Mrs. Bhawana Kerkar

Founder & Chief Functionary – Mrs. Bhawana Kerkar

Mrs. Bhawana Kerkar, a seasoned Clinical Psychologist with over 27 years of specialized experience, has been a driving force in advancing mental health services, disability support, and inclusive education in Mumbai’s suburban belt. Her professional journey spans therapeutic intervention, psychological testing, counselling, program development, and capacity building for educators and caregivers.

Over the last three decades, she has played a significant role in strengthening public‑sector disability services through her long-standing partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). As a psychological consultant to BMC’s Special School Section, she has contributed to:

• Early identification and assessment of children with developmental disabilities
• Training municipal special educators and support staff
• Establishing structured counselling and parent‑support systems
• Improving documentation, monitoring, and developmental tracking within municipal schools

Her work has directly impacted thousands of children from low‑income communities who rely on municipal schools for access to special education and therapy.

Mrs. Bhawana has also served as a consultant with Mahindra & Mahindra (Tractor Division), where she provided psychological counselling, employee wellness support, and behavioural insights to strengthen workplace mental health and productivity.

As a founding member of Umang Charitable Trust since June 2000, she has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s vision, operational framework, and long-term growth strategy. Under her leadership, Umang has evolved from a small initiative into a multi-centre institution offering:

• Special education
• Speech, occupational, and behavioural therapy
• Vocational training
• Sports and movement programs
• Family counselling and community outreach

Her role encompasses strategic planning, program development, staff training, quality assurance, and daily operational oversight across Umang’s centres in Kandivali, Bhayandar, and Vasai.

With deep expertise in clinical psychology and a strong commitment to social impact, Mrs. Bhawana continues to lead Umang’s mission of providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality intervention to neurodiverse children, especially those from economically weaker sections. Her leadership ensures that every program at Umang is rooted in compassion, evidence-based practice, and long-term developmental outcomes.