How it started
Navjeevan Centre, founded in 1994 by the Mar Thoma Church, is a registered NGO under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 (Regn. No. MAH/593/98/Thane) and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 (Regn. No. F/7327/Thane). It has also received approval from the Women and Child Welfare Department for operating as a Child Care Institution. It has been serving marginalized communities for over 30 years.
Navjeevan Centre is guided by the principle of 'God's Love in Action,' aiming to empower marginalized women and children to become confident, competent, and self-reliant individuals.
The vision is to create a society where every individual has equal opportunities and rights, and marginalized communities are integrated into the mainstream through collective efforts and advocacy.
Navjeevan Village, Murbad – 10 Homes, 104 Children
Navjyoti School – Catering to 220 children
Kamathipura – Red Light Area (RLA)
Bhiwandi – Red Light Area (RLA)
Nerul – Girls Extension Home
Kalyan – Boys Extension Home
Navjeevan Centre has been working in Kamathipura and Bhiwandi red-light areas for 31 years, addressing the exploitation and trafficking of thousands of girls over the decades. The intervention begins with establishing trust through various entry point programs, ensuring that women feel supported and understood in their journey towards rehabilitation.
The program offers residential care and protection for children, counseling to address emotional trauma, and comprehensive health check-ups, especially for HIV-affected women. Navjeevan provides legal assistance, encourages savings habits, and offers skill development training to help women achieve economic independence and exit the trade.
Navjeevan operates night and day care centers, providing a safe environment for children while their mothers undergo rehabilitation. The organization conducts regular health check-ups and medical assistance, focusing on HIV care and overall health monitoring. Navjeevan assists women in opening bank accounts, provides market-oriented skill training, and supports them in finding suitable employment or starting their own businesses.
Children rescued from red-light areas are first stabilized in shelter homes, ensuring their immediate safety and well-being before transitioning to Navjeevan Village. Along with these children are also children acquired through the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) as we are legally under the CWC and the JJ Act, when it comes to dealing with children.
Navjeevan Village, located on 100 acres near Murbad, has 08 SOS moduled houses and 100 children aged 5–16 in eight family-style homes, each with house parents and sisters, providing a nurturing environment and catering to their holistic development. The village offers a safe and supportive environment, fostering physical, spiritual, academic and emotional growth—preparing the children for a brighter future through education and holistic care.
Navjyoti School, recognized by the Maharashtra State Board, offers education from Nursery to Class 10, founded in 2000 to provide quality education to children from marginalized communities. The school focuses on academic excellence, providing a nurturing environment that encourages students to achieve their full potential and pursue higher education. Navjyoti School integrates spiritual care, yoga, meditation, and moral classes into its curriculum, ensuring that students develop strong values and a sense of community.
Navjeevan Centre Extension Home is an after-care home for young adult boys and girls who have completed 18 years of age. The organization focuses on helping the youths become socially and financially independent by providing them with higher education opportunities and job placements, with an emphasis on reintegration into society.
At present we have two centres: Kalyan for 8 boys and Nerul with 16 girls.
An Alumni prayer and fellowship is organized at Nerul on the fourth Sunday of every month. Through this, they help each other and are also clinging on to Navjeevan which has been a source of their growth, formation and memories down the lane.
At present we have around 30 youths doing their further studies in different colleges in Mumbai. 143 children completed their graduation and settled with job in various places of Mumbai, Kolkata & Bangalore etc. 40 children got married and settled with their family and kids.
The Navjeevan Centre has completed 31 years of service. During these years, Navjeevan Centre has strengthened and expanded its services of rehabilitation of children, educational support till graduation, reintegration, support for housing, counselling, vocational training for mothers, advocacy etc.
Rag pickers are individuals who collect recyclable materials from garbage dumps to earn a living, often migrating from rural areas due to lack of employment opportunities. In Maharashtra, 49% of the workforce depends on agriculture, leading to migration to cities in search of jobs. Rag pickers face challenges such as poor housing, lack of education, and exploitation. Navjeevan Centre addresses the needs of rag picker communities, providing essential services to improve their quality of life and break the cycle of poverty.
The Rag Pickers Project began in 2013 with a single day-care center in Kalyan and has since expanded to cover four major dump yards in Maharashtra, serving thousands of individuals. Today, the project operates in Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, and Ambernath, processing up to 2,600 metric tons of waste daily and providing comprehensive support to rag picker communities.
Kalyan
Adhiwasiwadi
Umbarde
Bhiwandi
Ulhasnagar
Ambernath
