A New Era

Manasgram: Mental Health and Rehabilitation in Ahilyanagar

Commemorating World Mental Health Day — 10 October, 2025

A New Step Towards Healing Minds & Hearts

To celebrate World Mental Health Day, Snehalaya proudly inaugurated the Manasgram Mental Health & Rehabilitation Complex at Islak, Ahilyanagar — marking a historic step in community-based mental health care in Maharashtra.

Our new campus represents India’s first integrated multi-purpose mental health project run by a voluntary organization, offering a wide range of mental health, de-addiction, and rehabilitation services all under one roof.

The initiative reflects our commitment to extending accessible and compassionate mental health care to the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

A Ceremony of Compassion & Community

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr Bharat Vatwani, internationally-renowned psychiatrist and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, who officially opened our centre. Joining him were many other distinguished dignitaries, including Dr Pankaj Ashiya (District Collector, Ahilyanagar), SP Somnath Gharge, Dr Anand Bhandari (CEO, Zilla Parishad), project patron Danish Shah (Pune), Sub-Divisional Officer Sudhir Patil, Tehsildar Sanjay Shinde, Deputy Tehsildar Abhijit Wandekar, and many other wellwishers.

Our Manasgram was conceptualized and guided by Dr Neeraj Karandikar, Honorary Director, with on-ground coordination by project coordinator, Ramakant Dodi.

The Bilmoria–Sidhwa Manoyatri Rehabilitation Complex

Spread over five acres of land and encompassing 45,000 sq. ft, our new Manasgram campus has been built through collective effort and public participation. The construction was made possible with primary financial support from Mumbai-based philanthropist Mr Navroz Bilmoria, in loving memory of his parents. In recognition of this generosity, the complex has been named the Bilmoria–Sidhwa Manoyatri Rehabilitation Complex, as announced by our Secretary, Dr Priti Bhombe.

Expanding Services & Reaching More Lives

Until now, Snehalaya’s mental health initiatives were operating within limited facilities at our Himmatgram project, serving a small number of patients. With the new complex, the scale and scope of services have expanded significantly.

• The Snehashraddha Manoyatri Project, which rescues homeless individuals with mental illness, has already reunited over 400 patients with their families across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

• With the new infrastructure, the project’s patient capacity has grown from 50 to 250, allowing many more to access free and dignified care.

• The Dr Jayant Karandikar Memorial Manobal De-addiction Centre has increased its residential capacity from 30 to 50 beds, ensuring more individuals can receive timely addiction recovery support.

  
  

Alongside treatment, Manasgram also offers weekly therapy groups, Mindfulness sessions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) — creating a holistic ecosystem for mental wellbeing.

As Dr Deepti Karandikar and Snehalaya President Jaya Tai Jogdand shared, the project’s mission is to offer free treatment to poor patients and affordable services to others, ensuring mental health care is never out of reach.

From Rescue to Reintegration: Timiratun Tejakade

During the event, we also launched Timiratun Tejakade — a book capturing the inspiring journeys of mental health patients from rescue to recovery and family reunion. These deeply human stories celebrate courage, resilience, and the transformative power of community care.

United for Mental Wellness: Towards a ‘Manoyatri-Friendly District’

Manasgram’s vision extends beyond its campus. The project aims to make Ahilyanagar India’s first “Manoyatri-Friendly District” — through collaboration among:

• The District Civil Hospital’s Psychiatry Department

• Zilla Parishad’s primary health centers

• Private mental health professionals

• Voluntary organizations working in the field.

  
  

Together, this network will ensure that every individual — urban or rural — can access support, understanding, and timely treatment.

Therapy Through Work & Dignity

To aid rehabilitation, Manasgram has introduced therapeutic livelihood programs such as vegetable cultivation, dairy farming, nursery management, and will soon add six income-generating enterprises to provide occupational therapy and self-reliance opportunities for patients.

As coordinators Bharat Tidke and Sonali Salve explained, these programs help restore dignity and independence to recovering patients, empowering them to lead meaningful lives.

Designing with Empathy

The architectural design of Manasgram was led by Archis Kulkarni of Aareen Design, Nashik, following extensive research and visits to leading mental health and rehabilitation centres across India. The construction, executed by Arnava Construction’s Kamlesh Pitale and Aniket Kaur, reflects the same values that define Snehalaya — quality, compassion, and humanity.

A Future of Hope

With Manasgram, we move one step closer to a society where mental health is not stigmatized but supported, where care is accessible to all, and where healing is rooted in dignity.

This World Mental Health Day, the opening of Manasgram stood as a beacon of hope — reminding us that healing begins when a community chooses to care.