Our legacy
Mentoring and enriching since 2008
Abhyudaya was launched in 2008 as a Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) initiative. The late Dr. Manesh L. Shrikant, a visionary educator and then Honorary Dean of SPJIMR—an institution under BVB—was the driving force behind it. Abhyudaya is not a separate legal entity.
Abhyudaya sensitises students to this reality (of urban poverty) and drives them to perform and grow, not only for themselves but for the larger good. In that alone lies our collective long-term growth and success.
Late Dr. Manesh. L. Shrikant
Honorary Dean, SPJIMR
Why K-West ward?
01.
High population density
Over 700,000 residents, with 55% living in low-income housing.
02.
Educational disparities
Dropout rates of 17% among secondary school students.
03.
Socio-economic challenges
High levels of poverty, malnutrition, and lack of financial services.
04.
Gender inequality
Early marriages and limited career opportunities for girls.
Between 2010 and 2015, the K-West ward witnessed a 14.4% decline in student enrolment, attributed to:
- A shift to private schools for perceived better-quality education
- Outdated teaching methods in public schools
Abhyudaya addresses these challenges through holistic education and community support programmes tailored to the unique needs of the ward. Located within the Bhavan’s Campus in Andheri, Mumbai, Abhyudaya serves its immediate community with a focus on inclusive development.
Mission
We aim to empower underserved children and their communities through a holistic approach that nurtures academic growth, life skills, and aspirations. Our tailored programmes—in literacy, numeracy, arts, leadership, health, and digital literacy—are delivered by passionate mentors and volunteers. Abhyudaya seeks to cultivate confident, curious, and capable young learners.
Our mission is deeply local: to build inclusive, supportive environments where every child is seen, heard, and encouraged to dream beyond their current circumstances. We seek to create a ripple effect—where transformed lives become agents of positive change across families and neighbourhoods—driving lasting equity and societal impact.
Sitaras by the numbers
1016
Total Sitaras
(2008-2025)
480
Sitara alumni
(Batches 1-9)
131
Degree college going Sitaras
7
Vocational/ Skilling
354
Current Sitaras
(Grades 7- 12)
77
Pre-Sitara
(Grades 6)
Journey from Pre-Sitara to Sitara
1. Nominations from schools
- 50 aided, unaided, and BMC schools across the K-West ward
- Mediums of instruction: English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
- 300+ nominations annually from class 5
2. Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) test
- A non-verbal intelligence test to assess abstract reasoning and problem-solving, independent of language or culture
- Administered to all 300+ nominated students
- Cut-off criteria used for the interview shortlist
3. Pre-Sitara selection and orientation
- Normalise SPM scores
- Verify residence, income, and non-Sitara sibling criteria
- Only one student per family is selected
- Gender ratio: ~60% girls, 56% boys
- 100-120 pre-Sitaras finalised
- Parent orientation conducted
4. Sunday learning classes for Pre-Sitaras
- Held every Sunday (4 hours) from July to March
- Mixed groups to ensure diversity in school, language, and gender
- Focus: Spoken English, foundational Maths and Science, social skills
- Progress is tracked via attendance, family engagement, and academics
5. Final Sitara selection
- Interview shortlist based on criteria
- Family interviews and home visits conducted
- Final list of ~70 Sitaras announced
- Parents invited for orientation
6. Summer camp
- New Sitaras attend a 20-day summer camp
- Exposure to sports, art and craft, nature, life skills, and career guidance
- Daily nutritious meals are provided
- Attendance and behaviour monitored for final inclusion
- 300 Sitaras participate
7. After-school programme
- 250 Sitaras from classes 7–10 attend enrichment classes:
- Mon–Fri, 2:30–5:30 pm
- English, Maths, Science, GK, exam prep, social skills, sports, and computers
- Class 11–12: Monthly check-ins and laptop renewals
- Post class 12 Sitaras have regular check-ins with batch owners
8. Hastantaran
- Hastantaran (meaning transfer) marks the start of the mentoring journey for SPJIMR’s first-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and PGDM Business
Management (PGDM (BM)) participants and Abhyudaya Sitaras. - Second-year participants bid farewell to their Sitara as they hand over their mentee to
the new mentor. - This event, attended by 360 Sitaras and new and graduating mentors, includes
performances, activities, and shared meals.
9. Mentoring
- Mentoring with Abhyudaya is a mandatory part of the PGDM curriculum.
- It is a transformative, experiential learning designed to build social sensitivity and
understanding of urban poverty in our future business leaders. - Between October and March, mentors conduct seven home visits to connect with
Sitaras, their families, and the community. - Sitaras visit the SPJIMR campus twice to learn about their ‘didi/bhaiyas’ life and engage
in activities to learn and grow together. - Since 2008, 4,046 PGDM participants have experienced this transformative journey.
Our team
