Discover Student Helping Hands in Pune, offering food scholarships, accommodation, education guidance to support students from drought-hit Maharashtra regions.
The Genesis of Student Helping Hands (SHS)
Nearly a decade ago, Kuldeep Ambekar, a young man from Ambi village in Dharashiv, was facing tough times as he pursued his master’s degree in chemistry in Pune. His farmer parents were struggling through a devastating drought, making it impossible to send him Rs 5000 for basic expenses.
I could not even afford the fees for exams or even bus fare. I had to walk for miles,” Ambekar recalled. These challenges inspired him to start Student Helping Hands (SHS) in 2018-a platform to assist students migrating from the drought-hit Marathwada and Vidarbha regions to Pune.
Revolutionizing Lives Through Food Scholarships
Since its inception, SHS has done a phenomenal job in assisting over 5,000 students through its food scholarship program. However, the children continue to live on a single meal a day.
A recent health survey of 600 students reported that 42% girls and 26% boys were anemic. “These findings reflect the grave need for better nutrition among students,” Ambekar said.
Advocacy and Mobilization for Basic Needs
SHS started with 200 students agitating for basic support. Collecting data, the group found 1,800 students in Pune colleges from suicide-affected farming families. Their efforts drew the attention of university administrators and philanthropic donors who came to provide food.
The initiative now provides
- Accommodation support
- Quality food service
- Guidance on education
Association with Rashtra Seva Dal
Ambekar engages with groups such as Rashtra Seva Dal (RJD) to raise the students’ voice. Founded in 1941, RJD has a long history of fighting for social issues. With the support of Dr. Mandar Paranjape and Sahabhaag Welfare Foundation, undertook medical check-ups of 579 students, where rampant nutritional deficiencies and mental illness were found.
Improving Mental Health and Nutritional Levels
“Many students experience anxiety and other mental challenges,” said Nitin Vaidya, National President of Rashtra Seva Dal. The activist added that activities such as SHS can bring a huge difference when one says that “these programs are essential for hunger, malnutrition and stress in the students.”
Call to Action
Student Helping Hands continues to evolve, offering a lifeline to those in need. Through donor-funded food scholarships and community support, SHS is transforming the lives of young students who migrate to Pune in search of education and opportunity.
As Ambekar says, “Education should not come at the cost of hunger.” SHS is a testament to the power of collective action in creating a brighter, more equitable future for students.