The Gazetteers Department

Anath Mahilashram, Kolhapur, was established in 1937, to give shelter, and protection to women and children in distress. In the beginning admission to the organisation was restricted only to Hindu women and children, but since independence it has opened its doors to all women and children, without consideration of religion, caste and creed.

The constitution of this institution has been modelled on the lines of that of the Shraddhanand Rescue Home of Bombay. The membership of the institution is open to all who have completed eighteen years of age. There are five classes of membership, viz., (i) patrons-persons donating Rs. 1,000 or more; (ii) helpers-persons donating Rs. 500 or more; (iii) well-wishers-persons donating Rs. 300 or more; (iv) life members-persons donating Rs. 100 or more; (v) ordinary members-persons making a minimum contribution of Rs. 3 per year. All these members constitute the general body which elects its president, honorary secretary, joint honorary secretary and other members of the managing committee. There were 100 members in 1957-58. There are twelve to fifteen members in the managing committee, including the president, honorary secretary and honorary joint secretary. The managing committee lays down the general policy for running the Ashram. Day to day administration of the Ashram is entrusted to the honorary secretary.

By 1957-58 more than 1,200 women and children had been admitted in the Ashram who took advantage of the facilities available, a large number of them coming from Ratnagiri, Belgaum, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur. Women and children take refuge in the Ashram for several reasons such as poverty, orphanhood, etc. The mode of rehabilitation consists of giving them education and securing suitable employment for them, arranging marriages, restoring children to their guardians after due enquiries, etc. Children below eight years of age can be admitted in the Ashram. Children are admitted under the Bombay Children Act, 1948, and give general education and/or vocational training. Children sent by the Juvenile Court get such training for specified periods. The annual income of the institution is about Rs. 12,000. Almost the same amount is spent on food charges, clothing, education, medical relief, etc.

The Kolhapur District Probation and After-Care Association was established in 1949. Its objects cover the entire field of treatment and rehabilitation of offenders, especially young offenders. Conducting remand homes, supervision after release, finding employment, and educating public opinion on social responsibility in respect of juvenile crimes are its principal practical tasks. In fact, in Kolhapur, the Association has been virtually put in charge of the working of the Bombay Children Act, 1948. It has also to organize work under the Bombay Probation of Offenders Act, 1938. It makes preliminary enquiries regarding the cases of alleged offenders referred to them and carries on supervision in selected areas of offenders released on probation. Since its establishment the Association has given shelter, protection, etc., to more than 1,200 destitute and neglected delinquent children under sixteen years of age.

There were 100 members of the Association in 1957-58. They were principal district officers, leading citizens, lawyers, educationists, social workers, etc. The value of its assets stood at Rs. 61,945 (including its own building worth Rs. 43,000). Its annual income amounts to Rs. 27,000, almost the whole of which is expended on establishment charges, food, clothing, education, medical relief, training in crafts like tailoring, spinning, weaving, etc.

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