About Asha

ASHA – Action for Self- Reliance Hope and Awareness was registered in February 1993. The organization was founded by nine professional women dedicated to the cause of empowering women. ASHA, a non profit, non governmental agency began work in communities and slums, addressing women’s problems by conducting Awareness Generation Programmes. Registered under societies Registration Act 1860 and Bombay Public trust Act,1950.

Registration #: Maharashtra/7028-93/Pune

Our Founder Committee members:

Late Harbans Gill: Masters in psychology with special interest in educational psychology, she has over 50 years of experience in the field. She has been a member of several national level committees and societies working for children, especially those with disabilities. She has guided and advised the committee and given perspective on the work with women. She has held the organization together in the hours of crisis and glory.

Late Shama Nair: MSW was vivacious, and instrumental in establishing the women’s cell at the police station along with her long time personal friend and colleague Minal Dani. She worked on the organizational responsibilities until the last hour of her life.

Rati Forbes –Being at the helm of affairs of a corporate organization, Forbes Marshall, which has upheld social commitments, Mrs. Forbes has always brought freshness and clarity of thought, a balanced view of social issues and pragmatic approach toward them.

Minal Dani – Master in psychology and medical social work, she has specialized in emergency psychiatric social work at the Cincinnati University hospital USA. She has a vast experience in community based projects , research in collaboration with Overseas University and read scientific papers at International conferences. As a treasurer, she looks after finances and audits, prepares project proposals for funding and she has network with individual donors as well as donor agencies in India and abroad for the past 20 years.

Dr.Neha Pande – physiatrist and psychotherapist, she has contributed as a resource person while she works at professor of psychiatry at Sassoon general hospital, Pune. She has trained the core team in mental health aspect, prepared training modules for community based service, gender sensitization modules for adolescent .She has overseen documentation work, initiated service audits, restructured assessment 

Ratna Ganpati: – Senior Manager with bank of Maharashtra, she has also been responsible for rural development projects of the bank in 5 districts. She took initiative for setting up a legal aid centre for the rural women in taluka Indapur; she has been involved with empowerment of women through economic independence.

Dr. Anupama Sen: She is a qualified pediatrician .She acts as a resource person for children health programmes, vaccination programs and child referrals for medical problems, she conducts health modules in the communities.

Meera Rajda : MSW with extensive experience in industrial social work. In condinuation of her experience with industry workers, she is also interested in community development work.

Shobha Vohra: Businesswomen. She has special interest in vocational skills and self employment of women.

Current Committee Members-

Rati Forbes (Chairperson) –Being at the helm of affairs of a corporate organization, Forbes Marshall ,which has upheld social commitments ,Mrs. Forbes has always brought freshness and clarity of thought ,a balanced view of social issues and pragmatic approach toward them.

Minal Dani (Treasurer) – Master in psychology and medical social work, she has specialized in emergency psychiatric social work at the Cincinnati University hospital USA. She has a vast experience in community based projects, research in collaboration with Overseas University and read scientific papers at International conferences. As a treasurer, she looks after finances and audits, prepares project proposals for funding and she has network with individual donors as well as donor agencies in India and abroad for the past 20 years.

Ratna Ganpati (Secretary): – Senior Manager with bank of Maharashtra, she has also been responsible for rural development projects of the bank in 5 districts. She took initiative for setting up a legal aid centre for the rural women in taluka Indapur; she has been involved with empowerment of women through economic independence.

Dr.Neha Pande (Member) – physiatrist and psychotherapist, she has contributed as a resource person while she works at professor of psychiatry at Sassoon general hospital, Pune. She has trained the core team in mental health aspect, prepared training modules for community based service, gender sensitization modules for adolescent .She has overseen documentation work, initiated service audits, restructured assessment

Dr. Anupama Sen (Member): She is a qualified pediatrician .She acts as a resource person for children health programmes, vaccination programs and child referrals for medical problems, she conducts health modules in the communities.

Minal Gokhale(Member): BA in Pune University.MSW in Nimala Niketan, Mumbai. She has work experience in community project by Nirmal Niketan at Khar Danda Koli villege. 10 years at Bajaj Auto Ltd, Akurdi as a social worker. She started the first AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) group in industrial area. She works with ASHA for 15 years as a Project Co-coordinator at Women’s cell. Involved in setting up og Women cell.

Adv Beroz Bala(Member) : Practicing since 1997 largely on the civil side in the Pune  District Court, Civil Court ,Family Court, and before the joint Charity Commissioner. Worked at ASHA from 1999 to 2017 advising clients facing marital problems, filing and conducting matters in the family court. Involved in the training programs of the police, conduct and participated in discussions on laws related to women.

Dr Kalpana Raval (Member): Consultant psychiatrist & psychotherapist practicing in Surya & Sahyadri group of hospitals In Pune. She has 4 years of experience of working in Geriatric Psychiatry in Wales, UK. She is associated with ASHA since 2008 as consultant psychiatrist primarily involved in the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders in the client’s visiting crises intervention cell of ASHA.

Yogita Apte (Member): Social worker by profession having 24 years of experience. Worked at ASHA from 1999 till 2011 as counselor and then 5 years in CSR at Tata Motors Ltd. Presently working at Persistent Systems Ltd as ‘Lead CSR’, from March 2016. Responsible for project management at 5 locations in India, legal compliance and employee engagement.