee appointed in village or this community Kitchen project selected the needed beneficiaries. For these beneficiaries, two times healthy fresh meals were provided per day in their own village. For this, a person from village selected by committee was given a charge of preparing their meals.

Story from the field

A beneficiary of Community Kitchen

Name: Prayagbai Nanabhau Tarkase

Village:- Dhawadi, Block Ambajogai, District Beed, Maharashtra – 431124.
Prayagbai is a 81 years old widow from Dhawadi village, from Ambajogai Block of Beed district. Her husband who was also a beneficiary of community kitchen died 4 months ago. She has no land. She has two sons, one is mentally retarded & the other one does a labour work in Pune from last 15 years. There is no one to look after her. From last 15 years, her husband was also paralyzed & was unable make any body movement. Since she had no farm land & there was no one to look after her & her husband, she was doing a lighter labour work to earn money & to fulfill her & her husband’s daily needs and medicines. But later on because of her old age, she was not in a condition to perform any physical work. She was very poor to purchase Kirana material & vegetables from market. Sometimes she used to beg in order to obtain meals. She was finding it very difficult to obtain & prepare two times meals for her as a result she was living in a starved condition. As a result, her health condition became quite weak.

But after she has been selected for Kitchen, she is now getting two times fresh healthy meal. As a result of which, her health is better and she is living a normal life. MANAVLOK started community kitchen for these types of people. In this kitchen, Prayagbai became beneficiary. Currently she doesn’t have any financial support for her day to day survival. Due to our community kitchen, her need of two times meal is fulfilled. Now she is happy. Now she got a new hope for living.

There are many peoples like Prayagbai around us, who are facing such problems of not able to obtain daily meals due to old age or because of getting neglected by other people. That’s why they don’t have any other option for survival.

Program Update

This program is run to support the poor and lonely elderly in the villages. In June, 273 beneficiaries from 18 villages were provided with kitchen facilities. As of last month (August), the program is run in 19 villages benefitting 288 persons. The program is supported by Give India and Caring Friends. In a month, we provide Rs 1000 to a beneficiary & collect Rs 200 from each so that we can give 60 meals per month which cost Rs 1200. (Rs. 20 per meal). A Self Help Group (SHG) from a village is given an opportunity to operate the overall kitchen activities. In case the SHG is not available, then a separate person from village is assigned to handle the kitchen. A village level committee looks after the quality of the kitchen food & selection of beneficiaries. Along with Kitchen benefits, we also provided walking sticks to 34 kitchen beneficiaries which they needed. In the future, we plan to provide them a tiffin box, walking sticks for support and solar lantern, all of which will be very beneficial for them.

Story from the field

A beneficiary of Community Kitchen
Name: Parubai Shahaji Hare
Age:- 83 years
Village:- Jawalgaon, Block Ambajogai, District Beed, Maharashtra - 431517.

Parubai is a 83 years old widow from Jawalgaon village, from Ambajogai Block of Beed district. She has no land. Her husband was into livestock farming business & his business condition was poor. He was addicted to alcohol, he fell ill and some days later he died. Parubai has two daughters who are married. Both of them live in other nearby villages with their families. She had two sons who died accidently at the age of 16 in an interval of two years. Since her husband sold all farming land to pay loans & other debts, she had no farm land & there was no one to look after her. Previously, she used to work as a labourer to earn money & meet her daily needs. But later on because of her old age, she was not in a condition to engage in any physical work. She was unable to purchase ration or vegetables from the market. Sometimes she used to beg in order to get one meal. She was finding it very difficult to get two meals a day. She was living in a starved condition; as a result, her health condition got very poor. A Self Help Group from the village recommended her name & she became a beneficiary of our community kitchen at the age of 83. But after she has been selected for the kitchen program, she is now getting fresh healthy meals twice a day. As a result of which, her health is better and she is living a normal life. Now she is happy and has got a new hope for living.

Over the last six months, the Trupti kitchen run by Manavlok has been instrumental in serving over 51,500+ meals to more than 275 senior citizens from 13 villages of the Beed and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra. The aged beneficiaries are delighted by the arrival of festivals, since they mark the departure from monotony, with the addition of special desserts that are served after meals. This year, Puran Pohli, a traditional Maharashtrian sweet was served on the occasion of Holi in all the kitchens covered by this programme.