Komal Ashish Amale

Amrit, a banker and a management executive by profession, is a caregiver of his daughter living with schizophrenia since 1990. As SAA’s President since 2010, Amrit is involved full time in SAA’s day to day working and in various aspects of the organisation’s administration. During his tenure, SAA has recorded a phenomenal all round growth. Amrit served for 5 years on the Institutional Board of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and was also Chairperson of the Hospital Management Committee of NIMHANS for over 3 years. He actively participated in regional and national consultations during drafting of the Mental Healthcare Bill and also made a presentation in this regard before the Standing Committee of the Parliament. He was appointed by the Government of India on the Expert Group to draft rules and regulations of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, where his significant contribution in deliberations and drafting was acknowledged.

He was a collaborator of the Grand Challenges’ Quality Rights Project in Gujarat. He is currently the chairperson of the Ethics Committee of the ILS Law College Pune and a member, to represent Mental Illness, on the Advisory Committee constituted by Maharashtra Government under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act. He is also a member of the working group for psychotic disorders constituted by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes.

Amrit has authored a book for families of persons with mental illness, titled, “Mental Illness and Caregiving”. The book is available in English and Marathi. Amrit’s active involvement and contribution in mental health advocacy at state and national level, is well acknowledged by the mental health community.

Abhay is a Civil Engineer, working in infrastructure, real estate development under the banner of Prithvi Edifice. He has received Times Icon Award for 2016: Top Emerging Builder of Pune. He has developed a copyrighted concept of 1 BHK Duplex and has put up the theory of “Cubic Feet Living” before Real Estate Industry. He is also in the Business of Hospitality. Despite his hectic professional engagements, he finds time for Social Causes and supports SAA in multiple ways especially in developing infrastructure and amenities for service users and their families.

Anil Vartak is a PhD from Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics Pune, on “Demand and supply gap in Mental Health”. He worked as the Head of the Department of Economics in S.P. College, Pune. Anil started “Ekalavya” a self-help support group in 1998 and did pioneering work in rehabilitation of persons suffering from mental disorders and increasing awareness amongst the caregivers.
Anil was a member of a Working Group appointed by Government of Maharashtra regarding Inclusion of Mental Illness as a disability in the “Persons with Disability Act”. He was also an Advisor to “Bapu Trust”, Pune. He has written a booklet “Let us try and see” based on his personal self-help strategies. Anil was on Rugan Hakka Samiti of Yerwada Mental Hospital, Pune.
In 2005 Anil received “Sangharsh Sanman” award from Muktangan Foundation of Awachat family. Anil is on the advisory board of Movement for Global Mental Health (MGMH) for a period of three years 2017-2020.

Neelima holds Master’s degree in English and did Teachers’ Training for Handicapped Children. She worked as a teacher at Kamayani School for Mentally Handicapped. Neelima joined SAA in 1998 as a volunteer and in subsequent years held various positions of responsibility. She has been working as a facilitator for Care Givers’ and Service Users’ Group. She has participated in various seminars, conferences and programmes related to mental health including a conference hosted by WFSAD, International Leaders’ Training Program and Recovery Inc’s Annual Meet at Chicago, USA. Neelima is author of two books, one of which, Ata Ujadel, in Marathi is a novel on struggle of a caregiver mother to cope up with the family challenges.

After 22 years of looking after her family and children, Smita felt that she had fewer responsibilities at home and could give sometime to an NGO engaged in social work. In 2001, she joined SAA as a volunteer and over the years has held various responsible positions.

Smita is a versatile volunteer and apart from taking leading part in meetings of both caregivers and service users, she now facilitates a SAA’s Self Help Support Group in the mid-town. She makes the most of her contacts to spread awareness programmes in schools, colleges, housing colonies, exhibitions etc. She is a useful resource person in SAA’s day to day activities.

Neeta, besides looking after her family, all of whom excel in vocal music, has a passion for social service. She takes daily yoga class of service users and also helps in other rehab activities and various awareness programmes. At her initiative SAA has made documentaries on its Rehab Centre and also one on Yoga activity. She is also actively involved in mobilising donations for SAA.

Yeshwant a BE (Civil) from COEP-Pune, worked with Hindustan Construction Company Ltd., Bombay and later started his own construction company. In 1992, he gave the charge of the firm to his son to give more time to social work. Yeshwant has been actively associated with the Rotary Club’s community activities since 1993. He started volunteering for SAA soon after its inception and took over as its President in 2004. His administrative acumen, foresight and initiatives made significant difference in SAA’s functioning. His civil engineering background was a big asset when Kamalini Kruti Bhavan was constructed for SAA in 2005, His enormous spade-work in production & distribution of film, Devrai, was an invaluable contribution towards its success. He also coordinated in the production of another successful feature film by SAA on promoting RTI, “Ek Cup Chya”.

Yeshwant was one of the invitees from SAA to participate in the International Leader Training & Annual Conference hosted by Recovery Inc. at Chicago in May 2005. He continues to be a substantive asset to the SAA rendering mental health service to the community.