Vijaya Lawate

Vijaya Lawate, (known as Vijayatai Lawate) was a social worker who helped sex workers in Pune, India. She founded an organization named Manavya, which primarily takes care of children who are born HIV positive. Vijaya is female.

Career

Lawate spent 35 years with Sarvesham Seva Sangh. She worked tirelessly to aid commercial sex workers (CSW) by providing medical care, education and support services for their children. Much of her work focused on those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Until 1997 Lawate worked for Nihar.

Lawate founded the organization Manavya to protect children and women living with HIV. She first collected twenty-five children in a temporary rented home in Indiranagar in 1996. There she encountered problems in terms of health services and educational facilities. She moved to ten different locations before she bought land in Bhugaon, approximately 10 km from Pune, India. On 25 November 2000, the children in her program moved into this home.

Lawate died on 11 February 2005. However, her altruistic work with Manavya has been kept alive by volunteers and by the trustees.

Recognition

Lawate was bestowed with many awards, including:

• Bharatiya Stree Shakti Award (1995)
• Bhatia Memorial Charitable Trust Award, Delhi (1995)
• Hingane Stree Shikshan Sanstha Award (1996)
• Smt. Tarabai Raste Award (1996)
• FIE Foundation Award (1996)
• Savitribai Phule Award (1997)
• Jane Harris Award by Rotary Foundation (1997)
• Mauli Anandi Award (1998)
• Smt. Kusumtai Chaudhari Award (2000)
• Kesari Award (2000)
• Ugandhar Award (2000)
• "Jan Sewa " Award (2001)
• Baya Karve Award (2004)

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