In order to celebrate the impact made through three of Habitat India’s Charity Golf Tournaments, a virtual event was held on 25^th June 2021, with 22 individuals from the golfing community coming together virtually to participate in the handover of a Habitat Care Centre and new Habitat home, and the ground-breaking for another home to be built.

During the ceremony Archana Birange wife of lance naik Arjun Birange who lost his life during the Kargil operation was given the key to her new home.

Archana hails from Sainik Takli village, where at least one member from every family is serving in the Indian Army. Along with Archana, 3 other families in Shirol block Geetanjali Charapale (relation of) shaheed Swapnil Charapale, Akkatai Mane, mother of Shaheed Sepoy Shashikant Mane and Vijutai Chaware (relation of) shaheed Nayak Nigappa Chavare now have a new home of their own. Additionally, future homeowner Kalpana Kumbhar performed the ground-breaking ceremony for her new home in Chandur village of Kolhapur. Along with Kalpana two more families in Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra will start the construction of their new homes. These homes are built under Habitat for Humanity India’s ‘Habitat for Heroes Housing Project’ wherein homes for the bereaved families of soldiers of India’s Armed Forces are built.

These homes are funded by business leaders Mr. R. Ramakrishnan (Managing Partner - Transformia Advisors LLP), Mr. Ashish Kacholia (Investor), Mr. Dilip Thomas (AV Thomas and Company), Mr. Charandeep Singh (Own Infracon Private Limited), Mr. D.C. Patel (Laxmi Paper Board and Mill), Mr. Vimal Jain (Managing Partner - Jagartius Universal), Dr. Ashok Dabir (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon) and Mr. Jay Sheth who have played Habitat for Humanity’s Charity Golf Tournaments.

Witnessing the impact of their contribution on the lives of people motivated Mr. Ashish and Mrs. Sushmita Kacholia further to help Habitat build homes for 8 more families in Maharashtra while Mr. Ramakrishnan Ramamurthi and Mrs. Swarnalatha Ramakrishnan gave an additional donation to build home for 1 family. These 9 homes will be under the Habitat for Heroes Housing Project.

The program also showcased a video testimonial of Bebi Pardhi, a resident of Karjat (Raigad district, Maharashtra) who was one among the 100 tribal families who received a water wheel thanks to the crowdfunding efforts led by Mr. Ajith Sundaresh (Retired Senior Finance Professional), Arjun Nohwar (Director and Regional GM, Asia Pacific, Uber for Business) and Rajeev Menon (CEO – All Tact IT Solutions) during the second edition of Habitat Charity Golf Tournament.

Habitat homeowner Munna Devi from Delhi also expressed her gratitude towards Habitat and the Golfing fraternity reminiscing the time when Asian Tour champion golfers volunteered alongside her and her family to build a home in 2018.

The Habitat Care Centre supported by R. Gopal (Managing Director - Goodrich Maritime Pvt. Ltd.) was handed over to the Lokmanya Hospital in Pune. The 20 bedded facility will augment the medical infrastructure at the hospital helping them save more lives.

Read more about Habitat's Charity Golf Tournaments here.