ABOUT US

WithAarya is an NGO founded by Ms. Shital Bhatkar and Mr. Vikrant Bhatkar in memory of their beloved 7-year-old son, Aarya Bhatkar. Aarya bravely battled a rare genetic disease called Niemann-Pick 'C,' which causes a metabolic disorder in the body. Inspired by his strength, WithAarya supports children with similar rare disorders through comprehensive supportive care. We also provide financial assistance to families in need, aiming to help cure children facing similar challenges. Since our establishment, we have been dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the world.

Vision

Withaarya Vision To become a permanent bridge between the fortunate who want to help, and the needy.

Mission

Withaarya Mission To create waves of kindness that encompass the underprivileged and make them feel safe and cared for.

FOCUS AREA #1

Don Ghaas - Providing meals to patients and caregivers from hospitals in Mumbai, Kalwa, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur completely free.

An initiative started in the year 2016, Don Ghaas literally means "Two Morsels". We began with a modest distribution of 50 meals a day outside KEM hospital in Mumbai and have grown tremendously ever since, currently touching 1000 meals a day. We also started distribution at Ratnagiri Civil Hospital in the year 2020, Kalwa Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa and Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Hospital, Kolhapur in the year 2022. The meal comprises roti, sabzi, dal khichdi and a banana.

FOCUS AREA #2

Aashray - Adoption of families with patients

Under the “Aashray” initiative, we have adopted families to whom we provide monthly grocery that includes atta, poha, sugar, tea, pulses, oil, etc completely free of cost. These families have patients with dietary restrictions or are unable to consume the meal that we provide. The grocery we provide helps them to cook nutritious, easily digestible food for the patients. We hope to extend this support to more and more families each year.

FOCUS AREA #3

Dava Daan - Providing medical aid and guidance to needy patients.

We monitor the medical files of patients who we support. We have collaborated with distributors so that medicines can be procured at discounted rates. Each file is closely examined right from the tests to medication. We try to walk hand in hand with the caregivers.

FOCUS AREA #4

Shaurya - Raising awareness about the rare genetic lysosomal disorder

We are committed to raising awareness about rare genetic lysosomal disorders. Lysosomal storage diseases are inherited metabolic conditions characterized by the abnormal build-up of various toxic materials in the body’s cells due to enzyme deficiencies. There are nearly 50 of these disorders, which can affect different parts of the body, including the skeleton, brain, skin, heart, and central nervous system.

FOCUS AREA #5

Chai Ki Chuski - Providing tea & biscuits to caregivers inside KEM Hospital.

As we interacted more and more with the caregivers we wondered what more we could do for them. This led to the birth of the initiative “Chai Ki Chuski”. As the saying goes “Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and overcome our challenges”. Under this, we provide tea and biscuits to various caregivers of patients who are admitted to KEM hospital.

FOCUS AREA #6

Gyan – Education scholarships for underprivileged children

We have come across several bright children who could not pursue education as they lost a loved one and a breadwinner or money to a critical illness making it difficult for these families to sustain the education of their children, sending them back to the vicious cycle of no education and no money. At WithAarya through this initiative, we want to break this cycle by offering scholarships to those children who deserve.

FOCUS AREA #7

Dharamshala - Comprehensive kitchen management for cancer patients and caregivers

WithAarya proudly manages a full-service kitchen at a Dharamshala dedicated to cancer patients. This new kitchen facility serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at highly subsidized rates to patients and caregivers residing at the Dharamshala. These fresh, wholesome, and healthy meals significantly enhance the comfort and overall stay experience of the beneficiaries.

OUR STORY

Little Aarya was his parents’ pride. However as he was growing, Shital and Vikrant Bhatkar realised something was terribly wrong. Their one-and-a-half-year-old child was struggling to walk and had a bloated tummy. They went to a pediatrician who recommended a neurological examination. What followed was a nightmare. After several tests, it was diagnosed that Aarya suffered from a “storage disorder.” They had to go in for more tests to determine the exact nature of the disease. Says Mr. Bhatkar, “This is when we realised how difficult the medical situation is in our country.”

There were no laboratories in Mumbai that could test samples for storage disorders, and the couple had to send them to Hyderabad. That too, gave them just a basic diagnosis. They had still not identified the exact category of the disorder. A patch of Aarya’s skin was sent to a lab to in the Netherlands in 2010, the world’s only testing center for storage disorders. Finally, he was diagnosed with ‘Niemann Pick C’, a storage disorder that typically affects one in 5,00,000 and was probably the only known case of the disorder in Mumbai at the time. “General know-how of this disorder was very limited and that was the biggest challenge for us. There were no medicines and no specific care pattern was suggested,” says Ms. Bhatkar. She tried to understand the disorder through the internet and connected with parents in similar circumstances.

Storage disorders, says Dr. Mamta Muranjan, consultant in Clinical Genetics, Hinduja National Hospital, are inherited metabolic diseases characterised by an abnormal build-up of toxic materials in the cells as a result of enzyme deficiencies. There are nearly 50 such disorders, and they affect different parts of the body. The fight against these rare disorders led to the formation of the NGO ‘WithAarya’ to create more awareness amongst people and pave a way forward.


OUR TEAM

Slowly and steadily, WithAarya has grown. Founded in 2016 by Shital Bhatkar and backed by her husband Vikrant Bhatkar, it has tried to touch many lives by simple acts of giving. From a mere two to three volunteers the number has grown to around seventy one currently. The volunteers are from all walks of life and have the simple motive to help and serve the underprivileged people.

Withaarya Team:

  1. Shital Bhatkar, Founder and Trustee
  2. Vikrant Bhatkar, Co-Founder and Trustee
  3. Kedar Lele, Head - Communications
  4. Raj Jain, Head - Liasioning
  5. Forem Lapsiwala, Head - Operations
  6. Bhavini Gosaliya, Head - Resources
  7. Ketaki Mahimkar, Head - Logistics
  8. Capt.Vishweshwar Badgeri,Head - Campaigns
  9. Shweta Somwanshi, Head - Public Relations
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Panel Doctors:

  1. Jatin Kothari,MD, DM (Nephrology)
  2. Dr.Chetna Badgeri,Dentist (BDS )
  3. Dr. Aditya Menon, DNB Orthopaedics
  4. Dr. Tushna Kanga Menon, Obstetrician & Gynaec
  5. Dr. Vishal Shinde, Orthopedic Surgeon
  6. Dr. Hitakshi Sehgal, Homeopathic Doctor
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ADVISORY BOARD

  1. Mehul Shah, Founder & Principal – DSP Design Associates
  2. Kiran Punjabi,
  3. Vivek Subramanian, Executive Director - Fourth Partner Energy
  4. Ameya Gumaste, Executive Director and Country Head - Linesight India
  5. Anamika Malhotra, Member of the Bar of Advocates Association of Western India.
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