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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Ashraya
| native_name =
| image = File:Logo_of_Ashraya.png
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| formation = {{start date|1982|df=y}}
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| extinction = 
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| type = Charitable organisation (Registered Society)
| tax_id =
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| status = Tax exempted<ref name="Sponsorship" />
| purpose =
| headquarters =
| location = [[Bengaluru]]
| coords = {{coord|12.9699|77.6499|display=inline,title}}
| region = [[Karnataka]], India
| services = welfare of children and women
| products =
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| leader_title = Founder
| leader_name = Rama Ananth
| leader_title2 = President
| leader_name2 = Shanthi Chacko
| leader_title3 = Secretary
| leader_name3 = [[Nomita Chandy]]
| board_of_directors = 5 member board of directors
| key_people =
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| parent_organization =
| subsidiaries = Ashraya Neelbagh Residential School
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| website = {{URL|http://www.ashraya.net/}}
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}}

'''Ashraya''' is an Indian [[non governmental organisation]] headquartered at Indiranagar, [[Bengaluru]], Karnataka, India, working for the welfare of destitute children and empowerment of women.

==Objectives==
Ashraya was founded in 1982 by a bevy of young women, under the leadership of its founder, Rama Ananth, for the welfare of destitute children and to provide them with residential care. The organisation was designed to provide temporary place of rest for the children before safe homes are found for them through legal adoption. Ashraya has a mandated mission to reach non institutional care to destitute children and to empower women.<ref name="Ashraya mission">{{cite web | url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/About-us.html | title=Ashraya mission | publisher=Ashraya | date=2014 | accessdate=19 November 2014}}</ref>

==History and programs==
At the time of its foundation in 1982, the organisation was focused on the welfare of the children of migrant construction workers in Bengaluru. By selling greeting cards as a means of fund raising and operating out of a small rented place in the city, the organisation initially set up on-site creches for the children of women workers.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/A-home-for-every-child/article14953701.ece | title= A home for every child | newspaper=The Hindu | date=19 March 2011 | first=Divya | last=Gandhi | accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref> From the modest beginning, Ashraya has now widened their spectrum of activities to cover the welfare of the entire family.<ref name="Ashraya mission" />

The programs of Ashraya fall under two main themes, welfare of children and empowerment of women. Towards the first of these two themes, the organisation runs seven mobile creches, mostly on-site creches, at various places in the city such as [[Indiranagar 100 Feet Road, Bangalore|Indiranagar]], [[Yelahanka]], [[Siddapura, Bangalore|Siddapura]], [[Avalahalli]], [[Banaswadi]] and Shivaji Nagar and one permanent crèche associated with its Child Care Centre.<ref name="Ashraya creche">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Site-Creches.html |title=Ashraya creche |publisher=Ashraya |date=2014 |accessdate=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202071729/http://ashraya.net/subpages/Site-Creches.html |archivedate=2 February 2015 }}</ref>

Neelbagh Residential school<ref name="The Hindu" /><ref name="Cityplus" /> was started by Ashraya in 1996 near Madanapally, around 100 km from Bengaluru and is open to the children of migrant workers. The curriculum is based on Kannada medium with English as a second language and has classes from Lower kindergarten till 10th standard. It also runs vocational training programs for the students in carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing, pottery, tailoring and bee-keeping. The school claims 100 per cent pass in the state level examinations since 2009.<ref name="Neelbagh">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Neelbagh.html |title=Neelbagh |publisher=Ashraya |date=2014 |accessdate=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119003046/http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Neelbagh.html |archivedate=19 November 2014 }}</ref>

Children's Observation Home is another one of Ashraya ventures. It is aimed at juvenile delinquents and was started 1997 as an informal school for the children. The centre aims to rehabilitate young criminals and provide them with counselling, vocational training and education. Its activities on this front has earned the organisation a membership in the Home Management Committee of the [[Government of Karnataka]].<ref name="Observation Home">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Observation.html |title=Observation Home |publisher=Ashraya |date=2014 |accessdate=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202063933/http://ashraya.net/subpages/Observation.html |archivedate=2 February 2015 }}</ref> It has also earned certification from the [[Government of India]] under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).<ref name="Observation Home" />

''Tara'' is the residential centre Ashraya has set up for the destitute women.<ref name="Tara">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Womens.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525095801/http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Womens.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-05-25 |title=Tara |publisher=Ashraya |date=2014 |accessdate=19 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Cityplus">{{cite web | url=http://cityplus.jagran.com/city-news/ashraya-restructuring-the-lives-of-kids-women_1392448894.html | title=Cityplus | publisher=Cityplus | date=15 February 2014 | accessdate=20 November 2014}}</ref> The centre is a 23 unit residential facility with associated health care and day care centres, and is managed by professionally trained people. The place provides shelter to unwed mothers and their children, with the maximum period of stay limited to two years. The centre proposes to arm the mothers with earning means within this period through counselling and vocational training.<ref name="Tara" />

Ashraya is reported to have rehabilitated 3000 children through legal adoption, 2000 within the country and 1000 outside.<ref name="TOI">{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Adoption-agency-Ashraya-to-shut-shop/articleshow/11100281.cms | title=TOI | publisher=TOI | date=14 December 2011 | accessdate=19 November 2014}}</ref> It has also faced difficulties due to stringent laws pertaining to adoption of children and has fought with the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) in court against the unfriendly practices and inordinate delay in the completion of formalities.<ref name="TOI" /><ref name="Indian Express">{{cite web | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/adoption-a-commercial-deal-in-india-plea-in-sc/ | title=Indian Express | publisher=Indian Express | date=22 April 2011 | accessdate=19 November 2014}}</ref>

The [[Government of India]] recognised the services of Ashraya by honoring its Secretary, [[Nomita Chandy]], with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of [[Padma Shri]], in 2011.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Shri |publisher=Padma Shri |date=2014 |accessdate=11 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archivedate=15 November 2014 }}</ref>

==Resources==
The main source of income is donations in cash or kind for which Ashraya has set up a machinery. They also sell merchandise to raise funds.<ref name="Sponsorship">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Sponsorship.html |title=Sponsorship |publisher=Ashraya |date=2014 |accessdate=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118210309/http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/Sponsorship.html |archivedate=18 November 2014 }}</ref> Ashraya also relies on funds from external agencies.<ref name="report">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/ashraya-report-2012-13.html |title=report |publisher=Ashraya |date=2014 |accessdate=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129034356/http://www.ashraya.net/subpages/ashraya-report-2012-13.html |archivedate=29 November 2014 }}</ref> Paul Hamlyn Foundation, a UK based organisation assisted Ashraya in the setting up of ''Tara'', the women's residential centre.<ref name="PHF">{{cite web | url=http://www.phf.org.uk/news.asp?id=1393 | title=PHF | publisher=PHF | date=2014 | accessdate=19 November 2014}}</ref> ''Sudha'', a convention centre owned and run by Ashraya<ref name="Sudha">{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/Ashrayarsquos-new-centre-inaugurated/article16621177.ece | title= Ashraya’s new centre inaugurated | newspaper=The Hindu | date=22 April 2009 | accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref> also contributes to the income by way of rental returns.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ashraya.net/index.html | title=Sudha | publisher=Ashraya | date=2014 | accessdate=19 November 2014}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Nomita Chandy]]
* [[Non-governmental organisations in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.ashraya.net/}}

[[Category:1982 establishments in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1982]]
[[Category:Charities based in India]]
[[Category:Child welfare in India]]

Ashraya - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 18:26, 13 August 2023