Winner 2019
Dr.Mandakini Amte
Nominations: 2019
Category: Jury - Lifetime Achievement
Location: India
About Dr.Mandakini: Mandakini Amte popularly known as Manda Amte is a medical doctor and social worker from Maharashtra, India. She along with her husband, Dr. Prakash... Read More
Congratulations Dr.Mandakini
Our heartiest congratulations to iWGA 2019 winners. We are proud of you and so is the Nation. Keep shining & motivating others.
Work Description
SOCIAL SERVICES AND BENEFICIARIES Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini have been providing medical services to the tribals living in the remote forest areas, far removed from civilization, scattered in central India, free of charge. Their work in the field of rendering medical services to the depriv... Read More
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Project Details
Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte runs the school and hospital at Hemalkasa. The Amtes have been working among the Madia Gond tribals in Bhamragarh, in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, since the 1970s. They have been successfully working in enhancing the capacity of the Madia Gon... Read More
- Schools & Hospitals
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Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error
Project Details
Lok Biradari Prakalp (LBP), a project of the Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), Warora, was started by the legendary social worker Baba Amte in 1973 for integrated development of Madia-Gond, the primitive tribals of Bhamragad in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, India. Dr. Digant and Aniket, sons of D... Read More
- Lok Biradari Prakalp (LBP)
Photos
Label
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error
Project Details
MSS’s Tribal Welfare Programmes have gained international recognition for their preservation of the culture of tribals of India, who are facing extinction through modern development, exploitation and disease. Established in 1973, Lok Biradari Prakalp (The People’s Brotherhood) situated in the Ga... Read More
- MSS’s Tribal Welfare Programmes
Photos
Label
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error
Work Description X Close
SOCIAL SERVICES AND BENEFICIARIES
Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini have been providing medical services to the tribals living in the remote forest areas, far removed from civilization, scattered in central India, free of charge. Their work in the field of rendering medical services to the deprived, socially ostracized, underprivileged, neglected, poor and illiterate strata of the society is inspiring and commendable. Tribals suffering from malnutrition, wounded by wild animals, orthopedic cases, etc., have no one to turn to but to them. The couple provides treatment to more than 40,000 patients a year. Patients from more than 1,000 villages spread across three states- Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhatisgarh-an area of around 200 square kilometers visits the place. The hospital remains open for twenty-four hours treating all emergency cases. Since 1980, Amtes have been successfully conducting an informal court called Lok Adalat (People’s Court) at Lok Biradari Prakalp itself, where people with disputes of all varieties, except murder, come for amicable settlements, and the disputes are resolved in perfect concord with their traditions and customs.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Deep in the heartland of India in an isolated tribal village called Hemalkasa, Dr. Mandakini helps tribal women deal with their inhibitions and superstitions related to health care, while Dr. Prakash is famous for his medical work with serious injuries and illnesses, like bear bites and burns, and for caring for wild animals rescued by the Amte Animal Ark.
Swiss-Aid stepped in to help in 1976. With their generous help, Lok Biradari Prakalp could construct residential quarters, a hospital building and the school buildings. Later, Oxfam and Action Aid offered to meet the recurring expenses of the project for nine consecutive years (1978-1987). Dr. Jagannath Wani from Maharashtra Seva Samiti Organization (MSSO) of Canada came forward to build residential quarters for doctors, girls’ hostel and an additional school building with twelve classrooms.
Gul Asnani from the USA helped them through Rotary International’s matching grant of medicines for the hospital for five years. The numerous visitors, friends and well wishers have helped the project by donating generously.
THE NETWORK
Baba Amte’s legacy has lived on through the tireless work of his two sons and their wives, who in their own ways, have contributed significantly to furthering his vision. Dr. Vikas Amte runs Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS) and coordinates operations between Anandwan and satellite projects; his wife Dr. Bharati Amte runs a hospital at Anandwan.
Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte runs the school and hospital at Hemalkasa. The Amtes have been working among the Madia Gond tribals in Bhamragarh, in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, since the 1970s. They have been successfully working in enhancing the capacity of the Madia Gonds to adapt positively in today’s India, through healing and teaching and other compassionate interventions.
Lok Biradari Prakalp (LBP), a project of the Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), Warora, was started by the legendary social worker Baba Amte in 1973 for integrated development of Madia-Gond, the primitive tribals of Bhamragad in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, India. Dr. Digant and Aniket, sons of Dr.Prakash and Mandakini and their wives have also joined LBP.
MSS’s Tribal Welfare Programmes have gained international recognition for their preservation of the culture of tribals of India, who are facing extinction through modern development, exploitation and disease.
Established in 1973, Lok Biradari Prakalp (The People’s Brotherhood) situated in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra serves the Madia-Gond tribals who are alienated from the outside world. In this particular project, primary health care was given top priority. Six sub centers were started in the interior forest area, geographically wide apart from the main hospital, of which three are still functional.
The early years of the project entailed a massive struggle in the extremely difficult conditions of a thick and remote forest. The centre, started in 1973, has recently developed into a fully fledged hospital having 40 beds and caters to over 45,000 patients annually. At Hemalkasa, the hospital is ensconced in the surrounding dense forest, where the Madia Gond tribal patients feel most comfortable in recuperating after their treatment.
The tribals have such high regard for them, that instead of visiting the nearby primary health centres run by the state govt., they prefer to come walking from long distances of up to 100 kms and carrying their sick on the makeshift stretcher of an ordinary charpai (Indian-style bed). It takes them sometimes 3-4 days to reach Hemalkasa.
A residential school (1st to 12th Standard) was started in 1976 for the tribal children now giving free education to nearly 650 students. They are provided with hostel accommodation and given free lodging and boarding facilities. All education material is also provided free of cost to them.
Apart from the formal education, they are also provided vocational training and guidance, which will be useful in their day to day life. e.g.- practical training in farming, seed production, dairy, bamboo craft, ceramic art, greeting cards, tailoring, health education etc.
These programmes are aimed at the survival of the tribals and all efforts have been made to bring about awareness of social rights and duties through continued dialogue and social exposure. Dr. Digant and Aniket also completed their schooling at Hemalkasa.
A small sheltered enclosure has been formed at Hemalkasa to keep orphaned babies of wild animals, thereby protecting them from merciless killing. This rescue-cum-orphanage, houses probably one of the largest one man collection of wild animals in the country and the world at large. The Hemalkasa community of workers lives in complete harmony with a great diversity of wild animals still to be found in this relatively undisturbed, thick forest. Amte’s Animal Ark – Orphanage cum Rescue Centre at Hemalkasa includes panthers, bears, snakes, deer, wild boars and crocodiles.
Award X Close
The Principality of Monaco brought out a postage stamp in honour of the life and work of Dr.Prakash and Mandakini in 1995.
About Dr.Mandakini X Close
Mandakini Amte popularly known as Manda Amte is a medical doctor and social worker from Maharashtra, India. She along with her husband, Dr. Prakash Amte were awarded the Magsaysay Award for 'Community Leadership'[1] in 2008 for their philanthropic work in the form of the Lok Biradari Prakalp amongst the Madia Gonds in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. She is the daughter-in-law of Baba Amte.
Schools & Hospitals X Close
Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte runs the school and hospital at Hemalkasa. The Amtes have been working among the Madia Gond tribals in Bhamragarh, in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, since the 1970s. They have been successfully working in enhancing the capacity of the Madia Gonds to adapt positively in today’s India, through healing and teaching and other compassionate interventions.
Lok Biradari Prakalp (LBP) X Close
Lok Biradari Prakalp (LBP), a project of the Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), Warora, was started by the legendary social worker Baba Amte in 1973 for integrated development of Madia-Gond, the primitive tribals of Bhamragad in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, India. Dr. Digant and Aniket, sons of Dr.Prakash and Mandakini and their wives have also joined LBP.
MSS’s Tribal Welfare Programmes X Close
MSS’s Tribal Welfare Programmes have gained international recognition for their preservation of the culture of tribals of India, who are facing extinction through modern development, exploitation and disease.
Established in 1973, Lok Biradari Prakalp (The People’s Brotherhood) situated in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra serves the Madia-Gond tribals who are alienated from the outside world. In this particular project, primary health care was given top priority. Six sub centers were started in the interior forest area, geographically wide apart from the main hospital, of which three are still functional.
The early years of the project entailed a massive struggle in the extremely difficult conditions of a thick and remote forest. The centre, started in 1973, has recently developed into a fully fledged hospital having 40 beds and caters to over 45,000 patients annually. At Hemalkasa, the hospital is ensconced in the surrounding dense forest, where the Madia Gond tribal patients feel most comfortable in recuperating after their treatment.
The tribals have such high regard for them, that instead of visiting the nearby primary health centres run by the state govt., they prefer to come walking from long distances of up to 100 kms and carrying their sick on the makeshift stretcher of an ordinary charpai (Indian-style bed). It takes them sometimes 3-4 days to reach Hemalkasa
