Subhashini Vasanth started the Vasanthratna Foundation for Arts in 2007 in the memory of her late husband; Col Vasanth V. Col. Vasanth was martyred when he was serving as commanding officer on 31st July, 2007. She started this as a platform for other women with a shared history to get over their common grief and to create a community to help each other by forming self-help groups (SHG). They work for the women and children of Jawans or Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) who were killed in action in the service of the nation during war or war like situation. Apart from empowering and transforming the martyr families they also act as a bridge between the family and the government, family and the public and family and other martyr families like them.

Their work at VRFA cannot be accomplished single-handedly. It takes a whole army of care-givers and professionals from various fields to come together in service to their fellow citizens. They reach out to doctors and counselors, lawyers and legal aids, teachers and institutions, welfare groups and volunteers to make this happen. Individuals like yourself, who feel the urgency of the situation their veer naris find themselves and their families in and the full weight of sacrifices they have made for a better India.

Mission

Vasantharatna Foundation For Arts (VRFA) is a unique Non-Government Organization(NGO) based in Bangalore working towards Empowering &Transforming Martyr Families.

Their Programs

• Women Empowerment Program (WEP) – Conducted with an objective of empowering women to transform their lives.
• Child Development Program (CDP) - Created to enable a child to overcome trauma and loss,making way for a happy childhood experience.
• Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) – Conducted with an objective of empowering young adults to holistically take charge of their lives.
• Memorial Award– To immortalize the martyr in their alma mater.
• “Gift a birthday” – A small token to show our families that we care for them on their special day
• Salute to Heroes – A tribute for our martyrs and soldiers through cultural programs.
• *ALR (Annual Learning Retreat) – to provide high quality and high impact intervention for children and young adults.
• WLP (Women Leadership Program) *new – To prepare women as leaders and encourage them to create and anchor VRFA’s self-help group (SHGs).

• VRF is functioning since 2007 and is mostly the only foundation offering holistic engagement programs to martyr families.
• Their programs do not offer direct monetary benefits but empower women and youth to take charge and explore possibilities through their residential life-skills development programs
• They plan to reach pan-India to enrol all martyr families in the coming years
• They are scoping to reach out to martyr families of the other two defence arms such as air force and navy; additionally, they will enrol martyr families from the central police forces
• The women and youth graduates of empowerment programs are nurtured to take up leadership roles for the upcoming batches

Started as a support system for the families of Jawans martyred in the service of the nation, the VRFA works with over a 120 wives and children to bring a renewed sense of belonging, purpose, and independence to their lives. Corporates can gain opportunities to socially engage with their work by offering knowledge, skills building sessions as part of our programs. For an employee looking to go beyond one’s role, working with us provides that platform to meaningfully and indirectly contribute to the martyr families. Corporate partnerships would help them to fulfil their vision to build awareness and bridge the gap between civilians and the martyr families. With one primary corporate contact, they believe that their message and their work shall reach to a large population which otherwise may seemingly be challenging.