For over 30 years, baby girls in Lucknow, who have been rendered homeless or been abandoned by their parents, have found shelter at Manisha Mandir. Dr Sarojini Agarwal, has taken in 800 girls and has made it her life's mission to take care of them.
Though the origins of the home lie in a tragic story of Agarwal losing her own daughter 30 years ago, she has turned her loss into a ray of hope for 800 others.
She set up Manisha Mandir in 1985 with three rooms in her own home. The first baby she adopted was a deaf and mute child whose mother had died during her delivery. Some of the girls Agarwal took in were rescued from brothels and from the streets.
Over the years, Agarwal has moved into a large bungalow that has a computer lab, a library, basketball and badminton courts and a television room. The girls stay in the home till they turn 18 and are then encouraged to take up jobs.
With age catching up, Agarwal is not sure for how long she can keep taking in new born, but says she will continue to strive as long as she can. Kudos to Dr Agarwal, for giving so many a home.
(Source: Better India)
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