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“I have faced so many hardships in life, but I did not let them define me. My father did not ever regard me as his daughter, abusing and torturing me. I was then married off to an older man who later abandoned me, my children and I were literally on the roads. I know what it is like to have no one, to be abandoned. So I understand the plight of the elderly. I want to take care of as many ajjas and ajjis as I can.”-Jyothi
Jyothi's journey to starting Shodh Bahuuddeshiya Sevabhavi Sanstha, a vruddhashram (old age home), was born from pain and a deep understanding of abandonment. After struggling through a difficult childhood and an even more challenging adulthood, she found solace in helping others who had no one. Witnessing the neglect of elderly individuals, she felt an overwhelming urge to provide them with a home where they could live with dignity. What began as a simple act of compassion turned into a life mission—to ensure that no elderly person she encountered would have to suffer alone.
‘I was physically assaulted by my father for attaining puberty…my childhood was full of pain’
Jyothi’s father, desperate for a son, abandoned her family after the birth of his fourth daughter, remarrying and starting a new life while completely ignoring Jyothi and her sisters. The devastating 1993 Latur earthquake destroyed their home, leaving them homeless. At just four or five years old, Jyothi believed that begging was their only way to survive.When she reached puberty, she was married off at sixteen to an older man.
“I never knew what a father's love felt like. My mother, though loving, was helpless, and my childhood was nothing but struggle.When my sister and I reached puberty, instead of care, we were beaten—as if growing up was a crime. I was no longer a child; I was just ‘paraya dhan,’ a burden to be given away. At sixteen, I was married off to a man much older than me.”-Jyothi
‘Later, I was abandoned by my husband too after my son’s accident left him depressed’
Her husband initially provided for the family, but their lives took a devastating turn when their son Rohit suffered a life-threatening accident. The medical expenses drained their savings, and the financial stress took a toll on her husband, who fell victim to depression and alcoholism before eventually leaving them to fend for themselves.“I had even decided to die at one point. There was nothing left—no money, no food, no support. I felt utterly alone, as though my existence no longer mattered. But something inside me refused to give up. I couldn’t let my children go through what I had endured. That thought gave me new hope.”-Jyothi
During her lowest moment one Diwali, Jyothi met Sindhu Tai, who gave her and her children food in exchange for work. That encounter changed her life, inspiring her to create a safe space for the elderly—those who had once shown her kindness. With little savings, she took in a few elderly individuals, and her sons worked part-time to support her vision. Seeking help from the community, she shared their stories, and gradually, support began to pour in.
Today, Jyothi runs a small old age home in a modest 2BHK, offering shelter to the abandoned elderly
Most of the residents are elderly women—mothers and grandmothers abandoned by their families—along with a few elderly men, each carrying a lifetime of struggles. She manages everything herself, with the support of a cousin and a helper. Jyothi ensures they receive proper food, medical care, and, most importantly, the love and dignity they were once denied. For her, this home is not just a shelter but a place where the forgotten can find comfort and belonging in their final years.“One 80-year-old ajji here spent years begging on the streets, she was left there by her son whom she believed would return to take her home. But four months had passed and he never did. A plastic bag was all she had left. After I took her in, she became happy and even now, she can’t believe she has a warm bed and a safe place to call home. Another was abandoned by her own family after her son passed away, left to struggle alone—until I took her in. The way her eyes light up with gratitude keeps me going. Seeing them finally feel safe, loved, and valued after a lifetime of pain fills my heart in a way nothing else can.”-Jyothi
‘I want to take more elderly people in and give them a good life. But funds stand in the way’
. In addition to running the old age home, Every Sunday, Jyothi and her team step onto the streets of Pune with a simple yet powerful purpose—to feed the homeless. They ensure that those without shelter, wandering alone in hunger, receive a warm meal and a moment of dignity. She needs financial support to do this more regularly too."I have made it this far only because of the kindness of those who believed in my cause. But there is still so much more to do. I want to take in more elderly who have nowhere else to go. These ajjas and ajjis deserve a permanent shelter—a true home where they feel safe and valued. Any support, whether through donations, food, or resources, can help give them the love and dignity they have been denied for far too long."-JyothiClick here to contribute.
EIN 20-5139364
