About Samstha
Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha, (MKSSS), Pune:
The 127-years old parent body has been committed to “Empowerment of women through education”. The Institution has a century long history of dedicated work towards making women educated and self-reliant. MKSSS, Pune was established in 1896 by the great visionary and social worker Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve to provide shelter to destitute women. On 14th June in the year 1896, in the village ‘Hingne’ near Pune city, Maharshi Karve started a “Home for Widows”, along with a school for Widows, so that they become educated and self-reliant. He fought throughout his life to make this happen. The “Home for Widows” was then named as ‘Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha’ and the school was named as ‘Mahilashram High School’.
The Founder of the Institution:
Prof. D. K. Karve founded an Institution in a village called “Hingne” near Pune City. The Institution was named as “Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha”. Later, the Institution was renamed as “Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha”. Prof. Karve founded this Institution with an aim to uplift, emancipate and educate the destituted and downtrodden. Prof. Karve dedicated his whole life for this humanitarian cause with great determination and courage. He was awarded “Bharat Ratna” the highest national award for his sacrifices and dedicated social work and his contribution to the noble cause.
Development of the Institution:
Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha, (MKSSS), Pune has diversified branches all over Maharashtra in India and about 25,000 girl students are learning in these institutions. Over the period of last 127 years, the Institution has grown like a banyan tree and at present, it is running 60+ educational and other units. These units are located at Pune, Satara, Wai, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Kamshet etc. All these units are meant only for girls or women.
Around 25,000+ girl students are learning in Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary schools and Colleges. We have established Engineering, Architecture, Management, Nursing, Fashion Technology, Vocational Training Institute, Health Centre etc. These branches strive to develop women into truly performing citizens in today’s globalization era. We also have hostel facilities for students and working women and old age home for senior citizens.
Purpose of Establishment:
In the 18th century, social pattern in India was such that no women were going to schools for education. With the purpose of upliftment, emancipation and education of women, who formed a major section of the socially downtrodden, Maharshi D. K. Karve founded an Institution called “Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha”, in the year 1896. Prof. Karve dedicated his whole life for this humanitarian cause with great determination and courage.
Vision of the Parent Organization:
Bharat Ratna Maharshi Karve, a revered Visionary with extraordinary legacy of work in the field of women emancipation and education, is the inspiration and guiding soul behind the MKSSS’s vision of “Empowered Women playing equal role in Society and Nation building”. In keeping up with the vision, MKSSS strives to build a society of equal opportunities, social justice, a society where women will have their due importance, can live an enriched quality of life, a life of freedom and personal fulfilment. MKSSS works towards empowerment and enrichment of women through education, innovative training for life skills and job skills, pioneering the entry of women in new technology areas and new job domains. MKSSS’s vision also includes facilitating self-employment, awareness and sensitivity to women issues in society.
Quality Policy of the Institution:
Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha, (MKSSS), Pune is committed to Quality, a defining element in education and governance, leading to an all-round sustainable progress of the Institution. The Quality Policy of MKSSS is controlled by transparency and accountability of our efforts and is monitored through suitable combination of self and external audits.
Meaning of the Institution:
Name of the Institution is in Indian language. In this name, Karve is the name of the founder. He was called as Maharshi which means a great sage. Stree means women, Shikshan means education and Samstha means Institution. This is an Institution dedicated for women’s education.
“To develop women professionals who are academically and technically sound with strong ethics and above all are good human beings”.
The Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha is honored with the following awards:
Dalit Mitra Puraskar for remarkable social work awarded by Maharashtra Govt. (1978).
Smt. Vimlabai Tidake Award for excellent work in the field of Mahila Bal Kalyan awarded by Smt. Vimlabai Tidake Samajseva Trust, Nagpur. (1998)
Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Puraskar for remarkable social work, awarded by Mahila and Balkalyan Dept. of Maharashtra Government (1999-2000)
Rotary International Award for Humanity to Society? Awarded by Rotary International, New Delhi, in the year of Women Empowerment. (2001)