Achievements

Citation of Karmaveer Puraskar received in Nov 2010 - Click for download
Harish Sadani felicitated with Karmaveer Puraskar 2010 -11 - Click for download
Harish Sadani winning the Maharashtra Foundation Award 2010 - Click for download
Announcement of Ashoka Changemakers Competition Winner - Click for download

Harish Sadani was awarded the prestigious Maharashtra Foundation 2010 Award by the Maharashtra Foundation,US instituted by entrepreneurs (of Indian origin) to annually felicitate individuals doing significant work on social issues in Maharashtra state. The award, by way of cash Rs.50,000 and trophy, was conferred on Harish in January 2011.

Achivements

• To date, reached out to over 5000 men and women facing gender-related problems, Successful in handling over 300 individual cases
• Taken specific stands for disadvantaged women and men by addressing contemporary gender-based issues from time to time  These include 
     i) Raising awareness about the acid attack on a 19-year old Dipti Khanna and mobilising monies for her plastic surgeries 
     ii) Support to the struggle for justice by a lecturer at Marathi Department, SNDT University molested by her Department Head 
     iii) Mobilising signature campaigns involving men and support meetings in aid of Bhanwari Devi, Rajasthan-- who was gang-raped and the 5 accused were acquitted 
     iv) Massive Campaigns on Domestic Violence and Cruelty meted to girls and women out of jilted love 
     v) Falsifying the claims made by Purush Hakka Saurankshan Samiti that women in large numbers are misusing Sec. 498 A of IPC to harass innocent men 
     vi) Creating awareness about mute spectatorship by the public in wake of rape of a minor girl in a suburban local train
• Organised over 150 one-day unique workshops for various groups of girls & women imparting them simple self-defence techniques and assertiveness training
• Since inception, worked very closely with women’s organizations in Mumbai like Akshara, Stree Mukti Sanghatana, Sakhya, Mahila Dakshata Samiti, Special Cell for Women-in-Distress and Sophia’s Centre for Women’s Studies. This includes: On-going Referrals, joint collaborative programs for college youths and municipal school children, effort to promote a dialogue with women’s groups across the state on men’s involvement to tackle gender issues
• Garnering support from Colleges and youth bodies to organize specific youth-friendly events & activities like developing awareness campaign material, poetry-reading sessions, film festivals, interactive symposia and panel discussions
• Purush Spandana (meaning Male Vibrations), the annual Diwali magazine in Marathi language brought out by MAVA making waves. The Magazine uses all forms of expressions (exclusively by men)-- short stories, first-person accounts, interviews, graphics, plays, poems, analytical articles, group discussions, micro-studies and interviews. Subjects cover a vast canvas of contemporary issues ranging from sexuality, relationships, socialization, violence against women in diverse forms like sex-selective abortions and murders of young girls by rejected men. ‘Breaking the Moulds’, a book in English on men’s expressions released in 2007 by MAVA is being reviewed by various newspapers and magazines as ‘path-breaking’, ‘India’s pioneering exploration of masculinities’
• MAVA approached by various organizations, across Maharashtra state for conducting series of need-based gender sensitization programs specifically addressing young boys and men. These include WOTR – Watershed Organisation Trust, Ahmednagar, NABARD Bank, UNIFEM, UNIDO – United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Apnalaya in Mumbai.
• MAVA invited to share at various national & international conferences its insights, practices and strategies of working with men.
  These include : the Sub-regional Workshop on Elimination of Violence against Women in Partnership with Men organized by United Nations in 2003, Workshop by College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan at World Social Forum, Mumbai in 2004, Conference on Sexualities, Masculinities & Cultures in South Asia at Bangalore in 2004 & International Conference on ‘Men as Partners in Sexual & Reproductive Health’ in 2004 in Mumbai by National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH).
• MAVA has been supported by media and creative professionals from time to time. Artists -Writers like Anil Dabhade, Sanjay Pawar, late Vijay Tendulkar, Neela Bhagwat & Shanta Gokhale have been supporting MAVA’s programs reaching out to the public. MAVA’s insights, practices and strategies of working with men to combat violence against women have been receiving prolific coverage in all media – print and audio. Noted Film Director Ashutosh Gowariker has lent his valuable support to MAVA by participating at the Mumbai International Marathon in 2005 and through film screenings and discussions on gender themes. Around 26 artists – including painters & sculptors provided their works for sale at an art exhibition in aid of MAVA’s cause in 2003.
• The Drop-in Centre of MAVA, started in July 2006, has been getting a large number of Men openly talking about their vulnerability, their helplessness, powerlessness, their fears and anxieties on gender issues. Issues cover a gamut of problems including sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation, non-consummation of marriage, masturbation, male menopause and issues of violence and abuse. A team of veteran professionals from various disciplines – psychiatry, sexology, law and social work provide their multi-services at the Centre
•  As a part of ‘Yuva Maitri’ Fellowship Project in Pune, 33 male youths from 6 colleges of Pune district intensely trained on gender and sexuality matters, are promoting a healthy dialogue with their peers using various communications media. The Project, first of its kind in India, is getting a heartening response from the students’ fraternity. The Project being upscaled to 6 other districts in the state, these trained communicators, as role-models, are engaging and mentoring many other young men across the state.

Best prize from Marathi Vrittapatra Lekhak Sangh –1997 issue
1st Prize awarded by Thane District Newspaper Writers' Association – 1998 issue<
Special Darpan Prize by Mumbai Vrittapatra Lekhak Sangha – 1998 issue
2nd Prize from Kalashringar Academy – 1999 issue
2nd Prize by Thane District Newspaper Writers' Association –2001 issue
Best magazine prize (in memory of late Shantanurao Kirloskar) from Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad – 2001 issue
1st Prize award from Sahitya Vichar Manthan, Kalyan – 2002 issue
2nd Prize award from Sahitya Vichar Manthan, Kalyan – 2003 issue
Special Recognition Award from Indian Art, Culture and Talent Development Centre, Ulhasnagar –2003 issue
Literary Service Award from Indian Art, Culture and Talent Development Centre, Ulhasnagar – 2004 issue
Best Diwali Magazine (in memory of Dattaram Baraskar) by Vijay Krida Mandal –2005 issue
Best prize from Marathi Vrittapatra Lekhak Sangh – 2006 issue
Best prize from Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Pune  -2007 issue
Best Prize in ‘Category devoted to specific issue’ by Star Mazha News Channel and Granthali magazine – 2008 issue
Best Magazine award from Sahitya Vichar Manthan, Kalyan and Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Phaltan & Ahmednagar Branch – 2009 issue.

MAVA’s Hon. Secretary Harish Sadani received the prestigious State-level ‘Yeshwantrao Chavan Yuva Puraskar 2000’ from Yeshwantrao Chavan Pratisthan, a reputed body in Mumbai in recognition of his significant contribution towards developmental work, especially on gender issues through MAVA.