Dr. Sanjeevani Kulkarni

Dr. Sanjeevani Kulkarni is a trained homeopath. She stopped her 18 year old active medical practice to devote full attention to social issues which needed intervention. She has been duly awarded the Kamatekar Samajik Karyakarta Puraskar (Kamtekar-Social Worker Award) 2004 for the social work she has been doing since 1994.

She has been working in the field of education and parenting for more than 25 years. She is the Founder trustee and editor of ‘Palakneeti Parivar’ which publishes a magazine called Palakneeti that has been awarded by Maharashtra Foundation in 2005. Palakneeti is instrumental in bringing the issue of parenting in mainstream discourse in our country. This trust now has several activities, such as ‘Mahiti-ghar’ (resource center), ‘Khel-ghar’ (play and learn center for underprivileged / disadvantaged children), ‘Anand-Sankul’ (activity center in a slum).

With a view to improve contemporary education scenario and provide an alternative, in 1992 along with some like-minded friends she started a new school, Aksharnandan.

She established Prayas as an NGO in 1994 to work on the issue of HIV/AIDS and sexuality. She has spearheaded the work of Prayas Health group by undertaking various activities ranging from general HIV awareness, care and support to the HIV infected adults and children, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, to some sensitive issues like disclosure of HIV status to children, positive parenting and sexuality education for HIV infected adolescents entering adulthood. She has been awarded the prestigious Heerkani Puraskar for her work in HIV and parenting in 2011.

Dr. Kulkarni has prepared a range of unique educational materials for HIV work which incorporates skills acquired from principles in learning and education.

She has written and presented extensively in print media, on television and radio both on parenting and HIV/AIDS. She serialized her experiences as an HIV counselor in Milun Saryajani (AIDS barobaracha maza pravas- My journey with HIV AIDS) in 2006.