A home for the homeless

With two ashrams in Pune, former corporate honcho Rajheev Agrawal left all of it voluntarily at the peak of his 33-year career and dedicated his life and life’s savings to give a home to destitute people and orphaned girls. “We aim to give these people, many of whom we rescued from a life of begging on the streets, and give them education and training to enable them to stand on their own feet in mainstream society with respect and dignity,” says Agrawal, who has set up Majha Ghar Foundation with his wife Minakshi. “We are trying to ensure a secure, dignified life and empowerment for those who struggle to meet their basic needs and life.” Majha Ghar, a homeless shelter, is part of Apna Ghar Ashram, which runs 50 ashrams around India and has been taking care of 9,000 such people with love and care for the last 22 years. “We fondly call these people Prabhujis (a form of God) instead of destitutes. We have positively impacted more than 50,000 lives,” he says. Agrawal, who quit pickles-and-spices major Nilons as Director and CEO after 18 years during which he steered the company to a growth of 60-fold in revenue and 150 times in terms of profits, says his change of course was part of his personal plan. Majha Ghar offers resources to help its Prabhujis to get back on their feet – clean and hygienic accommodation, nutritious food, medicines, clothes and all necessities totally free of cost. Those with critical illnesses or are bed-ridden are taken care of for life by the ashram, which also performs their last rites as per the religion of each, he adds.