Amitkumar Banerjee

Working since 1984 for the children, Mr. Amitkumar Banerjee realized that children need an integrated support for development. At that time children of socially victim women, children of convicts received no support from Government or any agency. Mr. Banerjee felt that more than the identity as an orphan, a child needs to be considered from the point of view of present helpless situation. The child may be an orphan or a child of a sex worker or of a convict or a destitute, street child, what so ever it may be, ultimately the child needs a suitable shelter, care and protection and opportunity for confidence building, growth and development so that child can lead a normal life. SOS way of care and protection was very wonderful family care program. With precisely this idea in mind to act directly, he decided to start a children’s home at village Bhaje near Lonavla, Pune. He started in a rented house and formed a Society and Trust along with his colleague Mrs. Lata Pande, and thus SAMPARC – Social Action for Manpower Creation was born as an organization in 1990.

The journey of SAMPARC began with only 7 orphan children and today over 520 children – orphan, children of socially victim women, destitute, children of convicts and needy children, all are living under one shelter known as Balgram of SAMPARC organization. They do not have the social stigma of whatever background they came from. They grow freely like other common children. They grow with all cultural and social values. At the same time they learn various social and cultural values and traditions and are exposed to community life. As a result the children of SAMPARC Orphanage (Balgram) are found strong, contented with culture values and self-esteem.