After the death of her mother in her ancestral home in a remote village, Gharadi, near Dapoli in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, Mrs. Sunila (Ashatai) Kamat started visiting the area often. During these visits in the early 90’s, Ashatai realized that there were many homes with blind children who were either not cared for well or were sitting around at home due to lack of other options. Snehjyoti Andhavidyalaya was conceptualized at this time by Ashatai & her sister, Pratibha Sengupta (a retired blind school teacher and an expert in Braille) as the first school for blind kids in the entire Ratnagiri district. Ashatai left her active social life in Mumbai and Pratibha left her Pune home to move to their ancestral home in Gharadi, with no running water and patchy electricity. Snehjyoti school started in 2003 with just 4 students & has now blossomed into a full fledged Government Certified, 80-G (non-profit status in India) residential blind school with 32 students residing and learning in a separate spacious building.

  • Established in March – 2003.

  • Room & Board for students & teaching staff

  • Recognized by the Government (Registration No: A-114),
    “Yash Sneha Trust” is registered with the charity Commissioner, Ratnagiri (No: F-3196)

  • Boys and girls between ages 5 and 17 are enrolled up to 8th std.

  • School Staff: 3 qualified music teachers, 4 trained subject teachers totaling a teaching staff of 7, 1 Clerk, 1 Peon for office work, and 1 watchman for students & school premises.

  • Hostel/dormatory Staff: 2 cooks for kitchen, 1 assistant cook, 1 day & 1 night female caretakers for the students, 1 cleaning staff.

  • Spacious music room with fully equipped musical instruments .The school also boasts an award winning Music Group.

  • School has its own elegant new building with separate hostels for boys and girls.

  • Computers (2 with JAWS software) for training blind students.

  • No Govt. or NGO aid to the school of any kind so far. School is run on Public donations only.

  • Expenses per child amount to Rs. 3500/-(approx. US $60) per month approximately, which includes boarding, lodging, teaching, uniforms etc These are borne by the trust with no expense to be borne by the children’s families.

  • Head Mistress of the school, Mrs. Pratibha Sengupta, has compiled over 50 books in Brail Script and under her guidance, blind students are producing brail books.

  • Government Recognition For Tax Benefits & Foreign Currency Donations :

Income Tax 80G Certificate Extended In Perpetuity According To The Act Amendment
80G Recognition Certificate No.
Kop/Cit Ii / 80g /4-1-2008/9
2379, Dt.24-12-2008
W.E.F.23-06-08 To 31-3-20011

F.C.R.A. Certificate (allowing the trust to accept donation in foreign currency)
F.C.R.A. Reg No. 083950035
Registration Under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act , 1976
From Govt. of India
Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi