Sheetal Amte-Karajgi, social worker and granddaughter of Baba Amte | Photo credit: PTI
Maharashtra: Sheetal Amte-Karajgi, a social worker and granddaughter of Baba Amte committed suicide on Monday, ANI reports. Sheetal committed suicide in Anandwan at his residence in the Chandrapur district.
Baba Amte’s granddaughter, Sheetal was an Indian public health expert, disability specialist, and social entrepreneur. She was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of the board of a non-profit organization, Maharogi Sewa Samiti, which focuses on helping people disadvantaged by leprosy.
Last week, Sheetal Amte uploaded a video to Facebook, where he allegedly raised allegations about wrongdoing at Maharogi Seva Samiti (MSS), but removed the post within two hours.
Dr. Sheetal tweeted earlier today in which she mentioned ‘War and Peace’.
Baba Amte’s legacy
The popular social worker and activist Baba Amte was known for his social work with leprosy patients. He established Anandwan, a village that is self-sufficient and for the rehabilitation of those in need. Baba Amte died in Anandwan on February 9, 2008, in Maharashtra.
In 1949, Amte established the Anandwan, “Forest of Happiness”, a village and center that he created for leprosy patients, as a rehabilitation center. To set an example, Amte injected himself with bacilli to show that leprosy was not very contagious.
He was honored with the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India in 1971. Today, his two sons are carrying on his legacy of charity and social work.
