PANAJI: Ukti Foundation, a renowned NGO working in Maharashtra broadly in the space of mental health and supporting marginalised, has launched its first centre in Goa. ‘The Holistic Psychologist’ – Feeling & Healing Family Therapeutic Centre, was inaugurated by Shripad Naik, MoS for Tourism, Ports Shipping & Waterways, at St Inez here on Saturday morning.
Shripad Naik hailed the initiative of Ukti Foundation founder and clinical psychologist Geetanjalee Lele, saying: “Mental health plays one of the most important role if not more than physical health, in everybody’s life. The society needed such an initiative to support people, who have been afflicted with a lot of stress; and lack of such therapeutic centres had compounded the misery. I assure full support of the government to Geetanjalee Lele’s noble initiative.”
Geetanjalee, whose foundation has been working since 2009 from Thane-Maharashtra, emphasised that being of Goan origin she realised that her home state was equally in need of efforts in the mental well-being and support space. “After Covid-19, issues related to anxiety and depression are mounting. Even children have been affected. Moreover, there is a need to drive away the stigma attached to mental health,” asserted Geetanjalee.
Former Goa Ranji Trophy cricketer and BCCI coach Sudin Kamat was unveiled as the Brand Ambassador of Ukti Foundation in Goa.
The Panaji-based businessman and social worker expressed his joy at the opportunity to serve the society in a bigger way and thanked Ukti Foundation for their faith in him.
“As a cricketer, I tried my level best to bring a big name for Goa in my playing career. Today, I feel it’s time to give back to the society. When the Ukti Foundation approached me, I couldn’t say no to this opportunity to serve the society and give back what it has given me. I am very happy to be associated with Ukti Foundation and looking forward to doing social service with them,” said Sudin.
Meanwhile, Institute of Public Health Education & Research (IPHER) also came in for praise by Shripad Naik. The E-Learning Medical Education Company branch based close to Goa in Ratnagiri, is expected to consolidate the impact of Ukti Foundation’s arrival in Goa with a joint-effort.
For more information, visit www.uktifoundation.org
