About Us

WHILE 30% FARMERS IN 5500 VILLAGES OF MAHARASHTRA PRODUCE FOOD FOR 100% POPULATION, 80% OF THEM LIVE IN DESPICABLE CONDITIONS.

Lack of sufficient drinking & irrigation water, low literacy owing to poverty, unavailability of educational/technical institutes, lack of exposure to new farming techniques, bad road conditions, high load shedding of electricity and absence of primary health care facilities are some of the major problems faced by the farmers.

OUR FOCUSED APPROACH

We target this section and uplift them through better amenities, education and exposure to superior farming technology. Our research is extensive. We identify the families and analyze their problems in depth before designing solutions depending on their needs.

80% OF FARMER SUICIDES ARE DUE TO HEAVY DEBT

Loans from both moneylenders & banks lead to maximum farmer suicides. Farmers are coaxed in for high interest rates after being promised crop at higher rates from money lenders. Once the crop is ready, the prices are reduced to as low as cost price. This results into more debt year on year and farmers eventually lose their land to the money lenders. Farm related issues and stringent, inflexible bank rules also lead to bankruptcy.

OUR COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION

We give all round education to farmers which covers right pricing to efficient distribution to modern techniques so as to empower the farmers in creating a better livelihood for themselves and break this vicious circle of debt and poverty.
With a special focus on Vidharba, we provide financial help to empower the farmers to give best education to their kids and for starting allied activities in the agrarian and rural sector which involves widows who can earn their livelihood. We have also introduced and encouraged E-Learning through donation of a computer to Yeour Municipal School. We have facilitated distribution of relief aid to the families of farmers who committed suicide after crop failure due to dry spell and climate change effect in the region. We helped in the distribution of seed of pulses and cotton to 110 Vidarbha farm widows of Pandharkawada Village in Yavatmal.

FUTURE IS BRIGHT

We want the farmers to be future ready. We want to minimize the operational glitches faced by them and empower them to live a better life. We also plan to start an institute that will be training the farmers and farmer families.

Mission

LONG TERM SOLUTION TO UPLIFT THE FARMERS

To empower farmers , give them self confidence to become self reliant and to enhance their livelihood through long-term sustainable solutions such as providing the right educational opportunities, innovative farming techniques, E-learning, and financial support.

Vision

ELEVATE LIVES OF FARMERS & THEIR FAMILIES

To reach out to maximum number of farmers and farmer families and to make the village across Vidarbha self sufficient so that no farmer takes his own life because of debt trapped situations.

Core Values

Authenticity

Grand Maratha Foundation believes in being true to their work of charity thus ensuring that it gives genuine benefits to one and all involved.

Sustainability

Grand Maratha Foundation devises sustainable solutions that have long term, lasting impact that brings about REAL CHANGE.

Research Driven

Grand Maratha Foundation does not believe in immediate solutions but in getting to the root cause of the problem to understand the core issue and nip it in the bud.

Empowerment

Grand Maratha Foundation believes in empowering not just the farmers but everyone who’s engaged in the cause. We believe not just in financial empowerment but also decision-making empowerment.

Founder

ESTABLISHING GRAND MARATHA FOUNDATION
In 2013, Mr. Rohit Shelatkar founded the Grand Maratha Foundation to assist farmers, widows of the farmers, their children, the poor and the downtrodden social strata in Maharashtra.

EARLY LIFE & START OF A MISSION
Hailing from Mumbai suburb Borivili, Rohit Shelatkar completed his higher education abroad. During his college days, he never shied away from working as a waiter in a restaurant or taking up any available job that would help him gain life-experience. At the age of 28, he became director of a group in England which was engaged in the manufacture of medicines in 110 countries around the world including India. Deep inside he always desired to work towards the betterment of his country and countrymen in a substantial way. Since he was born in Maharashtra, he was well aware of the situation of farmers in the region. He decided to get to the core of the problem eventually leading to the formation of the Grand Maratha Foundation.

THE TRIGGER POINT
The sight of our own people fighting many odds, farmers facing drought and unseasonal rains, committing suicide due to the burden of borrowings, their wives and children caught in poverty, immensely disturbed him. He knew that just extending superficial support was not a long term solution.
He decided to locate the root cause and come up with a permanent solution. It was a humble start but it was his strong will, conviction and unconditional perseverance in leading his team that helped him establish the thoughtful and noble organization called the ‘Grand Maratha Foundation.’